London's Top Six Attractions and More...

Having been in London for the last two weeks, I thought it best to share with you London's six of the top sights in the capital and the many attractions!

I have created links to all the attractions in this blog for ease of use - I hope you find this helpful.

1. Westminster Abbey - William the Conqueror was crowned here in 1066, and the building has seen every coronation through the ages to that of the present Queen. Besides being crowned here, many English sovereigns up to George II have also been burried in this glorious church, full of memorials and tombs as well as the famous Coronation Chair.

2. Tower of London - The most perfect medieval fortress in Britain, begun by William the Conqueror in 1066, has been a palace, prison and place of execution, housed the royal menagerie, armouries, mint and observatory. Where you can see the Crown Jewels on public display, meet the Yeoman Warders ('Beefeaters') and visit the Bloody Tower.

3. St Paul's Cathedral - Now beautifully cleaned up and restored, London's cathedral was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Though not as full of tombs as Westminster Abbey, it does have the graves of both Wren and Lord Nelson, so this imposing building figured significantly in our celebrations of the bicentenary of the death of England's naval hero.

4. British Airways London Eye - Since opening in March 2000, the great wheel and icon of London has carried over 20 million visitors and travelled over 11,000 miles. Over 30,000 bottles of Champagne have been drunk and 172 marriages have taken place. If you haven't been high in the sky over London on its 30-minute 'flight', this must be on your list of key sights to visit.

5. Changing the Guard - The bands play and the soldiers wheel back and forth in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It's all great fun and an integral part of London's pageantry. There are smaller crowds at Horseguards Parade where the mounted divisions change daily.

6. British Museum - With six and a half million objects including the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the sculptures of the Parthenon and the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, the BM - as it's known - is one of the world's great treasure houses. The celebrated Reading Room, where Karl Marx researched Das Kapital is now accessible from the magnificent, modern Great Court.

London's Attractions in Alphabetical Order

Apsley House - Known as 'No1 London', this was the London home of the first Duke of Wellington, full of memorabilia of the great man, and his arch-rival, Napoleon.

British Library - The nation's impressive copyright library, with exhibitions, events and interactive gallery.

Dr Johnson's House - Atmospheric home of the great lexicographer, tucked away off Fleet St., this is the City's oldest residence, and gives a very good idea of ordinary life in the 18th century.

HMS Belfast - Europe's only surviving big gun armoured warship from World War II. Houses an exhibition of Life at Sea 1938-1962. Be careful of steep ladders!

Ham House - Superb 17th-century mansion built for the extravagant Duchess of Lauderdale, elaborately decorated and furnished, with beautifully restored gardens. What's new this year - events and exhibitions celebrating the Restoration period, marking the 300th anniversary of the death of Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II, for whom Ham's Queen's Apartments were created.

Houses of Parliament - Officially the Palace of Westminster, with its clock tower housing the famous bell, 'Big Ben', built 1837-1860 by Sir Charles Barry. See the magnificent and historic Westminster Hall, where Charles I was tried, and why not try to get into the public galleries to listen to debates in the Commons or Lords?

Kensington Palace & Gardens - Birthplace of Queen Victoria, housing The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. Visit "Diana, Princess of Wales" by Mario Testino - a major exhibition of iconographic images taken in 1997, which turned out to be the Princess's last official portrait photographs. Alongside these are nine of the gowns later auctioned for charity in New York, four of which she wore at the shoot.

Kenwood House - Gracious 18th century Adam house overlooking the sweep of Hampstead Heath with delightful rooms full of painting.

Kew Gardens - The Royal Botanic Gardens is a World Heritage Site with over 38,000 plant species, glasshouses and historic buildings, set in 300 glorious acres beside the River Thames.

Linley Sambourne House - Late Victorian town house, originally home of Punch cartoonist, book illustrator and photographer Edward Linley Sambourne.

London Aquarium - Fish, sharks & sea life; visit the Coral Reef Conservation Experience. New displays on jellyfish, octopi, European freshwater fish and mangroves.

London Dungeon - Interactive horror attraction of 2000 years of gruesome history includingthe Jack the Ripper Experience, Judgement Day and Traitor: Boat Ride to Hell!

London Zoo - Over 600 species of animals in this delightful zoo, plus children's section where you get conservation exhibitions. Daily events like feeding the animals and bird displays.

Madame Tussaud's - Waxworks effigies from the Queen to Kylie, plus Chamber of Horrors.

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site - The Greenwich Gateway Visitor Centre, The Old Royal Naval College. This contains parts of the former Tudor Royal Palace of Greenwich, including the Chapel and the Painted Hall. Old Royal Naval College, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens.

National Archives - The National Archives has one of the largest archival collections in the world, spanning 1000 years of British history.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - Home to the Prime Meridian from which all time zones are calculated; see also The Observatory with exhibitions on the science of time.

Shakespear's Globe - Historically accurate reconstruction of Shakespeare's original theatre. Visit the exhibition of Shakespeare's life and times, plays, music, techniques and more.

Somerset House - 18th-century, Renaissance style 'palace', with its magnificent interior. Free entry to courtyards, restaurant and terrace onto the River Thames.

Spencer House - Recognised as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London, and the city's only great eighteenth-century private palace to survice intact. Built for one of the Earls Spencer, an ancestor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Thames Barrier - Spectacular piece of modern engineering built to stop London flooding. See it from a boat and visit the information centre (approached from the land) for the working model and exhibits explaining the system.

Tower Bridge Exhibition - Built 1886-1894, see the story inside the North Tower, with great views from the walkway, particularly of the neighbouring Tower of London. Fascinating engine rooms.

Vinopolis-World of Wine - Explore wines from around the world, including wine tastings. Visit the Bombay Sapphire Experience.

Wetland Centre - Award-winning watery wilderness built on four disused reservoirs.

Enjoy the many great attractions London has to offer!

Take care and wrap up warm.

Compiled by Alan Aldana