China-UK Flights Resume! Explore a Royal London Trip with The London Pass~

Recently, the UK Home Office announced that from 4:00 AM on March 18, all entry restrictions related to the pandemic will be lifted.

From then on, all travelers arriving in the UK, regardless of vaccination status, will no longer need any form of COVID-19 testing, quarantine upon arrival, or to fill out a passenger locator form, fully returning to pre-pandemic open policies.

At the same time, there is good news regarding China-UK flights: several airlines have announced trial direct flights. According to airline websites, starting mid-March, there will be flights between Guangzhou, Shanghai, and London.

China Southern Airlines' official information shows that the first direct flight from London to Guangzhou departed from Heathrow Airport at 21:20 local time on March 17, and the first direct flight from Guangzhou to London also departed at 12:40 on March 17.

As of now, the direct flight information for March between China and the UK is as follows:

1. China Southern Airlines London Heathrow – Guangzhou Baiyun

March 17 CZ304 21:20 Heathrow - 17:30 Baiyun

March 18 CZ303 12:40 Baiyun - 15:20 Heathrow

2. Virgin Atlantic London Heathrow – Shanghai Pudong

March 18, March 25 12:00 Heathrow - next day 8:30 Pudong

March 20, March 27 11:50 Pudong – next day 18:55 Heathrow

3. Air China Shanghai Pudong – London Heathrow

March 25 17:30 Heathrow – next day 12:40 Pudong

March 26 11:20 Pudong – next day 15:25 Heathrow

4. China Eastern Shanghai Pudong – London Heathrow

March 31 13:20 Pudong – next day 18:40 Heathrow

(Partially excerpted from China Overseas Chinese Network)

With direct flights resuming and entry restrictions lifted, it's time to plan a London sightseeing trip! This romantic spring, The London Pass recommends two ideal attractions around London, perfect for enjoying the season and experiencing authentic British royalty.

Windsor Castle

As the official residence of the British monarch, Windsor Castle's fame speaks for itself. But it is also the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, and a must-see attraction on any London trip.

Perched on an artificial hill on the south bank of the River Thames, Windsor Castle covers 13 acres, boasting stunning courtyards, a round tower, and expansive surrounding parkland. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070, it has been home to 39 monarchs, encapsulating nearly a thousand years of British royal history. Since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, Windsor Castle has been her primary weekend retreat.

The castle is divided into three wards: the Upper Ward (east) contains the private royal apartments, including the King and Queen's dining rooms, drawing rooms, ballroom, audience chamber, and sitting rooms, renowned for collections of royal paintings and treasures; the Middle Ward features the prominent Round Tower, surrounded by lush rose gardens; the Lower Ward (west) is the entrance from the River Thames, where St. George's Chapel stands, with architectural achievements second only to Westminster Abbey.

Windsor Castle is vast, grand in appearance, and luxurious inside, with many highlights worth visiting:

State Apartments: Rooms like St. George's Hall, Waterloo Chamber, and the Queen's Ballroom are exquisitely decorated, with ornate chandeliers, gilded walls and ceilings, and giant paintings by famous artists, showcasing royal splendor.

State Apartments, image source: Royal Collection Trust

Semi-State Rooms: Private apartments designed for George IV, featuring some of the castle's most lavish interiors, now used by the Queen for entertaining guests, open from autumn until spring.

Semi-State Rooms, image source: Royal Collection Trust

Queen Mary's Dolls' House: The most delightful attraction in Windsor Castle, built by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Queen Mary in the early 1920s. It perfectly replicates a British royal palace at a 1:12 scale, down to the smallest detail, making it the largest and most stunning dolls' house in the world.

Queen Mary's Dolls' House

Round Tower: Before 1660, the Round Tower was a prison for royal political enemies; now it mainly stores royal documents and photographic collections. When the Royal Standard flies over the Round Tower, it indicates the Queen is in residence.

Round Tower, image source: chelseadinen⁠/IG

St. George's Chapel: One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England, with a modest exterior but stunning interior. It has been the venue for many royal weddings, including that of Harry and Meghan.

Changing the Guard: A magnificent royal spectacle! Soldiers in bright red traditional uniforms and bearskin hats march towards the castle along the main street. The Changing of the Guard takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays; guards arrive before 11:00 and the ceremony lasts about 30 minutes with live band music.

Changing the Guard

Castle Address: Windsor Berkshire SL4 1NJ

Ticket: £26.5, free admission with The London Pass

Hampton Court Palace

Known as the 'Versailles of England', Hampton Court Palace is celebrated for its unique historical charm, exquisite interior decoration, and extraordinary garden art, making it a model of Tudor royal palaces.

Located in southwest London, the palace was built in 1515 by Cardinal Wolsey in the Tudor style, beginning its transformation from a modest country house to a magnificent palace. When Henry VIII took over in the 1520s, he expanded it, using it as a symbol of power through lavish banquets, opulent court life, and extravagant artworks.

By the 1530s, the palace had become a hotel, theatre, and vast leisure complex. In the 17th century, it was a premier entertainment venue; Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth', and 'King John' were first performed at Hampton Court for the newly crowned Stuart king, James I.

Hampton Court Palace has 1,280 rooms, plus 60 acres of formal gardens. When visiting, you can follow guides in period costume and listen to vivid stories of court history. Here are highlights not to miss:

The Great Vine: Planted in 1769 using Victorian methods, this is the world's largest grapevine, a unique feature of Hampton Court. Its fruit usually ripens in August and is sold during the first three weeks of December, though historically the grapes were sent to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.

The Great Vine, image source: Historic Royal Palaces

The Crown: A symbol of power, monarchy, and religious authority. This replica was made based on detailed descriptions from Henry VIII's servants, adorned with 344 rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls. The original crown was melted down at the Tower of London in 1649 by order of Oliver Cromwell.

The Crown, image source: Historic Royal Palaces

Chapel Royal: Its vaulted ceiling was designed by Henry VIII in the 1530s, rich in color and history, representing the pinnacle of Tudor design at Hampton Court.

Chapel Royal, image source: Historic Royal Palaces

Hampton Court Gardens: 60 acres of formal gardens and 750 acres of historic parkland contain the world's oldest palace maze, the Great Vine, three national plant collections, and a wide variety of wildlife. In spring, the gardens burst with life and color, with millions of flowers blooming, making it a wonderful place for a spring outing.

Henry VIII's Kitchens: The largest Tudor kitchens in England! 200 cooks, assistants, and servants prepared meals for 800 people daily for Henry VIII's household. Wandering through this maze-like kitchen, you can imagine the scale of the cooking spectacle.

Henry VIII's Kitchens, image source: Historic Royal Palaces

Hampton Court Palace Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10am – 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm

Ticket: £25.3, free admission with The London Pass