Copy of Tour London - Day 1

Our Local Expert Says:

Perfect way to orient yourselves in the city before deciding which sights to investigate further. Book online for a discount. In low season the drivers often strike 2 for 1 deals & offer a 48 hour pass.

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You've probably seen these buses - along with London double-deckers, tour buses and more tour buses. Regardless of your usual attitude towards guided tours, these hop-on, hop-off tours are a good way to get an overview of the city, and you can make mental notes of where to go for a more thorough visit. The price you pay with Big Bus is for a 24-hour ticket; during this time you can travel anywhere on the tour network, which encompasses stops over just about all of central London. Included in the price is a free walking tour and Thames River cruise, as well as numerous discounts for West End shows. Guide tapes are available in 12 languages, and the company won the London Sightseeing Tour of the Year award. Be careful when choosing the open-air rooftop, because London is notorious for fickle weather.

Our Local Expert Says:

Saturated with fascinating history, spend the day

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This ancient fortress continues to pack in the crowds with its macabre associations with the legendary figures imprisoned and/or executed here. There are more spooks here per square foot than in any other building in the whole of haunted Britain. Headless bodies, bodiless heads, phantom soldiers, icy blasts, clanking chains -- you name them, the Tower's got them. Centuries after the last head rolled on Tower Hill, a shivery atmosphere of impending doom still lingers over the Tower's mighty walls. Plan on spending a lot of time here.

The Tower is actually an intricately patterned compound of structures built through the ages for varying purposes, mostly as expressions of royal power. The oldest is the White Tower, begun by William the Conqueror in 1078 to keep London's native Saxon population in check. Later rulers added other towers, more walls, and fortified gates, until the buildings became like a small town within a city. Until the reign of James I (beginning in 1603), the Tower was also one of the royal residences. But above all, it was a prison for distinguished captives.

Every stone of the Tower tells a story -- usually a gory one. In the Bloody Tower, according to Shakespeare,...

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This is one of the world's most celebrated landmarks, and possibly the most photographed and painted bridge on earth. (Presumably, this is the one the Arizona businessman thought he was getting when he bought the London Bridge.) Despite its medieval appearance, Tower Bridge was built in 1894.

An exhibition inside the bridge commemorates its century-old history; it takes you up the north tower to high-level walkways between the two towers with spectacular views of St. Paul's, the Tower of London, and the Houses of Parliament. You're then led down the south tower and into the bridge's original engine room, containing the Victorian boilers and steam engines that used to raise and lower the bridge for ships to pass. Multimedia exhibits in the towers illustrate the history of the bridge.

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In the transformed Bankside Power Station in Southwark, this museum draws some 2 million visitors a year to see the greatest collection of international 20th-century art in Britain. How would we rate the collection? At the same level of the Pompidou in Paris, with a slight edge over New York's Guggenheim. Tate Modern is viewer-friendly, with eye-level hangings. All the big painting stars are here -- a whole galaxy ranging from Dalí to Duchamp, from Giacometti to Matisse and Mondrian, from Picasso and Pollock to Rothko and Warhol. The Modern is also a gallery of 21st-century art, displaying new and exciting works.

The Tate Modern makes extensive use of glass for both its exterior and interior, offering panoramic views. Galleries are arranged over three levels and provide a variety of spaces for display. Instead of exhibiting art chronologically and by school, the Tate Modern, in a radical break from tradition, takes a thematic approach. This allows displays to cut across movements.

You can cross the Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian-only walk from the steps of St. Paul's, over the Thames to the gallery. Or else you can take the Tate to Tate boat (tel. 020/7887-8888), which takes art lovers...

Our Local Expert Says:

Skip the crowds close to the buildings, cross the Thames and view these iconic structures from the South Bank.

