London Attractions

Madame Tussauds and the London Planetarium

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is the most famous wax museum gallery in the world, with more than 400 life-sized models of stars, famous politicians, royals and sportsmen, as well as the most infamous criminals the world has known. Inside the Museum the 'Spirit of London' ride will take you through the city's history, introducing you to those figures that have shaped the London of today, while The Chamber of Horrors challenges visitors to enter and be terrified. Also at the site is Tussaud's Auditorium, one of the biggest in the world, ready to amaze visitors with its views of the universe.

Address: Marylebone Road; Post code: NW1 5LR; Telephone: (0)870 999 0046; E-mail: csc@madame-tussauds.com; Website: www.madame-tussauds.com; Transport: Baker Street underground station, or buses 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139 and 274; Opening time: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm (off peak) and daily 9am to 6pm (peak). Auditorium: weekdays 12.30pm to 5.30pm, weekends 10.30am to 6pm; Admission: Online booking is £22.50 (adults) and £18.50 (children), cheaper after 5pm

White Tower, Tower of London

Tower of London

The Tower of London is perhaps as famous for its traditions as its imposing structure. It is guarded by a special band of Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, and dotted with several large, black birds – the Ravens. Legend has it that if the Ravens ever leave the Tower, a great tragedy will befall England, and to this day the birds are protected by Royal decree. The Tower’s history dates back to the 11th century, and each new Monarch has played a role in its growth and development. It also houses Britain’s crown jewels, a spectacular display of some of the world’s finest gems and workmanship. The Tower is next to Tower Bridge, another famous London Landmark.

Address: Tower Hill; Post code: EC3N 4AB; Telephone: +44 (0)844 482 7777; Website: www.hrp.org.uk; Transport: Tower Hill tube station, or buses 15, 42,78 or 100; Opening time: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm, Sunday and Monday 10am to 5.30pm (March to October); Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm, Sunday and Monday 10am to 4.30pm (November to February). Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; Admission: £16 (adults), £9.50 (children under 16); concessions and discounts for advance booking available

Houses of Parliament © Paul Micallef

Houses of Parliament

Originally built for Edward the Confessor more than 1,000 years ago, the Houses of Parliament, or Palace of Westminster, remained the principal residence of Britain’s monarchs for the next 400 years. Thereafter it became the administrative centre of the country. In 1834 the great fire burnt everything except Westminster Hall, and the present Gothic building was completed in the 1840s. It is perhaps most famous for the clock tower, St Stephens, which is commonly, but mistakenly called Big Ben, after the name of the bell inside. Although Parliament is closed to visitors during session, it is still a popular attraction to tourists for its exterior architecture.

Address: Westminster; Post code: SW1A 0AA; Telephone: (0)20 7219 3000; E-mail: hcinfo@parliament.uk; Website: www.parliament.uk; Transport: Westminster underground station; Opening time: Open during summer recess, from 28 July to 27 September. Closed on Sundays and Bank holidays. Tours depart every few minutes, but it is advised that visitors check the website for opening times, as they vary; Admission: £12 (adults), £5 (children)

Tate Modern

Tate Modern

Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, which has been transformed by Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron into a spectacular new modern building, the Tate Modern is Britain's new National Museum of Modern Art. It showcases an exhaustive collection from 1900 to the present day, including works by Dalí, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol, as well as exhibitions by contemporary artists. There is also an exceptional roof café, which affords spectacular views over London and an impressive gift shop.

Address: Bankside; Post code: SE1 9TG; Telephone: (0)20 7887 8888; Website: www.tate.org.uk; Transport: Southwark or Blackfriars underground stations, bus or the Tate Boat on the Thames; Opening time: Sunday to Thursday 10am to 6pm; Friday and Saturday 10am to 10pm. Closed 24, 25, 26 December; Admission: Free for entry to the permanent collection; admission is charged for major temporary exhibitions

National Gallery

National Gallery

The National Gallery has an imposing and regal façade stretching across the northern side of Trafalgar Square, and houses over 2,000 paintings from every major European school of painting from the 13th to the 19th century. It was opened in 1938 at its present location, which was chosen for its situation between London’s wealthier West End and poorer East End, as a ‘gallery for all’.

