Every year a Norway Spruce is erected here and decorated as part of the Christmas festivities. The tree is a gift of thanks from the Norwegians for Britain's support during the Second World War
Soho is home to Europe’s largest Chinatown, which developed in the 1970s. Earlier generations of London’s Chinese population had centred around the docks of Limehouse.
You're very close to the Best Geek Store in the World... well, we think so anyway. Find us at the top of Neal Street!
Westminster Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor and completed just before his death in 1065. Since William the Conqueror all the kings & queens of England have been crowned here.
Currently the third tallest Ferris wheel in the world (the tallest when built in 1999, but now behind Singapore and Nanchang), it moves at 0.6mph, and you can see 25 miles from the top.
From 1235 until 1835, the monarch’s personal zoo was kept at the Tower, and it included many exotic animals given as presents by other monarchs, including polar bears, leopards and elephants.
The bridge had to close within days of its opening in 2000 because of a slight wobble, which caused people to walk in step with each other, causing the wobble to become much worse!
Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, George III acquired it in 1762 as a private house. It became an official royal residence in the reign of Queen Victoria, when it was greatly enlarged.
The first national lottery was held in 1569, and the result was announced at the west door of (the old) St.Paul’s cathedral. It is unknown if the winner let it change him.
‘Soho’ is thought to come from the hunting and battle cry of the Duke of Monmouth, a local landlord. He used it at the Battle of Sedgemoor where he was defeated in 1685, and later executed.
No.10 was given to Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first ‘prime minister’, by George II in thanks for his service. Walpole’s official title, First Lord of the Treasury, still remains on the letterbox.
Opened in 1881, the museum facade uses terracotta tiles which were resistant to the soot of Victorian London. The largest of the famous dinosaur skeletons in the central hall is a diplodocus.
The lion sculpture was once painted red and stood over the Red Lion Brewery on the South Bank in the 18th century. When the area was redeveloped in the 1950s the lion was saved and moved here.
The Mall took on its current form as a royal processional route around 1912. The palace approach was widened, and Admiralty Arch was built at one end and the Victoria Memorial at the other
Big Ben refers to the 13 ton bell in the clock tower of Westminster Palace. Opinion is divided as to whether it was named after the then Commissioner of Works, or a famous prize-fighter of the time.
To mark the 50th birthday of the Royal Air Force in 1968, Flight Lt. Allan Pollock flew his Hawker jet under the walkway of Tower Bridge. This unauthorised stunt won him a court martial.
Really nice shops. It isn't for everyone, but still nice to look around and dream a little!
London Bridge was once crowded with buildings and prone to fires. It survived the 1666 Great Fire because an earlier fire had destroyed houses at the north end, creating a fire break!
This WW2 cruiser, now a tourist attraction, took part in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst and in the D-Day landings. Her guns are aimed at an M1 service station 12.5 miles away.
Enter our prize draw to win a family ticket to Sea Life. And if you don’t win, not to worry! Simply grab yourself a free 2 for 1 voucher and get 2 for 1 entry to any Sea Life location across the UK. Read more.
Built to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666, the height of the Monument is the same as its distance from the bakery on Pudding Lane where the fire started.
Much of the collection was inherited from the Museum of Patents (est 1858) and includes early locomotives such as Stephenson’s Rocket and Puffing Billy, and the first jet engine.
The bank was located first in Mercers’ Hall and then in Grocers’ Hall but was moved to its permanent location on Threadneedle Street in the 1730s and was the largest financial institution in England
This place is named after a cross put here by Edward I in 1290. He erected 12 crosses in all, each marking where his queen’s body rested overnight, en route from Lincoln to burial at Westminster.
Originally a deer park for Henry VIII, so he could hunt while staying at Whitehall Palace, the park was laid out in a formal style by Charles II, when Pepys came here to watch ice skating.
This area was named after Leicester House, the London mansion home of the Earl of Leicester built in 1635. But by 1800 it was a home of popular entertainment and theatres, and has never looked back.
Piccadilly is named after a type of broad lace collar fashionable in the early 17th century, the ‘piccadil’. The best examples were sold by a local tailor whose shop became known as Piccadilly Hall.