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Think of London and the very first image that springs to mind will be that of the grand clock towering over the Thames river. Big Ben is actually the nickname given to the bell inside the tower. The tower is officially called St. Stephen's Tower. Ben chimes every hour on the hour and the smaller bells ring every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, as much as it beckons, only UK residents are allowed to tour Big Ben and even this has to be arranged well in advance by their MP. The good news however is that next to the famous clock tower, the Houses of Parliament - which are made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons - can be toured by overseas visitors. The building which is home to both "houses" is the (former royal) Palace of Westminster, once home to the British monarchs. Every year in England, November 5th is commemorated with fireworks and bonfires which celebrate the foiled gunpowder plot of Guy Fawkes in 1605. Listen to the chimes of Big Ben

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For over 900 years this impressive assemblage of Gothic buildings has been the home of British government. Indeed, no other place so potently symbolises democracy in the Western world. The building covers an area of eight acres and consists of 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, 11 courtyards and over three kilometres of passages. The House of Lords occupies the southern end of the building whilst the House of Commons occupies the northern end. Within the Houses of Parliament there are also Westminster Hall, the Crypt Church, Members' Lobbies, the Commons Library and the Peers Library. Outside, the tower containing Big Ben remains the single most celebrated structure in this very picturesque riverside seat of British government. In order to attend PMQ (Prime Minister's Question Time) in the House of Commons' Strangers' Gallery, UK citizens need to contact their local MP in advance to ensure entry. Alternatively one can queue at St Stephen's entrance but this may not prove successful. Admission is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Try a night ride for stunning view of the city or the private “Cupid’s Capsule” complete with champagne

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Many Londoners were none too happy when in the 135 meter high Millennium Wheel (as was first known) was erected in 1999 to commemorate the "turning of the century". Now known simply as the London Eye, locals have softened and have even taken a ride or two in one of the 32 capsules which hold up to 25 people each. Views up to 25 miles can be observed on a clear day and evening rides are available to see an illuminated London. Weddings, private events and children's birthday parties are held within the London Eye's pods. Special packages are designed for every season and holiday, the wheel glows with matching lights for the occasion. Even with pre-booked capsules expect lines; however, entertainment in the area is abundant with street performers, a playground and a carousel. Grab the camera because the best part of the London Eye is the most breath-taking view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament across the Thames at ground level. A journey lasts approximately 30 minutes.

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The Victoria and Albert is the greatest decorative-arts museum in the world. It's also one of the liveliest and most imaginative museums in London.

The medieval holdings include such treasures as the early-English Gloucester Candlestick; the Byzantine Veroli Casket, with its ivory panels based on Greek plays; and the Syon Cope, a unique embroidery made in England in the early 14th century. An area devoted to Islamic art houses the Ardabil Carpet from 16th-century Persia.

The V&A boasts the largest collection of Renaissance sculpture outside Italy. A highlight of the 16th-century collection is the marble group Neptune with Triton, by Bernini. The cartoons by Raphael, which were conceived as designs for tapestries for the Sistine Chapel, are owned by the Queen and are on display here. A most unusual, huge, and impressive exhibit is the Cast Courts, life-size plaster models of ancient and medieval statuary and architecture.

The museum has the greatest collection of Indian art outside India, plus Chinese and Japanese galleries. In complete contrast are suites of English furniture, metalwork, and ceramics, and a superb collection of portrait miniatures, including the one Hans Holbein the...

Our Local Expert Says:

Browse through iconic London department store Liberty within the gorgeous timber framed Tudor building. For funkier shops & food try the pedestrianized area of Carnaby Street.

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At the bustling intersection of Regent and Oxford Streets rests Oxford Circus. The square is the ideal place for people watching because the steady stream of pedestrians persists throughout the night. Several cafes and shops line the square.

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This massive, graceful building is the official residence of the Queen. The red-brick palace was built as a country house for the notoriously rakish Duke of Buckingham. In 1762, King George III, who needed room for his 15 children, bought it. It didn't become the official royal residence, though, until Queen Victoria took the throne; she preferred it to St. James's Palace. From George III's time, the building was continuously expanded and remodeled, faced with Portland stone, and twice bombed (during the Blitz). Located in a 16-hectare (40-acre) garden, it's 108m (354 ft.) long and contains 600 rooms. You can tell whether the Queen is at home by checking to see if the Royal Standard is flying from the mast outside. For most of the year, you can't visit the palace without an official invitation. Since 1993, though, much of it has been open for tours during an 8-week period in August and September, when the royal family is usually vacationing outside London. Elizabeth II agreed to allow visitors to tour the State Room, the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room, and other areas designed by John Nash for George IV, as well as the Picture Gallery, which displays masterpieces by Van Dyck, Rembrandt,...

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If the crowds are too much, try catching the guards before the parade at Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk

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The Queen's Guard is made up of five regiments: Coldstream, Grendadier, Welsh, Irish, and Scots who protect Her Majesty when she is in residence at Buckingham Palace. When these guards require a rest, a ceremony known as the Changing of the Guard takes place, drawing thousands of spectators. Famed for the bearskin hats and smart red coats, the Guard's spectacle of pomp and circumstance is part of the reason people flock to London.

