Attractions
To make your stay as enjoyable and memorable as possible, the London Apartments team have collated some of our favourite London links to give you the full flavour of our great city.

Bring the children
There's so much for children to do in London. For an interactive idea try the BBC Tours where you can learn all about how television and radio works. Of course, if you're children are misbehaving you can always threaten them with a trip to The London Dungeons!

Here's some more of our favourite places to go with children of all ages

The National History Museum - roar your way around the Dinosaurs Room!
London Zoo - go see the bears, lions and tigers
When your feet get tired of walking jump on a bus - Open Top Red Bus Tour
Tower of London and Tower Bridge next door
There's lots to do at Funland from ten pin bowling to arcade games. It's also free to enter and indoors if it's raining
Wonder at the history of the stars and planets at the Planetarium
Madame Tussauds - the world famous wax works
If your into ships don't miss HMS Belfast - An historic WWII Battleship
Hamleys Toy Store
There's more Lego than you've ever seen before at Lego Land Windsor
London Eye - See the whole of London in one go!
The Sherlock Holmes Museum - It's elementary my dear Watson!

There are also lots of Royal Parks and Gardens all over London to have a good run around. For a fun eating experience, try Planet Hollywood (Britney Spears's is a fan) or The Hard Rock Cafe.

A sports fan's dream
Goal!! London has some huge football clubs. For starters try Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs, Fulham United and the Wimbledon's Crazy Gang. For MCC members and cricket fans alike there's all the history of a trip to Lords or the Oval, even if there's isn't a game on.

New balls please! Tennis at Wimbledon - also see their museum site
If rugby's your game then don't miss a visit to Twickenham
Athletic at Crystal Palace - for both clubs and international meetings
American Style Ten Pin Bowling
The very English game of Bowls
Peddle this way to hire a Bicycle
For the budding Michael Schumacher's amongst you, get into gear at Playscape Karting

To find informational on a wider variety of sports visit the British Sports website. For tickets and corporate hospitality at most of London's sporting events go to Ticket Master

London landmarks
Just about on every corner of central London youll find a piece of history. From Big Ben to the Houses of Parliament, there's so much to see
10 Downing Street - Britain's Prime Minister's Official Residence. You can't go in so have a look here
Don't miss Sir Christopher Wren's magnificent master piece St Paul's Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
WWII Cabinet War Office - Churchill's War Time Head Quarters
The tallest building London is Canary Wharf - Take the DLR through Docklands for a vision of the past and the future
Don't miss out on London's Historic Markets, but brush up on your Cockney Rhyming Slang before you go!
Looking down over Trafalgar Square Nelson's Coulmn stands testatment to one of our great naval heroes
Wander along the Thames and around South Bank Centre and enjoy the restaurants, arts and 1950s architecture
Built by Queen Victoria in memory of her late husband Albert the Royal Albert Hall is one of London's most impressive concert halls and the setting for the yearly London Proms
Enjoy the daily craft markets and buskers at Covent Garden
Soho - famous for its pavement cafes, restaurants, coffee bars, gay bars, late bars, the buzz, the theatres, strip joints, leatherwear... no trip to London is complete without a wander through Soho

Royalty and Pageantry
The informative official website of the British Monarchy and The Royal Site are really worth a visit.

Buckingham Palace - open to the public during the summer months. Don't miss the dramatic Trooping of the Guard - it takes place at 11.30am every other day
Kensington Palace - the former residence of HRH Diana Princess of Wales
Windsor Palace
Hampton Court and Maze
Kew Palace - and the Kew Botanical Gardens
The Banqueting House
The Tower of London is steeped in London's bloody history
Also try English Heritage for a wealth of useful London and UK information.

Museums
For a wealth of information on London's many museums try the 24 Hour Museum. However, if you're in a hurry just click on our favourites below. Nearly all of London's museums now have FREE entry.

British Museum
Museum of London
Science Museum
National History Museum
Victoria and Albert (V&A)
Imperial War Museum
Design Museum
Mad about boats? Don't miss a visit to the Golden Hinde and the Cutty Sark Museums
London Transport Museum
The British Library
Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory
UK Exhibitions

Art
Some of greatest artworks in the world are on display in London's Free Art Galleries. If we haven't list what your looking for below try this guide.

The National Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
The Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Whitechapel Gallery
The Queens Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery
UK Art Festivals
National Art Fund Collection

Shopping, shopping, shopping!
You can never go too far wrong with shopping - even if its only window shopping. For posh togs try Knightsbridge, where Harrods and Harvey Nichols reign supreme.

