American Women's Club of London What to See and Do in London

Where to start?! London is such a wonderful town with so many sights to see that you may need several trips to fit it all in! Those of us who do have the privilege of living here have compiled some helpful hints to help you in your trip planning and maybe point out some sights you might not otherwise find in the guidebooks.

Most of the sights in London are located in a fairly central area so there is a no need to get a car. Most Londoners get around by subway (called the Tube) and it is a very useful and convenient system to use. The best deal going is the One Day Travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 (where most of the sights are) which allows you unlimited travel on all Tube lines and bus routes all day after 9:30 am. Look for more information in any Tube station.

A good way to get your bearings and to see a lot of the most famous sights in one trip is to take one of the open top double decker bus tours. Tickets are good for unlimited touring within a 24 hour period and allow for hopping on and off. The three main companies are London Pride, The Big Bus Company, and Original London Sightseeing Tours - ask for information from your hotel. All buses have pickups throughout the city and offer at least three different routes (some even offer a Thames River tour in the Summer).

For cheap theatre tickets, try the official Half Price Ticket Booth in Leicester Square. Opens Mon - Sat at 2:30 (at noon on matinee days) and offers half price tickets to both matinee and evening performances - cash only and get there early for the best availability. To see what's on, pick up a copy of Time Out magazine for listings.

One last note, as you will most likely be traveling by Tube, the nearest Tube stop to the listed attraction is included in parenthesis to help you get around. All phone numbers are listed as dialed from within the UK - to dial from outside the UK, add the country code (44) and drop the initial "0".

Must See Attractions

• Tower of London (Tower Hill) - home to England's Crown Jewels and nine centuries of royalty, wars, treachery, and history. Be sure to take one of the Beefeater tours (starting every half hour) for extra insights into the Tower's history.
• Tower Bridge (Tower Hill) - often mistakenly called London Bridge (which is right next door and much less fascinating to behold) - this is the bridge you've seen so often in London photos. Opened in 1894, you can explore the interior and upper gangways on the Tower Bridge Experience.
• Buckingham Palace (St. James or Green Park) - Home to the reigning monarch since 1837 and site of the world famous Changing of the Guard, held at 11:30 am every day in the Summer and every other day in the Winter - call 0839 123 411 for which days and more information.
• British Museum (Holborn or Tottenham Court Road) - A vast collection of all the "spoils" of Britain's worldwide exploration and colonization in the 17th and 18th centuries. An unbelievable collection of historical artifacts.
• Westminster area (Westminster) - Here in one concentrated area lies Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Whitehall. Tours are available for Parliament and Westminster Abbey.
• St. Pauls Cathedral (St. Pauls) - Built according to a design by Sir Christopher Wren, this fantastic cathedral is truly breathtaking. Climb the stairs to the Whispering Gallery and continue all the way up to the top of the Dome for a unmatched view of London. Look out for the American Monument, dedicated to US soldiers killed in World Wars I and II.

Very Good

• Globe Theatre (Cannon Street) - An authentic replica of the original Shakespeare theatre - you can attend a show in the Summer for as little as £5 (if you are willing to stand!).
• Trafalgar Square (Charing Cross or Leicester Square) Home to the National Gallery - Britain's answer to the Louvre - a vast treasure trove of paintings from throughout Europe and St. Martin-in-the-Fields - a delightful Christopher Wren church with regular lunchtime concerts.
• Victoria and Albert Museum (High Street Kensington) - the world's largest collection of decorative arts - the textiles/costuming and religious artifacts collections are especially strong here. Also a lovely collection of Turner and Constable paintings on the top floor.
• Courtauld Gallery (Temple (not Sundays) or Covent Garden) - a world famous collection of Impressionist paintings but don't miss the rest of this delightful museum. The building is worth some attention itself as it was the original home of the Royal Academy of Art.
• Banqueting House (Westminster or St. James) - the only remaining building of the old Whitehall Palace (which burned to the ground in 1698) was designed by Inigo Jones and was the site of the beheading of Charles I in 1649 at the end of the English Civil War. In happier times, Charles had commissioned Rubens to paint the exquisite ceiling which is still on view today.
• Kensington Palace (High Street Kensington) Purchased for conversion to a royal palace in 1689 so the asthmatic King William III could get away from the pollution near Whitehall, this palace still serves as home to some members of the royal family - most famously the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Take the excellent audio tour of the State Rooms and the Royal Dress Collection. While in Kensington Gardens, make sure to seek out the Albert Memorial - a fantastic gilded tribute from a grieving Queen Victoria.
• The Wallace Collection (Bond Street or Baker Street) - a chance to view the authentic interior of a late 18th century aristocratic home and view the excellent collection of furniture, paintings, arms and crockery.
• Cabinet War Rooms (St. James or Westminster) - a tribute to the work of the Winston Churchill and his Cabinet during WWII - this is your chance to tour the carefully preserved underground offices used during the Blitz.
• Apsley House (Hyde Park Corner) - gifted to the Duke of Wellington after his triumph at Waterloo, Apsley House is still occupied by his descendants. 10 rooms of the house are open to the public and offer a glimpse into the lofty, beautiful world of 19th century aristocratic living.

