Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's royalty since 1837. Today it is The Queen's official residence. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis. The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening in August and September. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. What most people come here for is the Changing of the Guard staged by the front entrance usually at 11:30am. There is no ceremony if it rains.

Hyde Park
Hyde Park became a Royal Park in 1536 when the land, which was excellent for hunting, was acquired by King Henry VIII. Over the years, Hyde Park has developed a tradition of hosting both local and national events, celebrations and performances. The two most famous features of the Park are the Serpentine, a lake much used for boating and swimming, and Rotten Row, the world famous riding track, which was England’s first public road to be lit at night. There are over 6km of horse rides as well as cycling, jogging and skate routes. On Sundays, ‘Speaker's Corner’ at the north-eastern tip of the park comes alive. Since 1872, people have been allowed to speak at Speaker's Corner on any subject they want to. The west end of the park blends into Kensington Gardens, where Kensington Palace stands.

Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence of great historical importance. Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive royalty until 1760. It was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family. The Palace is furnished with items from the Royal Collection, including ceremonial and court attire dating from the 18th century to the present day.

Tower Bridge (London Bridge)
One of the most famous and photographed bridges in the world, the medieval-looking Tower Bridge is still very much a working bridge as it is a museum. The bridge doesn't raise itself at set times for visitors, only when the commercial need arises. Count yourself fortunate if you do witness the bridge raising. (Local radio stations sometimes broadcast if the bridge is due to rise within their traffic reports). The entrance is on the bridge at the North Tower on the Tower of London side of the bridge. The walkways are 42 meters above the River Thames and give good views up the river including landmarks like St Paul's Cathedral.

London Dungeon
The creepy London Dungeon consists of a series of set scenes reproducing chilling aspects of medieval London in a more grisly format than at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Expect lots of darkness, dripping water, skeletons, tolling bells, etc to add to the atmosphere. Naturally there are scenes of torture in all its variations, burnings and depiction's of London characters like Jack the Ripper and events like the London fire. All are brought to life with special effects very well done, originally conceived for film and TV. Actors add life to the displays and among other things may sentence you personally to death. May not be suitable for very young or very sensitive children. Queues to get in are sometimes long, you can skip this by purchasing tickets in advance on-line at the official web site to "fast track" your entry. www.thedungeons.com/
 

London Eye
Built as part of the year 2000 millennium celebrations, the London Eye captures the imagination and excitement of the young and old. Ride the giant Ferris wheel 135 metres high, taking 30 minutes to travel one revolution. You ride in a luxurious air-conditioned capsulate. Each capsule rotates on a special device designed to keep everyone upright, so you may sit or walk around to view the sights below. Located opposite Big Ben by the River Thames. Due to its popularity, it is best to book in advance via the web site (10% discount) www.londoneye.com/
 

British Museum
With 2.5 miles of galleries the British Museum can be overwhelming. The museum is world class with exhibits drawn from around the world, a reflection in part on the power of the British Empire. For those with any serious interest in art and artefacts you will need more than one day to visit. For first time visitors the Greek and Roman rooms are the focus. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone whose discovery led to the deciphering of hieroglyphs. The Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Athens and the Black Obelisk dating from 860 BC. As the museum is free and also open some evenings you might want to take several smaller visits during your stay rather than one.

Imperial War Museum
The subject matter is such that most people are either interested or turned off. If the thought of a visit to a museum of warfare and the military appeals then this museum is world class. You will probably need all day to do the museum justice. The displays are imaginatively presented, mostly presented in a factual non patriotic manner and tackle difficult subjects like the holocaust.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Madame Tussaud was French and lived in Paris, attending the court of Versailles. After starting her wax museum in Paris she moved to London in 1802. The rest is history, other wax museums imitate but none match the original. Celebrities and the famous know they have made it when they model for Madame Tussaud's. Madame Tussaud physically took the death mask of Marie Antoinette in Paris; it is still part of the exhibition. Elsewhere you will find the latest pop and film stars as well as political figures. Other sections include the famous Chamber of Horrors.

Part of the same building is the London Planetarium where shows take you on tours of the solar system. Madame Tussaud's is one of the most visited attractions in London. Queues to get in are sometimes very long (more than an hour), do yourself a favour by purchasing tickets in advance from the web site and getting fast track entry. www.madame-tussauds.co.uk/
 

Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is home to the national collections of living and fossil plants, animals, and minerals with many specimens on display. What attracts people are the dinosaur exhibits, including robotic life size examples. A full scale exhibit of a whale also leaves a lasting impression.

Science Museum
The Science Museum traces the development of science and industry and their influence on life. There is something here for everyone, including plenty of hands on exhibits and workshops for the kids.

Victoria & Albert Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum is the renowned greatest museum in the world devoted to decorative arts. Exhibits are drawn from around the world, both modern and ancient. The museum has the largest collection of Renaissance sculpture outside Italy, the largest collection of Indian art outside India, similarly Chinese and Japanese. In contrast, the British Galleries house furniture, ceramics and sculpture revealing the story of British design from 1500.

