In this colourful antique and flee market with over 2000 stalls on Saturdays, there are so many wonderful bargain finds to be made!
Yeah, it looks all shiny now, but go back 230 years and you'd be watching graverobbed corpses being dissected by the Hunter brothers. How quickly people forget.
The market is bustling with shoppers, tourists and performers on the weekend. Except for the many restaurants and cafes, there is also the famous Royal Opera.
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.
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.
Hyde Park was a favourite venue for duellists in the 18th and 19th century, including the brutal 1712 duel between the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun in which they hacked each other to death.
Westminster Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor and completed just before his death in 1065. Since William the Conqueror all the kings & queens of England have been crowned here.
Britain’s first escalators were installed at this famous department store in 1898. Women were offered brandy at the summit in order to calm their nerves.
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.
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.
Great for shopping, eating and drinking. Check out the Wholefoods Market especially ;-)
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.
Very small museum, but young kids really enjoyed themselves.
This area was named after Leicester House, the London mansion home of the Earl of Leicester built in 1635. But by 1800 it was a home of popular entertainment and theatres, and has never looked back.
Located between platforms 9 & 10 is the magical platform 9 3/4, reached only by those travelling to the Hogwarts Academy, such as Harry and his friends in 2001's "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone." Read more.
The best place to visit if you want to learn more about London’s history. And of course it houses the Crown Jewels, the most famous jewellery collection in the world
Currently the third tallest Ferris wheel in the world (the tallest when built in 1999, but now behind Singapore and Nanchang), it moves at 0.6mph, and you can see 25 miles from the top.
While the daily changing of the guards is a tourist magnet, this majestic palace is a London icon and home of the Queen. You know that she is in residence when the flag is flying above the palace!
The famous illuminated advertising of Piccadilly Circus began as early as 1893, before most of the city had electric street lighting.
A wonderful place for people watching on a sunny day or as a romantic meeting place at dusk, but look out for the pigeons. A visit to the National Gallery is also highly recommended.
This iconic London landmark even has a private venue for hire, with wonderful views over the City. Is it London’s most stylish party venue?
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.
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.
This road was used as the route for transporting bricks after the Great Fire of London in 1666, hence the name. It now boasts the greatest concentration of curry houses in Britain.
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.
Set in a stunning park, and sitting precisely on the Prime Meridian of the world, the Royal Observatory is a great way to spend an afternoon in South London.
In 1894 a French anarchist named Martial Bourdin was carrying a bomb through the park to the Observatory when it exploded and killed him. No one knows why he had decided to target the Observatory.
TRAVEL FACT: These well-known groups of standing stones are one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.
In the area around here we saw 58% more threatened homelessness related problems than last year but enquiries about social housing rent arrears were down 18%.
‘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.
Sculpted from Italian marble and based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome, this was built in 1827 as the entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was moved here in 1851 when the palace was enlarged.
The stretch of the Thames alongside the Houses of Parliament is the only restricted area of the river, due to obvious security concerns. River traffic must keep to the east bank.
Finally! A British train station that actually has free WiFi and which you don't have to pay for using the toilets!
This mother church of English Roman Catholics was completed in Early Christian Byzantine style in 1903. Since that day Masses have been sung here everyday without interruption.
A hidden statue of ‘the boy who never grew up’ can be found in Kensington Gardens, where Peter Pan used to come to play with the fairies and sail the Serpentine with a nest for a boat.
The bridge had to close within days of its opening in 2000 because of a slight wobble, which caused people to walk in step with each other, causing the wobble to become much worse!
A reconstruction of the famous Elizabethan open-air theatre where Shakespeare worked, true to the spirit of the original, celebrating and educating about Shakespeare’s work.
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.
Take a few minutes, even in winter, to explore the central Rose Garden. Lots of flowers with silly names, and plenty of sculpture.
Nice fresh, healthy food within a laid back environment...you can go through the selection of music and enjoy the atmosphere...a nice start into the day before strolling through Covent Garden...
If there's another coffee shop in London (if not the world) that has decor that suits using vaulting horses as tables I'm yet to see it...
Love the antipodean style coffee. Little sister to Flat White (Berwick Street). Great coffee - never bitter or burnt and no boiled milk! The hot chocs are a treat too.
Great new coffee house on edge of Covent Garden. They do a proper drip coffee and You gotta try the little sandwiches too.
Might be the best latte and coffee in london right now. Great knowledgable staff and attention to detail. The water is excellent and well cared for.
Look out for the mosaic floors in the main entrance and stairwell. Fascinating. Work by the same artist can be seen at Tate Britain.
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.
