Westminster: Home of the UK Government and the summer 2012 Volleyball tournament

A great destination for tourists, Westminster places you in the heart of the capital

There’s so much about Westminster to mention that this travel guide won’t do it justice. From the Houses of Parliament to Westminster Abbey, and the Supreme Court to Buckingham Palace, there’s attractions of all shapes and sizes that really shows us all how fantastic Britain is.

In addition, as the Horse Guards Parade has been chosen as one of the venues for the volleyball for the London summer games, the opportunity to feel extra patriotic during the Olympics will be irresistible for some of us!

Even though the city isn’t very sandy by nature, a temporary beach is going to be created in order to give the volleyball court added authenticity. Despite  the popular misconception, the events that are going to be held at the Horses Guard Parade and Earls Court cover two different types of volleyball. Whereas the games at Earls Court are going to be played on a hard surface with teams of six, the beach volleyball tournament in the heart of Westminster will only be played by couples. This makes for an intense, demanding game where agility and stamina are vital to success. A total of 96 athletes in 24 teams will kick off proceedings on Saturday the 28th of July, with the tournament concluding on the 9th of August.

Beach volleyball: How does it work?

We’ve already described some of the differences between the two volleyball disciplines being covered at the Olympics. However, there are some rules which remain quite consistent. For example, once the ball has been served and sent over the net, the receiving team can only touch the ball three times before it must go back over the net.

Upper body strength is essential to succeed in this demanding sport, and for men, it’s even more challenging as the net is 2.43m high – nearly 200cm higher than for female competitors.

The Horses Guard Parade is actually only going to be a temporary home for the volleyball, the site isn’t going to be permanent in any way. This means that once the event has finished, there won’t be any volleyball-related facilities at the venue. A huge 3,000 tonnes of sand is being brought in especially for the summer 2012 beach volley tournament, so they certainly are pushing the boat out and trying to impress!

Best London summer 2012 accommodation

The top attractions when staying in Westminster

With most roads in Central London remaining busy throughout the night, and bars and restaurants being open until the early hours of the morning, city life is perfect for those who make the most out of every second of the day. When you’re not enjoying volleyball matches, what else is there to do in this borough?

Attractions to visit

We’ve already mentioned all of the landmarks that gives the UK its national identity. If you’re in the mood to admire aquatic life, visiting the Sealife museum can be a great start. Not only are there dozens of sharks to get your pulse racing, but rare creatures such as gentoo penguins, displayed in exhibitions that will engage and educate the whole family.

Restaurants to consider

The Ivy in Westminster offers a well-established place to eat during a lazy afternoon, or after you’ve been to the many theatres in the West End. With plenty of sumptuous dishes to try, you may consider the duck leg confit with Morteau sausage, or the roast monkfish with wild garlic mash.

Shops to frequent

Along with many upmarket venues to consider, the Pop Boutique in Westminster is bringing retro clothes back into fashion.

Travel to the Horses Guard Parade by foot, bike, car, train, bus and plane

Thanks to its Central London location, getting to the Horses Guard Parade is easy by foot, and through the extensive network of accessible buses in operation. The closest Tube stations are Trafalgar Square, Green Park, Victoria, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross, each covering different London Underground lines.

National Rail is also in easy reach – the venue is metres away from Victoria, Charing Cross and Waterloo. If your long-distance journeys aren’t covered here, there are fast connections to other stations that will take you home, or onto the next stop for your journey.

Piccadilly Circus station is also recommended if you are travelling by air into London Heathrow. Even though there are shuttle services from this airport as well as Gatwick Airport, the Tube may be faster in some circumstances, with the Piccadilly line stopping at all major terminals.