Attractions in London
Bank of England Museum
Threadneedle Street. (020) 7601-5545
Also known as the “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street Museum,” the Bank of England Museum tracks the bank’s history from 1694 to its current role as the nation’s central bank. Gold bars date from ancient times, and pikes and muskets used to defend the bank are also on display. History includes a mob attack on the Bank during the Gordon riots in 1780, and the introduction of paper money in 1797. Some documents relate to well-known customers including George Washington and the Duchess of Marlborough. In March, 2003, the museum welcomed its one-millionth visitor.
Banqueting House
Whitehall, SW1. (020) 7930-4179
Famed for its Rubens ceiling paintings, the Banqueting House (the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall) was designed by Inigo Jones and commissioned by James I in 1619.
British Airways London Eye
On the south side of the River Thames, opposite Big Ben.
The London Eye is a Ferris-wheel of sorts with 32 high-tech, glassed-in carriages, each accommodating up to 25 passengers, rotating upward and around with continuous piped-in commentary. Each air-conditioned carriage rotates on a device designed to keep everyone upright as the wheel slowly revolves. On a clear day, the panorama can stretch as far as Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle. By night, London's landmarks are floodlit against the darkness, showcasing the Gothic houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Tate Museum, and Tower Bridge along with stretches of the Thames.
British Museum
Displays within the world’s oldest museum, founded in 1753 by an Act of Parliament, include the Assyrian treasures, Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, and the Portland Vase. The spectacular Great Court, opened in 2000, includes 12 of the museum’s most famed exhibits and serves as Europe’s largest indoor square. It encompasses the Reading Room, restored to former glory when readers included Marx and Lenin.
Great Russell Street. (020) 7323-8000
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Road, SW1. (020) 7321-2233
Residence to Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace first opened to the public in 1993 to finance Windsor Castle repairs. The Edwardian façade palace dates to the early 19th century. In summer, nearly 6,000 visitors per day tour 19 state rooms, including the Throne Room, Picture Gallery and Ballroom (the largest room in the Palace) used for investitures and banquets. The extended visitor route includes a walk through the south side of the Palace garden. At the Royal Mews, the Queen's horses and carriages, including the Coronation Coach, are displayed. The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection art and treasures. Built 40 years ago on the west front out of the former private chapel’s bomb-damaged ruins, the Gallery was opened by the Queen in 2002 to receive the public daily.
London Zoo
Regent’s Park, London NW1. (020) 7722-3333
ZSL London Zoo has over 12000 amazing animals for you to see. The Zoo has been "bringing down the bars" to allow visitors to get closer to an astonishing 650 species of animal. Highlights include Meet the Monkeys, Butterfly Paradise and Into Africa while you can also experience an 'Animals in Action' display - 30 minutes of flying, foraging and leaping action with animals showing their amazing natural skills and abilities. Young visitors (or the young at heart!) can enjoy an encounter with farmyard favourites at the touch paddock in the Children's Zoo. Two major attractions, Gorilla Kingdom and Clore Rainforest Lookout are incredibly popular – both get you closer than ever to primates of Africa and South America. Admission ranges from £12.50 to £16. Under 3 free.
Madame Tussaud's
West End, Marylebone Road. NW1 5LR. (020) 7935-6861
Things have gotten much, much livelier at Madame Tussaud's with the arrival of a likeness of Jennifer Lopez, whose cheeks turn pink when someone whispers in her ear. Live actors now work the room, joining visitors in celebrity gossip, even in the powder room. Visitors also can be interviewed by a reporter, or made up by a live stylist. Another new attraction is the 15-foot Hulk, inspired by the Universal Pictures film version. The Queen is on display, along with Henry VIII and all six of his wives, Queen Elizabeth I, and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Museum in Docklands
1 Warehouse West India Quay, Hertsmere Road. (0870) 444-3857
Among London’s newest attractions, the Museum in Docklands Galleries explores the story of London’s river, port and people from Roman times through recent regeneration. A dozen galleries showcase artifacts, paintings, engravings, and photographs.
Museum of London
150 London Wall Street. (020) 7600-3699
Exhibits cover more than 2,000 years of London history, with highlights including the Roman gallery, a reconstructed Victorian walk with shops, Newgate Prison, the Great Fire Experience, and a display of Elizabethan jewelry. Galleries are arranged in chronological order, but are designed so visitors can start anywhere.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD. (020) 7942-5011
First opening in 1881 and one of Europe’s largest museums, the Natural History Museum serves as Britain’s national museum for natural history. Displays include dinosaurs, the mammal balcony at the Blue Whale exhibit and the moonlit rainforest in the ecology gallery.
Parliament
Parliament Square, Westminster. SW1A0AA. (0870) 906-3773
Constructed between 1675 and 1710, this magnificent structure stands on the site of two previous cathedrals dating to 604. The whispering gallery in the main dome is so named because a whisper can be heard anywhere within the dome by pressing an ear to the wall. Open each summer, visits are by guided tour starting at Victoria Tower, proceeding through the Robing Room, Royal Gallery, Chambers of the House of Lords and House of Commons, Central Lobby, St. Stephen’s Chapel and Westminster Hall. Westminster, with an exhibition of cartoons, and the Parliamentary gift shop can be visited free of charge via the St. Stephen’s entrance.