QuickOverview

London is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and the largest European city. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of roughly 7.5 million people.although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance. London is historically one of the great "world cities" and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance.

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveller. Following is a selection of some of the most popular and noteworthy (the rest to be found in the various district pages - get exploring!):

• London Eye - a giant wheel on the South Bank of the river Thames with magnificent views
• the Tower of London - London's original royal fortress by the Thames, over 900 years old, containing the Crown Jewels, guarded by Beefeaters, and a World Heritage site. The Tower contains enough buildings and exhibits to keep a family busy for a full day, with plenty of both warlike and domestic contents. Beefeaters, who are all veterans of the British Army, provide good guided tours as well as ceremonial security.
• St Paul's Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren's great accomplishment, built after the 1666 Great Fire of London - the great dome still seated in majesty over The City
• Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - a fantastic modern reconstruction of the Tudor period Globe Theatre, scene of some fine Shakespearian moments
• Tower Bridge - the magnificent 19th century bridge, decorated with high towers and featuring a drawbridge. The up-and-coming area of Bankside sits to its west, and the regenerated Butler's Wharf area of shops, reasonably priced riverside restaurants and the London Design Museum lie to its east. For a small charge you can get the lift to the top level of the bridge and admire the view: this includes a visit to a small museum dedicated to the bridge's history and engineering.
• Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) - seat of the British parliament and World Heritage site. Note that the Abbey itself charges tourists for entry -- but not worshippers. Attend a church service for free and enjoy some of the finest choral music in London from the choir. Evensong (see Abbey website) at 4PM or 5PM, depending on time of year, is an especially good bet. You can also visit the 'Mother of Parliaments'; when Parliament is in session (generally late September to mid-July) the only public admittance is to the public gallery in the chamber whenever the House is sitting, typically weekday afternoons only. On the way to the gallery you get a good sample of the internal architecture and decoration. For important debates, for Prime Ministers' Questions, or during tourist season, there is often a queue; however the gallery is often open well into the evening. When Parliament is not sitting, there are 75 minute guided tours, including all the important areas - book ahead or buy tickets for the same day over the road.
• Buckingham Palace - the official London residence of the Queen, one of several royal palaces in London. Open for tours during the summer months only, but a must-see sight even if you don't go in.
• Somerset House - this magnificent 18th century building off the Strand, recently restored to the public, houses the collections of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Gilbert Collection and Hermitage Rooms. You'll also find shops, cafés, a restaurant and the spectacular Fountain Court, scene of public ice-skating in the winter.
• Trafalgar Square - home of Nelson's Column and the lions, and once a safe haven for London's pigeons until the recent introduction of hired birds of prey. It recently attracted controversy over the 'Fourth plinth', previously empty, being temporarily home to a Marc Quin sculpture, 'Alison Lapper Pregnant'. Overlooked by the National Gallery, it's the nearest London has to a 'centre', and has recently been pedestrianised. Previously, traffic used to circle the entire fountain and statuary area.
• Leicester Square - Possibly one of the busiest areas in London. It houses the largest cinemas (frequently hosting star-studded premieres), as well as cafes and restaurants. Due to the huge influx of tourists, everything from cinema tickets to bottles of water are very expensive.
• Piccadilly Circus
• Maritime Greenwich - home of Greenwich Mean Time, the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory - World Heritage site
• Royal Albert Hall - landmark location of many world-renowned concerts (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin), still plays host to top shelf entertainment. In summer, the BBC Proms are a varied classical music festival, and first-come first-served standing tickets can be had for £5 (2006 price). Doors open 30mins before the performance (which generally begins at 7.30pm) but a queue starts earlier, around 6pm for a 'normal' concert and considerably earlier if there are big-name performers. Seated tickets are also available for £20-£50; often there are some still available on the night. Special rules restrict entrance to the famous Last Night in September; you will not be able to get in without attending at least 6 other Proms!
• Portobello Road - claimed to be the world's largest antiques market. For antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time. Camden Market is often claimed to be the new Portobello Road.

