Destination Guides > Europe > England > London > Sights, museums & tourist attractions
London
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
London has over 300 museums, galleries and collections, including some of the greatest in the world as well as some of the most unusual and interesting. What's more, many of these superb cultural attractions are free (except for certain special exhibitions and events).
Like many other big cities, it is a good idea to allocate a day to each of London's various neighbourhoods. Each area has its own attractions, accommodation and work opportunities, as well as it's own unique ambience. This is why London has such a great cultural life such as the style of restaurants, pubs and bars, shopping and markets and live music venues.
THE CITY OF LONDON
Commonly referred to as The City, London's financial district contains one of the world's largest concentrations of banks and insurance companies and is a hive of activity during business hours and deserted on weekends. Although mainly a business district, The City has several major attractions including St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Bank of England Museum
The Bank of England Museum presents a history of banking and money from 1694 to the present day.
Threadneadle Street, London EC2
Tube Bank, Cannon Street, Mansion House, Monument Train Cannon Street Bus 8, 11, 23, 25, 26, 47, 48, 133, 141, 149, 242
Tel (020) 7601 5491
Website www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
Barbican Centre
Conference and arts centre featuring theatre, cinema, music, restaurants, exhibitions and the Barbican Art Gallery.
Silk Street, London EC2
Tube, Train Barbican, Moorgate
Tel (020) 7638 4141
Website www.barbican.org.uk
Admission free
Centre open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun noon-11pm; gallery open Mon-Tue 11am-8pm, Wed 11am-6pm, Thur-Sun 11am-8pm
Dr Johnson's House
This house just north of Fleet Street is one of the oldest surviving residential houses in the City of London. Built in 1700, Samuel Johnson lived here between 1748 and 1759 and compiled the first comprehensive English Dictionary here. The house contains a museum dedicated to Samuel Johnson's life and the English language.
17 Gough Square, London
Tube Blackfriars, Chancery Lane Train Blackfriars Bus 4, 11, 15, 17, 23, 26, 76, 172
Tel (020) 7353 3745
Website www.drjohnsonshouse.org
Admission £4.50
Open Jan-Apr Mon-Sat 11am-5pm; May-Sep Mon-Sat 11am-5.30pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 11am-5pm
Museum of London
The Museum of London features 2,000 years of history from Roman times to the present day.
150 London Wall, London EC2
Tube Bank, Barbican, Moorgate, St Pauls Train City Thameslink, Liverpool Street, Moorgate Bus 4, 8, 25, 56, 100, 172, 242, 501, 521
Tel (020) 7600 3699
Website www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Admission free (charge for some temporary exhibitions)
Open 10am-6pm daily
Guildhall
This gothic building, dating from 1411, has historically been London's city hall and is now the home of the Corporation of London. Some of the more impressive parts of the building include the medieval Great Hall, which is the third largest civic hall in England and has entertained royalty and state visitors for hundreds of years, and the Old Library, which is now used as reception rooms.
Gresham Street, London EC2
Tube Bank, Moorgate, St Pauls
Tel (020) 7606 3030
Admission free
Open Jan-Apr Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; May-Sep 10am-5pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Monument
Designed by Christopher Wren and built to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666, this 61.5m-high tower is the tallest isolated stone column in the world. Breathtaking views of the city reward those who climb the 311 steps to the top.
Tube Bank, Monument Bus 15, 17, 21, 25, 35, 40, 43, 47, 48, 133, 141, 149, 344, 521
Tel (020) 7626 2717
Website www.themonument.info
Admission £3; joint ticket with Tower Bridge Exhibition £8
Open 9.30am-5.30pm daily, last entry 5pm
Old Bailey
Dating from 1539, the Central Criminal Court (commonly known as Old Bailey) is one of the world's most famous criminal courts. Famous trials at Old Bailey include that of William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania), Oscar Wilde, Dr Crippen, the Krays and the Yorkshire Ripper.
It is still a functioning court and visitors are welcome to the public galleries. Daily case listings can be found at www.courtservice.gov.uk. Bags, cameras and mobile phones are not permitted in the courtroom and lockers are not available.
Old Bailey, London
Tube Blackfriars, St Pauls Train Blackfriars, City Thameslink Bus 4, 11, 15, 23, 26, 76, 100, 172
Tel (020) 7248 3277
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm
Prince Henry's Room
This is one of the few surviving houses predating the Great Fire of London in 1666. The building features a half-timbered front dating from the 17th century but its main feature is the large room with an ornate plaster ceiling and two stained glass windows. The room also houses the Samuel Pepys exhibition.
