FOR many Scots, a city break in London is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the nation south of the border.
Many places to visit in London guarantee the visitor an enjoyable and educational experience.
This article will examine some of the best things to do in London on a weekend away, as we preview some of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
London is a city famed for its architecture as much as its history and there are certainly plenty of iconic monuments dotted around the city that are steeped in both. The banks of the River Thames are a perfect place to begin with a look at Westminster Abbey, which will be the focus of a countrywide celebration in late April this year with the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
Close to Westminster Abbey is the iconic Big Ben and Houses of Parliament which are always worth a visit and if you follow the winding Thames eastwards, eventually you reach two iconic bridges; London Bridge and Tower Bridge, the latter of which stands close to the famous Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels and guarded by the Yeoman of the Guard.
Royalty has played a central theme in London life for centuries and the Royal Wedding of 2011 will no doubt draw that into sharp focus. While Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court will attract plenty of visitors, a short journey west will bring visitors to the splendid Windsor Castle. The castle is open to visitors once again after being painstakingly restored following the fire that damaged part of the building in 1992.
One of the most popular London attractions with visitors each year is Kew Gardens. This haven of botany is not the only green space in London that draws visitors, with Hyde Park, Regent's Park and St James's Park all centrally located and offering pleasant places to spend an afternoon.
Of course, London is synonymous with culture and history and there is plenty to discover at many of the popular museums around the city. The National Maritime Museum, Tate Britain and the Tate Modern are three of the most well-known, but there are plenty of others worth considering too including Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington, the Design Museum, Pollock’s Toy Museum, the Foundling Museum and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
Sport, too, plays an integral part of London life, with the 2012 Olympics on the horizon. Sports fans will love a visit to the new Wembley Stadium for a tour, while Chelsea FC offer a similar tour at their Stamford Bridge home. If cricket is your game, then a visit to Lord's Cricket Ground for a tour is worthy of consideration.
Yet, despite the many attractions listed here, London still offers a great deal more for the visitor. Your weekend down south may well prove to be an entertaining and educational experience and whet your appetite for a repeat visit in the near future.
