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in London
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Borough Market
8 Southwark St.
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
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Ancient, labyrinthine market under London Bridge offering farm fresh produce and gourmet delights.
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Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Stop by to see the Changing of the Guard or snap an iconic photo outside the residence.
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Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Rd.
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
A picturesque garden that has served medicinal purposes for centuries.
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Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms
King Charles St.
London
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Museums & Galleries
The British government used this secret underground bunker to coordinate its military during WWII.
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City Cruises
Westminster Pier
Victoria Embankment
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Scenic, shamelessly touristy Thames River cruises with entertaining commentary.
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Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate St.
London
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Museums & Galleries
Take a journey spanning centuries as you wander from room to room of this eccentric artist’s house.
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Gagosian Gallery
17-19 Davies St.
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
Hot spot for influential contemporary artists.
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Geffrye Museum
136 Kingsland Rd.
London
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Museums & Galleries
A peek into the home décor of lower and middle class Londoners through the centuries.
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Houses of Parliament
St. Margaret’s St.
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Connect with British history at this former royal palace which now holds both houses of Parliament.
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Hyde Park
Hyde Park
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
true
There's something for everyone in the grassy knolls and manicured gardens of London's central park.
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Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens
London
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Museums & Galleries
A royal residence and former home to Lady Di located in a lovely garden.
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London Eye
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd.
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Get a panoramic view of the city on this massive, state-of-the-art glass capsule Ferris wheel.
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Museum of London
150 London Wall
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
Brush up on your London history in this museum devoted to the capital.
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National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
This free-to-the-public gallery houses one of Europe’s finest collections.
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National Portrait Gallery
2 St. Martin's Place
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
A lesson in British history, through paintings and photographed portraits of its people.
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Old Operating Theatre
9a St. Thomas Street
London
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Museums & Galleries
Operating theater from 1822 next to an herb garret.
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Regent's Park
The Regent's Park
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
true
An excellent park perfect for relaxing or getting in a run in the middle of London.
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Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
National institution famed for special exhibitions and collections of post-18th century British art.
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Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd.
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
National institution famed for special exhibitions and collections of post-18th century British art.
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Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Ave.
London
Sight
Theater & Entertainment
World-renowned masters of movement convene in this theater famous for international dance performances.
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Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens
London
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Museums & Galleries
Contemporary art in the middle of beautiful Kensington Gardens.
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Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London
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Museums & Galleries
Sir Soane’s eclectic taste is showcased here in both the house’s design and his collection.
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Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Oldest cathedral church building in London with angelic choirs to accompany its beauty.
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St. James's Park
St. James's Park
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
Teeming with ducks and picnickers, this compact park affords views of Buckingham Palace.
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St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Churchyard
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
This beautiful 17th century Anglican Cathedral was the site of Diana and Charles’ 1981 wedding.
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Tate Britain
Millbank
London
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Museums & Galleries
National collection of British art dating back to the 1500s.
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Tate Modern
53 Bankside
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
Britain's national museum of international modern art.
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The British Museum
Great Russell St.
London
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Museums & Galleries
Over seven million historical treasures from around the world located under one roof.
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Tower of London
Tower Hill
London
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Museums & Galleries
This historic fortress comes complete with traditional Beefeater guards and holds the crown jewels.
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Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Rd.
London
Sight
Museums & Galleries
true
The world’s largest collection of decorative art, from couture to carpets.
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Wallace Collection
Hertford House
London
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Museums & Galleries
Stellar collection of 18th-century paintings, porcelain, and furniture as well as rotating modern exhibits.
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Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
This impressive gothic cathedral is where kings and queens are literally made and laid to rest.
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Westminster Cathedral
Cathedral Clergy House, 42 Francis St.
London
Sight
Signature City Experiences
This Catholic cathedral with gorgeous, neo-Byzantine architecture offers a calm sanctuary.
British scribe William Hazlitt once wrote, "Modesty is the lowest of virtues." Thankfully, despite all its lofty propriety, modest is one thing London is not. The city's museums promise nothing short of telling the history of the world and its art. Its theatrical stages are internationally renowned; its monuments have been anointed by royalty. Forget humility. If London were a man, you could say he was eager to show the full monty.
It's no wonder that the term "tabloid" originated in London. Before compromising photos of the Beckhams and Amy Winehouse were splashed all over The Sun, common Londoners were preoccupied with famous personalities, royal and otherwise. At the National Portrait Gallery, which features paintings and photos of illustrious Brits throughout time, you can get a history lesson via celebrity. Rub elbows with royalty at Buckingham Palace, the official home of the Queen. The palace's lavish staterooms are open to the public only for a short window in late summer/early fall, so take advantage of this sanctioned voyeurism if your travel dates coincide. Head to the Tower of London–a royal fortress of Her Majesty and the site of many a famous beheading–for a glimpse of the Crown Jewels (we told you London was keen on showcasing the “family jewels”).
All the world's a stage at London theaters–be sure to hit Leicester Square for discount tickets to top shows–and at the city's museums. The British Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world, showcases historical treasures from around the globe, most notably ancient Egyptian artifacts like the Rosetta Stone. The National Gallery (next door to the National Portrait Gallery) fulfills the ambitious mission of chronicling the history of European painting, 1250 to 1900 (whew!). At the Victoria and Albert Museum, we love the fashion collection of costumes from all over the world, 1600s to present, including couture from the major fashion houses of today. The Geffrye Museum provides a complement, exhibiting domestic interiors from the same historical periods. Contemporary art, too, has a commanding presence in the city, from the Tate Modern to Saatchi Gallery to Gagosian Gallery.
In the midst of such grandeur, that's not to say there aren't smaller pleasures to be had in London. Hyde Park and Regents Park draw the most visitors, but we find small, ornate St. James's Park–bordered by Buckingham, Westminster, and St. James's Palaces–to be the most interesting. Obscure houses like that of 19th century architect Sir John Soane (the bloke had a catacomb in his basement) and of artist Dennis Severs (a candlelit mystery tour of an 18th century abode) offer London flavor off the beaten path.
But the London Eye is perhaps the greatest symbol of London's see-and-be-seen immodesty. The glass Ferris-wheel-type monstrosity offers astounding views over the whole city. It's worth paying extra for premium express lane tickets on crowded days–you might as well get in the London spirit and dispense with humility.
Photo of St. James's Park