17 Fleet Street, London EC4
Tube, Train Blackfriars
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 11am-2pm
St Mary-le-Bow
This Wren-designed church features a Norman crypt and chapel, but is best known as the home of the Bow Bells.
Cheapside, London EC2
Tube Mansion House, St Pauls Train Cannon Street Bus 11, 15, 23, 26, 76
Tel (020) 7248 5139
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed 7.30am-6pm, Thu 7.30am-6.30pm, Fri 7.30am-3.30pm
St Paul's Cathedral
One of the City's most famous landmarks is the 108m-high St Paul's Cathedral, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed the original. Although the cathedral boasts an impressive interior, the attraction for many visitors is the enormous dome and the crypt, which holds the tombs of many famous Britons including TE Lawrence, Admiral Nelson, Florence Nightingale, the Duke of Wellington and St Paul's architect, Christopher Wren. Visitors can climb the 530 steps to the Golden Gallery above the famous dome. The climb will take you past the Whispering Gallery (30.2m) and the Stone Gallery (53.4m) to the Golden Gallery (85.4m) in the bell tower above the dome.
St Paul's Churchyard, London
Tube Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Mansion House, St Pauls Train Blackfriars, Cannon Street Bus 4, 11, 15, 23, 25, 26, 100, 242
Tel (020) 7248 2705
Website www.stpauls.co.uk
Admission £11
Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-4pm
Tower Bridge Exhibition
Built in 1894, it is one of London's top tourist attractions and perhaps the world's most well known bridge. Although you can drive to take a bus across it, walking across and visiting the Tower Bridge Exhibition gets you onto the high level walkways where you can take in breathtaking views and see exhibits on the history and construction of the bridge. Entry to the exhibition also lets you see the Victorian Engine Rooms, which house the original steam engines that once powered the bridge.
Tower Bridge, London SE1
Tube London Bridge, Tower Gateway, Tower Hill Train Fenchurch Street, London Bridge Bus 15, 25, 40, 42, 47, 78, 100, D1, P11, RV1
Tel (020) 7403 3761
Website www.towerbridge.org.uk
Admission £7 exhibition and walkways; £8 combined entry with the Monument
Open Jan-Mar 9.30am-5pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am-5.30pm daily; Oct-Dec 9.30am-5pm daily
Tower of London
Since its foundation by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower of London has had many roles including palace, fortress, prison, mint, arsenal and jewel house, although it is best known as the place where Henry VIII sent his wife Anne Boleyn to be beheaded. The Tower features displays depicting its 900-year history, which include various torture tools, the medieval palace decked out to depict royal life during the reign of Edward I (1272-1397), a display of over 12,000 diamonds and the dazzling Crown Jewels. The Tower of London is well known for the famous Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) who guard the tower.
Tower Hill, London EC3
Tube Tower Hill, Tower Gateway Train Fenchurch Street, London Bridge
Bus 15, 25, 42, 78, 100, D1 Ferry Tower Pier
Tel 0870 756 6060
Website www.hrp.org.uk
Admission £17
Open Jan-Feb Mon 10am-5pm, Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm); Mar-Oct Mon 10am-6pm, Tue-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm (last admission 5pm)
THE WEST END
This is the area that most people mean when they talk about Central London. The area's neighbourhoods include Soho, Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. Major shopping streets are located here including Oxford and Regent Streets along with the major theatres and the bookshops of Charing Cross Road. Covent Garden is perhaps the most hip area of London with its market and loads of cool eateries and cafés and bars, pubs and live music venues. Landmarks in the West End include Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses, Leicester and Trafalgar Squares, along with the British Museum.
British Library
With over 150 million items on 625km of shelves on 14 floors, the British Library is one of the worlds great libraries. It contains a copy of every book published in Britain and Ireland plus a large range of exhibits that include a 2nd century Bible, Leonardo da Vinci's notebook, a copy of the Magna Carta, William Caxton's editions of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the Gutenburg Bible, hand written Beatles manuscripts and the Diamond Sutra, the world's earliest dated printed book (AD 868).
96 Euston Road, London NW1
Tube Kings Cross St Pancras Train Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras Bus 10, 30, 73, 91
Tel 0870 444 1500
Website www.bl.uk
Admission free
Open Mon 9.30am-6pm, Tue 9.30am-8pm, Wed-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm
British Museum
The British Museum chronicles the story of the western world through an unmatched collection of antiques and exhibits than include the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, the Iron Age Lindow Man and numerous Egyptian mummies and sarcophagi.
