One of the most peculiar features of life in England which immediately strikes any visitor to this country is the cherishing and preserving of many traditions, sometimes very archaic as they may seem. Uniforms are not particularly characteristic of this fact. However, when one sees the warders (or Beefeaters) at the Tower of London with their funny flat hats, their trousers bound at the knee, and the royal monogram on their breast, one feels carried back to the age of Queen Elizabeth I.

Tourists visiting London are usually eager to see Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen. The colourful ceremony of the "Changing of the Guard" before the Palace, which takes place every day, including Sunday, at 11.30 is of great interest for a newcomer.The Guardsmen in their red coats and bearskin caps march behind the Drum Major and the Band.

Another traditional ceremony is the "ceremony of Keys" which takes place every night at 9.53 p.m. when the Chief Warder of the Tower of London lights a candle lantern and carrying the keys makes his way with the Escort to the gates of the Tower and locks them.

One more picturesque ceremony which attracts a lot of spectators is the "Lord Mayor's Show". Many thousands of people crowd the streets of the City of London on the second Saturday of November to see and admire the interesting procession of the newly-elected Lord Mayor who travels in a gilded coach to the Royal Court of Justice and then to the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor.