Top Things to Do In London – World's Best City To Visit in 2012

Top Things to Do In London - World's Best City TO Visit in 2012

London is going for the knock-out blow in 2012. The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton made London one of the world’s most buzzed about destinations last year, but London is about to get even hotter in 2012. Britain will celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee — marking her 60 years on the throne — with a river pageant featuring a flotilla of 1,000 boats on the River Thames, a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a concert at Buckingham Palace over the first weekend in June. Then all eyes will be on London as it hosts the Summer Olympic Games from July 27 to August 12, and the Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9.
Looking for more? There will be festivals, tours, performances and exhibitions to mark the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens. The year 2012 will also see the Charles Dickens Museum, Kensington Palace, and the London Eye emerge from thorough revamps, and a spiky new wing added to Tate Modern. Some additions and improvement to the London sightseeing scene are already here. St. Paul’s Cathedral is once again gleaming, the Jewish Museum and the Museum of London have been upgraded and improved, and the Old Royal Naval College boasts a new exhibition space (“Discover Greenwich”). In addition, the Natural History Museum stands proudly alongside a hi-tech wing dedicated to one of the great naturalists of the past, Charles Darwin, and is filled with cutting-edge displays aimed very much at the future. These join the myriad attractions already here, making what was already one of the world’s great sightseeing cities just that little bit better.

• The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Join in the festivities in London in 2012 as Her Majesty the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years as Britain’s monarch. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will take place from 2 to 5 June 2012 and include:
1)The Epsom Derby: The Queen has been attending the Epsom Derby for eight decades.(2 Jun)
2)The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: A flotilla of 1,000 boats will travel along the Thames led by the Queen in the Royal Barge (3 Jun)  http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/
3)The Big Jubilee Lunch: Everyone can get involved with a street party or picnic to share with their neighbours (3 Jun)  http://www.thebiglunch.com/
4)BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace: A free music concert at Buckingham Palace. Tickets will be available to UK residents by ballot (4 Jun)
5)The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons: A network of 2,012 beacons will be lit throughout the UK and The Queen will light the National Beacon (4 Jun)
Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession: A service at St Paul’s Cathedral followed by a formal carriage Procession by The Queen (5 Jun)
The jewellery the Queen refers to as “my best diamonds”, a necklace and bracelet of 21 enormous gems given by the South African government to mark her 21st birthday, will be among a display to be exhibited this summer at Buckingham Palace to mark her diamond jubilee. Unlike the crown jewels on show at the Tower of London, the brooches, tiaras, necklaces and bracelets are the Queen’s personal collection of jewellery. They include family treasures such as a tiny coronet containing 1,200 diamonds worn by the diminutive Queen Victoria – the only other British monarch to have celebrated a diamond jubilee – who complained of the weight of the state jewels. The necklace and earrings worn by the Queen at her coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953 were originally created in 1858 for Victoria, incorporating a 22.48 carat drop pendant. The necklace was also worn during coronation services by queens Alexandra, Mary and the Queen Mother.

• London 2012 Summer Olympics Survival Guide

Date: The Summer Games are July 27 to Aug. 12. The Paralympic Games follow, Aug. 29 to Sept. 9.
Place: The hub of the action is Stratford City, about eight miles northeast of Big Ben and central London (and not to be confused with the Shakespearean tourist town of Stratford-Upon-Avon). The new 500-acre Olympic Park will house six venues including an 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, an aquatics center, a velodrome, a handball arena, a basketball arena and a broadcast center. The park’s Athletes’ Village will house about 17,000 competitors and officials.
Olympic venues:
Many of the 302 events (in 34 venues) will take place at familiar London-area landmarks: soccer at the new, 90,000 seat Wembley Stadium (The first Wembley Stadium was also at this site and was the venue for the 1948 Olympic Games and for the 1966 World Soccer Cup.), tennis at Wimbledon (the grass-court tennis venue famous for being the site of the Wimbledon tennis tournament since 1877), archery at Lord’s Cricket Ground, road cycling in Regent’s Park and latter-round basketball at North Greenwich Arena, a.k.a. the O2 Arena, a.k.a. the Dome. Beach volleyball will be held at the Horse Guards Parade in the heart of ceremonial London. Hyde Park, steeped in 400 years of history, will host triathlon. Marathon: The route for Marathon will start and end in The Mall, taking in sights including Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Hill, and the Houses of Parliament. For details on just about every aspect of the Games go to http://www.london2012.com.
During the Games, officials say they expect as many as 200,000 visitors a day within Olympic Park. Between events, many will head next door to the vast Westfield Stratford City mall, which opened Sept. 13, 2011 with 1.9-million square feet of retail space, a casino, bowling, a 17-screen cinema and two hotels.
Tickets:
In the United States, CoSport is the official company selling tickets and consumer hospitality packages that include accommodations, transportation, dining, and sightseeing options.
www.cosport.com
877-457-4647

An Interactive Map of London 2012 Olympic Venues

 

An Interactive Map of London Top Attractions

Go for a spin on the London Eye - The 443-foot ferris wheel on the bank of the River Thames

• London Eye

It’s difficult to remember what London looked like before the landmark London Eye began twirling at the southwestern end of Jubilee Gardens in 2000. Not only has it fundamentally altered the skyline of the South Bank but, standing 135m (443 ft) tall in a fairly flat city, it is visible from many surprising parts of the city (eg Kennington and Mayfair). A ride – or ‘flight’, as it is called here – in one of the wheel’s 32 glass-enclosed gondolas holding up to 28 people is something you really can’t miss if you want to say you’ve ‘done’ London; 3.5 million people a year give it a go. It takes a gracefully slow 30 minutes and, weather permitting, you can see 25 miles in every direction from the top of what is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. Save money and avoid the queues by buying online.
London Eye
Official Name: EDF Energy London Eye
Other Names: Millennium Wheel, British Airways London Eye
Address: Jubilee Gardens South Bank, S80 4PW
Transport: Metro at Waterloo
Website:  www.londoneye.com
Phone: 0870 500 0600
Price: adult/4-15yr/senior £17/8.50/14
Hours: 10am-8pm Oct-Apr, to 9pm May, Jun & Sep, to 9.30pm Jul & Aug, closed 1 week in Jan

The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London's most iconic landmarks

• Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
  

The House of Commons and House of Lords are housed here in the sumptuous Palace of Westminster. Charles Barry, assisted by interior designer Augustus Pugin, built it between 1840 and 1860, when the extravagant neo-Gothic style was all the rage. The most famous feature outside the palace is the Clock Tower, commonly known as Big Ben. Ben is the bell hanging inside and is named after Benjamin Hall, the commissioner of works when the tower was completed in 1858. If you’re very keen (and a UK resident) you can apply in writing for a free tour of the Clock Tower. Thirteen-tonne Ben has rung in the New Year since 1924, and the clock gets its hands and face washed by abseiling cleaners once every five years. The best view of the whole complex is from the eastern side of Lambeth Bridge. At the opposite end of the building is Victoria Tower, completed in 1860.
The House of Commons is where Members of Parliament (MPs) meet to propose and discuss new legislation, and to grill the prime minister and other ministers. The best time to watch a debate is during Prime Minister’s Question Time at noon on Wednesday, when the incumbent PM fields a barrage of hostile questions from the Opposition. Don’t forget, though, tickets must be arranged in advance through your MP or embassy.
The layout of the Commons Chamber is based on that of St Stephen’s Chapel in the original Palace of Westminster. The current chamber, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, replaced the earlier one destroyed by a 1941 bomb. Although the Commons is a national assembly of 646 MPs, the chamber has seating for only 437. Government members sit to the right of the Speaker and Opposition members to the left. The Speaker presides over business from a chair given by Australia, while ministers speak from a despatch box donated by New Zealand.
When Parliament is in session, visitors are admitted to the House of Commons Visitors’ Gallery via St Stephen’s Entrance. Expect to queue for an hour or two if you haven’t already organised a ticket. Parliamentary recesses last for three months over the summer and a couple of weeks over Easter and Christmas, so it’s best to ring in advance. To find out what’s being debated on a particular day, check the notice board beside the entrance, or look in the Daily Telegraph or the freebie Metro newspaper under ‘Today in Parliament’, though it has to be said that the debates leave a lot to be desired both in terms of attendance and enthusiasm. Bags and cameras must be checked at a cloakroom before you enter the gallery and no large suitcases or backpacks are allowed through the airport-style security gate.
As you’re waiting for your bags to go through the X-ray machines, look left at the stunning roof of Westminster Hall, originally built in 1099 and today the oldest surviving part of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the English monarchy from the 11th to the early 16th centuries. Added between 1394 and 1401, it is the earliest known example of a hammer-beam roof and has been described as ‘the greatest surviving achievement of medieval English carpentry’. Westminster Hall was used for coronation banquets in medieval times, and also served as a courthouse until the 19th century. The trials of William Wallace (1305), Thomas More (1535), Guy Fawkes (1606) and Charles I (1649) all took place here. In the 20th century, monarchs and Winston Churchill lay in state here.
The House of Lords Visitors’ Gallery is also open for visits. Against a backdrop of peers’ gentle snoring, you can view the intricate Gothic interior that led poor Pugin (1812–52) to an early death from overwork and nervous strain. When Parliament is in recess, there are 75-minute guided summer tours of both chambers and other historic buildings. Times change, so telephone or check www.parliament.uk for latest details.
Houses of Parliament
Other names: Palace of Westminster, or Westminster Palace
Address: St Margaret St SW1 St Stephen’s Entrance
Transport: Metro at Westminster
Website: www.parliament.uk
Phone: 7219 4272
Hours: during Parliamentary sessions 2.30-10.30pm Mon, 11.30am-7pm Tue & Wed, 11.30am-6.30pm Thu, 9.30am-3pm Fri

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837

• Buckingham Palace

Built in 1705 as Buckingham House for the duke of the same name, this palace has been the royal family’s London lodgings since 1837, when St James’s Palace was judged too old-fashioned and insufficiently impressive. It is dominated by the 25m-high Queen Victoria Memorial at the end of The Mall. Tickets for the palace are on sale from the Ticket Office at the Visitor Entrance, Buckingham Palace Rd. After a series of crises and embarrassing revelations in the early 1990s, the royal spin doctors cranked things up a gear to try to revive popular support, and it was decided to swing open the doors of Buck House to the public for the first time. Well, to 19 of the 661 rooms, at least. And only during August and September, when HRH is holidaying in Scotland. And for a veritable king’s ransom, but still, we mustn’t quibble – no price is too great for an opportunity to see the Windsors’ polaroids plastered all over the fridge door. The ‘working rooms’ are stripped down each summer for the arrival of the commoners, and the usual carpet is replaced with industrial-strength rugs, so the rooms don’t look all that lavish.
The tour starts in the Guard Room; allows a peek inside the State Dining Room (all red damask and Regency furnishings); then moves on to the Blue Drawing Room, with a gorgeous fluted ceiling by John Nash; to the White Drawing Room, where foreign ambassadors are received; and to the Ballroom, where official receptions and state banquets are held. The Throne Room is pretty hilarious with kitschy his-and-hers pink chairs initialled ‘ER’ and ‘P’, sitting smugly under what looks like a theatre arch. The most interesting part of the tour (for all but royal sycophants) is the 76.5m-long Picture Gallery, featuring splendid works by artists such as Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Poussin, Canova and Vermeer, although the likes of these and much more are yours for free at the National Gallery. Wandering the gardens is another highlight here – it’s bound to give you a real royal feeling. Book in advance for disabled access.
Buckingham Palace
Address: Buckingham Palace Rd SW1
Transport: Metro at St James’s Park, Victoria or Green Park
Website:  www.royalcollection.org.uk
Email: buckinghampalace@royalcollection.org.uk
Phone: behindertengerechter Zugang : 7766 7324
7766 7300
Price: adult/child/concession/family £15.50/8.75/14/39.75
Hours: 9.30am-4.30pm 28 Jul-25 Sep, timed ticket with admission every 15min

See artefacts like the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Elgin Marbles and the Lewis Chessmen at British Museum - For Free

• British Museum

One of London’s most visited attractions, this museum draws an average of five million punters each year through its marvellous porticoed main gate on Great Russell St (a few go through the quieter Montague Pl entrance).
One of the world’s oldest and finest museums, the British Museum started in 1749 in the form of royal physician Hans Sloane’s ‘cabinet of curiosities’ – which he later bequeathed to the country – and carried on expanding its collection (which now numbers some seven million items) through judicious acquisition and the controversial plundering of empire. It’s an exhaustive and exhilarating stampede through world cultures, with galleries devoted to Egypt, Western Asia, Greece, the Orient, Africa, Italy, the Etruscans, the Romans, prehistoric and Roman Britain and medieval antiquities. The museum is huge, so make a few focused visits if you have time, and consider the choice of tours. There are nine free 50-minute eyeOpener tours of individual galleries throughout the day, and 20-minute eyeOpener spotlight talks at 1.15pm focusing on different themes from the collection. Ninety-minute highlights tours leave at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm. If you want to go it alone, audioguide tours are available at the information desk, including a family-oriented one narrated by comedian, writer and TV presenter Stephen Fry. One specific to the Parthenon Sculptures (aka the Parthenon Marbles or Elgin Marbles) is available in that gallery. You could also check out Compass, a multimedia public access system with 50 computer terminals that lets you take a virtual tour of the museum, plan your own circuit or get information on specific exhibits. The British Museum is planning to build a major new extension in its north-western corner, to be completed in 2012. The new building will have, among other things, a gallery dedicated to special exhibitions and a conservation and science centre.
British Museum
Address: Great Russell St WC1
Transport: Tube at Tottenham Court Rd or Russell Sq
Website: www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Phone: Führungen: 7323 8181
7323 8000
Price: admission free, £3 donation suggested
Hours: galleries 10am-5.30pm Sat-Wed, to 8.30pm Thu & Fri, Great Court 9am-6pm Sun-Wed, to 11pm Thu-Sat

Tower Bridge, one of London's most iconic landmarks, is a combined bascule and suspension bridge with two 213 foot towers

• Tower Bridge

Perhaps second only to Big Ben as London’s most recognizable symbol, Tower Bridge doesn’t disappoint up close. There’s something about its neo-Gothic towers and blue suspension struts that that make it quite enthralling to look at. Built in 1894 as a much-needed crossing point in the east, it was equipped with a then revolutionary bascule (seesaw) mechanism that could clear the way for oncoming ships in three minutes. Although London’s days as a thriving port are long over, the bridge still does its stuff, lifting around 1000 times per year and as many as 10 times per day in summer. (For information on the next lifting ring 7940 3984 or check the bridge’s website.) The Tower Bridge Exhibition explains the nuts and bolts of it all. If you’re not particularly technically minded, however, it’s still interesting to get inside the bridge and look out its windows along the Thames.
Tower Bridge
Address: The Tower Bridge Southwark, SE1 2UP
Transport: Tube at Tower Hill
Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
Phone: 7940 3985
Price: Tower Bridge Exhibition adult/under 5yr/5-15yr/senior & student/family £6/free/£3/£4.50/£14
Hours: Tower Bridge Exhibition 10:00-18:30 Apr-Oct, 09:30-18:00 Nov-Mar, last admission 1hr before closing

Explore Hyde Park - London’s largest central park

• Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

London’s largest royal park spreads itself over a whopping 142 hectares of neatly manicured gardens and wild, deserted expanses of overgrown grass. Spring prompts the gorgeous Rose Gardens, added in 1994, into vivacious bloom, and summers are full of sunbathers, picnickers, frisbee-throwers and general London populace who drape themselves across the green. It is also a magnificent backdrop for open-air concerts, demonstrations and royal occasions. Gun salutes are fired here and soldiers ride through the park each morning on their way to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. Hyde Park is separated from Kensington Gardens by the L-shaped Serpentine, a small lake created by the damming of the Westbourne River in the 1730s; it’s a good spot for pleasure boating in summer. Henry VIII expropriated the park from the Church in 1536, after which it became a hunting ground for kings and aristocrats; later it became a popular venue for duels, executions and horse racing. It became the first royal park to open to the public in the early 17th century, and famously hosted the Great Exhibition in 1851. During WWII it became an enormous potato bed. You’ll either love or hate the ornate Queen Elizabeth Gate designed by Giuseppe Lund and David Wynne in 1993 to honour the late Queen Mother, which leads onto Park Lane near Hyde Park Corner. West of the gate is the Holocaust Memorial Garden (1983), a simple stone marker in a grove of trees with a quote from Lamentations: ‘For thee I weep, streams of tears flow from my eyes because of the destruction of my people.’ North of the gate is the new 7 July Memorial of 52 square stainless-steel pillars dedicated to the victims of the terrorist bombings in London in July 2005.
Immediately west of Hyde Park and across the Serpentine lake, these gardens are technically part of Kensington Palace. The palace and the gardens have become something of a shrine to the memory of Princess Diana since her death in 1997. If you have kids, visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, in the northwest corner of the gardens, which has some pretty ambitious attractions for children including tepees and a pirate ship. Art is also characteristic of these gardens. George Frampton’s celebrated Peter Pan statue is close to the lake. On the opposite side is a statue of Edward Jenner, who developed a vaccine for smallpox. To the west of the Serpentine is a sculpture of John Hanning Speke, the explorer who discovered the Nile.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
Address: Bayswater Rd & Park La Knightsbridge, W2 2UH
Transport: Tube at Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Knightsbridge or Lancaster Gate
Website: www.royalparks.org.uk
Price: Free admission
Phone: 7298 2000
Hours; 5.30am-midnight

St. Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married in 1981 in an iconic wedding watched across the world, is one of London's top tourist attractions

• St Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s is simply breathtaking—even more so since it was spruced up for its 300th anniversary in 2008. The dome, the world’s third largest, is easily recognizable through the skyline from many an angle around London. The structure is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, completed in 1710 after 35 years of building, and, much later, miraculously spared (mostly) by World War II bombs. Wren’s first plan, known as the New Model, did not make it past the drawing board. The second, known as the Great Model got as far as the 20-foot oak rendering before it also was rejected. The third was accepted, with the fortunate coda that the architect be allowed to make changes as he saw fit. Without that, there would be no dome, because the approved design had a steeple. When you enter and see the dome from the inside, it may seem smaller than you expected. It is smaller, and 60 feet lower than the lead-covered outer dome. Beneath the lantern is Wren’s famous epitaph, which his son composed and had set into the pavement, and which reads succinctly: “Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice”—”Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.” The epitaph also appears on Wren’s memorial in the Crypt. Up 163 spiral steps is the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic phenomenon; you whisper something to the wall on one side, and a second later it transmits clearly to the other side, 107 feet away. Ascend to the Stone Gallery, which encircles the base of the dome. Farther up (280 feet from ground level) is the small Golden Gallery, the dome’s highest point. From both these galleries (if you have a head for heights) you can walk outside for a spectacular panorama of London. The climb up the spiraling steps can be fun for older kids.
The remains of the poet John Donne, who was Dean of St. Paul’s for his final 10 years (he died in 1631), are in the south choir aisle. The vivacious choir-stall carvings nearby are the work of Grinling Gibbons, as are those on the great organ, which Wren designed. Behind the high altar is the American Memorial Chapel, dedicated to the 28,000 GIs stationed in the United Kingdom who lost their lives in World War II. Among the famous figures whose remains lie in the Crypt are the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson. The Crypt also has a gift shop and a café. Triforium Tour, a tour that also offers entry to the crypt and galleries. 020/7246-8357. £16. Mon. and Tues. at 11:30 and 2, Fri. at 2.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Address: St Paul’s Churchyard EC4
Transport: Tube at St Paul’s
Website: www.stpauls.co.uk
Price: adult/7-16yr/senior/student £11/3.50/10/8.50
Hours: 8.30am-4pm last entry Mon-Sat

Tower Bridge is annexed by the Tower of London which houses the British Crown Jewels

• Tower of London

Nowhere else does London’s history come to life so vividly as in this minicity of 20 towers filled with heraldry and treasure, the intimate details of lords and dukes and princes and sovereigns etched in the walls (literally, in some places), and quite a few pints of royal blood spilled on the stones. This is one of Britain’s most popular sights—the Crown Jewels are here—and you can avoid lines by buying a ticket in advance on the Web site, by phone, at any tube station, or from the automatic kiosks on arrival. The visitor center provides an introduction to the Tower. Allow at least three hours for exploring, and take time to stroll along the battlements for a wonderful overview. The Crown Jewels are worth the wait, the White Tower is essential, and the Medieval Palace and Bloody Tower should at least be breezed through.
Today’s Tower has seen everything, as a palace, barracks, a mint for producing coins, an archive, an armory, and the Royal Menagerie (which formed the basis of the London Zoo). The stunning opulence of the Crown Jewels, kept on-site in the heavily fortified Jewel House is a must-see. Most of all, though, the Tower is known for death: it’s been a place of imprisonment, torture, and execution for the realm’s most notorious traitors.
A person was mighty privileged to be beheaded in the peace and seclusion of Tower Green instead of before the mob at Tower Hill. In fact, only seven people were ever important enough—among them Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, wives two and five of Henry VIII’s six; Elizabeth I’s friend Robert Devereux, earl of Essex; and the nine-day queen, Lady Jane Grey, age 16.
Free tours depart every half hour or so from the Middle Tower. They are conducted by the Yeoman Warders, better known as Beefeaters, dressed in resplendent navy-and-red (scarlet-and-gold on special occasions) Tudor outfits. Beefeaters have been guarding the Tower since Henry VII appointed them in 1485. One of them, the Yeoman Warder Raven Master, is responsible for making life comfortable for the ravens (six birds plus reserves) that live in Lanthorn Tower. It’s an important duty, because if the ravens were to desert the Tower, goes the legend, the kingdom would fall. Today, the Tower takes no chances: The ravens’ wings are clipped.
In prime position stands the oldest part of the Tower and the most conspicuous of its buildings, the White Tower; the other towers were built in the next few centuries. This central keep was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror; Henry III (1207-72) had it whitewashed, which is where the name comes from. The spiral staircase is the only way up, and here are the Armouries, with a collection of arms and armor. Across the moat, Traitors’ Gate lies to the right. Opposite Traitors’ Gate is the former Garden Tower, better known since about 1570 as the Bloody Tower. Its name comes from one of the most famous unsolved murders in history, the saga of the “little princes in the Tower.” In 1483 the uncrowned boy king, Edward V, and his brother Richard were left here by their uncle, Richard of Gloucester, after the death of their father, Edward IV. They were never seen again; Gloucester was crowned Richard III, and in 1674 two little skeletons were found under the stairs to the White Tower, which are thought to be theirs.
The most famous exhibits are the Crown Jewels, in the Jewel House, Waterloo Barracks. This is the Tower’s biggest draw, perfect for playing pick-your-favorite-crown from the wrong side of bulletproof glass. Not only are these crowns, staffs, and orbs encrusted with heavy-duty gems, they are invested with the authority of monarchical power in England, dating back to the 1300s. Included is the famous Koh-i-noor, or “Mountain of Light.” The legendary diamond, which was supposed to bring luck to women, came from India, and was given to Queen Elizabeth. You can see it, in cut-down shape, in the late Queen Mother’s Crown. The Crown Jewels used to be housed in Martin Tower, which now hosts an exhibit that explains the art of fashioning royal headwear and includes 12,314 cut and uncut diamonds.
The little Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula is the second church on the site, and it’s the final resting place of six beheaded Tudor bodies. Visitors are welcome for services and can also enter after 4:30 pm daily.
Evocative Beauchamp Tower served as a jail for upper-class miscreants. Latin graffiti about Lady Jane Grey, who was also a prisoner here, can be glimpsed on the walls.
For free tickets to the 700-year-old Ceremony of the Keys (locking of main gates, nightly between 9:30 and 10), write several months in advance; check the tower Web site for details.
Tower Tips — Tickets are cheaper if booked online: £16 for adults, £9 for children. If buying your ticket at the venue, pick them up at the kiosk at Tower Hill Tube station before emerging above ground — the lines should be shorter. Even so, choose a day other than Sunday — crowds are at their worst then — and arrive as early as you can in the morning, or late in the afternoon.
Tower of London
Address: Tower Hill EC3
Transport: Tube at Tower Hill
Website: www.hrp.org.uk
Phone: 0844-482 7777
Price: adult/5-15yr/senior & student/family £17/9.50/14.50/47
Hours: 9am-5.30pm Tue-Sat, 10am-5.30pm Sun & Mon Mar-Oct, closes 4.30pm daily Nov-Feb, last admission 30min before closing time

All eyes were on Westminster Abbey when Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed here on April 29, 2011

• Westminster Abbey

The Westminster Abbey is not just one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Europe, it’s also the shrine of the nation where monarchs are anointed before their God and memorials to the nation’s greatest figures fill every corner. From the outside, it’s a magnificently earnest looking structure, its two great square towers and pointed arches the very epitome of medieval Gothic. The building was begun in 1245 under the reign of Henry II and finally completed in the early 16th century. This replaced an earlier structure commissioned in 1045 by Edward the Confessor (which itself had replaced a 7th-century original) and consecrated in 1065, just in time to play host to Edward’s funeral and (following a brief tussle in Hastings) the coronation of William the Conqueror. It has been, with a couple of exceptions, the setting for every coronation since, and it is here on April 29, 2011, that Prince William married Kate Middleton. On July 29, 1981, The fairytale wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was held at St Paul’s Cathedral  rather than Westminster Abbey because St Paul’s offered more seating and permits a longer procession through the streets of London.
More or less at the center of the Abbey stands the shrine of Edward the Confessor, while scattered around are the tombs of various other royals, including Henry V, Elizabeth I, and Richard III. Splendid as they are, they are all rather overshadowed by the tomb of Henry VII. This elaborately carved, gilded structure, the work of the Italian artist Torrigiano (a contemporary and sometime rival of Michelangelo), introduced Renaissance lushness to the Abbey’s otherwise overwhelmingly austere, Gothic confines. Nearby is the surprisingly shabby Coronation Chair, on which almost every monarch since Edward II, including the current one, has sat during their coronation.
In Poet’s Corner you’ll find a great assortment of memorials to the country’s greatest men (and a few women) of letters, clustered around the grave of Geoffrey Chaucer, who was buried here in 1400. These include a statue of Shakespeare, his arm resting on a pile of books, Jacob Epstein’s bust of William Blake, as well as tributes to Jane Austen, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Milton, Dylan Thomas, and D. H. Lawrence.
Statesmen and men of science — Disraeli, Newton, Charles Darwin — are also interred in the Abbey or honored by monuments. If you walk towards the West Entrance, you’ll see a plaque to Franklin D. Roosevelt —one of the Abbey’s very few tributes to a foreigner. Near to the west door is the 1965 memorial to Sir Winston Churchill and the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, commemorating the British dead of World War I.
More royal relics are on display in the Abbey Museum, which is housed in the Abbey undercroft. Among its various oddities are the effigies of a number of past royals, including Edward II and Henry VII, which were used instead of the real corpses for lying-in-state ceremonies — they smelled better. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10:30am to 4pm.
Arrive early if possible, but be prepared to wait in line to tour the abbey. Photography is not permitted. If visiting midweek, don’t forget to view the garden. First laid out some 900 years ago, it is one of the oldest cultivated gardens in the country, and offers a welcome breath of calming fresh air. It is open only from Tuesday to Thursday from April to September from 10am to 6pm, and from October to March from 10am to 4pm.
Westminster Abbey
Address: Dean’s Yard SW1
Transport: Tube at Westminster
Website: www.westminster-abbey.org
Email: info@westminster-abbey.org
Phone: 7222 5152
Price: adult/under 11yr/11-17yr/concession £15/free/6/12
Hours: 9.30am-3.45pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Wed, to 1.45pm Sat, last entry 1hr before closing

View of Tate Modern from St Paul's Cathedral side of the millennium bridge

• Tate Modern

Welcoming more than four million visitors a year, Tate Modern, designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (best known for Beijing Olympic Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and Allianz Arena in Munich for the 2006 World Cup), is the world’s most popular modern art gallery (the free admission helps), and one of the capital’s very best attractions. From the day it opened in 2000, the gallery has received almost as many plaudits for its setting as for its contents. It’s housed in a converted 1940s’ brick power station, the brooding industrial functionalism of the architecture providing a fitting canopy for the often challenging art within. Through the main entrance you enter a vast space, the Turbine Hall, where a succession of giant temporary exhibitions are staged — the bigger and more ambitious, the better. Highlights have included covering the floor with 100 million ceramic sunflower seeds (Sunflower Seeds by Ai Weiwei), creating a maze of 14,000 polyethylene boxes (Embankment by Rachel Whiteread), and building a series of metal tubes up to the floors above for visitors to slide down (Test Site by Carsten Höller).
The permanent collection encompasses a great body of modern art dating from 1900 to the present. Spread over three levels, it covers all the big-hitters, including Matisse, Rothko, Pollock, Picasso, Dali, Duchamp, and Warhol, and is arranged according to movements — surrealism, minimalism, cubism, expressionism, and so on. Free 45-minute guided tours of the collection are given daily at 11am, noon, 2pm, and 3pm. The gallery stays open late on Friday and Saturday, when events, such as concerts and talks, are often put on.
Such has been the gallery’s success that a new extension is being built. It will take the form of a giant asymmetrical, brick-and-glass pyramid, which should be completed in 2012.
If you look out of the windows you will see the Millennium Bridge designed by Norman Foster, which connects the south bank to St Paul’s Cathedral. A shuttle boat (tel. 020/7887-8888) runs every 40 minutes between Tate Modern, the huge wheel of the London Eye past Westminster Bridge and the original gallery, Tate Britain. Appropriately enough, the boat’s spotted livery was designed by Damien Hirst, aging enfant terrible of the London modern art scene. The service takes 20 minutes, and runs every 20 minutes during opening times, stopping en route at the London Eye. Tickets cost £5 adults, £2.50 for children under 16.
Tate Modern
Address: Queen’s Walk Bankside, SE1 9TG
Transport: St Paul’s, Southwark or London Bridge
Website: www.tate.org.uk
Price: admission free, special exhibitions £8-10
Hours: 10am-6pm Sun-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat

Surrounded by the impressive National Gallery, Trafalgar Square is the center of London, where rallies and marches take place

• Trafalgar Square

In many ways this is the center of London, where rallies and marches take place, tens of thousands of revelers usher in the New Year and locals congregate for anything from communal open-air cinema to various political protests. The great square was neglected over many years, ringed with gnarling traffic and given over to flocks of pigeons that would dive-bomb anyone with a morsel of food on their person. But things changed in 2000 when Ken Livingstone became London Mayor and embarked on a bold and imaginative scheme to transform it into the kind of space John Nash had intended when he designed it in the early 19th century. Traffic was banished from the northern flank in front of the National Gallery, and a new pedestrian plaza built. The front of the National Gallery itself was dolled up with a new facade and entrance hall, and feeding pigeons was banned. Countless cultural events are held here, showcasing the city’s multiculturalism, with celebrations for Russian, Jewish and Chinese New Year, plus African music concerts, film screenings and so on. In recent years, Trafalgar Sq has become a top protest venue too, with demonstrations against the conflicts in Gaza, Sri Lanka and other international hot potatoes taking place here. The website www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare allows you to see what events are taking place on the square.
The pedestrianization has made it easier to appreciate not only the square but also the splendid buildings around it: the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the newly renovated church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. The ceremonial Pall Mall runs southwest from the top of the square. To the southwest stands Admiralty Arch, with The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace beyond it. To the west is Canada House (1827), designed by Robert Smirke. Standing in the centre of the square since 1843, the 52m-high Nelson’s Column (upon which the admiral surveys his fleet of ships to the southwest) commemorates Nelson’s victory over Napoleon off Cape Trafalgar in Spain in 1805.
Trafalgar Square
Location: Westminster and Royal London
Address: Trafalgar Sq., Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN
Tube: Charing Cross.
Location: Westminster and Royal London
website: www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare

Two Versions Of Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Virgin Of The Rocks', the Louvre's (left) in Paris and National Gallery's (right) in London. They differ in several details. The angel Gabriel, seated at right, is shown to be pointing at John the Baptist in the Louvre version of the painting. In the National Gallery version, Leonardo removes that detail, but adds haloes and a cruciform staff for the young Saint John.

• National Gallery

Standing proudly on the north side of Trafalgar Square is one of the world’s supreme art collections, with more than 2,300 masterpieces on show. Picasso, van Gogh, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Monet, Turner, and more—all for free.
Its collection may not be of quite the same monumental scale as some of Europe’s other great galleries, such as the Louvre, the Prado, or the Uffizi, but for the sheer skill of its display and arrangement, the National surpasses its counterparts. And the gallery’s 2,300-plus paintings would still take some considerable time to view in their entirety — certainly a good deal longer than the gallery’s original collection, which consisted of just 38 works. It was founded in 1824 by the British Government, and gradually built up via a combination of private bequests and purchases. Today the collection provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Western art from the mid-1200s to 1900, with most major artists and movements of the period represented. The gallery’s collection cuts off at 1900; to see 20th-century art you need to head to Tate Modern and, for British art, Tate Britain.

The Arnolfini portrait by the Dutch painter Jan van Eyck is one of the most popular masterpieces in London’s National Gallery

Highlights
This brief selection is your jumping-off point, but there are hundreds more, enough to fill a full day. (1) Van Gogh (1853–1890), Sunflowers – one of four paintings of sunflowers dating from August and September 1888. one of the most popular paintings in the National Gallery. It is the painting that is most often reproduced on cards, posters, mugs, tea-towels and stationery. It was also the picture that Van Gogh was most proud of. (2) Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), The Virgin and Child—this exquisite black-chalk “Burlington Cartoon” has the master’s most haunting Mary. (3) Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), The Virgin of the Rocks (sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks) is the name used for both of two Late Renaissance paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, of the same subject, and of a composition which is identical except for two significant details. One painting usually hangs in the Louvre, Paris, and the other in the National Gallery, London. The significant compositional differences are in the gaze and right hand of the angel. (4) Van Eyck (circa 1395-1441), The Arnolfini Portrait—a solemn couple holds hands, the fish-eye mirror behind them mysteriously illuminating what can’t be seen from the front view. (5) Holbein (1497-1543), The Ambassadors—two wealthy visitors from France stand surrounded by what were considered luxury goods at the time. Note the elongated skull at the bottom of the painting, which takes shape when viewed from an angle. (6) Constable (1776-1837), The Hay Wain—rendered overfamiliar by too many greeting cards, this is the definitive image of golden-age rural England. (7) Turner (1775-1851), Rain, Steam and Speed: The Great Western Railway, an astonishing whirl of rain, mist, steam, and locomotion (spot the hare). (8) Caravaggio (1573-1610), The Supper at Emmaus —a cinematically lightened, freshly resurrected Christ blesses bread in an astonishingly domestic vision from the master of chiaroscuro. (9) Seurat (1859-91), Bathers at Asnières—this static summer day’s idyll is one of the pointillist extraordinaire’s best-known works. (10) Botticelli (1445-1510), Venus and Mars—Mars sleeps, exhausted by the love goddess, oblivous to the lance wielded by mischievous cherubs. (11) Claude-Oscar Monet (1840 – 1926), Water-Lilies — Almost abstract in effect, it shows a close-up of the surface of the pond with groups of lilies highlighted against the shadows of trees in a rich color harmony of green, blue and pink.
Insider’s tip: Color coding throughout the galleries helps you keep track of the period you’re immersed in. Begin at an “Art Start” terminal in the Sainsbury Wing or East Wing Espresso Bar. The interactive screens give you access to information on all of the museum’s holdings; you can choose your favorites, and print out a free personal tour map. Want some stimulation? Try a free weekday lunchtime lecture, or Ten Minute Talk, which illuminates the story behind a key work of art. One-hour free, guided tours start at the Sainsbury Wing daily at 11:30 and 2:30. If you are eager for even more insight into the art, pick up a themed audio guide, which takes in about 20 paintings. If you visit during school holidays, don’t miss special programs for children. There are also free Family Sundays with special talks for children and their parents.
National Gallery
Address: Trafalgar Sq., London, WC2N 5DN
Transport: Tube at Charing Cross
Website:  www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Phone: 020/7747-2885
Cost: Free, charge for special exhibitions; audio guide £3
Hours:10am-6pm Thu-Tue, to 9pm Wed

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is a replica of the open-air playhouse designed in 1599 where most of the Bard's great plays premiered

• Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

A spectacular theater, this is a replica of Shakespeare’s open-roof, wood-and-thatch Globe Playhouse (built in 1599 and burned down in 1613), where most of the Bard’s great plays premiered. For several decades, American actor and director Sam Wanamaker worked ceaselessly to raise funds for the theater’s reconstruction, 200 yards from its original site, using authentic materials and techniques. His dream was realized in 1997. At the plays, “groundlings”—those with £5 standing-only tickets—are not allowed to sit during the performance. You can reserve an actual seat, though, on any one of the theater’s three levels, but you will want to rent a cushion for £1 (or bring your own) to soften the backless wooden benches. The show must go on, rain or shine, warm or chilly—so come prepared for anything. Umbrellas are banned, but you can bring a raincoat or buy a cheap Globe rain poncho, which doubles as a great souvenir. Throughout the year, you can tour the theater as part of the Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, a museum under the theater (the entry is adjacent) that provides background material on the Elizabethan theater and the construction of the modern-day Globe. Admission also includes a tour of the theater. On matinee days, the tour visits the archaeological site of the nearby (and older) Rose Theatre.
Insider’s tip: Guided tours of the facility are offered throughout the day in the theatre’s winter off-season. From May to September, however, Globe tours are only available in the morning. In the afternoon, when matinee performances are taking place, alternative tours to the rather scanty remains of the Rose Theatre, the Globe’s precursor (which was torn down in the early 17th century), are offered instead.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, South Bank, London, SE1 9DT
Phone: 020/7902-1400 box office; 020/7401-9919 New Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition
Cost: Exhibition & Globe Theatre Tour £10.50 (£2 reduction with valid performance ticket; ticket prices for plays vary, £5-£35
Hours: Exhibition May-early Oct., daily 10-5; mid-Oct.-Apr., daily 9-12:30 and 1-5; plays May-early Oct., call for performance schedule
Website: www.shakespeares-globe.org
Tube: Southwark, then walk to Blackfriars Bridge and descend the steps; Mansion House, then cross Southwark Bridge; Blackfriars, then walk across Blackfriars Bridge; St. Paul’s, then cross Millennium Bridge.

