London Things to Do Tips by Sjalen

Borough Market Markets and Street Life Review

One of my favourite places in London is Borough Market, and no one who has been here can say that English food sucks! Under the railway arches at London Bridge, the market sprawls out in all directions, even if it has been threatened by the much needed railway expansion in later years. It is only open Thursdays (11am-5pm), Fridays (Noon-6 p.m), and Saturdays (9 a.m-4 p.m), but then it is an excellent place to get free breakfast if you are on a budget, since you get to try produce at most stalls. Just be prepared to come early or queue since it is a very popular market with everything from organic Somerset apple juice, Yorkshire butchers, and fantastic fish, to foreign things such as Sicilian delicacies, Belgian beer (no testing on that one!) and Spanish ham. There are several famous restaurants attached to the market too but then you need to book in advance. Otherwise, just sit down at one of the fast food places in the market, serving a range of various food. There are also plenty of pubs in the Borough area. The nearest toilets are in Southwark Cathedral which could be good to know since you are likely to stroll around here for a good while if you like food (and yes, they are used to market visistors in the church). Check the very useful homepage for special events and cover on specific traders.

Address: Borough Market

Directions: London Bridge tube station.

Website: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

Kensington Palace Knightsbridge, Kensington and Kensington Palace Review

At the central end of Kensington High Street, just where Kensington Park begins, you will find this royal palace which today is perhaps most famous for having been Princess Diana's home. It is quite fitting that the area is also known for its associations with Peter Pan - a kind of legendary corner of London where fairytales happen. This is however not the only royal to have spent a lot of time here since Queen Victoria grew up here, and it was in fact here she found out that she had become queen when she was 18, and you can still see her bedroom. From the start, the house was Nottingham House and it was bought by William and Mary who wanted a house away from the dirt and noise in London itself (those where the days!)

Please note that only the state apartments are open until late 2012 due to refurbishments.

Address: Kensington Gardens

Directions: Tube to Kensington High Street - then turn right and keep going. Underground to Queen's Gate also possible.

Website: http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace/

Imperial War Museum Imperial War Museum Review

The name might sound to you like a pompous empire glory thing and in a way it maybe is, but it is so much more, and definitely not a museum glorifying war as such. This shows you the horrors of war too, and also gives you a fair bit of British history if you're a buff. The museum experts are frequently enlisted to help UK television companies with historic and war technical material. Some exhibitions are OK for young children whilst others (such as the one on the holocaust which is recommended from 14 years) are certainly not so if you plan a visit with the kids it is worth checking the website to plan your day better.

I went back a few years ago since the family had never been, and we could easily have stayed longer since there is so much to see. My husband visited the holocaust exhibition and said that whilst he did not learn that much new, it was a "must" in a museum such as this and very well done. I instead took my daughter to the temporary exbibition on children during WWII, which she found a bit scary since the children had to bring gas masks to school, and many were evacuated away from their parents. We discussed this a lot and cheered up with a visit to an exbitition on life in submarines. Otherwise the great hall where you first end up is what attracts children the most since it doesn't tell any stories but show planes hanging from the ceiling, Montgomery's tank, a Falkland rocket and lots more. It is certainly not only British vehicles but a mix.

We left our daughter at the Easter drawing competition and went to see the exbititions on the World Wars (with separate bits on the D-Day and Normandie landings). The First World War bit included not just the background story, but also the beginnings of wartime photography, and a model of trenches where you could see their zig zag patterns to keep enemies out. It finished with a walk through a mock-up trench with sound effects such as an officer speaking to his men before the went over the top, and it was interesting to us who have lived in Belgium and visited Ieper. The WWII exhibition deals with the run up to war and finishes with "the Blitz" which is a similar mock-up model room where you can experience the Blitz (a lot cheaper than at Britain at War since the museum is free). The queues to this are horrendous during school holidays so arrive early or avoid holiday times if it is a must for you.

We never tried the café, but the souvenir shop is great and full of Churchill souvenirs, books on WWII and other wars, plane- and ship models, propaganda posters and lots more. This is a place where you can easily spend a full day.

Address: Lambeth Road

Directions: Lambeth North underground, the follow the signs a few dull blocks to the entrance.

Phone: +44 (0)207 416 5320 / 5321

Website: http://london.iwm.org.uk/

Richmond Richmond and Richmond Park Review

A wonderful town along the Thames, just outside London and easily reached by underground or boat. Richmond used to have a royal palace and be the centre of much attention but today, only the royal deer park is left. Still, that is wonderful to stroll through, and the centre has lots of interesting shops and pubs as well as that fabulous riveside setting. Richmond is also where you find Hampton Court (a bit further on) and several lovely manor houses in the countryside.