The new guard leaves Wellington Barracks a few minutes before the change and marches down Birdcage Walk to Buckingham Palace. The 40 minute ceremony takes place within the gates of the palace, so get there early to secure a good vantage spot along the palace gates. In addition, the St. James's Palace detachment of the Queen's guard marches to Buckingham Palace at 11:15am and back to St. James's at 12:10p.

For another, less crowded Changing of the Guard ceremony visit the Horse Guards around 11am where soldiers on horseback make the swap.

Our Local Expert Says:

Ask at the desk to try on a true Royal Guard bearskin hat and scarlet tunic for a fun photo op.

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Dedicated to Her Majesty's Household Division which protects the Sovereign and Royal Palaces... in other words, dedicated to those who wear the red tunic and bearskin hat! Small and quiet, The Guards Museum is a perfect place to learn more about the royal guards and even have your photo taken in that famous regimental tunic and hat. On display are uniforms, helmets, instruments, medals, a tent from the Crimean War and more. There's a little shop next door to the Guards Museum and you might even catch the new guards forming at nearby Wellington Barracks before the Changing of the Guard ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace.

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For many years, Piccadilly Circus - at the junction of five busy streets - has been a major London landmark, seen by many as the capital's centre. In the daytime it's a bustling area filled with shoppers, business people and tourists. But visit in the evening to see the area really come alive, with its sparkling illuminated signs and heady mix of clubbers and couples ready for a big evening out. At the heart of Piccadilly is a fountain topped with the aluminium statue of an archer. Although affectionately known as Eros by Londoners, it's actually the Angel of Christian Charity by Sir Alfred Gilbert, and it was so unpopular when first unveiled that he opted for self-imposed exile. Today the statue is one of London's most famous sites and a haven for tourists and romantic couples alike. This is truly the gateway to the West End.

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With its identical square towers and superb archways, this early-English Gothic abbey is one of the greatest examples of ecclesiastical architecture on earth. But it's far more than that: It's the shrine of a nation, the symbol of everything Britain has stood for and stands for, and the place in which most of its rulers were crowned and where many lie buried.

Nearly every figure in English history has left his or her mark on Westminster Abbey. Edward the Confessor founded the Benedictine abbey in 1065 on this spot overlooking Parliament Square. The first English king crowned in the Abbey may have been Harold, in January 1066. The man who defeated him at the Battle of Hastings later that year, William the Conqueror, had the first recorded coronation in the Abbey on Christmas Day that same year. The coronation tradition has continued to the present day. The essentially early-English Gothic structure existing today owes more to Henry III's plans than to those of any other sovereign, although many architects, including Wren, have contributed to the Abbey.

Built on the site of the ancient Lady Chapel in the early 16th century, the Henry VII Chapel is one of the loveliest in Europe, with...

Our Local Expert Says:

When you tire of the crowds in the central area, explore the interesting and bohemian little streets and alleyways leading off Covent Garden, particularly those around Neal's Yard and Monmouth Street

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Sheltered beneath a beautiful Victorian iron-and-glass arcade that once held England's largest fruit and vegetable market are the shops and restaurants that make up the heart of Covent Garden. Its famous piazza is the only area of London licensed for street entertainment and all performers are required to audition before they are allowed to perform. Buskers such as magicians, statues, opera singers, musicians, and jugglers perform for your enjoyment and in return you give them a bit of money. There's a nice buzz to the piazza and surroundings. It is always a child favorite even if it is quite touristy. Sample a freshly baked treat from Ben's Cookies or a Cornish pasty while people watching the entertainers. The market is perfect for souvenir shopping but be warned, at peak times it gets uncomfortably busy.

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In 1996, one of the world's great libraries began moving its collection of some 12 million books, manuscripts, and other items from the British Museum to its very own home in St. Pancras. In the new building, you get modernistic beauty rather than the fading glamour and the ghosts of Karl Marx, William Thackeray, and Virginia Woolf of the old library at the British Museum. You are also likely to get the book you want within an hour instead of 3 days. Academics, students, writers, and bookworms from all over the world come here. On a recent visit, we sat next to a student researching the history of pubs.

