Browse by category

Rather like the seaside, a day trip to the capital remains a favourite for children of all ages, simply because there is so much to do and so many places to visit. Still considered by many to be the best capital city in the world, London can make for a great day out and needn't break the bank, as many sights and places to visit are free.

Travelling to & around London

Getting there

Getting there can be straightforward, with coaches running to the capital daily, but check the provider’s websites as the pickup points may not be local. You can drive and park, but remember that the congestion charge applies to central London and there are also low emission zones around the capital as well.

Congestion Charge

Congestion charge information can be found on the Transport for London website. You can pay the charge of, currently £8, in advance of your visit and also pay on line or by phone. Blue badge holders get a 100% discount on the charge, but it will cost you £10 to apply for the discount, and other discounts and exemptions are listed on the website. Emission zone details can be found on the same site. If you plan to use your car you must check these sites before you go, as failure to pay any applicable charges can land you with a heavy penalty.

Parking in London

Also remember if you drive into London, you will have to park, and street parking in many areas is now rigorously enforced by wardens and using a regulated car park can be prohibitively expensive. Leaving your car on the street without a valid parking ticket will result in at best a fine, and at worst, depending on the area, your vehicle being clamped or removed. Another problem can be that some parking areas require you to pay using a mobile telephone and credit card and if you have left one or the other at home, you are stuck. National Car Parks (NCP) have a website which helps you find the nearest car park to where ever you are going. Whilst car parks can be expensive, they are secure and convenient, and you pay for the length of your stay so you don't have to worry about going back to renew you parking permit.

Going by Train

The easiest way to get to London is obviously the train. From Bedfordshire we have many stations to start from: Arlesey, Biggleswade, Hitchin, Flitwick and of course Bedford. So you won't have to wait long for a train and straight-through services take about 30 minutes with stopping trains taking about 45 to 50 minutes. The National Rail Enquiries site or helpline will give you times and fares or telephone 08457 48 49 50. If you buy a Travelcard ticket then using the tubes, buses and the Docklands Light Railway is included and journeys on the Thames scheduled river boat service will also be cheaper.

London Taxis

Despite being a major city, lots of places in London that you might want to see are within walking distance of each other and all area are accessible by the Underground system or the famous London black cabs. The taxis in London are famous the world over (as are their drivers) and are considered synonymous with the city. A two mile journey on a week day should cost approx £8.00 but you can get all the information you could want from a web site run by a London cabby - London Taxi. The driver of any London cab has to undergo a rigorous training regime known as "The Knowledge" before they are given a licence to drive a cab. Once they have passed this test they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the roads in London, and even if you encounter a jam, they will usually know a back street or alternate route to get you through it.

The London Underground

Alternatively the underground or tube will get you close to just about anywhere. But remember, if you have small children they may need to be carried on the escalators and may find crowded tube trains a little disconcerting. To find out about tube and underground services and to plan a journey on the tube try copying and pasting this link - www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx - into the address box of your browser. This is the Transport for London website and from this page you can use their journey planner or bring up a map of the underground and plan it yourself.

See London from an open-topped London Bus

If you want to see the sights but don't want to walk there are several companies which offer tours in open topped Double Decker buses. A good site to start your enquiries is The Original London Tour. This company has a travel office near Trafalgar Square and all their tours come with a commentary. The site also offers discounted rates for river trips and let you get off the bus anywhere on the trip to have a good explore. Don't worry about being stranded as you just wait for the next tour bus to come along and jump on again. Prices for these tours vary, but they last three hours or so and you do get a good value for money. Full price rates are £21 for children under 16 and £24 for adults.

To help you plan your day we have listed some of the major attractions and also, using the knowledge of someone who has shown tourists around London, we have included a walking tour which takes in some of the famous sights.

Sights around London

With so many landmarks famous the world over its difficult to know where to start, and we would need a separate web site to list them all. But here are a few to inspire you.

Buckingham Palace

The London home and official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, this Royal Palace is open to public for conducted tours at various times of the year, as are other parts of the Palace such as the collection and the Royal Mews. This imposing building stands at the end of The Mall, adjacent to St James Park.

(Image of Buckingham Palace courtesy of DAVID ILIFF)

Downing Street

Situated just off Whitehall, No 10 is the London residence of the Prime Minister. Sadly security measures mean you can no longer get right up to the famous front door, just look into the street.

