London seeing
With some of the world’s best of (pretty much) everything it’s hard to know where to start. You could go for Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Or a stroll along the River Thames, taking in the galleries and culture of the South Bank. Londoners would recommend heading up Primrose Hill or striding out to the middle of Tower Bridge for a grand vista of the city before you do anything else, but what about getting stuck in straight away at the British Museum or St Paul’s Cathedral?
If that all sounds a bit energetic, settle down for a few hours in a gastropub with real ale and good food. Once refreshed the shopping heaven of Oxford St beckons.
VisitLondon (www.visitlondon.com) is an excellent starting point for further reading and if you’re in need of guidance, suggestions, maps and guidebooks stroll down to the Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC) at 1 Regent Street. Suitably oriented, energised and inspired, you’re ready to really see the city
Must Do
If you go home without seeing these sights, make sure you’re on the first plane back.
BA London Eye (www.londoneye.com)
Book ahead for the graceful 30-minute flight on the world’s largest Ferris wheel. On a clear day you can see 25 miles in every direction and get wonderful views of the centre of London and beyond, the Thames curving through town and out towards the sea.
The Tower of London
The Tower is a fascinating medieval fortress surrounded by a 21st-century city. It drips history, from its beginnings during the reign of William the Conqueror (1066–1087) to the colourfully dressed Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) who guard the Tower. Beat the queues by buying your ticket at any Underground station.
British Museum (www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/)
London’s most-visited attraction and finest museum will take more than one visit to even scratch the surface, with a world of antiquities including the Rosetta Stone, Sutton Hoo Bronzes and the controversial, beautiful Parthenon Marbles. Regular coffee breaks in the Great Court, Europe’s largest covered square, are essential for plotting your next move.
Tate Modern (www.tate.org.uk/modern/default.htm)
An astonishing gallery as much for the building and setting as the art inside, the Tate Modern demands attention. Get there by Millennium Bridge from St Paul’s, then enter the former Bankside Power Station’s vast turbine hall. Once you’ve got your breath back there are thousands of world-class works of modern art arranged by theme. The views from the top-floor café are wonderful too.
Camden Market (www.camdenlock.net/markets.html)
A melting pot of Punks, Goths and Skaters bargain-hunt happily with tourists and trendy north Londoners on an afternoon outing. There’s everything in this collection of markets from designer clothing to world food to vintage furniture.
South Kensington
For museum heaven head to South Kensington home to the Natural History Museum (www.nhm.ac.uk/), Science Museum (www.sciencemuseum.org.uk) and the fabulous Victoria & Albert Museum (www.vam.ac.uk). You can while away weeks strolling the corridors of these wonderful London institutions. Like many of Britain’s museums, they’re free and offer world-class special exhibitions.
Off the Beaten Track
While you shouldn’t miss london’s world-class attractions, chances are that what will linger in the memory are trips into the hidden city. Try these for starters.
Sir John Soane's Museum (www.soane.org/)
This beautiful house is almost unchanged since the famous architect of the Bank of England died. Once in you stroll through nooks and crannies jammed with paintings and fragments of ancient buildings. Expect to get totally lost and then emerge blinking and confused on the pavement outside.
Borough Market (www.boroughmarket.org.uk)
‘London’s Larder’ has been here in some form since the 13th century and now it’s more popular than ever. This is the place to come for the best of British produce, from cheese that blows your taste buds to sausages that sizzle with unusual ingredients.
Highgate Cemetery
Take a Tube north to Highgate, a refined village with hilltop views of the city where the most famous residents are dead. Karl Marx is the best known, but a stroll round the wonderfully wild and atmospheric cemetery will reveal many more famous names. Continue on to Hampstead Heath, one of London’s greenest retreats.
Greenwich
Village-like with a refreshing sense of space and full of historic attractions, this area of London is worth day to itself. Visit the Cutty Sark (020 8858 3445; £3.95), the National Maritime Museum (www.nmm.ac.uk/) and the Royal Observatory. Explore the arts & crafts market then chill out at one of the many cafés and bars nearby.
Insider Info
Wise up! The clever visitor knows the tricks of the trade like a London Cabbie knows the way out of jam:
- Many museums have late opening at least once a week, when the crowds thin out and grand old buildings take on a whole new atmosphere.
- The Number 8 bus rumbles through the East End, into the City, up Oxford St and beyond – get a good seat and you’ll be amazed by how much you see.
- The London Pass (www.visitbritaindirect.com/en-GB/detail.aspx?ProductCode=Tp7) is quite a shrewd way to see lots of different attractions but only pay once. Passes can be brought for 1, 2, 3 and 6 days and includes access to popular attractions like the Tower of London and London Zoo. To get full value for money, plan which attractions you want to see in advance to see as much as possible.