Piccadilly Circus, London's Times Square, is a road junction connecting some of London's famous shopping streets with the West End entertainment district

• Piccadilly Circus

Together with Big Ben and Trafalgar Sq, this is postcard London. And despite the stifling crowds and racing midday traffic, the flashing ads and buzzing liveliness of Piccadilly Circus always make it exciting to be in London. The circus looks its best at night, when the flashing advertisement panels really shine against the dark sky.
Designed by John Nash in the 1820s, the hub was named after the street Piccadilly, which earned its name in the 17th century from the stiff collars (picadils) that were the sartorial staple of the time (and were the making of a nearby tailor’s fortune). At the centre of the circus is the famous lead statue, the Angel of Christian Charity, dedicated to the philanthropist and child-labour abolitionist Lord Shaftesbury, and derided when unveiled in 1893, sending the sculptor into early retirement. The sculpture was at first cast in gold, but it was later replaced by the present-day one. Down the years the angel has been mistaken for Eros, the God of Love, and the misnomer has stuck (you’ll even see signs for ‘Eros’ from the Underground). It’s a handy meeting place for tourists, though if you don’t like the crowds, meet at the charging Horses of Helios statue at the edge of Piccadilly and Haymarket – apparently a much cooler place to convene.
John Nash had originally designed Regent St and Piccadilly to be the two most elegant streets in town but, curbed by city planners, Nash couldn’t realise his dream to the full. In the many years since his noble plans, Piccadilly Circus has become swamped with tourists, with streets such as Coventry St flogging astronomically priced cheap tat to unsuspecting visitors. Coventry St leads to Leicester Sq, while Shaftesbury Ave takes you to the heart of the West End’s theatreland. Piccadilly itself leads to the sanctuary of Green Park. On Haymarket, check out New Zealand House (built in 1959 on the site of the Carlton Hotel, which was bombed during the war), where the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) worked as a waiter in 1913. Have a look down Lower Regent St for a glimpse of glorious Westminster.
Just east of the circus is London Trocadero, a huge and soulless indoor amusement arcade that has six levels of hi-tech, high-cost fun for youngsters, along with cinemas, US-themed restaurants and bowling alleys.
Piccadilly Circus
Address: St. James’s, London, W1J ODA
Tube: Piccadilly Circus.
Phone: 7734 6126

Head to the famous Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill for everything from antiques and vintage accessories to street food and fresh veg stalls

• Portobello Market

London’s most famous market still wins the prize (according to some) for the all-round best. Perhaps because it’s less crowded and littered than Camden, Londoners generally prefer this market. It sits in the lively, cultural melting pot of Notting Hill; the 1,500 antiques dealers here don’t rip you off (although you should haggle where you can); and it stretches over a mile, changing character completely as it goes. Though shops and stalls open daily, the busiest days are Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There’s an antiques market on Saturday, and a flea market on Portobello Green on Sunday morning.
The southern end, starting at Chepstow Villas, is lined with antiques shops and arcades; the middle, above Elgin Crescent, is where locals buy fruit and veg. This middle area was the setting for the lovely sequence in the movie Notting Hill where Hugh Grant walks through the market as the seasons change. The section nearest the elevated highway (called the Westway) has one of the best flea markets in town, with vintage-clothing stores along the edges. Here, young designers sell their wares in and around the Portobello Green arcade. After that, the market trails off into a giant rummage sale of the kinds of cheap household goods the British call tat.
Some say Portobello Road has become a bit of a tourist trap, but if you acknowledge that it’s a circus and get into the spirit, it’s a lot of fun. Perhaps you won’t find many bargains, but this is such a fascinating part of town that just hanging out is a good enough excuse to come. There are some food and flower stalls throughout the week (try the Hummingbird Bakery for delicious cupcakes) but Saturday is really the only day to see the market in full swing.
Portobello Road Market
Address: Portobello Rd., Notting Hill, London, W11 | Map It
Hours: 08:00-18:00 Mon-Wed, 09:00-13:00 Thu, 07:00-19:00 Fri & Sat
Phone:020/8960-5599
Tube: Notting Hill Gate (District, Circle, or Central Line)
Website: www.portobellomarket.org
Location: Notting Hill

Harrods, Britain's most famous department store, comprises seven floors of luxury and is on many London tourists' must-do lists

• Harrods

A fabled encyclopedia of luxury brands, this Knightsbridge institution has more than 300 departments and 20 restaurants, all spread over 1 million square feet. If you approach Harrods as a tourist attraction rather than a fashion store, you won’t be disappointed. Focus on the spectacular food halls, the huge ground-floor perfumery, the marble-clad accessory rooms, and the theme park-like Egyptian Room—at the bottom of the nearby Egyptian escalator there’s a commemorative memorial to Diana and Dodi (whose father Mohammed Al Fayed used to own Harrods, now owned by Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Abdullah bin Jassim bin Muhammed al-Thani). Be prepared to brave the crowds (avoid visiting on a Saturday if you can), and be prepared to pay if you want to use the bathroom on some floors(!).
Harrods
Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd., Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL
Transport: Tube at Knightsbridge
Website: www.harrods.com
Phone: 020/7730 1234
Hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 11.30am-6pm Sun

Discover the magnificence of the great Tudor King Henry VIII’s favorite royal residence - Hampton Court Palace

• Hampton Court Palace

Today the royal palace that sits beside the slow-moving Thames gives you two palaces for the price of one: The magnificent Tudor redbrick mansion that was begun in 1514 by Cardinal Wolsey to impress the young Henry, and the larger 17th-century baroque offering, for which the graceful south wing was designed by Christopher Wren of St. Paul’s fame. The first buildings of Hampton Court belonged to a religious order founded in the 11th century and were expanded over the years by its many subsequent residents, none more important than Henry VIII and his six wives. Henry spent a king’s ransom (today’s equivalent of £18 million or $27.5 million) expanding and refurbishing the palace.
Highlights
If Tudor takes your fancy, wander through the State Apartments, hung with priceless paintings, and on to the wood-beamed magnificence of Henry’s Great Hall, lined with tapestries and the mustiness of old, before taking in the strikingly azure ceiling of the Chapel Royal. Topping it all is the Great House of Easement, a lavatory that could sit 28 people at a time.
Feel a chill in the air? Watch out for the ghost of Henry VIII’s doomed fifth wife, Catherine Howard, who literally lost her head yet apparently still screams her way along the Haunted Gallery. The latter-day baroque transformers of the palace, William and Mary, maintained beautiful King’s and Queen’s Apartments, Georgian Rooms, and fine collections of porcelain.
Don’t miss the world’s most famous maze, its ½ mi of pathways among clipped hedgerows still fiendish to negotiate. There’s a trick, but we won’t give it away here: it’s much more fun to go and lose yourself.
In summer months, consider arriving in style by riverboat at Hampton Court.
Insider’s tip: Tickets are considerably cheaper if bought online.  In a group? Save nearly £10 on admission with a £38 family ticket (two adults, three children). Choose which parts of the palace to explore based on a number of self-guided audio walking tours. Come Christmastime, there’s ice-skating on a rink before the West Front of the palace—an unmissable mixture of pleasantry and pageantry. Special programs, such as cooking demonstrations in the cavernous Tudor kitchens, also make history fun for young royal-watchers.
Hampton Court Palace
Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesley, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Phone: 0844/482-7799 tickets; 0844/482-7777 information
Cost: £14
Hours: Late Mar.-Oct., daily 10-6 (last ticket sold at 5; last entry to maze at 5:15); Nov.-late Mar., daily 10-4:30 (last ticket sold at 3:30; last entry to maze at 3:45); check Web site before visiting
Website: www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace
Tube: Richmond, then Bus R68; National Rail, South West: Hampton Court Station, 35 min from Waterloo (most trains require change at Surbiton).
Location: The Thames Upstream