The bright, roomy interior is far more inviting than the rather dull red-brick exterior suggests. The most spectacular room is the Humanities Reading Room, constructed on three levels with daylight filtered through the ceiling.

The fascinating collection includes such items of historic and literary interest as two of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta (1215), a Gutenberg Bible, Nelson's last letter to Lady Hamilton, and the journals of Captain Cook. Almost every major author -- Dickens, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Keats, and hundreds of others -- is represented in the section...

Our Local Expert Says:

No visit to London is complete without coming here

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London's great public pedestrianized square, at the foot of the National Gallery, is known for its four majestic lions standing guard under the base of Lord Nelson's Column. The column was erected in 1832 then two years later the beautiful fountains were added. Once famed for the pigeon problem, the square now has a resident hawk to keep them at bay.

The square is the sight for London's political demonstrations and rallies as well as the city's Christmas tree and New Year's Eve celebrations. Festivals, concerts and performances are regularly held in the square.

Under the statue of Charles I on his horse in the Trafalgar Square marks the center of London. It is from here where all signs distances are measured.

The Fourth Plinth art project displays a rotating piece of public art in the square.

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This ornate, Edwardian arch (which usually goes unnoticed) spans the entrance to The Mall from Trafalgar Square. Commissioned by Edward VII, the arch is actually a set of five arches in Portland stone which mark the royal route to St Paul's Cathedral. Traffic and pedestrians pass through the outer arches, while the central arch remains closed except when it is opened to allow the sovereign to pass through on state occasions.

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This stately neoclassical building contains an unrivaled collection of Western art spanning 7 centuries -- from the late 13th to the early 20th -- and covering every great European school. For sheer skill of display and arrangement, it surpasses its counterparts in Paris, New York, Madrid, and Amsterdam.

The largest part of the collection is devoted to the Italians, including the Sienese, Venetian, and Florentine masters. They're now housed in the Sainsbury Wing, which was designed by noted architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. On display are such works as Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks; Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne; Giorgione's Adoration of the Magi; and unforgettable canvases by Bellini, Veronese, Botticelli, and Tintoretto. Botticelli's Venus and Mars is eternally enchanting.

Of the early Gothic works, the Wilton Diptych (French or English school, late 14th c.) is the rarest treasure; it depicts Richard II being introduced to the Madonna and Child by John the Baptist and the Saxon kings, Edmund and Edward the Confessor. Then there are the Spanish giants: El Greco's Agony in the Garden and portraits by Goya and Velázquez. The Flemish-Dutch...

Our Local Expert Says:

Ask for the free kids' backpacks & goody bags. Children's workshops run on weekends.

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The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of movers and shakers in British history from the Tudors to the present day making it a must for lovers of art. Founded in 1856, the collection on display is amongst the most comprehensive in the world and no restrictions are placed on the mediums used. As well as the traditional oil paintings and watercolours there are drawings, miniatures, sculptures, silhouettes, caricatures and photographs. The subjects on show range from Oliver Cromwell to Jarvis Cocker. Admission is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Not squeamish, then watch videos of modern surgical techniques, including brain surgery & see the effects of syphilis on the body.

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Discover almost everything about the history and development of surgery. Located in Holborn, the museum is found in the Museum Mile district. It is predominantly made up of the collection of John Hunter, the 18th century surgeon and anatomist. The eight galleries explore almost everything to do with the history of surgery including the 'Story of Surgical Instruments,' which explores the design, manufacture and development of surgical instruments in the medical and dental professions. The museum is successful in providing a deep, detailed insight into the world of surgery. Make use of the free guided tours every Wednesday at 1p. Admission is free.

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Set in scholarly Bloomsbury, this immense museum grew out of a private collection of manuscripts purchased in 1753 with the proceeds of a lottery. It grew and grew, fed by legacies, discoveries, and purchases, until it became one of the most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts in the world. It's impossible to take in this museum in a day.

The museum is divided basically into the national collections of antiquities; prints and drawings; coins, medals, and banknotes; and ethnography. Even on a cursory first visit, be sure to see the Asian collections (the finest assembly of Islamic pottery outside the Islamic world), the Chinese porcelain, the Indian sculpture, and the prehistoric and Romano-British collections. Special treasures you might want to seek out on your first visit include the Rosetta Stone, in the Egyptian Room, the discovery of which led to the deciphering of hieroglyphics; the Parthenon Sculptures, a series of pediments, metopes, and friezes from the Parthenon in Athens, in the Duveen Gallery; and the legendary Black Obelisk, dating from around 860 B.C., in the Nimrud Gallery. Other treasures include the contents of Egyptian royal tombs (including mummies); fabulous...