Alternatively, lose yourself amongst the beautiful boutiques that adorn the Kings Road. (Blending in with the locals is easy - just look stylish and immaculate!) For designer labels head straight for Bond Street. And for a truly Great British shopping experience (and a spot of celebrity spotting) lose yourself in Selfridges.

Last, but certainly not least, no London shopping trip is complete without some bargain hunting in the city's celebrated markets such as Camden and Islington markets. Most famous of all, of course, is Portobello Road market in Notting Hill on Sunday mornings for some uniquely beautiful clothes, antiques and more.

Check out the UK Government page on VAT Refunds for travellers and Duty Free shopping in the UK. Know your rights with regard to shopping and Consumer Protection in the UK.

Something special
To impress a loved one or to treat yourself to something really special, experiment with exotic lingerie at specialists Agent Provocateur, for both him and her. Alternatively, go to Rigby and Peller, the Queens Corsetieres - by Appointment to Her Majesty.

If shopping's been just all too much! then have a day of undisturbed relaxation at The Sanctuary. (Sorry gentlemen, it's ladies only).

To rest your legs, do the quintissentially English thing by having Tea at the Ritz. (Gentleman are advised to wear a tie). Not quite as refined, but equally unmissable is some light refreshment at the British Museum restaurant which is enclosed under the most magnificent glass panelled ceiling you'll ever see.

Shows, theatre and cinema
Once you arrive in London you'll find a mind-blowing variety of entertainment on offer. Here is a selection of starting points to find your way to some of the best cultural experiences in the world:

London Theatre Guide
The National Theatre
Saddlers Wells
Pub Theatre
Shakespeare Globe Theatre

Cinema guide
The Prince Charles cinema just of Leicester Square great if you're on a tight budget. Not so much more expensive but oh-so-much more opulent is the Electric cinema in Notting Hill. For details of these and all other cinemas, go to A to Z of London cinemas.
 

Men only
Stringfellows - the infamous nightclub
BMW Park Lane - big boys toys
Gieves and Hawkes - Savile Row's premier address has the largest choice for the gentleman
Alfred Dunhill - famous for lighters, leather goods and now, beautiful suits
The Party Bus- for when you really shouldn't drive!
Stretched Limo Hire - be a VIP for a night
Brick Lane Curryhouses - a man's got to do what a man's got to do when he's hungry!

London pubs and bars
You can legally buy alcohol in a British pub when you are 18 or older. However, you may be asked for ID if you look a little young. Our pubs and bars generally close at 11pm, except on Sundays when they cloe at 10.30pm. Britons rarely tip in pubs, but may do so in bars if the drinks have been brought to their table.

Here are a few London watering holes we've frequnted for you! For inespensive, popular and lively bars, take a look around LateNightLondon.

Hakkasan - astunning subterreanean cocktail bar best kept for special occasions
The Dove - areal quaint Ol’ English pub nestled on the bank of the Thames at Hammersmith
Blues Bar - live music in an intimate setting every night of the week
Duke of Cambridge - an organic gastropub
115 at Hodgsons - retro style of faux-Seventies bar
Long Bar - Clean and serene bar off the lobby of the hip 'n' trendy Sanderson hotel
 

Also, check out the London Bars Guide for reviews and more.

London restaurants
As you'd expect London has vast range of excellent restaraunts and fast food outlets. Take your pick from the London Eats Guide or poach yourself a discount dining experience from Top Table.co.uk.
 

Transport essentials
Here's all you need to know to get around London on public transport. If you take a taxi try to use the London Black Cabs which are cleaner and safer than unlicensed minicabs, which tend to overcharge and not know the way!
London Buses Routes and Fare Information
Dockland Light Railway
River Services on the Thames
Get London transport information direct on your WAP phone
Interactive Journey Planner
London Map
 

If you need further help finding your way around London then telephone the London Transport Information Line on: +44 (0) 207 7222 1234. If you're driving in London, be careful and patient there's a lot of traffic. Click here for additional UK Transport links.

Useful telephone numbers
In ALL emergencies dial 999, for free
Police - Tel. 999
Fire - Tel. 999
Ambulance - Tel. 999
Directory Enquires - Tel. 192
International Operator - Tel. 155
Online Directory Enquiries
The Online Doctor Service