| If you're planning a visit to London, perhaps you | | | | want to take a break or you want somewhere |
| already know what you are hoping to see and do | | | | peaceful to have a picnic lunch why not visit one of |
| during your trip to this famous capital city. If, though, | | | | the London Royal Parks? - All are free. |
| you are a first-time visitor or you are undecided | | | | The Regent's Park - has both open parkland and |
| about how to spend your time in London, the | | | | beautiful formal gardens; a sizeable boating lake and |
| following ideas may help to provide inspiration and | | | | open air theatre. |
| save you money. | | | | Kensington Gardens has impressive tree-lined |
| Many of the more memorable sights and places to | | | | avenues and is the setting for Kensington Palace |
| visit in London are free or cost just a few pounds | | | | (Diana, Princess of Wales former home) - the kids will |
| but for some unmissable sights such as the Tower of | | | | enjoy The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial |
| London, you will have to stretch your budget a little | | | | Playground. |
| further. Central London is surprisingly compact - | | | | St James's Park is at the very heart of London. |
| Buckingham Palace (and the Changing of the Guard), | | | | Often used for ceremonial and state occasions, the |
| The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster | | | | Park is a fantastic setting for pomp and splendour. |
| Abbey and the London Eye are all possible to visit | | | | Three royal palaces surround St James's Park. The |
| during a morning's walk. Off course, if you wish to | | | | oldest palace is Westminster, now known as the |
| tour Westminster Abbey, go inside Buckingham | | | | Houses of Parliament. The Tudor St James's Palace |
| Palace during the Summer Opening or take a trip on | | | | still holds the title of the Court of St James even |
| the London Eye, you will need to allocate more time | | | | though the Monarch has lived in the third palace, |
| and money. | | | | Buckingham Palace since 1837. |
| Most of London's most important museums are free | | | | Hyde Park is home to the Diana, Princess of Wales |
| to visit but because of the sheer number of exhibits, | | | | Memorial Fountain. This Memorial to Diana, Princess of |
| it is impossible to see everything in one visit. You | | | | Wales was opened by Her Majesty the Queen on |
| could spend some time trying to decipher the | | | | 6th July 2004. If you Visit Hyde Park on a Sunday |
| Egyptian hieroglyphic writing on the Rosseta Stone in | | | | you can watch speakers delivering their views in the |
| the British Museum, take a Victorian walk passing | | | | north east corner of Hyde Park at Speakers Corner, |
| original Victorian shop fronts in the Museum of | | | | the cradle of free speech. |
| London, see Dinosaur exhibits, complete with | | | | London markets are vibrant, varied and well |
| life-sized roaring T- Rex in the Natural History | | | | worth a visit. Among the most popular are: |
| Museum or visit the Worlds finest museum of | | | | Petticoat Lane Market - for fashion clothing and |
| decorative arts, the Victoria and Albert Museum. All | | | | leather goods Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm |
| of these London Museums are free to enter and just | | | | and on Sundays from 9am to 3pm |
| represent a few of the many free museums in | | | | Portobello Road Market - sells everything from |
| London. | | | | antiques to silverware, second-hand clothes and fruit |
| Did you know? You can see over 2,300 masterpieces | | | | and vegetables. Open: Monday to Wednesday 8am |
| for free in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and | | | | to 6pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Friday - Sat 8am to |
| in the nearby, National Portrait Gallery you can | | | | 7pm |
| explore over 160,000 portraits from the 16th Century | | | | Borough Market is London's favorite food market and |
| to the present day. A fantastic collection of | | | | sells imported and organic products such as wines, |
| International modern and contemporary art can be | | | | cheese, fish and meat. Open: Thurs, Fri 12 to 6pm, |
| seen at Tate Modern, Bankside, London while Tate | | | | Saturday 9am to 4pm |
| Britain, Millbank, London is the home of British art | | | | Covent Garden Market - two markets here sell |
| from 1500 to the present day. There are many, | | | | antiques, clothing, gifts and jewelery. Open: Monday |
| many more art galleries to visit in London and many | | | | to Sunday 10am to 6pm |
| will not charge you to enter. | | | | Finally, have a wonderful time in old London town! |
| When you tire of sightseeing in London and you | | | | |