London Things to Do Tips by Mariajoy Top 5 Page for this destination

Dickens House Other Museums and Galleries Review

Charles Dickens lived at 48 Doughty Street, a typical Georgian town house, from 1837 for two years from the age of 25. He was just married to Catherine and her sister Mary also lived here with them. It was in this house that he wrote Oliver Twist and The Pickwick Papers amongst others.

The rooms are on 4 levels, (basement, ground and two upper floors). There is a short video presentation, a patio garden area, and small gift shop. Rooms open to the public include his drawing room, Mary Hogarths bedroom (where she died in Dickens' arms), a wine vault, washroom and library and his writing desk.

Entry is £5 and there is unfortunately no disabled access.

Address: 48 Doughty Street

Directions: Holborn or Russell Square Tube

Phone: 020 7405 2127

The Royal Albert Hall Knightsbridge, Kensington and Kensington Palace Review

Famous for being the Home of the BBC Proms "Land of Hope and Glory" etc, The Albert Hall was the meeting point for a mini-VT meeting. We had coffee upstairs in the restaurant and it really wasn't very good. I hadn't been here for years.. the last time with school friends to see Gallagher and Lyle - "I wear my heart on my sleeve" Remember that??

In the picture are Sue Stone, Jo104 and Jenniflower.

For oodles of interesting info and historical facts about this building dedicated to Queen Victoria's husband, check the link.

Address: Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

Directions: South Kensington tube station.

St James' Park Parks and Gardens Review

St James' has always been my most favourite of the Royal Parks. It was the nearest to where I worked and was where my colleagues and I would often eat our lunch surrounded by the lush greenery and tranquil lakes full of water birds including pelicans!

It's also a nice place for a VT meeting in the summer as there is now the "Inn the Park" terrace restaurant for a refreshing cup of tea (but no Coke - only expensive fruit juices!). A soft drink and a sandwich comes to about £6.

Flanked by The Mall on one side and Birdcage Walk on the other, St James is very central, a short walk from Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace.

The park is open 5am-midnight throughout the year.

Follow the "Diana Memorial Walk" plaques, inlaid in the paths, for a circular walk around the park.

Address: St James', London

Directions: St James' Park Tube station on the District & Circle lines

Southwark Cathedral Southwark and Bankside Review

There has been a church on this site in Southwark for over 1000 years. The beautiful Gothic Cathedral we see today was built between 1220 and 1420.

Please check the website for masses of historical data, events, opening times etc etc.

Address: Southwark, SE1

Directions: Southwark tube

The Golden Hinde Southwark and Bankside Review

Sir Frances Drake's 16th century sailing galleon, The Golden Hinde is right in the midst of all the other attractions in the Southwark area and so it's easy to fit in a visit here if you are going to the Tate Modern, Southwark Cathedral, Vinopolis, The Clink Museum etc etc.

I was only passing by so I didn't climb aboard but if you wanted to, tickets cost £4.50 for adults. There's more info about admission fees and opening times on the website or phone. It looks like a great "Thing to do" with kids!

Address: Southwark, SE1

Directions: Southwark tube

St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street

Garden History Museum Other Museums and Galleries Review

An exquisite and little known museum in the beautifully renovated St Mary at Lambeth Church - dedicated to plant and garden history. There's a replicated 15th century "knot garden" in the deconsecrated graveyard, and the tomb of William Bligh (Captain of The Bounty) is also here.

Within the museum are are collections of gardening tools and implements and artefacts throughout history - Elizabethan dibbers and barrels used to transport plants from foreign lands (which sadly and inevitably died from the salt in the sea spray :( But thankfully, some survived and gave us the variety of plant-life we have in our gardens today.

There is also the most wonderful little restaurant serving delicious organic, homemade vegetarian cakes and flans and soups, salads and teas, - at prices to suit all purses, ranging from £3 for the soup (with chunks of homemade bread) up to around £6 for something more elaborate. The phone number for the cafe is 020 7735 9821.

Entry for adults to the museum is £3 and is open from 10.30am - 5pm 7 days a week.

Check it out - it's a real "hidden gem" and please have a look at the website for more of the history of how this museum came to be.

Address: Lambeth Palace Road, SE1

Directions: Over Lambeth Bridge, right next door to Lambeth Palace

Phone: 0207 401 8869

Take a Walk and follow the brolly! Walking and Walking Tours Review

London is fascinating and there are dozens of companies offering various guided walking tours around the capital with ebullient guides eager to impart their knowledge of the city to the tourists. Decide what you would like to see and do and book one, whether it's around the West End, The Thames, the Square Mile, Jack the Ripper Haunts, the East End, Westminster or Soho etc etc. Walks cost around 5.50GBP but this varies.

Address: Make sure you know where your walk starts!

Directions: Could be anywhere!

Lambeth Palace

Dating from the 13-15th century, the Tudor Gatehouse on the southern end of Westminster Bridge is home to the Archbishop of Canterbury and it is possible to take a tour here if you have first made a booking in writing.

Address: Lambeth Palace, London SE1

Directions: Southern end of Westminster Bridge, opposite Millbank

The British Library Other Museums and Galleries Review

The British Library is the National Library of the UK and Ireland. It holds millions of publications (in just about every known language) and has copies of everything ever printed in the UK and Ireland.

It adds 3,000,000 new items EVERY year!
It was the largest public building constructed in the 20th Century in the UK and it's basements go down into the ground for 24.5 meters!

There are 1,200 spaces available for readers. Phone first for opening times.

Address: 96 Euston Road, St Pancras, London

Directions: NW1

St Pancras, Kings Cross or Euston stations.

Phone: +44(0)20 7412 7332

The Old Bailey or Central Criminal Court City of London (the Square Mile) Review

Built on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison, The Old Bailey is where the infamous Oscar Wilde stood trial in 1895, Dr Crippin in 1910 and Peter Sutcliffe in 1981.

The bronze lady holds the Scales of Justice in one hand and the Sword of Freedom in the other. She faces the place where criminals were executed.

Above the doors of the Old Bailey are the words:
"Defend the Children of the Poor and Punish the Wrongdoer" See the other photo for this tip.

The public can attend when the court is in session Monday-Friday, There are two public galleries with entrances at Warwick St, off Old Bailey and Newgate St. Children under 14 are not permitted.

Opening times:
10.30-1pm
2pm-4pm

Closed: Christmas, New Year, Easter and public holidays.

Address: Corner of Newgate St and Old Bailey EC4

Directions: St Paul's Tube Station

Phone: 020 72483277