London is proud to be Europes largest city. Although a stream of visitors come to this exciting place every year, you dont really feel the tourist crunch. Its filled with history but also embraces the modern life. The nightlife here is legendary as is the shopping, sites and other great activities, all for you to enjoy.
 

One of Londons most popular attractions is the Tower. Throughout history, its been used for a variety of reasons. It first came into existence following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Since then, its been a prison, palace, a site for executions and then a secure location for the Crown Jewels. Talk about diversity. The Crown Jewels, which are still used by the royal family, can be viewed. You might even meet the Yeoman Warders. These guardians were originally established in 1485 as King Henry VIII's bodyguards and have been protecting the tower ever since.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. You too can see how royalty lives when the Palace opens its doors to visitors during the summer months. Youll be able to view the State Rooms, still in use today by the Royal Family to entertain guests. The rooms are beautifully decorated and include extravagant decorations such as Rembrandt paintings, fine English and French furniture as well as Svres porcelain. The Princess Diana Memorial Walk is a winding figure eight path that links four of London's parks, three palaces and two mansions, all associated with her life. Its a great way to see quite a few London highlights all the while remembering the life and work of the late princess.

The British Parliament allows visitors to sit in a few of their sessions. You dont need to buy tickets but youll need to be in line and hope to get a free seat. But not to worry if thats not your cup of tea. Big Ben is reason enough to come to this beautiful building. Completed in 1858-59, its believed to be named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works. Its hard not to miss, standing at 316ft and weighing over 13 tons.

The British Museum holds over six million exhibited items from around the world, spanning two million years of human history. Make sure you take enough time to see everything it has to offer. The museum itself is one of Britains architectural landmarks and access to most of the collections is free. Although not a museum, the British Library holds a remarkable collection of manuscripts dating back centuries ago. As UKs national Library, it hosts prized items such as the Gutenberg Bible, which is the earliest book printed in Europe using movable type, George Frideric Handels Messiah written in 1741, the Sultan Baybars Quran, which is an impressive seven-volume Quran handwritten in gold and Captain Scotts Diary, a journal of an inspiring trek to the South Pole where in the end no survivors lived to tell their story. The British Library also hosts numerous galleries, exhibitions, musicals, poetry readings and films. And if you work up an appetite with all your reading theres a great caf and restaurant to help ease your hunger pains.

The Westminster Abbey is probably one of the most famous churches in the world. Its been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and is a stunning showcase of architectural design. It continues to be used as a place of daily worship as well as a final resting place for kings, statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors and musicians.

There are over 30,000 stores in London theres no excuse for you not finding that perfect gift, outfit, souvenir or whatever it is youre searching for. There are many different types of shopping experiences for you to enjoy, whether its antique hunting, going to all the different markets, or bargain searching in the malls and boutiques. The options are endless. Petticoat Lane, located on Middlesex Street, is London's famous Sunday market. Its a fantastic place to find a huge selection of clothes. But if youre looking for a true shoppers dream come true, youll need to make your way to Harrods. Famous world over, this Mecca has everything from pots to perfume, pianos to pets. Over the years, their service has only improved from great to fantastic. Youll love exploring all that it has to offer.

Visiting London is a fantastic experience where youll be able to enjoy fantastic dinners, see stunning jewels, ride on the ever popular double-decker buses and see history unfold itself at the numerous sites worth exploring. And of course theres the shopping. Cant forget about that. Whatever you decide to see and explore, London has got it all. And although theres so much to see, there always seems to be time to enjoy a cup of tea as you plan what youre going to do next.