Great Russell Street, London WC1
Tube Tottenham Court Road
Tel (020) 7323 8299
Website www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed 10am-5.30pm, Thu-Fri 10am-8.30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5.30pm
Covent Garden
This neighbourhood in the heart of the West End evolved into London's principal produce market in the 18th century and the area was immortalised by George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, and in screen versions of My Fair Lady, with Eliza Doolittle being discovered in the marketplace by Professor Henry Higgins.
Traffic congestion forced the relocation of the market south of the Thames more than 20 years ago. The original Central Market Building has been completely renovated and is now filled with boutiques, health food shops and trendy restaurants.
Covent Garden is now the undisputed heart of London's Theatreland. Some of the country's oldest theatres like the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House are found here and the surrounding area around Covent Garden is home to attractions that include the London Transport Museum.
However, it is out on the cobbled paving where the market life of old has been recaptured and where street performers make their livelihood through the passing tourists. The unique atmosphere of Covent Garden puts it alongside Camden Town as one of London's great areas for just hanging out.
Tube Covent Garden
Courtauld Institute Gallery
The Courtauld Institute Gallery features paintings that range from the Old Masters to post-impressionism with works by Cézanne, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Turner.
Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2
Tube Holborn
Tel (020) 7848 2526
Website www.courtauld.ac.uk
Admission £5; Mon 10am-2pm free
Open 10am-6pm daily (last entry 5.30pm)
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)
The ICA hosts an ever-changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions in addition to cinema, theatre and dance.
The Mall, London SW1
Tube Charing Cross, Piccadilly Train Charing Cross Bus 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 23, 24, 29, 38, 77a, 88, 91, 139, 176
Tel (020) 7930 3647
Website www.ica.org.uk
Admission prices vary
Gallery open noon-7.30pm daily
London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum features displays of the days when Londoners were transported by horse-drawn cab, to the introduction of the first underground railway, electrified trams and the arrival of motorised transport.
The story of the underground forms a large part of the museum's permanent exhibits. On show is the Metropolitan Railway locomotive number 23, built in 1866, which provided power for trains on the Metropolitan and Circle lines for 40 years. Another underground exhibit is the ‘padded cell', an 1890 carriage that operated on the City and South London Railway. Displaying maps and archive material, the Beck Gallery tells the story of the world-famous London Underground map, designed in 1931 by draughtsman Harry Beck and now recognised as an icon of London itself.
The Piazza, Covent Garden
Train Charing Cross Tube Charing Cross, Covent Garden
Tel (020) 7379 6344
Website www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Admission £10 (£6 students)
Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm)
Madame Tussaud's
Madame Tussaud's famous wax-works feature startlingly lifelike replicas of personalities from Nelson Mandela to Kylie Minogue. It also features the adjoining planetarium.
Marylebone Street, London NW1
Tube Baker Street Train Marylebone Bus 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 159, 274
Tel (020) 7486 1121
Website www.madame-tussauds.co.uk
Admission £25, advance purchase online £23
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
National Gallery
From Canaletto to Constable, the National Gallery holds more than 2,000 works of art including some of the great masterpieces of European art such as Botticelli's Venus and Mars, Monet's Waterlilies, Renoir's Boating on the Seine and Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
Trafalgar Square, London WC2
Tube, Train Charing Cross Bus 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 33, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453
Tel (020) 7747 2885
Website www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Tue 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-9pm, Thu-Sun 10am-6pm
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery features a large collection of portraits depicting prominent figures from British history.
St Martins Place, London WC2
Tube Charing Cross, Leicester Square Train Charing Cross Bus 24, 29, 176
Tel (020) 7306 0055
Website www.npg.org.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Royal Academy of Arts
This art museum is housed in the magnificent Burlington House and features a programme of art exhibitions that range from obscure to famous French impressionists.
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1
Tube Green Park, Piccadilly Bus 9, 14, 19, 22, 38
Tel (020) 7300 8000
Website www.royalacademy.org.uk
Admission £9
Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
WESTMINSTER & VICTORIA
Within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, this is the administrative heart of the UK. It holds the Houses of Parliament, the Prime Ministers' residence on Downing Street, and New Scotland Yard along with Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Further to the west, you'll find Buckingham Palace and a small cluster of budget hotels around Victoria Station.
Banqueting House
The Banqueting House is the only surviving building of the vast Whitehall Palace, destroyed by fire nearly 300 years ago. The Banqueting House is a welcome retreat from the bustle of the city and a hidden treasure for anyone interested in art and architecture – its Rubens ceiling painting is just one of the artworks on display.
