Boat Hire on the Thames

Attractions

O2 Millennium Dome - The Millennium Dome, often referred to simply as The Dome, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium. Located on the Greenwich Peninsula in south-east London, England, the exhibition opened to the public on 1 January 2000 and ran until 31 December 2000. The project and exhibition was the subject of considerable political controversy as it failed to attract the number of visitors anticipated, leading to recurring financial problems.

The Millennium Dome is the largest domed structure in the world. It is held up by twelve 100-metre tall support poles. The poles represent either the 12 months of the year or the 12 hours on the clock's face. Both are to emphasize the role played by Greenwich as the keeper of time. From above, the dome looks circular. It is 365 metres in diametre, again symbolically representing one day for each metre. The Millennium Dome is one of the most recognisable landmarks in London, as well as the most photographed.

Houses of Parliament - The Houses of Parliament, otherwise known as The Palace of Westminster, stands on the site where Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the first half of the eleventh century. In 1547 the royal residence was moved to Whitehall Palace, but the Lords continued to meet at Westminster, while the commons met in St. Stephen's Chapel. Ever since these early times, the Palace of Westminster has been home to the English Parliament.