Yet, there is a side of the city that always stays the same; the one that greets you like an old friend. More than 30 million tourists visit this fascinating city each year. They come for many reasons and seldom fail to find what they are looking for. London is whatever you want it to be: historical or cutting-edge modern, sporty or cultural, wild or traditional.

In a single day you could walk the hallowed halls of Buckingham Palace, have a body piercing, buy a designer outfit in Covent Garden, dine at a trendy bistro in Knightsbridge and rub shoulders with supermodels and millionaire playboys at an exclusive members-only club. Or you could stand in queue for one of the cut-price tickets for a West End theatre production, take a boat ride down the Thames and have bangers and mash at a traditional English pub.

If you are a first-time visitor, the number of attractions and sightseeing opportunities will dazzle you. The most-visited attractions are the London Eye, the British Museum, Trafalgar Square, the Tate Modern Gallery, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. It's no surprise that the city's museums and galleries are very popular, especially since most of them are free. Must-sees include the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery.

This summer one of the big attractions starts off the season; the Concert for Diana at the new Wembley Stadium. Organised by the two Princes, William and Harry, the stars lined up include Elton John, Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Genesis, Joss Stone, Nelly Furtado and Tom Jones.
If you miss that, don't despair. As usual, a number of star performers will be touching down in the city during the summer season.

Barbra Streisand is expected to be one of the biggest hits this season. Her three shows, on July 18, 22 and 25 are sold out, but you will find tickets from booking agencies and touts. Another highly-awaited performer is Prince, who will hit the British capital with his 'The Earth Tour' in August. The Rolling Stones will also be in town this summer, as will Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake and Blondie. Many of the big name shows these days take place at the O2 Arena, which is the new name for the Millennium Dome in the East part of London. The arena is the largest single-roofed structure in the world.

The West End continues to dominate world theatre with its hit shows. The latest show to hit the boards is The Lord of the Rings, which will be the one to see this season. Another mega-hit is Mamma Mia!, based on Abba's songs. Who doesn't know Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous and Take a Chance on Me? Other hits are the Disney musical The Lion King, Les Miserables, Chicago and the Phantom of the Opera. For a real treat which will take you back to the London of old, buy a ticket to the production of Mary Poppins, which runs at the Prince Edward Theatre until July 28.

On the sports front, few events come close to matching the appeal of Wimbledon, which ends on July 8. For history and tradition, there's nothing to top it. Nobody minds that a British player hasn't won a singles title in decades, this is a truly international event. You'll be sharing your strawberries and cream with Slovaks and sipping champagne with the boisterous Spanish supporters.

If you don't get to the tennis, you can settle for the Henley Royal Regatta, the start of the Tour de France (yes, in London!) or England's cricket test series against India. And for something very different, you can take part in the UK mobile phone Throwing Championships, where you can finally enjoy throwing your irritating mobile phone away.

When it comes to restaurants and bars, you can certainly satisfy your every desire. Cuisine from all corners of the globe are represented (and the fare is often better than can be found on native soil) and the bars cater for every possible taste and type. Everyone has their special spot, whether its a Turkish family restaurant in north London or a pub in Leicester Square.

One of my favourites is the Anglesea Arms in Wingate Road. It's trendy and neighbourly at the same time, but what really appeals to me is that this was where the famous Great Train Robbery in 1963 was planned. I love the thought of sitting in the seats once occupied by the daring crooks as they calmly discussed the theft that stunned a nation and baffled the police.

For fine dining, only one London restaurant has three coveted Michelin stars, the oddly-named Gordon Ramsay On Royal Hospital Road in Sloane Square. Naturally, booking is essential and you need deep pockets. For my tastes, the diversity of eateries along High Street, Islington, can keep me occupied for weeks, but I do harbour a secret passion for two rather upmarket diners in central London.

Cafe 2 at the Tate Modern in Bankside not only delivers fresh designer-cafe cuisine but the most spectacular view of the Thames River through floor-to-ceiling windows. You can also sit outside and watch the boats go by. While you are there, you can check out the Salvador Dali exhibition, which runs until September 9.

My other passion spot is afternoon tea at The Ritz, where one can pretend to be a member of British high society. You need to book at least four weeks in advance. Don't embarrass yourself by taking out your camera - the Ritz is a photo-free environment. It's more like theatre than a tea party, but well worth the price tag.

Whether it's Wimbledon, Barbra Streisand, a night at the opera or a ride on the London Eye, you are bound to find something to excite you in London this season. Book a room on HotelTravel.com and come along to the world's capital city for a summer to remember. You'll be glad you did.