The Savoy Hotel, which completed a £220m renovation in October 2010, was the first hotel to have lifts when it opened in 1889. Its first chef, Auguste Escoffier, led to the verb ‘to scoff’, as in eat
Look out for the mosaic floors in the main entrance and stairwell. Fascinating. Work by the same artist can be seen at Tate Britain.
Opened as the Queen’s Theatre in 1705 by playwright and architect Sir John Vanbrugh, in 1986 it hosted the world premiere of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, and it’s been on ever since.
Pleasant hotel in the middle of westend W1. Try famous italian restraunt Locanda Locatelli on the groundfloor as well.www.locandalocatelli.com
The British Museum began from the collection of naturalist Sir Hans Sloane which he left to the nation on his death in 1753. Now it houses 7 million objects including more than 100 Egyptian mummies.
The square here was laid out by Inigo Jones in 1630, on land once used by the monks of Westminster Abbey as a garden, but confiscated by Henry VIII during the Reformation.
Recommended: I love it here! It reminds me of a mundane muggle version of the secret wizard mall 'Diagon Alley' in the Harry Potter series. Be sure to check out 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes'. *chuckles* Read more.
One of the world's great museums. To avoid the queues, use the 'secret' entrance on Exhibition Road.
The glass and iron hall built here for the Great Exhibition of 1851 was nicknamed ‘the crystal palace’ by Punch magazine. In 1854 it was moved piece by piece to south London and rebuilt.
The vision of American actor Sam Wanamaker, this replica of Shakespeare’s legendary theatre opened near the site of the original in 1997. It has the first thatched roof in London since the Great Fire.
Even if you are not visiting one of the many exhibitions and events organised here throughout the year, come to sit in its beautiful and quiet neoclassical courtyard away from London’s busy streets.
The V&A is the world’s largest museum of decorative art and design and holds 4.5 million objects. Henry Cole, the museum’s first director, printed the world’s first Christmas card in 1843.
Big Ben refers to the 13 ton bell in the clock tower of Westminster Palace. Opinion is divided as to whether it was named after the then Commissioner of Works, or a famous prize-fighter of the time.
Oxford Street’s biggest department store was opened by the American businessman Gordon J Selfridge in 1909, whose motto was ‘The customer is always right’.
Nothing beats the view of the city from this giant Ferris wheel. On a clear day, get a glimpse of Windsor Castle
To mark the 50th birthday of the Royal Air Force in 1968, Flight Lt. Allan Pollock flew his Hawker jet under the walkway of Tower Bridge. This unauthorised stunt won him a court martial.
The first national lottery was held in 1569, and the result was announced at the west door of (the old) St.Paul’s cathedral. It is unknown if the winner let it change him.
‘Soho’ is thought to come from the hunting and battle cry of the Duke of Monmouth, a local landlord. He used it at the Battle of Sedgemoor where he was defeated in 1685, and later executed.
Although firstly a scientific organisation, this British institution houses numerous collection of plants and botanical information and as such is a living encyclopaedia on the plant kingdom.
This grand Tudor palace was built by Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey, but passed to the king in 1529. His 4th queen Catherine Howard is said to haunt the gallery outside the chapel.
Every year a Norway Spruce is erected here and decorated as part of the Christmas festivities. The tree is a gift of thanks from the Norwegians for Britain's support during the Second World War
Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, George III acquired it in 1762 as a private house. It became an official royal residence in the reign of Queen Victoria, when it was greatly enlarged.
The Bankside Power Station was built as a ‘cathedral of power’ in 1963, but closed in 1981. It reopened as one of Europe’s finest modern art galleries in 2000. The Turbine Hall is 35m high.
Until 1993 the location of Telecom Tower was an official secret, having or taking any photos of the tower was a breach of the Official Secrets Act, it was even omitted from all maps.
Great people watching venue - and a great respite from the shops - literally on the corner of the main shopping street.
There’s nothing more quintessentially British than a classic Liberty of London print. Scoop up the iconic shirts and accessories for friends back home.
From 1235 until 1835, the monarch’s personal zoo was kept at the Tower, and it included many exotic animals given as presents by other monarchs, including polar bears, leopards and elephants.
Hampstead Heath was a favourite outing for Karl Marx and his family, and held a popular fair in the 19th century. Like the Guy Fawkes night bonfires held here, it oftern turned drunken and violent.
If you get your Windsor Castle ticket stamped before you leave it is valid for a whole year
Tate Britain is built on the site of the 19th century Millbank Prison. Between 1816 and 1868, this is where thousands of convicts began their journey to the penal colonies of Australia.
The lion sculpture was once painted red and stood over the Red Lion Brewery on the South Bank in the 18th century. When the area was redeveloped in the 1950s the lion was saved and moved here.
The Mall took on its current form as a royal processional route around 1912. The palace approach was widened, and Admiralty Arch was built at one end and the Victoria Memorial at the other
There are two excellent cafes in the British Library: a small one outside at the front, and another at the back as you walk up the main stairs. Both make an excellent destination to meet for lunch.
London’s only post-war Grade I listed building was opened in 1951 for the Festival of Britain. The hall officially reopened after its renovation in 2007 with a performance by rock legends Motorhead.
London’s most famous modern nightclub was opened in 1991 by Old Etonian the Hon. James Palumbo. It’s modelled on the famous Paradise Garage club in New York, where ‘garage’ music was born.
Spotted: Madonna is a regular here and this is a favoured spot of Tony Blair. For Tony Blair’s FT interview here... Read more.