The London Eye

The London Eye was built to celebrate the Millennium and opened in March 2000. The Eye is one of London's top tourist attractions, with over 3.5 million visitors every year. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames close to Westminster Bridge, so your nearest tube station is Westminster on the District Circle and Jubilee lines. Turn left as you come out of the station, and you will see the Eye.

Ticket Prices:

• Adults (16 and over) - £17.88
• Children 4-15 yrs - £9.50
• Children under 4 yrs - FREE
• Senior Citizens - £14.30
• Disabled - £14.30
• Family of Four - 49.28

Carers with disabled visitors can fly free on the Eye and for more details on that, the substantial discounts on ticket prices if you book on line and other offers, you should visit the London Eye website.

Opening times:

• October to March: daily 10.00am - 8.00pm
• April: daily 10.00am - 9.00pm
• May and June: Sundays to Thursday 10.00am - 9.00pm
• May and June: Friday and Saturday 10.00am - 9.30pm
• July and August: daily 10.00am - 9.30pm
• September: daily 10.00am - 9.00pm

We couldn't leave this section on the Eye, without giving you a few interesting facts about one of London's biggest attractions.

The Eye took seven years to build | From the top, 135 metres high, you can see 25 miles (that's past Windsor) on a clear day | You would need 6,680 fully booked British Airways Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets to move the 3.5 million people who visit the Eye each year | The total weight of the wheel and capsules is 2,100 tonnes, with the centre spindle and hub weighing in at a massive 330 tonnes | The Eye is the fourth tallest structure in London, coming in after the BT Tower, Tower 42 and One Canada Square in Canary Wharf | Each rotation takes about 30 minutes, meaning a capsule travels at a stately 26cm per second, or 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting; allowing passengers to step on and off without the wheel having to stop.

(Facts & photographs by kind permission of Merlin Entertainments - London Eye)

See London from the Thames

An ideal way to see parts of London that might otherwise pass you by. Many trips leave from Westminster Pier, which is next to Westminster Bridge, so take the underground to Westminster and the Pier is on your left just before you cross the bridge. The trips go to the Thames Barrier, London's flood defence and some feat of engineering, or you can go East up to the Tower of London and Greenwich.

As you go along the river, the Captain of the boat will give you a very interesting commentary and point out many sights. Many of the old docks, wharfs and warehouses, dating back to before Queens Victoria are still there, and although not used for trading, many are fine examples of the architecture of their day. You can also see The Globe theatre, a reconstruction of William Shakespeare's original and moored at Southwark, a rebuilt exact copy of The Golden Hind, the ship Sir Francis Drake sailed when he circumnavigated the world in 1580. The crew often hold a bucket when you disembark should you wish to make a donation for the commentary, but it isn't compulsory.

Ticket prices for these trips vary, but to give you an idea a return from Westminster Pier to Greenwich will cost about £12.00 for an adult and £6.00 for a child. The boats leave regularly and more information can be found at the Thames River Services website.

Greenwich

If you do go to Greenwich then you can visit the National Maritime Museum. This is the museum dedicated to our country's famous seafaring past and contains some unique exhibits, including the uniform worn by Admiral Horatio Nelson when he was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar. (For the more gory minded youngsters, yes, you can see the hole made by the French sniper's musket ball. It's on the left shoulder!) Greenwich is also home to the Royal Observatory, the institution which, amongst other things, sets the time, and Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT is the reference by which clocks all over the world are set.

Tower of London

If you get off at Tower Bridge, then you can visit the Tower of London, still one of the City's top attractions. Take a tour with one of the Yeomen Warders and see the Bloody Tower, The Crown Jewels and the spot where Lady Jane Grey was beheaded. Walk around by yourself and find Traitor's Gate and the famous Ravens. Legend has it that if the Ravens leave the Tower, England will fall, so do check they are still there?

The Tower is situated at Tower Hill and that's the nearest Underground station, on the District and Circle Lines.

