London Things to Do Tips by SLLiew

This is like the number one place of must-see in London for any first timer. To start outside the gates like pilgrims to see the change of guards and then finally catching the sight of the Queen in the flesh as she drives off in her horse carriage waving to all citizens and tourists from all over the world.

As you need to be there at the right time for this daily event, I find that the nearby St. James Park is a nice place to spend waiting time. There are ponds, trees and ducks to feed.

The Changing of Guards ceremony is at 11:30am daily during summer (April tp July) and every other day during winter. Last for 45 minutes.

The Guards are drawn from the British Army: the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards.

If the Queen is staying at Buckingham Palace, there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she is away there are two.

The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during August and September through organized tours.

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Phone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300
Address: The Mall, SW1
Directions: Green Park tube
Website: www.royal.gov.uk

This is an unforgettable tour back into the history of English kings, queens, pretenders to the thrones and murders. The official tour guides - the traditional yeomen, called "Beefeaters" in their resplendent archaic outfit, tell tales of beheading, midnight assasinations all for the seat of the throne and the right to rule the kingdom.

Saw the black ravens still there. Apparently if they were to leavee, legend had it, that the crown will fall.

Particularly liked the exhibition of the royal crown jewels - the sparkling gems, diamonds, sapphires, rubies and precious stones passed down or confiscated from other rules all the over the British empire. Check out the St. Edwards Crown (since 1661 AD) won by Queen Elizabeth during her majesty coronation in 1953.

Was amazed by collected of metallic shining armour of knights and for the horses.

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: Tower Hill tube
Website: http://www.armouries.org.uk/tower/

Very often this has been mistaken as the London bridge which has been sold and moved to Arizona, United States. The current new London bridge is not as majestic as the Tower Bridge.

Built over the River Thames in 1894, the Tower Bridge is a must for a photograph.

There is a Tower Bridge Exhibition on how the bridge was built and the Victorian Engine room that used to lift the bridge to let ships go by. Admission: Adult 5 pound, Children (5-12 years) 3 pound.

Also a Tower Bridge Walkways for a panaromic view of London.

I would rate this as another must-see for London.

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Phone: 0 20 7626 3065
Address: Tower Bridge Road, EC3/SE1
Directions: Tower Hill or London Bridge tubes
Website: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk

Great news - admission to muesum is free. There are admission charges to special exhibitions.

This is a fantastic collection of the antiquity to present including Athenian frescos, Egyptian mummies, Assyrian cuneiforms, Chinese porcelain, Roman sculptures, etc.

A great suggestion is to decide which period and cultures you would like to see most and then plan your itinerary accordingly - otherwise you may find that closing time comes too soon.

Free floor plans are available at Information Desk. Color maps for two pounds.

There are 3 floors:
Upper Floor: Ancient Near East, Britain and Europe, Egypt, Greece & Rome, Money.

Ground Floor: Americas, Ancient Near East, Asia, Egypt Enlightenment, Greece & Rome
Living and dying.

Lower Floor: Africa, Ancient Near East, Greece & Rome

Have a great time through history especially if weather is poor outside.

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Phone: 0 20 7323 8299
Address: Great Russell Street, WC1
Directions: Holborn tube
Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

If you are on your own travel, you can save by buying a joint ticket to Madame Tussads and the London Eye for 31.99 pound (adult), 24.99 (child), 96 pound (family pass).

It is cheaper if you purchase 5:30-6pm admission tickets.

A standard part of most tours, this is an interesting way of getting close to famous and infamous historic figures and current celebreties in their wax version.

You could your picture taken with Elvis or Princess Diana or Prince William or the entire English royal family. Of course, you have seen the Madame Tussauds in Paris or in another location, it will be a repeat. Nonetheless it is like going to Disneyland, it is still fun to see so many familiar faces coming together, standing at your command to be photographed and just waiting to greeting you.

Perhaps, all paparazzi should be sentenced to stay here for the entire weekend if they misbehaved.

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Address: Marylebone Road, NW1
Directions: Baker Street tube
Website: http://www.madame-tussauds.com

I just love visit zoos everywhere I go. I was a bit disappointed that the London Zoo was separated into two half by a big man made canal. Too urbanized.

But the primate center is well stocked and always great to see chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas even in captivity.

Opening times:
London Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

2006 Opening hours:
10am - 16.30pm Feb 11 - Mar 5
10am - 17.30pm Mar 6 - Oct 23
10am - 16.30pm Oct 23 - Oct 28
10am - 16.00pm Oct 29th - onwards

Last admission is one hour before closing time.

Go ape at London Zoo.

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Phone: 0 20 7722 3333
Address: Regents Park, NW1
Directions: Camden Town or Regents Park tubes, then a longish walk
Website: http://www.londonzoo.org/

This is like the birthplace of modern democratic institution, the British parliamentary monarchy which has been adopted in many Commonwealth nations like my own, Malaysia.

There is a public gallery that in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. The queue for the House of Lords in shorter and I went for that.

I spent some quality time at the gallery of the mute, to see and hear the Lords in action debating some petty regulations of pets. No wonder some Lords go to sleep.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Westminster tube
Website: http://www.parliament.uk

It is a nice walk and free of course, to walk around the City of London. The buildings and the familiar street names from the Monopoly game can be seen. You can see the busy Londoners with their umbrellas going to work or back. The architecture looked old but it seemed that everything has been rebuilt after the destruction during the Battle of Britain in World War II. So old yet new. Pedestrian friendly roads.

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A nice day trip to outside London to see Hampton Court and Windsor Castle.

Great preserved architecture with furnished regal rooms and well maintained English gardens. It will give an idea what life was like in the English court.

You can visit the Palace, Maze, Formal Gardens, Informal Gardens, Home Park with different opening times and admissions.

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Phone: 0 20 8781 9500
Address: East Molesey, KT8 9AU
Directions: Network Rail from Waterloo to Hampton Court
Website: http://dev.hrp.precedenthost.co.uk/webcode/hampton

There is nothing much to see, except the Royal Guard on a horse at Whitehall and the London policemen with their "helmets" in front of Numbe 10. So if you want to know where the real power lies and decisions are made, it is here in Downing Street and not Buckingham Palace.

Just a few minutes to take some photos to say that I was there.

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Address: Whitehall, SW1
Directions: Charing Cross or Westminster tubes
Website: http://www.number-10.gov.uk