London Things to Do Tips by cheekymarieh

For quite a few years, the power station stood neglected on the river opposite St Paul's Cathedral. That was until the Tate Modern Gallery decided that it would make a stunning art gallery.

The gallery has lots of weird and wonderful examples of modern art from artists such as: Thomas Struth, Eduardo Paolozzi, Damien Hirst and Pablo Picasso. All of the main rooms are free to visit but there is a fee to enter the special exhibitions. When we visited it was the last days of the Matisse and Picasso exhibition.

Exhibits include paintings, photos, sculptures and films. Even if you are not a great fan of modern art it is still worth looking around at the surroundings of the exhibits.

The gallery opens at 10am though closing times vary and are late evening at weekends.

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Phone: 020 7887 8000
Address: Bankside Power Station, Bankside,London
Directions: Head to St Paul's Cathedral and then cross the new Millenium Bridge. That will take you almost to the front door.

Tube: Blackfriars, Southwark are the nearest.
Website: 020 7887 8000
Other Contact: Free admission

The popular name for the British Museum (Natural History), housed since 1881 in S Kensington, London. The exhibition was originally built up in the 17th–18th-century around the collections of Sir Hans Sloane and Sir Joseph Banks.

The museum has various fascinating exhibits such as volcanic activity, earthquakes (you can actually experience one for yourself), creepy crawlies, mammals, minerals and also the world famous vast display of dinosaurs.

This is a place that you could all too easily spend the whole day in - be you a child or an adult. A word of warning though - the museum is not airconditioned and therefore on a very hot day the heat can be unbearable as it was on my last trip.

Although admission is free you do have to pay for special exhibitions (dinosaur birds were on the agenda last August).

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Phone: 020 7942 5011
Address: Cromwell Road / Exhibition Road, Sth Kensington
Directions: South Kensington is the nearest Tube station and the museum is well sign posted from there.
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk/
Other Contact: Free admission

At one time Tower Bridge used to the the most eastern bridge on the River Thames. The bridge can open to allow large ships in and out of the Pool of London. It was designed by Sir Horace Jones (1819–87) and Sir John Wolfe Barry (1836–1918), and opened in 1894. As usual I am drawn by the gothic design.

You can visit the interior and see all of the bridge mechanisms. You can actually climb up and get some fantastic views of the city.

Admission prices for adults are around £5 for adults.

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Phone: 020 7403 3761
Address: Lower Thames Street, London, SE1 2UP
Directions: Nearest Tube stations: Tower Hill or London Bridge
Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk/
Other Contact: Open 9.30 - 18.00 every day

Also known as the Palace of Westminster .The first palace on the site was built by King Canute in the 11th-century, and this was replaced and embellished over the centuries until it was destroyed by fire in 1834. The present structure was begun in 1839, and was occupied by the Commons and Lords in 1852.

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The construction of the tower was begun by the Normans in the 11th-century. It used to be a prison for those whose crimes included treason against the royal family. Now it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. Inside the Tower you can visit the room containing the Crown Jewels.

It is guarded by the Yeoman Guards(also known as Beefeaters) who wear their regal uniforms as they stand guard over the spot where those who had commited treason were held. Legend has it that if for any reason the ravens guarding the tower disappear then the tower will fall down and England too will collapse.

Open: 1 March - 31 October: Monday - Saturday 09.00-17.00 Sunday 10.00-17.00
1 November - 28 February: Tuesday - Saturday 09.00-16.00 Sunday - Monday 10.00-16.00

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Phone: 020 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, London EC3N 4AB
Directions: Tube: Tower Hill. The head down to the River Thames where the Tower is located.
Website: www.tower-of-london.com
Other Contact: Admission is quite expensive

The cathedral is Baroque in design and was built by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th centurt as a replacement to the cathedral destroyed in the Fire of London in 1666. It is one of the most noticeable buildings on London's skyline.

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Directions: Just across the new millenium bridge from Battersea Power Station, in the heart of the City.
Other Contact: There is now a CHARGE of £6 to e

The palace is often refered to as Buck House. It has around 600 rooms and is home to the British monarch when residing in London. Its architect was John Nash and was built for George IV. It was first used as a Royal Residence in 1837.

For the first time in its history some of the rooms were opened to the public in the summer 1993. Every summer from 1st August to 28th September there are now tours although they have to be pre-booked. It costs £12 for adults.

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Phone: 20 7799 2331
Address: The Mall, London
Directions: The ticket office is in Green Park. Nearest Tube: Green Park, Victoria
Website: www.royal.gov.uk
Other Contact: Aug-Sep opening only

The London Eye was built as part of the capital's Millenium celebrations. It has now established itself as a major tourist attraction and offer spectacular views of the capital.

The wheel has 32 capsules which rotate slowly round and enable you to have a 360 degree view which on a clear day can be up to 25 miles. It is about 130m in height. The journey around takes approximately 30 minutes.

The ticket office is in County Hall just by the Eye. Admission fees are: around £10 for adults with children around half price. You can by tickets in advance on the net or by telephone.

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Phone: 0870 5000 600
Address: Westminster Pier, London
Directions: Nearest Tube: Westminster or Waterloo.
Website: www.londoneye.com
Other Contact: Open 9.30am - 10pm

On this site there was formerly an important monastery dating back to Medieval times. The abbey has been used for every Coronation since 1066 with the last being Queen ELizabeth II the present monarch. The architecture is predominantly gothic in design.

Within Westminster Abbey you can see the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Royal Chapels, the Coronation Chair,the Toyal Tombs, Poets Corner and the Shrine of Edward the Confessor.

Opening times: Monday - Friday 0900 - 1645, Saturdays 0900 - 1445 . The abbey may also be closed for various events so it is advisable to check beforehand.

*WARNING* There is an admission charge of £6 for adults and £4 for children. Yes, yet again we have another church charging admission fees instead of requesting donations!!!

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Phone: 020 7222 5152
Address: Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3PA
Directions: Nearest Tube station: Westminster
Website: www.westminster-abbey.org

The British Museum is actually the national museum of archaeology and ethnography. It was founded in 1753 when the collection of Sir Hans Sloane was acquired for the nation. Since 1881 the natural history collection has its own home and the Library moved to a new site on Euston Road in 1997.

There are some magnificient exhibits on display such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Rosetta stone, the Sutton Ho treasure and there is also a magnificent Egyptian collection.

Of course, the most controversial exhibit in the museum are the Elgin Marbles. (When I took my Greek friend Fofi there we did visit the Marbles much to the horror of some of my friends - but she felt she had to see them even if they weren't in their rightful place.

Open 10am - 5pm except Sunday (12- 6pm)

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Phone: 020 7580 1788
Address: Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG
Directions: Nearest Tube stations: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square,Goodge St
Website: www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Other Contact: Free admission