Whitehall, London SW1
Tube Westminster
Tel 0870 751 5178
Website www.hrp.org.uk
Admission £4.80 (students £4)
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Buckingham Palace
Visitors are confined to only a small section of Buckingham Palace so it is unlikely that you'll catch the Queen on the Throne, but you will get to see a really spiffy staircase plus your choice of the Queen's Gallery, Royal Mews and the State Rooms.
Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1
Tube Victoria, Green Park, Hyde Park Corner Train Victoria Bus 11, 211, 239, C1, C10
Tel (020) 7766 7300
Website www.royalcollection.org.uk
Admission Queen's Gallery £8.50, Royal Mews £7.50, State Rooms £16.50
Open 31 Jul-26 Sep 9.30am-4.30pm daily
Cabinet War Rooms
This fortified basement in Whitehall is where Winston Churchill, the Cabinet, and senior military figures coordinated Britain's war effort. During the war it was one of London's most secret installations, and very few people were allowed entry, today however, the site is open to the public with many fascinating exhibits.
Clive Steps, 1 King Charles Street, London SW1
Tube Westminster
Tel (020) 7930 6961
Website http://cwr.iwm.org.uk
Admission £12.95
Open Jan-Mar 10am-6pm daily; Apr-Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-6pm daily
Changing the Guard
You can watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (Apr-Jul 11.30am daily; Aug 11.30am odd numbered dates; Sep-Oct 11.30am even numbered dates; Nov 11.30am odd numbered dates).
There is also a changing of the Mounted Guard ceremony in Whitehall (Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1; Tube Green Park, St James; Mon-Sat 11am; Sun 10am).
Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster with its distinctive clock tower is one of London's most recognised attractions. It is an impressive building that has been at the centre of English politics since the 11th century. Parliament consists of several halls that include Westminster Hall, with a remarkably well-preserved wooden ceiling, and St Stephen's Hall, which you pass through en route to the two debating chambers – the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The clock tower is widely known as Big Ben, although this term technically refers only to the bell that famously tolls every hour.
Tours of parliament (officially known as the Line of Route tour) are conducted year round for UK residents and during the summer opening of parliament for foreign visitors. UK residents need to book a tour through their local Member of Parliament, but foreign visitors can book through the Keith Prowse ticket office on Abingdon Green (tel 0870 906 3773; website www.keithprowse.com) opposite Parliament.
When Parliament is in session you may visit the Strangers Gallery of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords to witness parliamentary debate. You are able to sit in on a session of Parliament even when the summer tours aren't running. To obtain entry you need to join the queue at the St Stephen's entrance. There are two queues – one of the House of Commons and another for the House of Lords. The Lord's queue is usually shorter, although the wait may take around two hours during the afternoon and it is not always possible to secure a place for Question Time. Visitors who arrive around 1pm usually have the shortest wait. It is easy to get into the House of Commons on Fridays – often there isn't even a queue – although Parliament doesn't sit every Friday and you will need to check with the Commons Information Office (tel (020) 7219 4272; website www.parliament.uk). If you wish to avoid the queue you can get a card of introduction from your embassy or high commission, however cards are limited to no more than four per day per embassy and some nationalities may have to book several weeks in advance. Australian and Canadian citizens may apply for a card of introduction through the London office of their state or province. Question Time in the House of Commons takes place during the first hour of proceedings Mon-Thu (the Prime Minister's Question Time takes place on Wednesday) and Question Time at the House of Lords lasts for 40 minutes from 2.30pm Mon-Wed and 11am Thu.
St Stephen's Entrance, St Margaret Street, London SW1
Tube Westminster Bus 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 148, 159, 211, 453
Tel (020) 7219 4272 (House of Commons), (020) 7219 3107 (House of Lords) for sitting times
Website www.parliament.uk
Tours of parliament cost £7 (English), £9 (French, Italian, German & Spanish)
Tours of parliament depart Jul-Sep, call 0870 906 3773 for exact dates and time
Admission to Stranger's Galleries free
House of Commons open Mon 2.30pm-10.30pm, Tue-Wed 11.30am-7.30pm, Thu 11.30am-6.30pm, Fri (occasionally) 9.30am-3pm; the Stranger's Gallery at the House of Commons is closed when Parliament is in recess. Recess dates vary but there are usually around six two to three-week recess periods per year, often around Easter, mid-summer and Christmas.
House of Lords open Mon-Wed from 2.30pm, Thu from 11am, Fri (occasionally) from 11am; the House of Lords doesn't sit Easter, Aug to early Oct and the week before and after Christmas.
