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!
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Unless you are a tourist or have a penchant for Bankers, avoid this place like the plague.
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.
Small museum with interesting exhibits and fantastic shop. Definitely worth the entrance fee.
While Lloyd's the insitution - an insurance and reinsurance market- has been around since 1688, the Richard Rogers-designed steel and glass building, built in 1986, has become a modern City icon Read more.
And now for some iron & glass from a very different era. The Floral Hall once sold flowers aat the old Covent Garden Market. Read more.
7 December: Serving Londoners with toys since 1780, Hamleys is Europe's oldest and largest toy store and is a leading authority on toys.
The glass and iron hall built here for the Great Exhibition of 1851 was nicknamed ‘the crystal palace’ by Punch magazine. In 1854 it was moved piece by piece to south London and rebuilt.
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.
London’s most famous modern nightclub was opened in 1991 by Old Etonian the Hon. James Palumbo. It’s modelled on the famous Paradise Garage club in New York, where ‘garage’ music was born.
Marie Tussaud, born in Strasbourg in 1761, made her first wax figure of the great French philosopher Voltaire in 1777. She opened a museum in London in 1835.
In this colourful antique and flee market with over 2000 stalls on Saturdays, there are so many wonderful bargain finds to be made!
The hotel opened in 1904, named after the Swiss hotelier César Ritz who also opened Ritz hotels in Paris (1898) and Madrid (1910). He was known as ‘king of hoteliers, hotelier to kings’.
London Zoo was opened for Fellows of the Zoological Society of London in 1828, only opening to the public in 1847 to aid funding. It currently houses 755 species of animal.
‘Billionaires Boulevard’ tells you all you need to know about local property prices. Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, the richest man in Europe, bought Nos.18-19 for £70 million in 2005.
One of the biggest multi-art institutions in Europe. Don't miss its temporary activities.+44 (0) 20 7638 4141http://www.barbican.org.uk/ Read more.
Chortle your way round this amusing little museum, which displays British cartoons, caricatures, comics and animations. Read more.
Located between platforms 9 & 10 is the magical platform 9 3/4, reached only by those travelling to the Hogwarts Academy, such as Harry and his friends in 2001's "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone." Read more.
The ICA was founded in 1947 as a ‘playground’ for contemporary artists, and moved here in 1968. It hosted Damien Hirst’s first solo show and the debut London gig of Franz Ferdinand.
Right now the most elegant screen prints you could ever see Stolen Space gallery Brick Lane Kai & Sunny.
