Since 1867, London has placed blue plaques on many of its most historic homes and buildings.  Today, there are hundreds of little blue signs all over London. You can make full day trips just touring one neighborhood, like Bloomsbury, trying to locate all the plaques.

According to English Heritage, which sustains the signs and decides which buildings will get the plaque treatment, they serve to “celebrate great figures and the buildings they inhabited.”

Who’s who in blue

Perhaps the city’s most famous (and photographed) plaques are those for the writers and scientists who made their mark on London. Virginia Woolf’s can be found in Bloomsbury while George Orwell’s blue ‘do resides near Hamstead Heath. J.M. Barrie is just off Kensington Gardens.

Other notables include William Pitt the Younger, Nancy Astor (the first woman to ever sit in Parliament), Evelyn Waugh, H.G. Wells, and Samuel Pepys, to name but a few. You can see the full list of plaques here.

May we suggest a blue plate walking tour? Here’s one option to get you hoofing.  Or, create your own.  Best of all, all field trips are free!

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Leinster House, the former residence of the Duke of Leinster, today houses Parliament, and is surrounded by gardens and sculptures. Nearby, on Upper Merrion Street, stands the Department of the Taoiseach, which is similar to the Prime Minister, and also houses the Department of Finance and the Attorney General. Dubliners, known to scoff at any over-the-top pomp, sometimes refer to the ornate building as “Chas Mahal,” a reference to the late Charles Haughey, the sixth Taoiseach. (Most residents, however, simply refer to the structures as “Government buildings.” Simple, but it works.)

All government buildings here are free and open to the public. You must book a tour in advance (for groups only) if you wish to see Parliament, but show up during normal hours of operation at Leinster House and the Department of the Taoiseach and you can view current exhibits and take advantage of free guided tours, free tickets for which can be picked up at the nearby National Gallery (also a free sight).

Once you’ve completed your tour, be sure to take a gander at the structure at One, Merrion Square. This Georgian structure, where Oscar Wilde once lived, is now a museum.

More information, including tour times, can be found on the Dublin Tourism Board’s website.

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As the official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag building in Berlin affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace.

Quick history of the Reichstag

The Reichstag was built in 1894 and housed the Parliament until a fire destroyed it in 1933. Consensus has it that the blaze was started by the Nazis in an attempt to stomp out Communism, cut back on civil liberties, and usher in totalitarian rule. Today, the Reichstag celebrates openness and transparency: Visitors climb a dome atop the Parliamentary chamber, and can look down at their legislators in action. How things have changed!

Visiting the Reichstag

While guided tours of the Reichstag can be set up in advance (see comments section below for more info), we recommend nabbing a Berliner (as we did… thanks Hilary!) or taking advantage of the free explanatory brochure, available just past security.

Once in, you’ll take a quick elevator ride to the top of the building, inside the dome. Snap photos of the dome and its surroundings, and start working your way up the dome’s interior ramp, reading the historical explanations along the way. If you grabbed the free brochure downstairs, it’s a helpful guide to the 360-degree city view from the dome’s top. (So, that’s where the new train station is!)

And of course, don’t forget to turn around, away from the city, and look down into the Parliament. (See photo above.) If you’re visiting at night, of course, you may only catch sight of some cleaning personnel.

More information

Check out the Bundestag (German Parliament) web site for details and opening times.

Also, review our list of more free things to do in Berlin.

You can also try this great step-by-step guide available from DK Travel.

Stick with us, Cheapos, and stay tuned for more free tips tomorrow. Next stop? Bratislava!

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Water works

We think the best fountains in London (and there are plenty to choose from!) are the two majestic bronze fountains that flow over Trafalgar Square. Start all free and open to the public—and they provide a fascinating look into church life in England.

After the service, visit nearby St. Margaret’s Church, free and open to the public daily. If you choose to tour the Abbey, only available on weekdays or Saturday, it will cost you £10.

Parliamentary, my dear!

If you want to sit in on a session at the British Parliament, you’ll need to queue up early as it’s one of the most popular activities in town. However, if you are a UK citizen and apply in advance through your local MP (Member of Parliament), you can skip the line altogether and receive a guaranteed place. The best time of day to go is in the morning. If you get in, you may see the Prime Minister on Wednesday mornings, when he appears before the House of Commons for his weekly “Prime Minister’s Questions” session. Parliament is open Monday through Friday. Check the Parliament’s Web site for hours.

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