Great for shopping, eating and drinking. Check out the Wholefoods Market especially ;-)
You know you're on to a winner from the ALE CIDER MEAT sign. They sell Seabrook's Crisps and there's a panther in the beer garden.
More than a home for some of London's best live music - also a great venue for a bite to eat during the day
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club opened on nearby Gerrard St in 1959, moved here in 1965 and is now the most famous jazz club in Britain. Jimi Hendrix’s played his last public performance here in 1970.
Used to my local Indian restaurant. Authentic Indian cuisine at a reasonable west end price. Their Prawn Curry is my favorite.
You can find wide range of restaurant, cafe, bars and pubs for locals around this charming street.
...after your coffee or tea, take a stroll along Regent's canal until Camden Lock, with a small detour to Primrose Hill. An hour or so walking!
Really nice shops. It isn't for everyone, but still nice to look around and dream a little!
For centuries the riverside district was dominated by industrial plants, but bombings in World War II ruined the area. The Festival of Britain transformed South Bank a cultural hub in 1951
The new stadium is the second biggest in Europe behind Barcelona’s Camp Nou, but has the most toilets of any stadium in the world! (2618) The first concert held here was George Michael in 2007.
For the best view of London walk to the top of Primrose Hill... sunrise, sunset - lovely!
In 1768 Benjamin Franklin, American statesman and Founding Father, conducted experiments in Mount Pond including pouring oil onto the water to examine how liquids behave. Anglers were not amused.
Behind the Pump House is a statue of a brown dog. In 1985 it replaced the original, removed in 1910 when it became a focus of riots between medical students and animal rights campaigners.
The home of Greenwich Mean Time, and therefore where each day and year commences. The Observatory’s original function was to improve sea navigation through knowledge of astronomy.
Have a wander down Brick Lane on a Sunday and take in the colourful sights and eclectic smells. All sorts of little stalls to nibble away at, alongside vintage fashion and unusual bric a brac
The longest-running show in British Theatre History, Agatha Christie's play has featured Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim amongst its 382 cast members to date. Read more.
The acoustics here were once so bad, it was said this was the only venue where a composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. It was corrected in 1969 by putting diffusing discs on the ceiling.
Awesome venue, don't be fooled by it's location. The outdoors is good fun and the place normally brings in an interesting set of people.
London: Our beloved Philippe Starck designed the interiors of this posh hotel. Read more.
Marie Tussaud, born in Strasbourg in 1761, made her first wax figure of the great French philosopher Voltaire in 1777. She opened a museum in London in 1835.
In this colourful antique and flee market with over 2000 stalls on Saturdays, there are so many wonderful bargain finds to be made!
This 18th century pub stands on the site of an earlier inn used by playwrights and actors of The Globe theatre. From here Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of 1666 destroy the city on the far bank.
Probably London's most famous music heritage site. Made famous by the Beatles but plenty of other historic acts have recorded here too. Read more.
The hotel opened in 1904, named after the Swiss hotelier César Ritz who also opened Ritz hotels in Paris (1898) and Madrid (1910). He was known as ‘king of hoteliers, hotelier to kings’.
In his diary for 1662 Samuel Pepys makes the first written record of a Punch and Judy show in Britain, by an Italian puppet showman. It was performed under the east portico of St.Paul’s Church
The oldest tennis tournament in the world was first played here in 1877. It was won by an Old Harrovian racquets player named Spencer Gore in front of a crowd of 200, paying a shilling entrance each.
Soho is home to Europe’s largest Chinatown, which developed in the 1970s. Earlier generations of London’s Chinese population had centred around the docks of Limehouse.
It's not just a meeting place before descending into the Underworld, it's also a great pub. It's also massive so it's not the best meeting place. Read more.
Did u know the author of The Windows in the Willows was a Secretary of The Bank of England?
London Zoo was opened for Fellows of the Zoological Society of London in 1828, only opening to the public in 1847 to aid funding. It currently houses 755 species of animal.
This museum houses more than 80 vehicles including the first tubes, horse-drawn trams and the earliest motorised buses, plus iconic posters from the last 100 years.
Fun, delicious, glamorous and one of the most fashionable haunts in town. An excellent dining experience from the master chef himself. -Catherine Ommanney, Real Housewives of DC
‘Billionaires Boulevard’ tells you all you need to know about local property prices. Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, the richest man in Europe, bought Nos.18-19 for £70 million in 2005.
Go now. Oh god, go now. This place is incredible, but is far too small once the commuting crowds know about it.
Opening shortly after the Great Fire, this ancient pub was regularly visited by Dr Johnson when he was taking a break from writing the first English dictionary, at his home in nearby Gough Square.
Make sure to ask the 'special menu' as it's a fraction of the cost of the normal menu. Available Sunday to Friday.
Spend the morning poring over the vintage jewelry and unique antiques, and explore Notting Hill afterward.
This must-see museum houses over 160,000 portraits of famous Brits (think Mick Jagger, Queen Victoria) dating back to the 16th century. It also is home to a trove of Cecil Beaton images.
Gorgeous and often quiet place to sit and drink with friends after dark if it's warm.
Brilliant views over the rooftops of London towards Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament.
Perfect in the summer to just sit, chill out, read a book or whatever for a whole morning or afternoon in the sun :)
Flat White opened in Soho in 2005 and was the first of a new wave of coffee shops in London to champion the Antipodean way of starting the day... Read more.
At 1.5 acres Kensington Roof gardens is the largest roof garden in the whole of Europe. The gardens have been owned by Richard Branson's Virgin group since 1981.
Best, and most honest, Japanese spot in town. It really is like being in an izakaya in Tokyo.
