As a visitor to London you will find that there is no end of choice in all the intersting and fascinating places that you can see. Of course, it is impossible to see everything during a brief stay, and so here is a short list of some of the principal attractions that will help give you a flavour of this wonderful city and leave you with the feeling that someday you will come back and see it all.
The London Eye. For some spectacular panoramic views of the capital, a trip on this architectural masterpeice is unforgettable. One of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, the London Eye is a fabulous experience - impressive during the day and enthralling at night.
Tower of London. Next to Tower Bridge, this famous prison once struck fear into the hearts of those who faced the possibilty of incarceration within its dank, forbidding walls. After a 900 year stretch, it has today almost entirely lost its sense of threat and horror. Now it's only curious tourists, ambling calmly where others were once hanged, beheaded and tortured. Still, expect to be fascinated if not exactly scared.
The National Gallery. With almost five million visitors each year, this expansive collection of Western European paintings represents some of the finest works of the great masters including da Vinci, Van Gogh, Renoir and Michaelangelo from the period between the 13th and 19th centuries. It is one of the largest galleries in the world, so a visit can be quite daunting - but well worth it.
Buckingham Palace. The Royal family's offiicial residence dates from 1705. As well as being the home of the Queen, it is also an administrative headquarters and the venue for major cermonial and state events. It draws large numbers of tourists during the Summer to see the changing of the palace guard. This is also the season when visitors can get the chance to take a limited tour of the palace.
The British Museum. One of the world's oldest and largest museums, this famous institution houses thousands of antiquities in what are extensive and fascinating collections from Egypt, the Orient, Rome, Greece, Africa, and including items from Britain's prehistoric and medieval periods. As one may imagine, visitors come here in their thousands and for many the scale can be bewildering. The advice is to follow one of the many guided tours available. You may see less, but you will see better.
Tate Modern. Instantly striking, the mesmering archictecture of the old Bankside power station is a world showcase for the world's finest conemporary art. After you've finished looking at the marvel of what is the inspired conversion of a functional engineering utility into a masterful edifice of modern art, you can then check down the list of renowned names such as Bacon, Rothko, Beuys, Twombly and Matisse.
St. Pauls Cathedral. Built after the Great Fire of London in 1666, Christopher Wren's towering achievement has stood proud and imposing over the city and it's people for more than 300 years, even surviving the catastrophic destruction of the Bllitz. It has many striking features including the Whispering Gallery with its unique acousics and the spectacular Dome which is only outmatched in size by St. Peter's basilica in Rome. The Cathedral has seen many grand, historic ceromonies and the crypt contains the tombs of many famous names including Wellington and Nelson.
The Houses of Parliament. The neo-gothic style Palace of Westminister incorporates both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, each established here since 1512. The present building was designed by Sir Charles Barry and work began on the lavish construction in 1840 and took many decades to complete. Westminister Hall is the last remaining part of the old palace which has its origins from 1097. The Clock Tower is the best know and most striking feature, and since 1859 the famous 14 tonne Big Ben has chimed resonantly and regularly every 15 minutes to help Londoners keep proper time.
Victoria and Albert Museum. First founded in 1852, the V&A possess one of the finest collections of art and design to be seen anywhere. Set out in 150 galleries that are arranged over six levels, the scale of the presentation of some of the world's most creative and beautiful treasures can be easily guessed at - but in person, it is absolutely impressive. The great news is that it is free. So too are the guided introductory tours that start every hour. This will show you where to start. Where to stop is the problem.
Madame Tussauds. The French revolution provided Madame Tussaud with the opportunity to perfect her skills in waxwork when she undertook the morbid task of making death masks of many of its famous victims. She opened her London exhibition to popular success in Victorian London in 1835, first in Baker Street, before moving to its present location in 1884. The exhibits are presented in several distinct sections, the most well-known being the atmospheric Chamber of Horrors. Have your photo taken with your favourite celebrity, criminal, rogue or royal, and see who can spot the difference.