Address: Trafalgar Square; Post code: WC2N 5DN; Telephone: (0)20 7747 2885; E-mail: information@ng-london.org.uk; Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk; Transport: Charing Cross rail station, or Charing Cross, Leicester Square and Embankment underground stations. Numerous buses also service Trafalgar Square; Opening time: Daily 10am to 6pm; Wednesday until 9pm. Closed on 1 January, 24, 25 and 26 December; Admission: Free for entry to the permanent collection; admission is charged for major temporary exhibitions

British Museum © Paul Micallef

British Museum

With more than 6,000 historical objects from all around the globe, the British Museum houses one of the world’s greatest collections of antiquities, including the Parthenon Frieze or Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone and the Roman Portland Vase dating from the 1st century AD. In 2000 the great court was reopened with an incredible glass roof covering two acres, and stairwells leading down to the Reading Room, which has been completely restored.

Address: Great Russell Street; Post code: WC1B 3DG; Telephone: (0)20 7323 8299 or (0)20 7323 8000; E-mail: information@britishmuseum.org; Website: www.britishmuseum.org; Transport: Russell Square underground station; Opening time: Saturday to Wednesday 10am to 5.30pm; Thursday and Friday 10am to 8.30pm; closed 24, 25 and 26 December, 1 January and Good Friday; Admission: Free, although charges may be levied for some temporary exhibitions

London Eye at night © www.tunliweb.no

London Eye

At 443ft (135m) tall, and weighing more than 250 double-decker buses, the London Eye is the most spectacular new addition to London’s skyline. With incredible views of most of London’s major attractions, and an opportunity to put the city’s geography into perspective, it is a must see for all visitors. Originally conceived by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield as an entry for a millennium landmark competition, the project took six years and the expertise of hundreds of people from five European countries to turn it into a reality.

Address: Thames South Bank; Post code: SE1 7PB; Telephone: (0)870 990 8883; E-mail: customer.services@ba-londoneye.com; Website: www.ba-londoneye.com; Transport: Westminster, Waterloo or Embankment underground stations, or bus RV1, 211, 77 or 381; Opening time: Daily 10am to 9pm (June to September), 10am to 8pm (May to October). Closed 11-20 January and 25 December; Admission: £15 (adults), £7.50 (children). Discount for advance booking online

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Shakespeare’s Globe

Situated on the bank of the Thames, just 656ft (200m) from the site of Shakespeare's original Globe theatre, this fantastic recreation will transport visitors back to the time of the very first productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. The reconstruction took a total of 10 years to complete; at a cost of over £40 million and now houses a professional theatre company responsible for regular productions of Shakespeare's famous plays. Adjacent to the theatre is the Globe Exhibition, presenting graphic information about the reconstruction of the theatre and bringing to the fore the life and works of Shakespeare with interactive displays and live demonstrations. Visits to the exhibition include a tour of the theatre.

Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside; Post code: SE1 9DT; Telephone: (0)20 7902 1400, or (0)20 7401 9919 (box office); E-mail: info@shakespearesglobe.com; Website: www.shakespeares-globe.org; Transport: Mansion House underground station, with a ten-minute walk over the Millennium Bridge; Opening time: Theatre tour and exhibition: daily 10am to 5pm (10 October to 17 April), 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 5pm (18 April to 9 October). There is no access to the theatre during performances; visitors will then be taken to the Rose Theatre, Bankside's first playhouse; Admission: £9 (adults), £6.50 (children); concessions available. Performance tickets range from £15 to £30 (£5 standing)

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Gallery

No visit to London would be complete without experiencing the pomp and ceremony of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but now visitors can actually get a peek inside during the annual summer opening of the State Rooms, and see some of the Queen’s private art collection at the newly opened Queen’s Gallery. Originally the town house of the Dukes of Buckingham, Buckingham Palace has served as the official London home of Britain’s monarchs since 1837. Look to see whether the Royal Standard (not the Union Flag) is flying, which indicates that the Queen is in residence.

Address: Buckingham Palace Road; Post code: SW1A 1AA; Telephone: (0)20 7766 7300; E-mail: bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk; Website: www.royal.gov.uk; Transport: Green Park underground station; Opening time: Queens Gallery open daily 10am to 5.30pm. Closed 21 January to 13 March, 21 March, 29 September to 16 October and 25 and 26 December. State Rooms open daily from 31 July to 29 September, from 9.45am to 6pm; Admission: State Rooms: £15.50 (adults), £8.75 (children under 17 years); concessions and combined tickets available. Queens Gallery: £8 (adults), £4.00 (children under 17). Advance booking advised

Harrods, London

Harrods

Harrod's, which proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed calls his 'Palace in Knightsbridge', promises one of the most extravagant and luxurious shopping experiences in the world. With 22 restaurants, and a wide range of departments and services across its seven floors, it is easy to see why this is the shopping choice of London's social elite. With its prominent position on Brompton Road, Harrod's is hard to miss, especially at night, when the entire façade is illuminated with a grand total of 11,500 light bulbs.

