Commander Kelly: London 2012 -- Commander Kelly's Top Ten Places

If the Olympics brings you to London this summer but you would like to see something in addition to sporting events, then Commander Kelly has just the ticket. Here are my top ten favorite stops on the American Conservative Tour of London...

Greatest Briton

1) Churchill War Rooms. http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms (See earlier posts, Churchill War rooms, 2/1/12, Churchill Quotes 6/2/12, Blenheim Palace 6/1/12). A must see to put you in touch with the greatest Briton of all time. The Spirit of Chartwell is not just a boat for goodness sake! Please note the use of the Churchill statue in Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony (see video below).

Cutty Sark, Greenwich

2) Cutty Sark. http://www.rmg.co.uk/?PHPSESSID=551d49e93265f71e5ba5f50d4a11074c (See earlier post, Cutty Sark, 5/4/12). They spent 50 million pounds restoring this tea clipper after a devastating fire and it sparkles. Celebrate free trade and capitalism--have a tea party!

3) Apsley House. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/apsley-house/
The best address in the city -- Number One London. Home of the Duke of Wellington, victor of the battle of Waterloo (See earlier post, Day Out with the Duke of Wellington, 1/27/12).

4) Trafalgar Square and National Gallery. www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ See England's most famous Admiral and England's most popular painting -- the Fighting Temeraire (See earlier posts, Horatio Nelson -- Champion of Liberty, 1/15/12; The Fighting Temeraire, 1/10/12, and Manet's Execution of Maximilian I, 2/22/12).

Elizabeth II and Commander Bond

5) James Bond's Costumes. http://www.barbican.org.uk/ Now at the Barbican until September 5, 2012. (See earlier post, Commander Bond and the Bikini, 7/11/12). Daniel Craig as James Bond escorted Queen Elizabeth II to the Olympic opening ceremony (see video below).

6) Imperial War Museum at Duxford. http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford Check out the American hangar and much more. (see earlier post Duxford and...George Carlin?, 4/30/12).

HMS Victory, Portsmouth

7) HMS Victory. http://www.hms-victory.com/ The only surviving ship left from the battle of Trafalgar and Nelson's flagship. Worth the two hour train trip to Portsmouth. (See earlier post, Voltaire, the Gloomy English and Portsmouth, 3/4/12).

St. Paul's during the Blitz, London

8) St. Paul's Cathedral. www.stpauls.co.uk/ Find out the "Dirty Corner" and learn how Commander Bond cleaned up St. Paul's. Nelson and Wellington's tombs. Blitz survivor. (see earlier post, Commander Bond's London, 2/23/12).

9) Sweetings Restaurant. http://www.sweetingsrestaurant.com/ If you visit St Paul's stop by nearby Sweetinngs for the best lunch in London. (see earlier post, Sweetings, 5/5/12).

10) Grosvenor Square. Check out the statutes of great Republican Presidents Reagan, Eisenhower and the American Eagle monument. (see earlier posts, Ronald Wilson Reagan 12/14/11, When Character was King 3/22/12, Eisenhower in London, 7/23/12, American Eagle Squadron 12/16/11).