Address: Richmond

Directions: Richmond tube. Boat from Westminster Pier.

Monument Monument Review

In 1666, a great fire raged through what is now the City of London and as a monument to this event which changed the look of London so much and opened up for the building of St Paul's Cathedral, the Monument was built in 1671-7 and designed by Wren just like the cathedral itself. At the top is a copper flame to symbolise the fire. You can climb the Monument for great views of the city, despite its awkward position between high rise buildings these days. Not for those who cannot handle stairs and it is quite hard to turn around unless you actually make it to the top!

Directions: Monument underground station.

Golden Hinde Southwark and Bankside Review

In 1577, Sir Frances Drake set off on his circumnavigation of the World on behalf of the majesty. It took him three years - an amazing achievement which was honoured in 1977 when a replica of the galleon was built in Devon (not to be confused with the replica still down there). She can now be found here in London and is popular with visitors as not only can you marvel at how a ship looking this fragile can tackle the great oceans, but the docks at Southwark are also cosy on a sunny day and there is a decent pub next to it. There really is no best time to visit it as weekends see lots of tourists and weekdays come the school parties as there always seem to be something going on on board. The Golden Hinde did not always have that name but was first called the Pelican. Drake changed name on his ship in the Magellan Strait in honour of his sponsor, Sir Christopher Hatton, who had a hind in his family arms.

Address: St Mary Overie Dock

Directions: London Bridge or Southwark tube.

Tower of London Tower of London Review

One of the absolute "musts" for the first time London visitor, the Tower ooozes English history. The entrance fee is quite high but you will see where so many things happened for centuries. The inner keep houses the armouries and you will find exhibitions on various weapons and techniques for how to use them. In the side towers, you can ponder if this is where Richard III had his nephews killed...if he killed them at all (personally I don't think so as he had nothing to gain) and see the horrible Traitors' Gate where prisoners were taken through a gap in the walls down to the riverside where they drowned as the tidal water came back in...Then there is of course the Crown Jewels which are kept here, if you are fascinated by huge Victorian diamonds and other gems.

Address: Tower Hill, EC3

Directions: Tower Hill tube

Phone: 0 20 7709 0765

Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Review

An absolutely great day out is to go to Hampton, beyond Richmond, to visit the famous Hampton Court palace where Henry VIII held court. You can see his apartments and the wonderful Grand Hall as well as the Chapel where he married Catherine Parr. But you can also enjoy the famous Triumphs of Caesar canvases by Andrea Mantegna (15th century) as well as the enormous and fun Tudor Kitchen. When this is done, the Queen's State apartment and the Georgian Rooms awaits you. There truly is something to see for everyone here. The Grand Hall and Tudor Kitchens were my own favourites and as for the eight-year-old, she loved having a go at the famous maze in the gardens. You can go to Hampton village by train from Waterloo and another alternative is to cruise from Westminster Pier in the centre of London - an absolutely wonderful way to get here. Just be prepared that the latter takes up to four hours so that's if you don't want to linger too much at the palace. You can see many more images on my Hampton page.

Address: East Molesey, KT8 9AU

Directions: Rail from Waterloo to Hampton. Boat from Westminster, Kew or Richmond.

Phone: +44 20 8781 9500

Website: http://www.hrp.org.uk

Highgate Cemetary Cemeteries Review

Cemetaries can come in many shapes. This is one of those where some gravestones are covered in grass and you feel almost as if in a meadow. The centrepiece of the whole place is Karl Marx' grave with a huge bust of him on which it says 'Workers of the world unite'. You will find people making their pilgrimage to it even today when you have to pay a small entrance fee and an even smaller photography fee if you are honest enough to say you will photograph. I did, as the place has no other real income but relies heavily on donations. If you want to see some of my images, they are on my Highgate page.

Directions: Highgate in north London. Angel tube. Several buses via Camden go closer.

Royal Mews Buckingham Palace. Review

If you like either horses or history, this is for you. The royal stables behind Buckingham Palace are full of wonderful horses, polished brass, beautiful carriages and much more. This is actually not photographed at the mews but just a royal carriage I came across in Kensington once.

Address: The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Directions: Green Park tube

Phone: (+44) (0)20 7766 7302

Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page556.asp