Our Local Expert Says:

For a true local treat, try the bacon butty at the Roast sandwich stall

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For more than 250 years Borough Market has been London's top food market. Nowadays it trades in fine foods in a buzzing labyrinthine hodgepodge of stalls underneath the railway viaduct. This is the best place in the capital, if not the country, to sample the widest range of British delicacies, as well as lots of worldwide exotic tastes, all under one roof. It's not cheap but makes a perfect picnic stop before you head off to one of London's parks. Some of the capital's best restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as permanent food shops also line the market so it's worth a visit even when the market is closed. Most of the stalls will make your mouth water but we particularly like Monmouth Coffee and Neil's Yard Dairy. Thursdays: 11am - 5pm Fridays: 12 noon - 6pm Saturdays: 8am - 5pm

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It's a shopper's must do

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Since 1837 Portobello Road has hosted a market of some sort or another. Made famous by the movie Notting Hill, the market will not disappoint despite attracting serious crowds. Known prodominently for antiques found at the south or Notting Hill Gate end of the market, there are several sections worth a peak although finding a bargain might be an option. After the antiques, jewelery and souevnirs the market thins as people bail out on Westborne Grove, but keep going and you'll find colourful fruit & veg stalls and mouth watering street food vendors. The third section is fashion, both new and second hand, which extends along the street under the motorway. Don't forget to go behind the stalls where you'll find nifty little shops. Oh and don't forget to take a camera!

Our Local Expert Says:

Top pick for kids and teens

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Tired of touring a city on a bus via audio guide with those achy earphones? What about listening to tour guides spout endless information into muffled microphones? Do you have bored children in tow who would rather text friends back home instead of soaking in the culture? How does a one hour comedic overview of London at 40 mph sound then? Did I mention … on a speedboat?

Dipping and slicing through the water just like a scene out of a James Bond movie London RIB Voyages offers an adventurous sightseeing cruise from Westminster Bridge to Canary Wharf passing London's notable landmarks: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and St. Paul's.

Boarding the craft I was certain the next 60 minutes would be wasted on yet another cheesy, gimmicky tour plus slightly worried my children may be frightened. Instead, I found myself snickering at the guide's silly stories and enjoying myself so much, the wind from the ride dried out my mouth into a permanent grin. Passing under Tower Bridge the kids cheered with sheer enthusiasm, giddy from the speed. All that and as a bonus we actually learned a bit about London, fancy that! Success, we were all impressed.... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Guaranteed fun for kids, of all ages

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Much more than just a museum of buses and trams and the mechanics of how to get from A to B, the complexity of the largest urban passenger transport network in the world is unraveled for fun at this bright, breezy hands-on 21st century museum, set in Covent Garden's lovely old flower market building. Hop aboard London's first omnibuses and trams, the world's first underground railway, and of course, try driving a modern tube train in the simulator. Over 25 life size models are available for inspection. Kids love trying on a bus driver's uniform and following the acitivy trail. What really excites and captures the imagination for adults though is how the transport system helped shape modern London with lots of interactive exhibits and nostalgic old newsreels.

Our Local Expert Says:

Home to The Princess of Wales Playground -adults must be accompanied by a child. Warning: Your kids will not want to leave, it is truly fantastic. Search for the Peter Pan statue and eat yummy scones at The Orangery tucked beside the palace.

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An oasis of tranquillity in central London, Hyde Park, together with Kensington Gardens to the west, is the largest of the three royal parks. On the north-east side is Speaker's Corner, a traditional haven of free speech. It is also famous for the Serpentine boating lake, complete with a designated swimming area, and the Serpentine Gallery. Lesser known is the Dogs' Cemetery at the northern end of the park. The graves commemorate more than 200 pooches who enjoyed the park in their day.

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Descend the stairs of the Hilton Park Lane hotel and you could be forgiven for thinking you've just been transported to the Caribbean. With warm Latin music and subdued lighting, Trader Vics is the perfect place either for a romantic rendezvous, or just to relax and unwind with friends in a refreshingly laid-back and civilised atmosphere. The bar food is reasonably priced with seafood and barbecue style snacks.