| Cool Britannia. London is the city that lives and | | | | clips and interesting exhibition areas. |
| breathes its historical past, yet its vibrant pulse sets the | | | | Museum of London at The Barbican |
| trends that the world watches. In culture, fashion, music, | | | | London was a Roman city. This museum traces the |
| architecture and the arts, ideas, no where else is like | | | | growth of London from prehistoric times up to the |
| the London. Constantly-evolving, always entertaining, it's | | | | present day, using a combination of models, artefacts |
| the city that should be right at the top of your | | | | and reconstruction. There is also an impressive Roman |
| must-see list. | | | | interior, with its original mosaic pavement, a collection of |
| However, London can be expensive, a real shock to | | | | jewels dating from 1560 to 1640 and an illuminated |
| your wallet. If you're looking for good value | | | | model of the 1666 fire of London. |
| accommodation, web sites such as have dozens of | | | | Look for historic Blue Plaques |
| hotel choices including serviced apartments in all the | | | | If you spend a little time in London, you'll spot small Blue |
| popular districts. Check it out. | | | | Plaques on the facades of shops and houses. Some |
| But there is an upside to the expense of London. The | | | | of these buildings are grand and imposing, others look |
| capital offers not just dozens, but hundreds of free | | | | remarkably ordinary. The connection? A famous (or |
| attractions and sights. From museums to art galleries, | | | | infamous) person lived or worked there at some time |
| historic parks to scenic walks, they won't cost you a | | | | in the past. |
| cent. | | | | Actors, authors, politicians, painters, scientists, |
| Buckingham Palace. The Changing of The Guard | | | | sportsmen, campaigners and reformers - people from |
| A rousing military march marks the start of one of the | | | | different countries, cultures and backgrounds - have all |
| oldest and most famous London sights, full of pomp, | | | | been commemorated in this way. You can see where |
| color and that famous British stiff upper lip. It's the | | | | Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, John F. Kennedy lived |
| Changing of The Guard. This royal ceremony is | | | | and where Karl Marx stayed. The borough with the |
| conducted outside Buckingham Palace each morning | | | | most plaques is Kensington and Chelsea with 180. The |
| at 11.30am and lasts about 45 minutes. The Queen's | | | | biggest category is Writers with 180 recorded. |
| Guard usually consists of Foot Guards in full-dress | | | | Personal favorites: plaques for composer George |
| uniform, wearing bold red tunics and bearskins. A New | | | | Frideric Handel and guitarist Jimi Hendrix stand |
| Guard exchanges duty with the Old, accompanied by | | | | side-by-side on 25 and 23 Brook Street, in Mayfair. |
| a band playing music. This ranges from the traditional | | | | Despite being a fictional character, Sir Arthur Conan |
| to the trendy, and even songs from West End shows. | | | | Doyle's Sherlock Holmes has a plaque on the |
| Park yourself for free. | | | | supposed site of 221B Baker Street. |
| London is a very green city sprinkled with delightful | | | | To market, to market! London is full of bargains |
| parks. At 350 acres, Hyde Park is one of the largest | | | | Just about every part of London has a street market |
| open spaces and makes up one of the four Royal | | | | of some type. Portobello Rd, west of Marble Arch, |
| parks, the others are St James's Park, Green Park | | | | (featured in "Notting Hill" the popular movie with Hugh |
| and Regent's Park. | | | | Grant and Julia Roberts) is home to marvellous |
| Head out to Hampstead Heath. | | | | antiques, jewellery, coins, clothes, bric-a-brac, food and |
| Take the subway (the Tube) to trendy Hampstead, it's | | | | general merchandise. (The antique market opens |
| just four miles (6.4km) from central London. | | | | every Saturday. The general market usually runs 6 |
| Hampstead is full of quaint leafy streets, charming | | | | days a week.) |
| boutiques and smart cafes. If you're into | | | | Go alternative. Camden Markets |
| celebrity-spotting, you might even see some familiar | | | | Alternative, funky, goth or punk...fashion lives in |
| show biz faces and fashion models as you relax with | | | | Camden. Camden Town, a few miles from central |
