DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Top 10 London

Clockwise from top: British Museum, Big Ben, Red telephone boxes, St Pauls and the Millennium Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Tate Britain, Kew Gardens

River city. Royal city. City of palaces and pubs, museums and monuments. Hotbed of theatre. Shopping mecca. Financial powerhouse. London is all these things and more so who could argue when we say that its the worlds most exciting metropolis? With Eyewitness Top 10 London, its yours to explore.

We love London: the culture, the chaos, the noise. What could be better than strolling along the cobbled streets of Covent Garden, sipping a cocktail in a rooftop bar, sailing along the Thames between the Houses of Parliament and Tate Modern, browsing the cutting-edge boutiques of Spitalfields and scouting the stalls for a bargain or time-travelling back to Shakespeares England, standing rapt among the crowds at the Globe Theatre? Its all here, packed into a few square miles of the worlds most energetic streetscape.

This city is a cultural colossus, boasting the worlds busiest theatre district, a bar or restaurant on every corner, and a packed calendar of eye-catching ceremonies and festivals, from Trooping the Colour to the Notting Hill Carnival. It does history and pageantry like nowhere else, but we think its also the most cosmopolitan city on Earth. Home to 300 languages, its a modern-day Babel, where every neighbourhood has its own vibrancy and verve.

Whether youre coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide brings together the best of everything that London can offer, from hip Hoxton to sophisticated St Jamess. The guide has useful tips throughout, from seeking out whats free to avoiding the crowds, plus 13 easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and youve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy London.

Exploring London

For things to see and do, visitors to London are spoiled for choice. Whether youre here for a short stay or you just want a flavour of this great city, you need to make the most of your time. Here are some ideas for two and four days of sightseeing in London.

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Two Days in London

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Day 1

Morning

Take a Beefeater tour of the .

Afternoon

Cross .

Shakespeares Globe is a replica of the original Globe Theatre.

Day 2

Morning

Begin at to see the monuments of English monarchs.

Afternoon

After lunch, spend 2 hours at the .

Trafalgar Square, Londons central point, is beautifully lit up at night.

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Four Days in London

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Day 1

Morning

Start with a full morning exploring the .

Tower Bridge is a flamboyant piece of Victorian engineering.

Afternoon

Take lunch at .

Day 2

Morning

Begin in Notting Hill, with a morning turn around .

Afternoon

Exit the park into South Kensingtons museum quarter, for an afternoon exploring the .

Day 3

Morning

Choose between the .

Afternoon

Meander through for dinner and cocktails.

St Jamess Park, in the heart of London, is popular for its well-groomed flower beds and great views.

Day 4

Morning

Start at the for a leisurely stroll around the Apple Market and to marvel at the performances of the street acrobats.

Afternoon

, where the bright lights of Londons Theatreland await.

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Top 10 London Highlights

The Great Court, British Museum

Top 10 London Highlights

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BRITISH MUSEUM

The worlds oldest national public museum has over 8 million items spanning the history of the worlds cultures, from the stone tools of early man to 21st-century artworks. The collection was started with the bequest of a physician and antiquarian, Sir Hans Sloane, in 1753. In the 18th and 19th centuries, travellers and emissaries, such as Captain James Cook, Lord Curzon and Charles Townley, added treasures from around the world. The present building was completed in 1852. The central courtyard is used as a public space.

NEED TO KNOW

Great Russell Street WC1 020 7323 8000 www.britishmuseum.org Open 10am5:30pm SatThu, 10am8:30pm Fri. Free, except major temporary exhibitions Free guided tours

Great Court: 10am5:30pm SatThu, 10am8:30pm Fri

Google Map

• The Great Courts Reading Room is closed to public.
• There are two cafs, a pizzeria and the fine-dining Great Court Restaurant.
• Picnic in the forecourt, by the main entrance.
• Highlights tours (14) introduce the collection.
• The British Museum shop sells reproduction artifacts, books, jewellery and gifts.

Museum Guide

Free maps are available and guides are on sale at the information desks. Otherwise start to the left of the main entrance with the Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman galleries. The Asian collection provides a change from Classical material, as do the early British, medieval and Renaissance galleries on the east side.