Little Known Sights

• Former Embassy of the Texas Republic (St. James) - for all you Texans out there - dates from when Texas was its own republic with ambassadors throughout the countries of Europe.
• St. Brides Church (Blackfriars) - just off Fleet Street, this Wren designed church's steeple is said to be the inspiration of today's wedding cake shape.
• Royal Mews (Victoria) - behind Buckingham Palace, the fantastic royal carriages and liveries are here along with the stables of Her Majesty's perfectly matched carriage horses.
• Spencer House (Green Park) - the ancestral home of the Earl Spencer and family, the home is open for public tours on Sundays. Beautiful murals and painted ceilings.
• John Soane's Museum (Holborn) - has to be seen to be believed - an amazing collecting of architectural artifacts arranged in the former home of the Bank of England's designer.

Walks - try London Walks for excellent guided walks. More info at 020 7624 3978 or by email at london@walks.com. Brochures available at most hotels also try:

• Chelsea - King's Road, Cheyne Walk
• Kensington - Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park and South Kensington
• Westminster - Thames Path toward the City and Green Park/St James Park
• Hampstead - the vast Heath, Kenwood House, and the village itself Regent's Park - lovely gardens - don't miss the Rose Gardens in May/June
• Maida Vale - London's little Venice - canalside homes, shopping and dining
• The City - the Square Mile, this is the old London of Dickens tales

Day Trips (if you have more than one day)

West:

• Bath (by rail from Paddington) beautiful Georgian town in the Cotswolds
• Hampton Court (by rail from Waterloo) 16th century royal palace on the Thames
• Windsor (by rail from Paddington) Royal palace, also near Eton and Legoland
• Salisbury (by rail from Waterloo) home to a fantastic cathedral and well preserved 16th c. town center and near the mysterious stone circle at Stonehenge
• Kew Gardens (by Tube to Kew Gardens stop) expansive, lovely gardens

South:

• Greenwich (by Tube to Greenwich stop) home of Meridian line and much more
• Royal Tunbridge Wells (by rail from Charing Cross)fashionable late 18th c Spa town also see nearby Hever Castle, ancestral home of Anne Boleyn
• Rochester (by rail from Victoria) Cathedral, castle and great antique shopping

North:

• Cambridge (by rail from King's Cross) home of the famous university
• St. Albans (by rail from King's Cross) former Roman stronghold (see the Verulamium museum) and a massive Medieval cathedral. Thriving market in town

Markets - fun for a leisurely stroll or browse in the mornings

• Bermondsey (Borough or London Bridge) - Fridays - Antiques of good quality - go early! opens at 5 am and all the good stuff can be gone by 9 am.
• Portobello (Notting Hill) - fruit and veg. everyday, Sat and Sun for antiques
• Camden (Camden Town) - Weekends - good people watching and bargain hunting
• Covent Garden (Covent Garden) - everyday, very touristy Spitalfield's Market (Liverpool Street) - all week but esp. good on Fridays and Sundays

Shopping - when in London do as we do.....shop! Try Oxford Street, Kings Road/Sloane Square, Knightsbridge (Harrods!), Regent Street (check out Liberty), and Notting Hill/Portobello for lots of shopping temptations

Afternoon tea - an English tradition. May we recommend..... Brown's (Green Park), The Waldorf (Aldwych), Stafford Hotel (Green Park), The Duke (Green Park), The Lanesborough (Hyde Park Corner), The Dorchester (Hyde Park Corner)

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