Yeah, it looks all shiny now, but go back 230 years and you'd be watching graverobbed corpses being dissected by the Hunter brothers. How quickly people forget.
Hyde Park was a favourite venue for duellists in the 18th and 19th century, including the brutal 1712 duel between the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun in which they hacked each other to death.
Oxford Street’s biggest department store was opened by the American businessman Gordon J Selfridge in 1909, whose motto was ‘The customer is always right’.
Standing at 310m high, the Shard will own the title of the EU's tallest building when completed in 2012. In 1098 the White Tower was named Britain's tallest building standing at a mere 27m tall.
Oxford Circus got its new diagonal pedestrian crossing in 2009. It was inspired by crossings in Tokyo like the one at Shibuya, and in recognition of this Japanese musicians played at the opening.
In the 18th century the park was notorious for highwaymen and Horace Walpole was one of many robbed here. Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ was composed for an event here in 1749.
Until 1993 the location of Telecom Tower was an official secret, having or taking any photos of the tower was a breach of the Official Secrets Act, it was even omitted from all maps.
The Bankside Power Station was built as a ‘cathedral of power’ in 1963, but closed in 1981. It reopened as one of Europe’s finest modern art galleries in 2000. The Turbine Hall is 35m high.
Do visit this bustling food market where top London chefs come to buy their ingredients. If you don’t find it here, where will you? Open from Thursday to Saturday, but come early to avoid the crowds! Read more.
One of the gallery’s most famous pictures is the Chandos portrait, which is said to be of William Shakespeare by his friend Richard Burbage. But some dispute its provenance.
One of the trees is supposed to be very, very haunted. Have never discovered which one, though.
The first nude statue in London was erected in the South-East corner of Hyde Park in 1822. After the pleas from 'country women' a fig leaf was later added to save their blushes.
Hampstead Heath was a favourite outing for Karl Marx and his family, and held a popular fair in the 19th century. Like the Guy Fawkes night bonfires held here, it oftern turned drunken and violent.
175-9 Oxford St, now a retail and office development, was in 1912 the site of the world’s first ever motor museum, and included Britain’s first ever petrol-engined car, the 1894 Bremer.
Take a few minutes, even in winter, to explore the central Rose Garden. Lots of flowers with silly names, and plenty of sculpture.
Best way to enjoy and see all the park? Have a run! Much more enjoyable than a pic nic! And you feel reborn!
The famous illuminated advertising of Piccadilly Circus began as early as 1893, before most of the city had electric street lighting.
This 7th-century London landmark has been the venue of choice for bejeweled coronations—and, of course, weddings for the Queen Mum, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew—and now, William and Kate!
Westminster Bridge is painted green, the same colour as the seats in the House of Commons, which it is nearer to. Likewise neighbouring Lambeth Bridge is painted red, the colour of the Lords.
The second bridge here was completed in 1945. Because there was a war on, much of the work was carried out by women and so this used to be known as ‘the ladies’ bridge’.
The name of this place has nothing to do with birds, but with the exotic goods that were once brought here from the Canary Islands. Canary comes from the Latin ‘canaria’, so ‘Islands of the dogs’.
We've got a documentary on the history of London Bridge available to listen to while you are here. Click this tip to get the mp3 Read more.
This iconic London landmark even has a private venue for hire, with wonderful views over the City. Is it London’s most stylish party venue?
This former power station was bought by the manufacturers of Oxo beef stock cubes in the 1920s. Can you spot how they managed to bypass advertising restrictions with their new tower?
The acoustics here were once so bad, it was said this was the only venue where a composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. It was corrected in 1969 by putting diffusing discs on the ceiling.
In the area around here we saw 58% more threatened homelessness related problems than last year but enquiries about social housing rent arrears were down 18%.
The new stadium is the second biggest in Europe behind Barcelona’s Camp Nou, but has the most toilets of any stadium in the world! (2618) The first concert held here was George Michael in 2007.
its the most amazing place in London.. especially considering the fact that it has 4 floors of M&M products
I love it here. My hen night was great and made even more special by complimentary champagne from the maitre! Sit in the main bit if you can, its livlier! Read more.