Parliament Clock Tower (Big Ben)
Tours of the clock tower feature a climb up 334 spiral steps to the famous bell known as Big Ben. Capacity on these tours is very limited and the tours must be booked at least three months in advance. UK residents can book tours through their local Member of Parliament and foreign visitors have to apply in writing to Amanda Leck, Clock Tower Tours, Parliamentary Works Services Directorate, 1 Canon Row, London SW1A 2JN. Where demand is high, preference is given to those who can prove an interest in clocks or bells.
St Stephen's Entrance, St Margaret Street, London SW1
Tube Westminster Bus 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 148, 159, 211, 453
Tour cost free
Tours depart Mon-Fri 10.30am, 11.30am & 2.30pm
Tate Britain
The original Tate Gallery features an extensive art collection spanning from 1500 to the present day and it is considered by many to be the foremost collection of British art. The gallery also hosts a programme of temporary exhibits.
Millbank, London SW1
Tube Pimlico Train Vauxhall, Victoria Bus 2, 3, 36, 77A, 88, 159, 185, 507, C10
Tel (020) 7887 8000
Website www.tate.org.uk/britain/
Admission free (permanent collection); charge for some special exhibitions
Open 10am-5.50pm daily (last admission 5pm)
Westminster Abbey
This fine Gothic cathedral has been the setting for the coronations, marriages and burials of Britain's royal family. It has been the scene for every British royal coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066 (except Edwards V and VIII) and most British kings and queens are buried here, a tradition started by Edward the Confessor who was buried here a few days after the church was consecrated in December 1065. Although Westminster Abbey has stood on this site for almost a thousand years, much of the present building dates from the 13th to 16th centuries.
Broad Sanctuary, London SW1
Tube St James's Park, Westminster Bus 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 148, 159, 211, 453
Tel (020) 7654 4900
Website www.westminster-abbey.org
Admission £12; (students £9)
Tours cost £4
Tours depart Jan-Mar Mon-Fri 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, Sat 10am, 10.30am, 11am; Apr-Oct Mon-Fri 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, Sat 10am, 10.30am, 11am; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, Sat 10am, 10.30am, 11am
Open Mon-Tue 9.30am-3.45pm, Wed 9.30am-7pm, Thu-Fri 9.30am-3.45pm, Sat 9.30am-1.45pm
KENSINGTON, CHELSEA & WEST LONDON
Kensington, Chelsea and neighbouring Knightsbridge are traditionally known as London's most expensive addresses with loads of ritzy shops including the famous Harrods department store. Surprisingly this area is also home to many of London's hostels and budget hotels which are situated in Earls Court and neighbouring South Kensington. Many backpackers living in London rent flats and houses in Earls Court and the nearby western suburbs of Hammersmith and Acton. This area has a good selection of pubs with many of London's top museums situated in South Kensington. Other landmarks include Hyde Park and Kensington Palace (Princess Diana's former residence).
Natural History Museum
This fine Gothic revival building features a rich collection of exhibits from the animal and plant kingdoms, which include the huge dinosaurs that dominate the main exhibition halls, the impressive mammal balcony and the ecology gallery with its moonlit, replica rainforest.
Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7
Tube South Kensington Bus 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, C1
Tel (020) 7938 9123
Website www.nhm.ac.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.50pm, Sun 11am-5.50pm (last admission 5.30pm)
Royal Albert Hall
This famous concert venue has seen everyone from Eric Clapton to Nigel Kennedy and annually hosts the proms. Tours of the Royal Albert Hall take you inside the auditorium, the Royal Retiring Room and the Queen's Box.
Kensington Gore, London SW7
Tube High Street Kensington, South Kensington Bus 9, 10, 52, 360
Tel (020) 7538 3105
Website www.royalalberthall.com
Tours cost £8
Tours depart from 10am to 3.30pm daily
Science Museum
The Science Museum presents the world of science with interactive exhibits and important artefacts dating from around 1700 to the present day. The collection includes exhibits that relate to the fields of medicine, technology and the Industrial Revolution.
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7
Tube South Kensington Bus 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, C1
Tel 0870 870 4868
Website www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Admission free
Open 10am-6pm daily
Victoria & Albert Museum
Many people regard the V&A as the world's greatest museum of the decorative arts; its permanent collections include fashion, sculpture, textiles, furniture, metalwork, ceramics, glass, jewellery, paintings, prints and photographs, reflecting centuries of achievement from Europe, the Far East, South East Asia and the Islamic World.
Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7
Tube South Kensington Bus 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, C1
Tel (020) 7938 8349
Website www.vam.ac.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Tue 10am-5.45pm, Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sun 10am-5.45pm
PADDINGTON, BAYSWATER & NOTTING HILL
The northern end of Hyde Park also has a number of hostels and budget hotels, particularly in the Bayswater area and around Paddington Station. Further to the west, you'll find Notting Hill with its famous annual street party and Portobello Road Market.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
For an entertaining though not necessarily accurate view of the world, make a visit to Speakers' Corner on the northeast edge of Hyde Park (tube Marble Arch). For street theatre on a weekend mid-afternoon it is unrivalled entertainment, as there can be as many as a dozen speakers, pushing their own particular barrow in different languages to crowds of more than one hundred people at any one time. If you feel like speaking your own mind then heckling is an integral part of the Speakers' Corner tradition.
When you've had enough of hearing what other people think there is plenty of opportunity to just relax in Hyde Park and the adjoining Kensington Gardens. Rent a rowboat on the Serpentine, which is the long thin lake that arcs through the two parks, or rollerblade among the walking paths, or join the multitude lazing under a shady tree as they enjoy the springtime sunshine.
Further west, the park is known as Kensington Gardens, which are dominated by the Round Pond and Kensington Palace – Princess Diana's former home.
Kensington Palace
Princess Diana's former home has been a royal residence since 1689 and former residents have included King William III and Queen Victoria. Visitors to the palace can see the Kings and Queens Apartments as well as the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
Kensington Gardens, London W8
Tube Bayswater, High Street Kensington, Queensway Bus 9, 10, 12, 27, 28, 49, 52, 52A, 70, 94, 328, C1
Tel 0870 751 5170
Website www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/
Admission £12.50
Open Jan-Feb 10am-5pm daily (last admission 4pm); Mar-Oct 10am-6pm daily (last admission 5pm); Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily (last admission 4pm)
CAMDEN & NORTH LONDON
Most people visit North London to hang out at Camden Town market, however North London also includes many great live music venues and some great pubs, both in Camden Town and Upper Street Islington.
London's Canals
An often-overlooked part of London is its canal network that mostly comprises the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal. This canal system runs through Hackney and Islington, past Camden Town, Regent's Park, Paddington and Little Venice before heading out into the suburbs.
It is possible to cycle, walk and even travel by canal boat along the most attractive stretches of the canals. Three of the most attractive areas of Regent's Canal include Little Venice, west of Paddington; Regent's Park, which includes London Zoo; and Camden Town with its vibrant markets. You can walk the stretch from Camden Lock to Little Venice in around two and a half hours.
London Zoo
One of the oldest zoos in the world, the London Zoo is home to more than 12,000 animals and is a major centre for animal research. Free events are held daily in the Amphitheatre and around the grounds.
Outer Circle, Regents Park, London NW1
Tube Camden Town Bus 274, C2
Tel (020) 7722 3333
Website www.londonzoo.co.uk
Admission £18.50 (£17 students)
Open 8 Mar-24 Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; 25-31 Oct 10am-4.30pm daily; 1 Nov-26 Dec 10am-4pm daily
Lord's Cricket Ground
Tread in the footsteps of cricketing giants at the legendary Lord's Cricket Ground. Visitors to Lord's take a guided tour that includes the cricketing art gallery, the Long Room, which includes portraits of Thomas Lord himself, Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Leonard Hutton. Cricket bats and balls used by some of the game's greats are on display and it may also be possible to view other parts of the Pavilion including the Committee Room and the Dressing Rooms. The story of cricket unfolds via changing displays, models and audio-visual commentary and in the Museum the Ashes are on view in their terracotta urn. The tour continues to the Mound Stand, with its fine view of the ground and of the Lord's weather vane "Father Time", then on to the Indoor School, described as one of the best in the world and used by many clubs and players. Visitors will also be able to see the Real Tennis Court.
Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8
Tube St Johns Wood Bus 13, 82, 113, 139, 187, 189, 274
Tel (020) 7432 1033
Website www.lords.org
Admission £14 (£8 students)
Tours Jan-Mar noon, 2pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am, noon, 2pm daily; Oct-Dec noon, 2pm daily; no tours during major matches
Royal Air Force Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum chronicles over 100 years of aviation history and features 60 aircraft on display. The Royal Air Force Museum's exhibits include the Bomber Command and the Battle of Britain halls and a fighter simulator.
