You can't miss several London highlights, even if you have just a few days. Start by taking the Tube (subway) or bus (the red double-decker one, if you like) to Victoria Station and walk to Buckingham Palace. Between May and August, you can catch the Changing of the Guard at 11:30 a.m. daily (alternate days, weather permitting, during other months). Take kitschy photos with the bearskin-hat-wearing guards and walk through lovely St. James Park. Another must-see is the infamous Tower of London, a former royal residence but known for its torture chamber and the execution of several royals, Anne Boleyn the most famous. Take the Tube to Tower Hill. The site is visible from the station, as is the beautiful blue-and-white Tower Bridge. Ask about a tour of Tower grounds led by Beefeaters in Elizabethan regalia. The Tower also houses an armory and the Crown Jewels of Britain's royal family. Finally, walk the center of London. Go to Westminster for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. You could spend a day in Westminster Abbey, but get an audio guide to take in a lot without losing a ton of time. Chaucer and Churchill have monuments here, and it was the site of Princess Diana's 1997 funeral Mass.
If you love history and art, you have tough decisions. Every museum in London holds a collection worth seeing. Art-lovers must go to the Tate Modern on the South Bank for works from Mark Rothko to Andy Warhol. Good news for weekend travelers: The Tate is open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. As with all British museums, it's free. History buffs should check out the British Museum. It's open daily only until 5:30, so do some research on what you'd like to see first. It houses artifacts from the Sutton Hoo Viking ship, as well as an impressive Greek architecture collection including sculptures from the Parthenon.
Don't forget, London is a fashion capital. Visit trendy Knightsbridge for retail therapy, but beware, Oxford Street is overrun during peak weekend hours. Plan a short trip to Harrods during your weekend, preferably at night to see it in lights. Selfridges also offers great shopping for the high-end tourist. Here you can get a personal shopper and browse Prada, or have afternoon tea on the top floor.