Still an absolute rock solid faithful if you want a top notch mid price lunch. The bar's great and the always happy staff and nice buzz make it a winner.
Notice the clock that crowns the main building? You'll see a black mark next to the number '2'. That's the hour at which Charles I was beheaded at the neighbouring Banqueting House.
Our favourite bit: Room 5 - Sargent and Lawrence. Remarkable portraits from the early 20th Century. Then move into neighbouring Room 4 for Hogarth and London pictures.
This is the oldest part of Westminster Palace, built for William II in 1097. This was the meeting place for medieval parliaments and courts, and is where Charles I was put on trial in 1649.
Look out for the mosaic floors in the main entrance and stairwell. Fascinating. Work by the same artist can be seen at Tate Britain.
Sculpted from Italian marble and based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome, this was built in 1827 as the entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was moved here in 1851 when the palace was enlarged.
If the till person in the cafe asks 'are you staff', say "Yes," without hesitation, to receive a discount. They don't check.
The temporary exhibitions are always worth a look, no more so than the current Maps exhibition. Reasonably good for free wifi, but can be patchy. Love the quirky gift shop.
The original bridge here was a suspension foot bridge by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, opened in 1845. When it became a rail bridge, the chains were reused to complete his Clifton Suspension Bridge.
I love going to my friends’ house that overlooks Primrose Hill, walking to the top of the hill to see the amazing view of London, Bay Garnett, stylist
Even if you are not visiting one of the many exhibitions and events organised here throughout the year, come to sit in its beautiful and quiet neoclassical courtyard away from London’s busy streets.
Two traffic milestones occurred in this square. In 1868 the world’s first traffic lights were installed here (which later blew up) and in 1926, it became Britain’s first official roundabout.
The V&A is the world’s largest museum of decorative art and design and holds 4.5 million objects. Henry Cole, the museum’s first director, printed the world’s first Christmas card in 1843.
The British Museum has more than 7 million objects from every continent, some of which have been controversial. Read more.
Unless you are a tourist or have a penchant for Bankers, avoid this place like the plague.
A lovely place to go on a summers day. It does quite busy with all the students nearby though. There is also a little fountain in the middle.
The downstream (seaward) side of the bridge is decorated with stone sculptures of sea birds, whilst the upstream side is decorated with fresh water birds.
These award-winning footbridges opened in 2002. The engineers had to contend with the Bakerloo Line just under the river, and the risk of unexploded WW2 bombs in the riverbed!
Small museum with interesting exhibits and fantastic shop. Definitely worth the entrance fee.
The first bridge on this site, opened in 1819, was regarded as an architectural marvel and had the longest cast iron span (73 metres) in the world. The current bridge dates from 1921.
In 1768 Benjamin Franklin, American statesman and Founding Father, conducted experiments in Mount Pond including pouring oil onto the water to examine how liquids behave. Anglers were not amused.
Forget the view from the top. Head a little down the southern slope where you get still-good views but far fewer people.
Behind the Pump House is a statue of a brown dog. In 1985 it replaced the original, removed in 1910 when it became a focus of riots between medical students and animal rights campaigners.
Our favourite exhibit is the scale model of Cook's first voyage, including tiny, named figurines of all the crew on board.
Set in a stunning park, and sitting precisely on the Prime Meridian of the world, the Royal Observatory is a great way to spend an afternoon in South London.
In 1894 a French anarchist named Martial Bourdin was carrying a bomb through the park to the Observatory when it exploded and killed him. No one knows why he had decided to target the Observatory.
One of London’s lost rivers joins the Thames here. The Tyburn, which gave its name to the famous gallows, begins in Hampstead and now runs entirely underground.
Guests will be able to rent for a night between January and December of 2012. But you’ll have to wait until September before you can get your name on the reservations book. Read more.
An often overlooked attraction in Greenwich, but contains some remarkable paintings. Seek out the sinking of the Scharnhorst in the south-west corner of the top floor.
Another of London’s lost rivers, the Westbourne runs through the Long Water in Hyde Park, under Knightsbridge, over Sloane Sq station and into the river near Chelsea Bridge.