Graham Park Way, Hendon, London NW9
Tube Colindale Train Mill Hill Broadway Bus 303
Tel (020) 8205 2266
Website www.rafmuseum.com
Admission free
Open 10am-6pm daily (last admission 5.30pm)
THE DOCKLANDS, GREENWICH & THE EAST END
The working class neighbourhoods to the east of The City have some fascinating sights, including the popular Jack the Ripper Walking Tour offering a different perspective of London. Further east, you'll find new developments at the Docklands, especially the area around Canary Wharf, which is fast becoming a new centre for the financial and media industries. To the south of the Docklands, walk through the foot-tunnel under the Thames to suburban Greenwich which is famous for its history of time keeping and navigation.
Cutty Sark
Launched in 1869, the Cutty Sark was one of the fastest tea clippers of her day and is now the world's last tea clipper. The Cutty Sark suffered from a major fire on 21 May 2007 and is currently closed; however restoration work is underway and it is expect to reopen to visitors in the Summer of 2010.
King William Walk, Greenwich, London SE10
Tube Cutty Sark Bus 177, 180, 188, 199
Tel (020) 8858 2698
Website www.cuttysark.org.uk
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is home to the Royal Greenwich Observatory and is on the prime meridian where Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is set. This museum of astronomy and time is where you can see the time-ball and working telescopes and visit the planetarium.
Greenwich Park, SE10
Tube Cutty Sark Train Greenwich Ferry Greenwich Bus 53, 54, 188, 202, 380
Tel (020) 8858 4422
Website www.nmm.ac.uk
Admission free
Open 10am-5pm daily
SOUTH LONDON
The majority of South London's sights are clustered along the Thames, usually within walking distance of the busier areas to the north of the river.
Design Museum
This inspiring museum by the riverfront near Tower Bridge features displays of everyday items that feature outstanding design. Sure you could see the same thing for free in a department store, but the Design Museum has carefully amassed a collection that includes everything from furniture to can openers and vacuum cleaners. There is also a programme of exhibits featuring the work of leading designers.
28 Shad Thames, London SE1
Tube London Bridge, Tower Gateway, Tower Hill Train London Bridge Bus 15, 42, 47, 78, 100, 188, P11
Tel 0870 833 9955
Website www.designmuseum.org
Admission £8.50 (£5 students)
Open Mon-Thu 10am-5.45pm (last admission 5.15pm), Fri 10am-9pm (last admission 8.30pm), Sat-Sun 10am-5.45pm (last admission 5.15pm)
Globe Theatre
William Shakespeare's Globe Theatre has been rebuilt on the banks of the Thames and it hosts performances of the Bard's work and is also home to an exhibition recounting the history of the famous theatre. Tours of the nearby Rose Theatre are offered when there are performances in the Globe Theatre.
21 New Globe Walk, London SE1
Tube Blackfriars, Mansion House, St Pauls, Southwark Train Blackfriars, Cannon Street, London Bridge Bus 11, 15, 17, 23, 26, 45, 63, 76, 100, 344, 381, RV1 Ferry Bankside
Tel (020) 7902 1500
Website www.shakespeares-globe.org
Admission exhibition and Globe Theatre tour £10.50, exhibition and Rose Theatre tour £7.50
Open 2 Mar-22 Apr 9am-5pm (exhibition and Globe Theatre); 23 Apr-10 Oct Mon-Sat 9am-12.30pm (exhibition and Globe Theatre), 1pm-5pm (exhibition and Rose Theatre), Sun 9am-11.30am (exhibition and Globe Theatre), noon-5pm (exhibition and Rose Theatre)
HMS Belfast
This impressive 11,000 tonne World War cruiser is now a floating museum with seven decks to explore. Many high quality naval exhibits are on board.
River Thames, off Morgans Lane, Tooley Street, London SW1
Tube London Bridge Bus 21, 35, 40, 133, 343
Tel (020) 7940 6300
Website http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/
Admission £10.70 (£8.60 students)
Open Jan-Feb 10am-5pm (last admission 4.15pm) daily; Mar-Oct 10am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm) daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm (last admission 4.15pm) daily
Imperial War Museum
This excellent museum features exhibits on Britain's military involvement from World War I to the present day.
Lambeth Road, London SE1
Tube Lambeth North Bus 1, 3, 12, 45, 53, 59, 63, 68, 100, 159, 168, 171, 172, 176,188, 344, C10
Tel (020) 7416 5000
Website www.iwm.org.uk
Admission free
Open 10am-6pm daily
London Eye
The 135m-high London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel that rotates every thirty minutes offering brilliant views over London from the distinctive ellipsoid capsules.
