Places to visit in London
London
British Airways London Eye
Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1 7PB
Tel: 0870 5000600
www.ba-londoneye.com
The British Airways London Eye is the world's largest observation wheel. Take in over 55 of London's most famous landmarks in just 30 minutes!
British Museum
Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG
Tel: 020 7323 8000
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
One of the great museums of the world, showing the works of man from prehistoric to modern times with collections drawn from the whole world.
Cabinet War Rooms
Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ
Tel: 020 7930 6961
www.iwm.org.uk
The underground headquarters used by Winston Churchill and the British Government during World War II. Includes Cabinet Room, Transatlantic Telephone Room and Map Room.
Chessington World of Adventures
Leatherhead Road, Chessington, KT9 2NE
Tel: 01372 729560
www.chessington.com
Fun family adventures include the 'fang-tastic' New Vampire ride, Tomb Blaster, an action packed adventure ride, and a mischievous new attraction in Beanoland.
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames, SE1 2YD
Tel: 020 7403 6933
www.designmuseum.org
The world's leading museum of industrial design, fashion and architecture. Its exhibition programme captures the excitement and ingenuity of design's evolution.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court, East Moseley, KT8 9AU
Tel: 020 8781 9500
www.hrp.org.uk
The oldest Tudor palace in England with many attractions including the Tudor kitchens, tennis courts, maze and State Apartments and King's Apartments.
HMS Belfast
Morgan's Lane, Tooley Street, SE1 2JH
Tel: 020 7940 6300
www.iwm.org.uk
World War II cruiser weighing 11,500 tonnes, now a floating naval museum, with 9 decks to explore, from the Captain's Bridge to the Boiler and Engine rooms.
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ
Tel: 020 7416 5320
www.iwm.org.uk
Museum tells the story of 20th century war from Flanders to Bosnia. Special features include the Blitz Experience, the Trench Experience and the world of Espionage.
Kensington Palace State Apartments
Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX
Tel: 0870 7515180
www.hrp.org.uk
Furniture and ceiling paintings from Stuart-Hanoverian periods, rooms from Victorian era and works of art from the Royal Collection. Also Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens)
Richmond, TW9 3AB
Tel: 020 8332 5655
www.kew.org
300 acres containing living collections of over 40,000 varieties of plants. Seven spectacular glasshouses, 2 art galleries, Japanese and rock garden.
London Aquarium
County Hall, Riverside Building, SE1 7PB
Tel: 020 7967 8000
www.londonaquarium.co.uk
Dive down deep beneath the Thames and submerge yourself in one of Europe's largest displays of aquatic life from sharks and piranhas to seahorses and starfish.
London Planetarium
Marylebone Road, NW1 5LR
Tel: 0870 4003000
www.london-planetarium.com
Visitors can experience a virtual reality trip through space and find out about Black Holes and extra terrestrials in the interactive Space Zones before the show.
London Transport Museum
Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB
Tel: 020 7379 6344
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
The history of transport for everyone, from spectacular vehicles, special exhibitions, actors and guided tours to film shows, gallery talks and children's craft workshops.
London Zoo
Regent's Park, NW1 4RY
Tel: 020 7722 3333
www.londonzoo.co.uk
Escape the stress of city life and visit the amazing animals at the world famous London Zoo. See Asian lions, Sloth bears and the incredible 'Animals in Action'.
Museum of London
150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 020 7600 3699
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Discover over 2,000 years of the capital's history, from prehistoric to modern times. Regular temporary exhibitions and lunchtime lecture programmes.
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
Tel: 020 7747 2885
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Gallery displaying Western European painting from about 1250-1900. Includes work by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne.
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, SE10 9NF
Tel: 020 8858 4422
www.nmm.ac.uk
This national museum explains Britain's worldwide influence through its explorers, traders, migrants and naval power. Features on ship models, costume, and ecology of the sea.
National Portrait Gallery
St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE
Tel: 020 7306 0055
www.npg.org.uk
Permanent collection of portraits of famous men and women from the Middle Ages to the present day. Free, but charge for some exhibitions.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Tel: 020 7942 5000
www.nhm.ac.uk
Home of the wonders of the natural world with hundreds of exciting, interactive exhibits. Don't miss 'Dinosaurs', 'Creepy-Crawlies' and the new Darwin Centre.
Royal Mews
Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA
Tel: 020 7321 2233
www.royal.gov.uk
One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews is responsible for all road travel arrangements for the Queen and Royal Family.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Greenwich Park, SE10 9NF
Tel: 020 8858 4422
www.nmm.ac.uk
Museum of time and space and site of the Greenwich Meridian. Working telescopes and planetarium, timeball, Wren's Octagon Room and intricate clocks and computer simulations.
St. Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD
Tel: 020 7236 4128
www.stpauls.co.uk
Wren's famous cathedral church of the diocese of London incorporating the Crypt, Ambulatory and Whispering Gallery.
Science Museum
Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD
Tel: 0870 8704868
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years at the largest Museum of its kind in the world.
Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition & Tour
Bankside, SE1 9DT
Tel: 020 7902 1500
www.shakespeares-globe.org
Against the historical background of Elizabethan Bankside, the City of London's playground in Shakespeare's time, the exhibition focuses on actors, architecture and audiences.
Tate Britain
Millbank, SW1P 4RG
Tel: 020 7887 8008
www.tate.org.uk
The world's greatest collection of British art including work by Constable, Gainsborough, Hockney, Rossetti and Turner, presented in a dynamic series of new displays and exhibitions.
Tate Modern
Bankside, SE1 9TG
Tel: 020 7887 8008
www.tate.org.uk
Houses the Tate Collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day, including major works by Matisse and Picasso plus contemporary work by Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread.
Theatre Museum
Russell Street, WC2E 7PA
Tel: 020 7943 4700
www.theatremuseum.org
Exhibitions, events based on the world's most exciting performing arts collections, and galleries brought to life by tour guides, all celebrate performance in Britain.
Tower Bridge Experience
Tower Bridge, SE1 2UP
Tel: 020 7403 3761
www.towerbridge.org.uk
Exhibition explaining the history of the bridge and how it operates. Enjoy the panoramic views from the Walkway 150ft (45m) above the Thames and visit the original Engines.
Tower of London
Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB
Tel: 0870 7567070
www.towerbridge.org.uk
Home of the 'Beefeaters' and ravens, the building spans 900 years of British history. On display are the nation's Crown Jewels, regalia and armoury robes.
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000
www.vam.ac.uk
Large and varied collections of decorative arts from 3000BC to the present day. The new British Galleries explore British art and design from Tudor times to the Victorian era.
Vinopolis - London's Wine Tasting Visitor Attraction
1 Bank End, SE1 9BU
Tel: 0870 2414040
www.vinopolis.co.uk
Vinopolis is London's Wine Tasting Visitor Attraction. For anyone who enjoys a glass of wine it is one of the few attractions where guests grow merrier as they walk through!
Westminster Abbey
Parliament Square, SW1P 3PA
Tel: 020 7222 5152
www.westminster-abbey.org
One of Britain's finest Gothic buildings. Scene of the coronation, marriage and burial of British monarchs. Nave and cloisters, Royal Chapels and Undercroft Museum.