London Museums and Art, for free

Londoners and visitors to the city have a unique advantage in culture. Unlike most other major international cities, in London you get the greatest museums and art galleries all for free, except for special exhibits. Donations are encouraged.

Of all the best must-see’s, London favourites are as follows:

In South Kensington/Royal Albert, the Natural History Museum explores plants and fossils, with an astounding dinosaur collection, or check out the Victoria & Albert for an impressive collection in decorative arts, with fashion, ceramics and furniture through the ages.

Near Covent Garden, find the British Museum, housing one of the finest collections of human history, with Egyptian mummies and ancient artefacts from across the continents.

In the Westminster area by the river Thames, Tate Britain features the biggest existing collection of British art, with greats such as Blake, Constable and Hockney.

Further down-river, the Tate Modern sits in a huge converted factory, with modern art and big names such as Dalí, Picasso, Warhol and Gilbert & George.

For a taste of the extreme and highly contemporary art, you should visit the Saatchi Gallery in Knightsbridge, for its conceptual artworks by international artists rarely seen in the UK.

London: Shopping or Football?

Thanks to its signature British fashion designers, London has an excellent variation of shops and boutiques, for fleamarket chic, affordable high-style and haute-couture.

Shoppers delight around Oxford Street for the best in high street shopping or the more upmarket Selfridges. It's a short walk to luxury stores on Bond Street or a quick tube to Harrod’s if you want to really splash the cash.

Covent Garden is great for alternative and street labels, along with its retro antiques market, beauty salons and eateries when you want a break.

The big three in London markets are Camden, Portobello and Spitalfields, for retro finds, clothing and questionable antiques. All three have a great selection of pubs and places to eat.

If you prefer sports to shopping, check out one of London’s striking 11 football stadiums for a local London experience. Football fanatics are spoilt for choice with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal clubs.  Or Wembley Stadium, which hosts major football matches as well as concerts.

London leisure and nightlife

London is never-ending for entertainment and nights out; so here are just a few suggestions.

The best views of London can be seen from the Thames and a river taxi or hop-on-hop-off River Roamer is just the thing, taking you from Tate Britain, past the Tower of London, the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.

Over the summer, London’s Hyde Park and Regent’s park, to name a few, offer a superb line-up of live music, recitals and even open-air Shakespeare performances, for that authentically English experience.

For kids, there’s Madame Tussaud’s, London Zoo or horseriding in Hyde Park. Fans of Peter Pan will love the monument in Kensington Gardens, the place of inspiration for the author’s story.

London is a melting pot, quite literally for cuisine, but for some of the best restaurants and pre-club bars, Soho is recommended. Set among fairly liberal bars, erotic shops and bordering Chinatown, Soho’s terrace cafés and restaurants are great for leisurely people-watching.

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