Tube, Train Waterloo Bus 11, 24, 211, RV1
Tel 0870 500 0600
Website www.ba-londoneye.com
Admission standard flight £17, fast track flight £27
Open May Mon-Thu 9.30am-8pm, Fri-Sun 9.30am-9pm; Jun Mon-Thu 9.30am-9pm, Fri-Sun 9.30am-10pm, Jul-Aug 9.30am-10pm daily; Oct-Dec 9.30am-8pm daily
London Dungeon
This tourist trap behind London Bridge station features displays about the gorier aspects of Britain's history with exhibits on Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire, the plague and royalty. It's cheesy but popular with kids.
28-34 Tooley Street, London SE1
Tube, Train London Bridge Bus 21, 35, 40, 133, 343
Tel (020) 7403 0606
Website www.thedungeons.com
Admission £21.95, £10-15 when you book online
Open daily Jan-Jul 10.30am-5.30pm daily; Aug-Sep 10.30am-8pm daily; Oct-Dec 10.30am-5.30pm daily
Old Operating Theatre
This museum in the attic of an old Baroque church shows the conditions in which surgeons operated in the early 1800s (without anaesthetic). This was originally an operating theatre where medical students would watch operations take place.
9A St Thomas Street, London SE1
Tube, Train London Bridge Bus 21, 35, 40, 133, 343
Tel (020) 7955 4791
Website www.thegarret.org.uk
Admission £5.60
Open 10.30am-5pm daily
Southwark Cathedral
London's oldest Gothic church was established around 1220 and was attended by William Shakespeare (his brother Edmond is buried here). There is an exhibition of the history of Southwark in the cathedral's former chapter house building.
London Bridge, London SE1
Tube Bank, London Bridge, Monument Train London Bridge Bus 17, 21, 35, 40, 43, 47, 48, 133, 149, 501, 521, D1 Ferry Bankside
Tel (020) 7367 6722
Website http://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/
Admission free
Open 8am-6pm daily
Tate Modern
This large modern art museum is housed in a former power station with seven floors of galleries including the huge Turbine Hall. Exhibits are organised by theme, which sees works by famous artists such as Picasso go up alongside relatively unknown artists.
Bankside, London SE1
Tube Blackfriars, Southwark Train Blackfriars, London Bridge Bus 45, 63, 100, 381, 344, RV1 Ferry Bankside
Tel (020) 7887 8000
Website www.tate.org.uk/modern/
Admission free
Open Mon-Thu 10am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm), Fri-Sat 10am-10pm (last admission 9.15pm), Sun 10am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm)
WESTERN SUBURBS
London's affluent western suburbs extend far from the West End but include several important sights including Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and Wimbledon.
Hampton Court Palace
It has been over 250 years since the Hampton Court Palace was home to Britain's royalty, but this opulent palace has been restored to show how monarchs including Kings Henry VIII and William III once lived. It features some of the world's finest Baroque style royal apartments and expansive gardens that include the popular maze, which was planted in 1702. Hampton Court is half an hour by train from Waterloo station.
A308, East Molesey, Surrey
Train Hampton Court Bus 111, 216, 411, 416, 451, 513, 726, R68
Tel 0870 752 7777
Website www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/
Admission £14 (£11.50 students)
Open 10am-6pm daily, last entry 5pm
Kew Gardens
Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are home to an outstanding collection of plantlife from around the world. The gardens were originally the grounds of Kew Palace but in 1752 Princess Augusta set about developing it into a serious botanic gardens and in 1793 Sir Joseph Banks expanded the gardens' role from a showpiece of exotic flora into a serious scientific and research role. The gardens now consist of several large temperature-controlled conservatories, each representing different climate zones.
Kew Gardens, Kew
Tube, Train Kew Gardens Bus 65, 237, 267, 391
Website www.rbgkew.org.uk
Admission £13
Open 1 Jan-6 Feb 9.30am-3.45pm daily; 7 Feb-5 Sep Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-7pm; 6 Sep-30 Oct 9.30am-5.30pm daily; 1 Nov-31 Dec 9.30am-3.45pm daily
CAMDEN & NORTH LONDON
North London is mostly residential although there are several interesting areas including Camden – a hip neighbourhood in North London that is best known for the popular Camden Markets.
Camden Markets
The popular Camden group of markets is now London's fourth most-visited tourist attraction, with around half a million visitors each week. The markets feature hundreds of shops and stalls specialising in alternative fashion, vintage, emerging designers, funky furnishings, antiques, arts & crafts, records & CDs and international food.
Tube Camden Town, Chalk Farm Train Camden Road
Website www.camdenmarkets.org
Open 10am-6pm daily