Opening times are:

• Tuesday to Saturday: 9am-5.30pm
• Sunday and Monday: 10.00am-5.30pm

Admission Prices:

• Adult - £17.00
• Child under 16 - £9.50
• Students and OAP's - £14.50 (Proof of age required)
• Family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) - £47.00

Your ticket includes entry to the Jewel House and a tour with a Yeoman Warder. Discounts are available on line so it's worth visiting the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge

Right next to the Tower of London is Tower Bridge, and this is now open to the public. Believed to be the most photographed bridge in the world it is a masterpiece of design and engineering. You can enjoy stunning views of London from the high level walkways, learn all about the Bridge's construction and history, and visit the Victorian Steam Engine Rooms, which were used to raise and lower the bridge.

Family tickets can only be purchased from the Bridge ticket office, while single tickets can be bought on-line.

Admission prices

• Adults - £7.00
• Children (aged 5-15) - £3.00
• Students (with identification) - £5.00
• Seniors (aged 60 +) - £5.00
• 1 Adult & 2 Children - £11.00
• Adults & 1 Child - £14.00
• 2 Adults & 2 Children - £16.00
• 2 Adults & 4 Children - £18.00
• Under 5s - Free
• Disabled/Carer - Free

NOTE: Prices valid until 31 March 2011. Children aged 15 years or under must be accompanied by an adult.

HMS Belfast

Again, right next door to the Tower of London, but on the other side of the river is HMS Belfast. This 11,550 ton warship saw action in World War II and is now a floating museum.

• Open daily:
• 1 March - 31 October 10.00 am - 6.00 pm (last admission 5.00 pm)
• 1 November - 28 February 10.00 am - 5.00 pm (last admission 4.00 pm)
• Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission prices:

• Adults - £12.95
• Unemployed - £6.50*
• Children (under 16) - FREE
• Senior citizens - £10.40
• Students - £10.40**
• Disabled Visitors and Carers - £7.80
• Children (under 16): FREE

* In receipt of benefits; must have proof of entitlement

** Upon presentation of a valid Student ID card

*** One per disabled visitor

Either walk from Tower Hill tube or get off at London Bridge station and the ship is signposted.

The London Dungeon

Finally, for the more gory and blood thirsty visitors to London, The London Dungeon is a place worth considering. Located in Tooley Street, immediately behind HMS Belfast, 'The Dungeon' is home to many displays depicting life in London in days gone by. Set underneath the arches of London Bridge Station it features exhibits depicting the Great Fire, medieval torture, Jack the Ripper and much more. Billed as the 'scariest attraction in London' we have been told by adults who have been there that is no understatement. While it is unique in what it portrays and how it portrays it, please bear in mind it may not be suitable for some children and consideration should be given to this before you visit.

Admission Prices:

• £21 adults
• £19 students and seniors
• £16 children 5-14
• Free for children 4 and younger

Opening times vary throughout the year so you would be well advised to check the London Dungeons' website out before visiting.

Some more sights to visit

To help you plan your day, here are a few more interesting places. Many of these you will know about already so we have just put brief details and the web address in so you can go straight to the site for more information.

Madam Tussauds' World famous wax works display. Very, very popular especially in the Summer, so be prepared to queue. Nearest tube station is Baker Street. Website: www.madametussauds.com

Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms The wartime bomb proof bunker used by Sir Winston Churchill during World War II. An award winning museum, kept exactly as it was when it was being used in the 1940's. Nearest tube station is Westminster. Website: cwr.iwm.org.uk

Imperial War Museum A five minute walk from the tube is this national museum and which has displays showing what life was like for those who lived and fought during the two world wars. Nearest tube station is Lambeth North. Website: london.iwm.org.uk

HarrodsSee how the other half live and call in at London's top store, famous throughout the world. Nearest tube station is Knightsbridge. Website: www.harrods.co.uk

Hamleys Now with stores in Dublin, Dubai and Amman, Hamleys is still one of the largest toy shops in the world. Nearest tube station is Oxford Circus. Website: www.hamleys.com

The Trocadero A large tourist entertainment and shopping complex in Shaftsbury Avenue. Nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus. Website: www.londontrocadero.com

Science Museum Always great fun for kids of all ages, with lots of exhibits charting the history and development of science and industry. Something for all to suit budding scientists with loads of interactive and hands on displays. Free admission. Nearest tube station is South Kensington. Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Victoria and Albert Museum145 galleries covering 12.5 acres and over 4.6 million objects, this museum is home to one of the finest collections relating to art and design in the world. Free admission. Nearest tube station is South Kensington. Website: www.vam.ac.uk

Natural History MuseumIf animals are your thing, you will feel right at home here. With exhibits covering all types of life on earth, both living and extinct this is one of the finest museums of its type anywhere in the world. Free admission. Nearest tube station is South Kensington. Website: www.nhm.ac.uk

The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are right next door to each other and the V&A is directly opposite.