Saint Paul's Cathedral
Built between 1675 and 1710, Saint Paul's Cathedral was a replacement for the cathedral burnt down in the great fire of London. The classical dome dominates the skyline of this area. St. Paul's is the UK's premier religious cathedral, if there is a royal wedding or major memorial service this is where it will be. Many of England's famous historical figures are buried here. St Paul's Cathedral is a working cathedral so access may be restricted at times. There is a guided tour which lasts for around 90 minutes (only in English) which runs about 4-5 times a day. The tour visits part of the cathedral not accessible otherwise. Check out their website for more information: www.stpauls.co.uk/
 

Tate Galleries (Britain & Modern)
Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. Tate Britain holds the greatest collection of British art in the world, including works by Blake, Constable, Epstein, Gainsborough, Gilbert and George, Hatoum, Hirst, Hockney, Hodgkin, Hogarth, Moore, Rossetti, Sickert, Spencer, Stubbs and Turner.

Tate Modern is the UK's premier museum of Modern Art. The museum is imaginatively housed in an old electric power station right in centre of London on the waterfront. Tate Modern displays the Tate collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day, including major works by Dalí, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol as well as contemporary work by artists such as Dorothy Cross, Gilbert & George and Susan Hiller. There is also a full range of special exhibitions and a broad public programme of events throughout the year.

Tower of London
Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7 and enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, today the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. In its time it has been a royal palace, a fortress, a prison, an armoury, a treasury and an astronomical observatory. As a result there is a lot to see, the major draws are the Crown Jewels and the history of the Tower's role as a prison for major figures in history. The Beefeaters (guards) dressed in distinctive uniform and Ravens provide classic photo opportunities, the Beefeaters also perform tours. Queues can sometimes be long, so best to purchase tickets in advance through the official web site, or a more practical alternative is to purchase tickets from London Underground Stations up to 7 days in advance.

Westminster Abbey
The significance of Westminster Abbey apart from its Gothic architecture, is that nearly every figure in English history has left their mark. Many rulers are buried here and it has hosted numerous coronations and such through to this day. Built in the early 16th century, though its shrines go back to the 12th century, there are monuments to royalty and to figures like Shakespeare, Dickens, Newton and Darwin. In the crypt is the Abbey Treasure Museum. Westminster Abbey is a working religious Abbey.

Go on a walking tour or take yourself to Buckingham Palace. Surrounded by vast parklands and gardens, this grand palace has been the Royal London residence since Queen Victoria's time, and contains priceless works of art, fine furniture and decorations that form part of the Royal Collection. From Buckingham Palace you can easily walk to other great London sights including; Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, St James' Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Thames and Trafalgar Square to name just a few of the great London sights that are a stones throw from Buckingham Palace. Watch them changing the guard here, an age-old tradition not to be missed.

Go shopping in Harrods or simply browse. This is one of the most famous department stores anywhere in the world and one place, where you literally can buy anything. Ranked as the third most popular destination in the city it’s an absolute ‘must do’ activity.

Go people-watching, feed the ducks, listen to someone telling the world how it should be run at Speakers' Corner, see folk out on a gentle trot along the bridle paths and step on land once hunted on by Henry VIII. We are talking about one of the world’s most famous parks, Hyde Park. When in London, this is a wonderful spot to relax between sightseeing or shopping jaunts and if visiting with children, it’s a great spot for them to stretch their legs.

Climb aboard the London Eye in a fully enclosed, high-tech capsule as you ride a 30-minute flight, rising 135 meters above the Thames River on the world's highest Ferris Wheel. This is another great activity if visiting with children.

Marvel at history at one of the museums here. The British Museum houses ancient treasures such as the Rosetta Stone and many others. The Victoria & Albert Museum boasts the world’s greatest collection decorative arts from all corners of the globe. The Natural History Museum and Science Museum provides hands-on discoveries and educational exhibits for the whole family.

Check out Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. This is the first museum of its kind and one of the best anywhere. From Ben Franklin to Brad Pitt, Princess Dianna or Michael Jackson; you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous at this popular museum, which casts lifelike wax figures in realistic settings.

Don’t miss seeing the Tate Galleries, particularly Tate Britain and its amazing collection of historic paintings. Tate Modern, often referred to as Tate 2, houses a collection of international modern art including works by artists such as Picasso and Cezanne.

See London Bridge (Tower Bridge). It has been sung about in children’s nursery rhymes and has been mentioned in tales from this part of the world for centuries. See it for yourself and go inside the Gothic towers to discover the fascinating history of the bridge. You can visit the original Victorian engine rooms and from the high-level walkways you can look out across the skyline and the River Thames.

Visit the historic Tower of London. It houses the Crown Jewels, the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh, known as the Bloody Tower, the Chapel of St. John and the Royal Armouries. Don’t miss it. If you are visiting with children, find out more about the legend of the ravens that live here.

Take a Duck Tour in an amphibious vehicle modelled after the ones that were used in World War II and D-Day. Tours begin on land, taking you past London’s famous landmarks and end cruising on top the River Thames. Tour guides are colourful characters, adding unusual flare and facts to the tours. Tours depart directly in front of the London Eye.