Start at the Tower of London with its vast history of when kings and queens plotted against each other to rule the British kingdom. Visit the magnificent Crown Jewels and the Royal Armories; get to know the history of the famous Beefeaters and why crows are protected in the name of the royal family. Next, check out the Tower of London, one of the most recognizable views in London. Look for St. Paul's Cathedral famous dome, an important part of the skyline. To get a bird's eye view of London, climb the 530 steps leading to the Golden Gallery. Finally, visit Westminster Abbey and observe the British political process at the House of Parliament. Don't forget Buckingham Palace and its changing of the guard ceremony.
Central London has tons of museums and galleries. The National Portrait Gallery has more than 1,000 portrait paintings and is one of the most visited galleries in London. The British Museum, on the other hand, has more than 7 million objects that showcase the diverse human history and culture. Children will find the Sherlock Holmes Museum and the Cartoon Museum worth the time.
Your trip won't be complete without shopping. For designer clothes, bags and shoes, head to Bond St. where you can find Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton among other brands. Want some less expensive merchandise? Oxford St. has more than 300 retail shops from the affordable but still fashionable Zara and Mango to the famous department store Harrods. Besides Harrods, check out Selfridges and the more affordable Debenhams.
At Camden Lock Market, you can find unique clothes from local and unknown designers or purchase the hippest souvenirs. Sunday seems to be the busiest day, but the market is open every weekday. Try on some funky clothes, get a pair of colorful rubber boots and taste some of the cheap food.
Take a sightseeing tour, such as Catamaran and river cruises on the Thames River. Double-decker bus tours show you the main attractions in Central London, and for 24 hours, you can hop on and off the bus to see sights that interest you. Walking tours show you the sinister parts of London from Jack the Ripper or the footsteps of Robert Langdon in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code."