| a quiet latte. Hampstead is also home to the Heath, a | | | | London, is where to go bargain spotting, especially for |
| huge area of grass and woodland, covering 791 acres | | | | original fashion. Camden Lock Market, by the canal, |
| with sweeping views across London. Perfect for lazy | | | | was the original craft market, established in 1974, but |
| afternoons and picnics, the Heath is a great place to | | | | over time, the market scene has gown and now |
| exercise. Play tennis, go running, outdoor swimming or | | | | offers a much wider spectrum of goods. Walk the mile |
| why not try your hand at cricket, a bit like baseball, only | | | | between Camden Town and Chalk Farm Underground |
| gentler. | | | | stations, and you can stop, and shop in all the markets |
| See Kenwood House free | | | | of Camden. There's also a lot to enjoy in this lively |
| The 18th century mansion, Kenwood House sits | | | | area...restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, theatres and |
| elegantly on a hill in Hampstead. It was remodelled for | | | | cinemas. |
| Lord Mansfield by the great Robert Adam. Among its | | | | Covent Garden. The home of speciality shopping in |
| splendid interiors hangs the wonderful Iveagh Bequest | | | | London |
| of paintings, including masterpieces by Vermeer, | | | | For more than 150 years, Covent Garden was |
| Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough. | | | | London's largest fruit, vegetable and flower market, |
| Visit your past and future free | | | | covering 30 acres. In the 1970s, the market relocated |
| London has amazing museums, many of them are | | | | south of the river. In 1980, after careful restoration, |
| free. Probably the most famous is The British Museum | | | | Covent Garden re-opened as London's first and best |
| at Great Russell Street. Among the objects on display | | | | speciality shopping destination. |
| are the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. Founded | | | | Today, almost one million people visit the famous |
| by an Act of Parliament in 1753, the British Museum | | | | Market every week from all parts of the world. This is |
| was the first national public museum in the world - and | | | | a very special retail-therapy experience with |
| the first to belong to a nation rather than a monarch or | | | | everything from leading fashion and stunning gifts to |
| private patron. | | | | unique toys and games. |
| The Natural History Museum, South Kensington | | | | Get arty. The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square |
| This is the UK's national museum of natural history and | | | | After you've fed the pigeons and taken shots of |
| a centre of scientific excellence in taxonomy and | | | | Nelson's Column, visit The National Gallery, home to |
| biodiversity. A wonderful way to spend a few hours | | | | over 2,300 pictures dating from 1250. The collection |
| exploring and enjoying the wonders of nature. | | | | includes all the major European schools of painting and |
| Imperial War Museum | | | | masterpieces by many great artists. Access to the |
| The Imperial War Museum is unique in its coverage of | | | | permanent collection of paintings is free. |
| conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the | | | | The Tate Modern, it's free if you are |
| Commonwealth, from the First World War to the | | | | On the South Bank of the Thames, this former power |
| present day. Exhibits range from tanks and aircraft to | | | | station has been superbly converted into the World's |
| photographs and personal letters; film and sound | | | | biggest collection of Modern Art. The two huge floors |
| recordings and 20th century paintings. | | | | cover the complete century. Stark, modern, intriguing - |
| Royal Air Force Museum Hendon | | | | and often a little crazy. It will get your brain ticking over |
| Take the train, subway or bus out to North London to | | | | with a new appreciation for modern artistic expression. |
| this amazing museum of flight. The Royal Air Force | | | | This list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What |
| Museum Hendon is situated on the historic site of the | | | | else can you find to do, see and enjoy in London |
| original London Aerodrome and you can see over 80 | | | | without dipping into your wallet? My guess is, lots. |
| aircraft from around the world, along with short film | | | | |