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’.
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.
There’s nothing more quintessentially British than a classic Liberty of London print. Scoop up the iconic shirts and accessories for friends back home.
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.
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.
Really nice shops. It isn't for everyone, but still nice to look around and dream a little!
...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!
You can find wide range of restaurant, cafe, bars and pubs for locals around this charming street.
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.
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.
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
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
Open 24/7, this bakery exudes a rough Cockney charm. Main attractions: salt beef and an entertaining customer mix.
I'm torn between recommending the Pad Thai (best I've found in London since returning from Thailand) and the red curry, equally as delicious. I'd have both if it werent a little excessive for lunch!
On the weekends stop by the farmers market and be sure to try the oysters. They are amazing.
Step back in time and pay a visit to Holmes and Watson's former residence for just £6 per adult / £4 per child. Do remember to visit the gift shop old boy, Mrs. Hudson will gladly assist you.
If you get a chance to go to a Garden Party then Buckingham Palace gardens is great! The walks around, hidden surprises and rolling grass really are fantastic!
Check the Change of Guard timings on the net; if you are really interested in seeing it.
Delicious & affordable rustic Italian dishes, inspired by the "Italian table" to create a relaxed environment. Recommend the smokey mozzarella arancini! Read more.
There's an all-day kitchen serving up Caravan's famous coffee, and the menu offers everything from oysters to pizzas -- our personal fave is the fried chicken, watermelon, pomegranate and chilli. Read more.
Harrods is the jewel in England's retail crown. A seven-storey wonderland in Knightsbridge, don't forget to check in at all our various departments and restaurant locations as you explore the store!
Dr.Sloane, who purchased the Manor of Chelsea in 1712, was a physician who also invented milk chocolate, adapted from a Jamaican custom. It was originally marketed as medicine.
Number 10 Downing Street is Great Britain's most famous address. Find out what else makes Britain great by clicking 'Read more'. Read more.
One of the world's best museums for all things life and earth. Use the other entrance on Exhibition Road to avoid the long lines into this beautiful building.
An urban myth, which began shortly after WWII, suggests that an ancient Roman battleground is located here and the body of Iceni Warrior Queen Boudica is buried somewhere beneath platform 9 and 10.
Love the flea market. And don't forget to try the hot dog stand at the corner. Yum yum.
Public speaking on any subject has been officially tolerated here since the 1870s. Marx, Engels and Lenin are amongst those who have come to listen to the radical and often eccentric speeches.
No pharmacy inside, buy all your travel medicines beforehand!
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.
The Coliseum opened in 1904 as a ‘people’s palace of entertainment’. During WW2 it became a canteen for air raid wardens, and Winston Churchill once addressed them from the theatre stage.
The bricks of the buildings on Downing Street were originally yellow brick which over two centuries became blackened from pollution. After restoration in the 1960s they were painted black.
Oxford Circus got its new diagonal pedestrian crossing in 2009. It was inspired by crossings in Tokyo like the one at Shibuya, and in recognition of this Japanese musicians played at the opening.
Great coffee shop that have só many variety of pies and English cakes,for sure I recomend it!
Best English breakfast in London seriously. the theme is simultaneously funny, kitsch & poignant. Good old fashioned English food done properly like your gran might make it. And usually hot waitresses
Best coffee in Belgravia... TomTom is also listed in the London Coffee Guide 2012! Definitely recommend having a Flat White!
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain was opened in 2004, and is made from 545 pieces of Cornish granite. The design is intended to reflect the Princess’s openness.
As good, if not better than Tayyabs! Try the peshwari naan, daighi slow cooked dry meat and the karahi lamb chops masala!!
Finding a good cup of coffee in a land filled with tea-lovers is not always easy. So be sure to try out the exotic blends at Monmouth Coffee which will really tickle your taste buds!
Platform 9 ¾ has now been moved to a central location, outside the gates (and not between platforms 9 and 10). A Harry Potter shop has also been opened next to it! Get yourself a wand! Patronus!
Go on Sunday and have either, the roast sirloin or roast pork! Served with gravy, roast vegetables and potato, it's excellent! Ensure you start your seating with a scotch egg or chicken liver parfait!
Fantastic pub in the heart of London! They have 3 resident ales and for all the others, they rotate them on a daily basis!!
Arguably the best breakfast spot in town. Go all out for chef Bill Granger’s famous ricotta hotcakes, topped with sticky, molten chunks of honeycomb butter. http://tandl.me/SfGlu9
One of our favourite ice cream places. The bitter chocolate is perfect for chocoholics and the watermelon can't be beaten for refreshment.