London Travel Tips

A Money-Saving Pass – The London Pass provides admission to more than 55 attractions in and around London, “timed” admission at some attractions (bypassing the line ups), plus free travel on public transport (buses, Tubes, and trains) and a pocket guidebook. It costs £40 for 1 day, £55 for 2 days, £68 for 3 days, and £90 for 6 days (children aged 5 to 15 pay £27, £41, £46, or £64, respectively), and includes admission to St. Paul’s Cathedral, HMS Belfast, the Jewish Museum, and the Thames Barrier Visitor Centre — and many other attractions.
This rather pricey pass is useful if you’re trying to cram 2 days’ worth of sightseeing into a single day. But if you’re a slow-moving visitor, who likes to stop and smell the roses, you may not get your money’s worth. Decide how much transportation and sightseeing you hope to get done, and, using this guide, calculate what the costs will be. It’s a bit of paperwork, but it will help you decide whether the London Pass is a good deal for you. The pass is valid for 12 months and so it is worth buying in advance or checking back on the website regularly for special-priced deals. You can also purchase the pass without the transportation package. Visit the website at www.londonpass.com.

Getting there

Flights
There are four airports, London Heathrow (due west), London Gatwick (south east), London Stansted (north east) and London Luton (north).
Airport Links
Any airport train with the word “Express” in it will be fast but expensive (cheapest prices are online): Heathrow 15 minutes/£32 adult return (www.heathrowexpress.com); Gatwick 30 minutes/£27.40 adult return (www.gatwickexpress.com); Stansted 45 minutes/£27.30 adult return (www.stanstedexpress.com). If not in a hurry, take the bus – they will normally make several stops in central London, so check your hotel location – or take the local stopping train (Gatwick to Victoria takes around 50 minutes and costs as little as £17.50 for an anytime adult return. If doing this the other way, make sure the train stops at the airport) with Southern (www.southernrailway.com)
Cruises
Ships moor at Tilbury, 22 miles from central London in the Thames Estuary (www.londoncruiseterminal.com). Passengers are bussed in and out, but trains from nearby Tilbury Town take 35 minutes to Fenchurch Street.
Train
Eurostar (08432 186186, www.eurostar.com) runs out of Victorian Gothic St Pancras International (020 7843 7688, www.stpancras.com), now almost a destination in its own right: Paris 2hrs 15, Lille 1hr 20, Brussels 2hrs 58. For further afield in Europe contact RailEurope (0844 848 4070, www.raileurope.co.uk).

Getting around

Car
London traffic is unforgiving and most roads adhere to the mediaeval spaghetti system rather than a nice grid. Still want to drive? If you live in the UK, join ZipCar (0333 240 9000, www.zipcar.com) – one-off fee £59.50, and you can pick up a car for as little as £5 an hour. The Congestion Charge is paid automatically. EasyCar (www.easycar.com) does good deals on small cars – they are currently offering car hire from Heathrow from £15 per day. See Tfl website for congestion charge information: the zone shrank in January 2011.
Bike
The Barclaycard Cycle Hire scheme (UK 0845 026 3630, overseas +44 (0)20 8216 6666, www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire) is now open to member and casual users with a credit card. Access to the “Boris Bikes” – as Londoners call them, after the cycling Mayor of London, Boris Johnson – costs £1 for 24 hours, £5 for seven days and £45 per year. Usage is free up to 30 minutes, but rises steeply after two hours.  Download the map or phone app showing the latest docking stations: not all of them are shown on the maps on the information posts.  For longer periods, the London Cycling Campaign (www.lcc.org.uk) has a list of hire shops: On Your Bike (www.onyourbike.com) on Tooley Street, SE1, for example, does day hire for £18 first day and £10 thereafter and a week for £45.
Taxis
The familiar Black Cabs are the only ones allowed to ply for hire and are only available if their orange lights are on (tricky to see on summer nights). They are expensive because they know where they’re going, thanks to long training: flag down is £2.20 and fares jump after 8pm and again after 10pm. Minicabs are less regulated but cheaper: ask a friend or venue for a reliable company, ask the fare in advance and check they know your name before you get in. For 35p Cabwise will text you the nearest cabs, using GPS: just text CAB to 60835. If you want to tip, aim for around 10% or round up the fare.
Public Transport
First step is to pay a refundable £5 deposit for an Oyster Card online (www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster) or at a station. Without the plastic card, a single Zone 1 & 2 tube journey costs £4. With it, £2.50 peak and £1.90 off-peak, and your travel costs are capped for the day.  Buses without cost £2.20, with £1.30, capped at £4 per day.  Use it to top up pay-as-you-go or load it with a Travelcard:
One-day off-peak Travelcard: £6.60 (Zone 1 & 2), peak £8 – these are also the daily capping rates for pay-as-you-go.
Seven-day Travelcard: £27.60 (Zone 1 & 2).
Visitor Oyster Card: An electronic smartcard ticket, can save up to 50 percent on London tube trains, buses, trams, and trains. If you live outside London £10 plus £3 deposit. www.visitbritainshop.com
The Tube, or Underground, is a fantastic network when it runs smoothly. Buses are cheaper, slower, have better views and mightily improved signage and maps. Many overland trains now take Oyster as well.
Beware “open” stations (for example, on the DLR); it’s easy to forget to swipe out and get clobbered for the maximum day charge. Infuriating.