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