Some of the Best Places to Visit in London

London is an amazing destination, offering you centuries of history, magnificent museums, fabulous shopping and excellent entertainment from theatres to pubs and hip clubs. Here's a guide to some of the major highlights of London:

Start your tour at Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Her Majesty the Queen. In the summer, you can watch the Changing of the Guards which takes places in front of the palace. For the history buff, there are two must-see stops: Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. The former is a Gothic monastery church where coronations of English and British monarchs have taken place since the 1300s; it is also the place where they are buried. The latter is an imposing fortress with stories of London's past. Join a tour guided by the Yeoman Warders (nicknamed 'Beefeaters') who will not only charm but entertain you with tales of London's darkest history. Another highlight of the Tower of London is the exquisite Crown Jewels.

Looking for some culture? London has some outstanding museums, and many are free to all visitors. Explore the British Museum to learn about the ancient civilizations and world cultures from the museum's unparalleled collection of antiquities. Another popular museum is the National Gallery, which houses an impressive collection of over 2,300 art works dating from the 13^th to the early 20^th centuries.

If your trip coincides with the holiday season, you are in for a treat. Hyde Park in central London transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with ice-skating rink, the Toboggan snow slide, observation wheel, a traditional German market, and arts and craft stalls.

London has some of the most incredible shopping! Indulge yourself at the designer boutiques of Sloane Square, the shopping mecca of Knightsbridge, or anywhere on Oxford Street between Bond and Regent Streets. Department store Harrods is a must-stop, if only for the amazing array of goodies in the Food Halls. If you are overwhelmed by the department store, stroll down the block to Harvey Nichols, a chic department store as well but much more manageable in size. For antiquing, Portobello Road in West London is the place to go.

After all that shopping and walking, rest your foot and break for tea. If you are looking for an out-of-this-world experience, take your afternoon tea at any one of the classic hotels - the Berkeley, the Dorchester or the Ritz, among others. If you are a tea lover, you might want to stop by Twining's, the historic tea shop at 216 Strand for some tea tasting.

To complete your London experience, check out a pub, a bar or a club. For the star struck, you could always try to get in to some of the hippest clubs (Ronnie Scott's, Blue Bar, Paper Club, there are many more) and rub elbows with royalties or celebrities.

Have fun in London. Cheers!