London Sightseeing
The Tower of London
Sitting at the bottom of the north side of the famous Tower Bridge, the 900 year old Tower of London is the city's original royal fortress and is in possession of the Crown Jewels, guarded by the famous London Beefeaters. Guided tours of this incredibly historic fort are available, providing an in-depth incite to the many true stories, myths and legends that passed through these famous walls.
www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon, Lower Thames Street. Admission: £15 adults, £9 children. 9am-6pm (March to October), 9am-5pm (November to February).
Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square
The moment you step off the tube at Piccadilly Circus you are greeted by the famous flashing lights of the advertising boards of Piccadilly. Just a stones throw away is Leicester Square, which is of course famous for holding film premiers. As well as a number of cinemas, Leicester Square is rich with restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Houses of Parliament/Big Ben
Arriving at Westminster or travelling along the South Bank, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben stand proudly on the banks of the Thames. Tours of the Houses of Parliament are available to visitors, with it possible to watch debates and committees taking place, however opening times vary depending on the time of year, so checking and booking ahead is a must.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/tour.cfm
Westminster Abbey
This incredible Gothic church is visited by millions each year, with guided tours of this magnificent building a must-do costing as little as £3 per person, which also takes in the Abbey museum, located in the vaults beneath the church.
www.westminster-abbey.org, 020 7654 4834. Check ahead for tour times as these vary depending on the time of year.
St. Paul's Cathedral
The work of the legendary Christopher Wren; St. Paul's Cathedral is another ‘must-do' on a tour itinerary when visiting London. From the ornate interior mosaics of this prominent feature of London's skyline, to the wondrous marble decor and intricate stone carvings - the visitor's tour is well worth an hour or two of your time.
www.stpauls.co.uk/, 020 7740 1155. Open 9.30am - 16.15pm Monday - Saturday.
London Eye
The London Eye is undeniably the most superior way to look across the endless metropolis that is London. Standing at an incredible 443 feet, the ‘capsules' that take you up and around this big wheel offer unrivalled panoramic views of the capital, especially on a clear day where you can see way past the city's perimeter and all of its famous landmarks.
www.londoneye.com, Jubilee Gardens. Tickets: £15.50 adults, £7.75 children. Opening times vary depending on time of year. Tel: 0870 5000 600
Museums
London is in possession of some of the world's most impressive museums, with the following absolute ‘must-dos' during a stay:
Three of the most important museums are all within touching distance of each other on Exhibition Road, South Kensington. The Natural History Museum (www.nhm.ac.uk) is home to life and earth science specimens, with a collection comprising of over 70 million items that take you right back to a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, with countless remains and full skeletal exhibits on display.
Next door is the equally as impressive Science Museum (www.sciencemuseum.org.uk). The museum boasts a collection of more than 300,000 fascinating items including the likes of Stephenson's Rocket (the oldest surviving steam train), the first jet engine and countless artefacts used in space, not to mention the endless amounts of interactive exhibits.
The third of the three museums on Exhibition Road is the Victoria and Albert Museum (www.vam.ac.uk), which houses the world's largest collection of art and design artefacts. The museum regularly hosts collections by world famous designers and has a collection of more than 4.5 million objects. The museum covers more than 12.5 acres and has 145 galleries, with some exhibits dating back as far as 5000 years ago.
All three museums are free of charge for entry; however some specially organised seasonal exhibits may cost extra. The museums are open seven days a week, from 10am-6pm.
Imperial War Museum
Situated in Lambeth, South London, the Imperial War Museum has an extensive collection of military vehicles, aircraft, weapons, memorabilia and huge library dedicated to documenting the various war conflicts that have taken place throughout history. As well as this, the museum boasts several impressive exhibitions of particular wars and a whole floor dedicated to the harrowing and moving events of the Holocaust.
www.iwm.org.uk, Lambeth Road. Free entry, open seven days a week , from 10am-6pm.
Here you will find Nelson's Column and the famous lion statues - truly iconic London landmarks. Sitting on Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery, which features works of art from some of the world's most celebrated artists as well as modern works and photo exhibitions.