Victoria and Albert Museum

Three large auditoriums, the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe. The Olivier theatre is the largest with an open stage and a fan shaped auditorium around it. This ensures that all seats provide a good view. Most of the more 'popular' productions are put on here as the space provided is much larger than most theatres. The Lyttelton theatre is more traditional with a proscenium arc with good views from most seats. The Cottesloe is a small studio theatre, seating around 400. Some tickets will be available on the day, either day seats (arrive before 9:30AM and queue) or standby (arrive before 6PM and queue), or you can buy online. Popular shows, especially those around Christmas in the Olivier sell out months in advance. Tickets to The National Theatre are generally better value than most other theatres. There is also the '£15 Travelex' season in the summer (as of 2019) that provides a large number (over 100,000 seats a year) at £10. Booking in advance is required for these. There is also an exhibition space in the Lyttelton theatre foyer that frequently holds popular photographic exhibitions. Free jazz is often played in the evening in the ground floor foyer. During summer there is a free daily outdoor festival of performance, music, comedy and cabaret known as Watch This Space. Deckchairs (and artificial grass) are provided to watch on. Free exhibitions. Backstage tours £5.

Probably the most colourful event in the UK's legislative calendar, this takes place in May or June every year, or after a general election, when the King travels to the Houses of Parliament to open the new parliamentary session. During this event, the Lords, Speaker of the House of Commons, and other office holders can be seen dressed in their ceremonial robes, and there is always an elaborate procession when the King makes his way to the Houses of Parliament from Buckingham Palace. This is one of the few occasions where all branches of the British government are gathered in the same place. Many traditions of the State Opening can trace their origins to a more turbulent past, when the relationship between the monarch and Parliament was sometimes antagonistic. In particular, since the English Civil War, the monarch has been banned from entering the House of Commons chamber, and instead must send a representative (the Black Rod) to summon the MPs to the Lords chamber, where he delivers his speech. Another notable tradition is the holding of a Hostage MP in Buckingham Palace, ostensibly to guarantee the safe return of the monarch, who is released once the King has returned to the palace safely after delivering his speech. While attendance at Parliament itself is limited to special guests that have been invited by the Prime Minister, it is broadcast live on the BBC, and you can also view the King's procession from Buckingham Palace to Parliament from the roadside for free.

Madame Tussauds is a world-famous waxwork museum, best known for its Grand Hall, with a collection of international royalty, statesmen and world leaders. Visitors generally report that the entrance fee does not warrant the selection of waxworks on show, which rarely resemble celebrities. Also, there is usually a long queue stretching down the road.

The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale's elegant 17th-century manor house, a mile or so upriver from Richmond riverside.

The Abbey charges tourists for entry, but not for worshippers. Attend a church service for free and enjoy some of the finest choral music in London from the choir. Choral Evensong at 3pm (Sa Su) or 5pm (weekdays), depending on time of year, is an especially good bet. The Abbey is the traditional scene for the coronation of British monarchs and the burial place of many past kings and queens. The Abbey contains a good gift shop and the Cellarium Café, which traces its history to the 14th century, is a good place to buy a noontime meal. Westminster Abbey is usually open to visitors from Monday to Saturday throughout the year. On Sundays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the Abbey is open for worship only. All are welcome and it is free to attend services. Visitor access to the Abbey is via the West Gate of the North Green.

The London Mithraeum is a 3rd century Roman mithraeum that was discovered in Walbrook during construction work in 1954. The entire site was relocated several times before being returned to its original site as part of the new Bloomberg building. This temple of the mystery god Mithras became perhaps the most famous 20th-century Roman discovery in London. In addition to the temple structure, there is a display of Roman artefacts found on the site and a contemporary art exhibit responding to the site. Visitor numbers are limited and timed slots are often fully booked up several weeks into the future so plan well ahead.

In contrast to the other Royal Parks in the area, Green Park can seem a little plain. It has no lakes or buildings and few monuments. It is still a pleasant green, lightly wooded, area in the centre of London, neighbouring two other parks and Buckingham Palace.

Designed by one of Britain's leading architects, Sir Norman Foster, this curved glass skyscraper was the 2004 recipient of the Stirling Architectural Prize for Best Building. It was built on the site of the Baltic Exchange building, destroyed in 1992 by an IRA bomb which killed three. On the Bury Street side of the Gherkin by some black stone benches is the Tomb of the Unknown Girl for a teenaged Londoner who died 1,600 years ago (see infobox above), marked with a marble laurel wreath and inscription. Searcy's Restaurant (from £50) at the top takes bookings up to five weeks in advance and you have to go through security before going up.

Now preserved by the National Trust, this 18th-century house was the home of the historian Thomas Carlyle from 1834 and now houses a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Statue in honour of the World War I nursing heroine.

A branch of the Imperial War Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms preserves the underground corridors and rooms from which Churchill and the cabinet directed the war against Hitler and the Nazis, maintained almost exactly as they were left in 1945. In 1984, IWM opened the rooms to the public for the first time. In 2005, the attached Churchill Museum was opened as the world's first permanent museum dedicated to the life and wartime achievements of Sir Winston Churchill. Audio guides are included in your admission. No cloakroom, no rucksacks, no suitcases. Café is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Hot food is served until 3pm.

Now permanently closed, will be replaced by new museum at the former Smithfield market site in 2026. The Museum of London Docklands remains open.

A retirement home for soldiers created by King Charles II. Tours around the listed building and grounds are regular and include the museum (which can be visited separately) whose exhibits contain military memorabilia donated by Chelsea Pensioners over the years.

An enormous, 135-metre-high observation wheel with 32 exterior glass-walled capsules. It offers incomparable views over central London and up to 40 km (25 mi) away on a good day. Tickets are sold for specific times, so if visitors wish to go on the London Eye at a specific time, they are strongly advised to book in advance, particularly in the summer. On a busy day, you can easily spend 1-3 hr queuing just to buy a ticket. However, you can also purchase tickets in advance online. Then you can collect your tickets at the London Eye in a separate queue, which takes a few minutes or less.