10 Things to Do in London

London Eye

• Ride on one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world. The sky-high view lets you see 25 miles in every direction at a height of 443 feet. The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, has 32 enclosed capsules that each hold 25-28 people, with a bench in the center. One rotation lasts for 30 minutes, and moves so slowly that people get on and off without the wheel stopping.

  The London Eye
  Riverside Building
  County Hall
  Westminster Bridge Road
  London SE1 7PB
  +44 (0)870 990 8883
  http://www.londoneye.com/
  nearest tube stop: Waterloo

Buckingham Palace

• Visit where the Queen lives and works, at one of the few working royal palaces in the world. Tours of the State Rooms are available August through September and contain numerous treasures, from Rembrandt and Rubens paintings to Canova sculptures. Watch the changing of the guard outside daily at 11:30 a.m. during the summer, and alternate days the rest of the year.

  Ticket Sales and Information Office
  The Official Residences of The Queen
  Buckingham Palace Road, 
London SW1A 1AA
  Telephone (+44) (0)20 7766 7300
  http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=30
  nearest tube stop: Victoria

Westminster and Big Ben

• Watch the Parliament work and attend debates or watch committees in the House of Lords or the House of Commons. During the summer, visitors can tour Parliament. Outside is Big Ben, which has no tours, but the view is spectacular. Next door is Westminster Abbey, the Tower Bridge and 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives.

  http://www.parliament.uk/
  nearest tube stop: Westminster

River Thames Cruise

• Relax on a river cruise and see many of London's spectacular sites, including the Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, the London Eye, Westminster and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The cruise stops at three piers; the shortest trip between piers is 20 to 30 minutes and the full round trip lasts 3 hours.

  +44 (0)20 77 400 400
  http://www.citycruises.com/

Hyde Park

• Once a place for the royals to go hunting, Hyde Park has activities for everyone. At the center is a lake where you can rent rowboats or paddle boats, ride a ferry or go swimming. See the Diana Fountain built as a memorial for the Princess of Wales. Take a carriage ride or go horseback riding. Grab lunch at one of the several eateries. Check out Speakers' Corner, where anyone is allowed to speak about anything.

  The Park Office
  Rangers Lodge, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UH
  T +44 (0)20 7298 2100
  http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde_park/
  nearest tube stops: Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge

Tower of London

• Built to scare and subdue Londoners, the Tower of London is now one of its most popular tourist attractions. There are several sights to see, including the armor of Henry the VIII, the Crown Jewels, exhibits on prisoners and torture and the White Tower.

  http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/
  nearest tube stop: Tower Hill

The Theatre

• The theatre is expensive, but the Half Price Ticket Booth (or simply 'tkts') makes it much more affordable. They have hundreds of half-price and discount tickets available to purchase up to a week in advance, but the best deals are usually on the day of the show.

  tkts Leicester Square is located in the center of Leiceister Square and is the only free-standing building within the Square.
  tkts Brent Cross Shopping Centre is located on the second floor (called the first floor in Great Britain)
  http://www.tkts.co.uk/

Oxford Street Shopping

• Stretching a mile and a half, London's most popular street to shop has hundreds of places to buy nearly anything. You can browse in department stores or smaller shops or relax in restaurants and coffee shops.

  http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk/
  nearest tube stops: Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Marble Arch

Trafalgar Square

• Stroll around Trafalgar Square and take in one of London's most famous sites, which is surrounded by historical landmarks and museums. The National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery are free. Nearby is the Institute of Contemporary Art. You can listen to concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church.

  http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/
  nearest tube stop: Charing Cross

Tate Modern

• Take in some culture at Tate Modern, which houses international modern and contemporary art. Entry is free and highlights include works by Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Warhol, Giacometti, Lichtenstein and Magritte.

  Bankside
  London SE1 9TG
  http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
  nearest tube stop: Southwark, Mansion House, London Bridge