Museums and Galleries

• the British Museum - one of the world's great museums, founded in 1753 - a vast repository of the world's cultures and free entrance
• the National Gallery most exhibitions are admission free - and the National Portrait Gallery just around the corner also admission free excepting some exhibitions
• the Museum of London - a great place to visit to understand the history and development of the city, from prehistoric times to recent history, with plenty of detail on the Roman and Medieval cities - admission is free
• the Tate Galleries - Tate Britain and Tate Modern - showcases of some of the best of British and Modern Art respectively - mostly free entry
• the Victoria and Albert Museum - highlights the decorative arts such as fashion and furniture - admission free
• the Natural History Museum - the dinosaur exhibit complete with life-sized roaring T-Rex is popular with kids (and adults), but the museum really excels with the galleries devoted to mammals, insects and the human body. There is also a new wing where groups can tour a research facility and the Museum's historic stocks of pickled specimens (well worth a visit, but not for the squeamish!) - free entry
• the Science Museum - packed with science and industry; there are galleries devotes to many subjects, including space, nuclear physics, genetics, and computing; the top floor is, appropriately, taken up with the history of flight and many historic aircraft, including a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
• the Sir John Soane's Museum - free but groups must prebook and may need to make donation
• the Saatchi Gallery - closed and moving to Chelsea, opens in early 2007
• the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory Greenwich - home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. Highlights include the lovely walk up to the observatory (with a great view of the river) and the collection of old clocks and navigational instruments - admission free except for special exhibitions
• the The Wallace Collection - home to Old Master Paintings, Furniture, Porcelain, Arms and Armour and other Fine Art. Free tours, charges for special workshops
• the Pollock's Toy Museum Trust - no longer at Scala Street. Pollock's Toy Museum charges an entrance fee.
• the Imperial War Museum - London site, with an afternoon's worth of British military history, is free except for some special exhibitions; the smae institution owns the Central London Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast (a WWII cruiser, now a floating museum extensive enough to satisfy the most warlike son or husband), and Duxford Air Museum, an airbase a day trip from London with five hangars' worth of historic aircraft (you are unlikely to fit everything in in one visit).
• the RAF Museum , in Hendon, is a longish Tube ride from Central London but closer than Duxford and a must for any war buffs. It has extensive galleries detailing the history of the RAF and its aircraft.
• the London Dungeon brings to life the gorier elements of London's past, with faithful recreations of disaster, disease, and torture. Younger children may be scared.

Although the rest of London may be expensive, many of its best museums and galleries are free including both Tates, the National and National Portrait Galleries, the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and most things in Greenwich. Temporary exhibits do cost money, however, and to get an audioguide you often have to make a "donation".

Parks and Gardens

The 'green lungs' of London are the many parks, great and small, scattered throughout the city. Some of the best-known and most-popular are: Lawn chair in Kensington Gardens.

• Hyde Park - the West End's back garden, Hyde Park is the largest central London park at 140 ha (350 acres) in size. Noted for the large number of recreatonal possibilities, for the Serpentine (the central large lake) and collection of public sculpture
• Kensington Gardens - blends into Hyde Park at its western end, features Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial, 111 ha (275 acres) in size
• Green Park - 16 ha in size
• St James' Park
• Regents Park and the London Zoo(ological Gardens)
• Kew Gardens - the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in south-west London are one of London's most popular attractions, easily accessed by public transport
• Richmond Park - The largest Royal Park in London at 1000 ha (2500 acres) in size
• Brockwell Park . Running from Brixton to Herne Hill, this houses the famous Brockwell Lido.

Most of the larger parks have their origins in royal estates and hunting grounds and are still owned by the Crown, despite their public access. These royal parks are now police by a division of the Metropolitan Police Service for London. It takes over from the Royal Parks Constabulary which policed Royal Parks prior to the Metropolitan Police.

Related Sites

London - Official Website

Barry House Hotel - Hyde Park London