| London is one of the biggest and most diverse | | | | thuggish dullness about it. Also interesting |
| cities in the World. It has an excellent | | | | are the ravens, who have their wings clipped |
| transport system, but if your time is | | | | to stop them flying off. You may see them |
| limited, what sights should you make it your | | | | hopping about outside. 6. A Red Double Decker |
| priority to see? The following list is drawn | | | | Bus. You can pay a small fee, and travel on |
| from memory, on the basis that if I can | | | | one of these for a few stops. A pleasant, |
| recall them with fondness, they're most | | | | interesting and efficient means of transport. |
| likely worth a visit: 1. Houses Of | | | | 7. The Tube. This is the underground train |
| Parliament. There are very fine buildings. | | | | system. In itself it's not remarkable, but it |
| Admittance is free, but you may have to | | | | enables the ignorant tourist to pop up like a |
| queue. Due to security searches, you may not | | | | gopher at their destination, instead of |
| be able to get in at all, as they have to let | | | | negotiating the buses and the streets. 8. A |
| the Members Of Parliaments (MPs) and their | | | | Black Cab. One could see the sites mentioned |
| guests in first. The searches can take time. | | | | above in a black cab, at night. This is a |
| However, it's worth the wait. The interiors | | | | high-quality, licenced taxi service, and a |
| are very grand indeed, and the staff are | | | | nice, if expensive way to get around. 9. The |
| friendly. 2. Statue Of Eros, Piccadilly | | | | Side Streets. Get off the main streets like |
| Circus. This is the geographical heart of | | | | Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, and |
| London. The statue itself is handsome, but | | | | travel in parallel on the side streets. |
| it's more just to say you've been there. The | | | | You'll see more of the real London, and |
| only other interesting feature is the neon | | | | you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much |
| advertising hoarding adjacent. This, and | | | | less crowded it is. 10. Sites worth seeing |
| Leicester Square, are not much frequented by | | | | outside Central London: Portobello Road, |
| native Londoners; you will only meet more | | | | Camden Market, Kew Gardens. Likely to |
| tourists in these places. 3. London Eye (or | | | | disappoint: Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street, |
| The Millenium Wheel). It offers excellent | | | | Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square. I'm |
| views of central London, and is quite | | | | afraid these are not as interesting as their |
| romantic on a clear, moonlit night. This | | | | propaganda. One would go to see them just to |
| needs to be booked in advance, otherwise you | | | | boast you'd been. You should get: 'The A-Z of |
| may not be able to get on. You can book this | | | | London'. It is sold at any newsagent. This is |
| novelty online. 4. Tower Bridge. This is best | | | | a handy book of maps, with a good index. Even |
| traversed by night, and in a London black | | | | native Londoners find it essential in finding |
| cab. A fine example of Victorian workmanship. | | | | unfamiliar places. Don't leave your hotel |
| 5. Tower Of London. Here are kept the Crown | | | | without it; you might think you know the way, |
| Jewels. This are impressive, but most | | | | but you'll likely get lost, and even the |
| impressive for me was a brief film clip shown | | | | locals may not know where you need to go! |
| there of the coronation of the current Queen | | | | |
| Elizabeth. A very moving piece of | | | | Niccolo Svengali is the webmaster of travel, |
| ecclesiastical theatre. Other than that, the | | | | hotel and education web sites in Palermo, |
| ancient weaponry displayed has a kind of | | | | Sicily. |