(Please note. While all museums are free to enter, many do charge for special exhibitions they are hosting. Charges for these vary, but can be up to £10, so if you are planning a visit to see a special exhibition at a museum, please check out the website for full details.)

Covent Garden A real tourist attraction, and always crowded during the summer, this collection of shops and restaurants is housed in the old fruit and veg market. Street entertainers abound and it is well worth a visit. Admission is free. Nearest tube is Covent Garden. (But it is only a five minute walk from Leicester Square). Website: www.covent-garden.co.uk

A Short Walking Tour

As we said at the start of this section, many sights in the Capital are very close to each other, so we asked someone who had taken American tourists around the city to plan a short walking tour which takes in some of the famous sights. A good map of London to follow this tour on can be found at www.yell.com/map/london.html

Start in Covent Garden and walk along King Street, turning right into Garrick Street and left onto Cranbourn Street, Cross Charing Cross Road and this will take you into Leicester Square. (5-10mins).

Keep walking and you will come to the famous Piccadilly Circus, (3 mins). Turn left in to The Haymarket and follow it down to Pall Mall. Turn left and walk into Trafalgar Square, (10 mins).

To your right you will see Admiralty Arch. Walk through Admiralty Arch and you are now in The Mall. At the end of The Mall is Buckingham Palace.

To your left is St James's Park. Turn left into Horse Guards Road. To your left is Horse Guards Parade, site of the Trooping of the Colour.

Walk along and turn left into King James Street, (5 mins). On your right at the bottom of the steps are Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms. Go up the steps and walk along King James Street and this will take you into Whitehall ,(3mins). Turn left and walk up Whitehall.

In the centre of the road is The Cenotaph, the National Memorial to the dead of the two World Wars. Slightly further on to the left is Downing Street. A short distance beyond this is the front of Horse Guards parade, where you can often see two mounted members of the Horse Guards in full regalia standing guard, (5mins). Cross the road and walk down Horse Guards Avenue. This will take you to Victoria Embankment where you can see the River Thames, (2mins).

Turn right and walk along the Embankment. On the other side of the river you will see The London Eye. After about 200 yards, look to your right and you will see a red brick building with unusual tower like rounded edges. That is Old Scotland Yard, home of the Metropolitan Police for many years and now used as an annexe to Parliament.

Keep walking and you will come to Westminster Bridge, (5 mins). To your left is the famous statue of Queen Boadicea, and to the left and below you is Westminster Pier, where many of the river trips leave from.

Turn right into Bridge Street and into Parliament Square, (1 min), To your left is Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, or to give it it's proper title, the Palace of Westminster. On the other side of the square is Westminster Abbey.

You are now outside Westminster tube station so you can hop on a tube to your next destination or if you fancy a picnic, cross Parliament Street which is in front of you, walk up Great George Street and that will take you back to St James Park.

If, at this point, you should fancy a pint, then you are but a few feet away from a particularly nice pub, and as it is one that has been visited by one of the Best Advice team we can recommend it. Walk past the tube station and turn right into Parliament Street. On your right your will see a pub called the "Old Red Lion." A very nice place to rest for a few minutes before you carry on.

Finally...

Finally, if you do visit London, please be aware of a problem that the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police, who cover the tubes system, frequently highlight. London is always crowded, and the touristy bits especially so. This makes for rich, and often easy, pickings for pickpockets. Wallets in back pockets and phones in shirt pockets are ready made targets for the "dippers" who hang around crowded areas, as are ladies bags which are open. Please keep valuables safe.

As we have said in other sections of Best Advice, the details we show regarding places to visit are subject to change at the discretion of the management of the various attractions, so we always recommend you check their web sites or call before you visit.

Well there should be enough there for you to plan a good day out in London. If you find something you saw, or visited that isn't mentioned here then please let us know and when we update the site we will add it.