Address: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge; Post code: SW1X 7XL; Telephone: (0)20 7730 1234; Website: www.harrods.com; Transport: Knightsbridge underground station; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm; Admission: Free

Market Hall, Camden Lock

Camden Market

Camden Market is one of the most exciting shopping experiences London has to offer. Even if you're just browsing, the market is definitely worth a visit with its huge variety of food, antiques, bric-a-brac and clothing stalls, bars, nightspots and crowds of people ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre. Although the punk scene in London has gone underground, it still seems to flourish here, and you're sure to bump into some interesting characters. *Note: A recent fire has caused damage to the Canal Market at Camden and some surrounding establishments. Most of Camden Market is still open for business as usual.*

Address: Camden Lock, Chalk Farm Road; Post code: NW1 8AF; Website: www.camdenlock.net; Transport: Camden Town and Chalk Farm underground stations. Numerous buses also pass Camden Lock; Opening time: The market is open daily from 10am to 6pm; Admission: Free

The Cutty Sark, Greenwich

Greenwich

This is the home of the Greenwich Meridian, which splits the globe into East and West and is responsible for setting the world clock on zero degrees latitude. Greenwich has a host of attractions including Greenwich Market with its variety of arts, crafts, food and bric-a-brac, Sir Christopher Wren's Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum. Greenwich Park is beautifully landscaped and is ideal for a picnic lunch. The famous tea-clipper, the Cutty Sark, was damaged by a fire in May 2007 and has been closed to the public.

Telephone: (0)870 608 2000; Website: www.greenwichengland.com; Transport: Docklands Light Railway to Greenwich, Cutty Sark underground stations, or a Thames boat; Opening time: Greenwich Market: daily 9am to 5:30pm; National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory Greenwich: daily 10am to 5pm. Closed 24-26 December; Admission: National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory and Queen's House all free

London Dungeon

Take a trip through London’s dark and gruesome history, meet Jack the Ripper and see what became of his victims, or see the chaos and destruction caused by the great fire of London. The London Dungeon brings history’s most notorious killers and evildoers back to life in an experience definitely not for the faint-hearted. Beware: some of the exhibitions have a nasty way of coming alive and jumping out at the unsuspecting visitor.

Address: 28-34 Tooley Street; Post code: SE1 2SZ; Telephone: (0)20 7403 7221; Website: www.thedungeons.com; Transport: London Bridge underground station; Opening time: Open daily from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Opening times vary throughout the year so visitors should check the official website. Closed on Christmas day ; Admission: £19.95 (adults); £13.95 (children 5-15 years); other concessions and group tickets available

St Paul's Cathedral © Paul Micallef

St Paul’s Cathedral

The great dome of St Paul’s Cathedral has been a distinctive landmark on the London skyline for centuries. Built in 1673 by Sir Christopher Wren, after the previous St Paul’s was burnt to the ground during the Great Fire of London, it is the greatest of several cathedrals dedicated to St Paul that have occupied the site for more than 1,400 years. The crypt at St Paul’s is one of the largest in Europe, and it houses more than 200 tombs, including those of Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Wren himself. The Cathedral has hosted many significant ceremonies in London’s history, including the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and most recently the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Address: St Paul’s Churchyard; Post code: EC4M 8AD; Telephone: (0)20 7246 8357; E-mail: visitsdepartment@stpaulscathedral.org.uk; Website: www.stpauls.co.uk; Transport: St Paul’s underground station; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 4pm. Note that the Cathedral may be closed to visitors at any time due to special services or events, so it is always advisable to enquire beforehand; Admission: £10 (adults); £3.50 (children 7-16); family and group concessions available

Eros Statue, Picadilly Circus © Paul Micallef

Piccadilly Circus

One of London's best known, but most overrated sights, Picadilly Circus is at the junction of Picadilly, Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue and is surrounded by neon advertising and fast-food restaurants. However with its Tube station, Picadilly Circus is a good starting point for shopping in the West End, being near to Jermyn Street, Saville Row and Bond Street. London's Theatreland is centred on Shaftsbury Avenue and Soho and China Town are also within easy walking distance.

Transport: Piccadilly Circus underground station