Ten Free Must-Sees in London

It’s no doubt that London can be a very pricey city but that doesn’t mean you have to shell out your life’s savings while you’re there. London has a ton of free activities and attractions for you to immerse yourself in. Here’s our top picks:

1.     British Museum: Not only is this one of London’s top attractions, but it is also totally free. You can see cool exhibits like the Rosetta Stone, the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, and beautiful Aztec mosaic masks.

2.     Borough Market: South of the river, this food-lover’s paradise has been around since the 13^th century. Open Thursday to Saturday. Don’t miss it.

3.     St. Paul’s Church: While St. Paul’s Cathedral may charge a ticket price to get in, this church on the western flank of Covent Garden Piazza is known as the actor’s church and is home to memorials for Charlie Chaplin and Vivien Leigh.

4.     Whitechapel Gallery: First opened in 1899, this art nouveau building is home to 10 different galleries. Picasso’s Guernica was first displayed here in 1939. On Thursdays and some Fridays you can enjoy music and readings. There is also a really cool café here.

5.     Temple Church: Having a key role in the DaVinci Code, this is a must see. Built by crusading monks, this church is immersed in historical mystery.

6.     Science Museum: Seven floor of exhibits, the Science Museum offers such cool displays as flight simulators, hot-air balloons and steam locomotives.

7.     Photographer’s Gallery: Located in the West End, this is an amazing contemporary photo exhibition.

8.     National Maritime Museum: Located in Greenwich, this great museum features topics on Britain’s seafaring past.

9.     National Gallery: Housing 2,000 Western European classics by Van Gogh, Renoir, daVinci and Michelangelo, this place has it all and it’s all for free. Located on Trafalger Square, over 5 million people visit each year.

10.  Houses of Parliament: Reserve ahead and you can sit in on sessions. But more than that, the neo-gothic houses will amaze you.

If you're interested in travel to London, check out our British vacation deals!

Enjoy 10-Day Fully Escorted Britain Sampler Vacation from $1,099

Sceptre Tours' most popular Britain vacation, the Britain Sampler, offers travelers the absolute best of England, Wales, and Scotland on a 10-day escorted tour. The package, priced from $1,099 per person for land only, includes all hotel accommodations, full breakfast each morning, three dinners, the services of a professional tour guide and driver throughout the trip, private luxury motorcoach transportation to each destination, and a complete sightseeing program. It works out to approximately $110 per day!

Round-trip air, including airport transfers can also be added starting from approximately $660 for travel between NYC and London during winter departures dates (Jan 14, Feb 11). Airfare will be higher for fall departures and from other departure cities.

Highlights of the trip which begins in London include a tour of the city's many famous landmarks, and a special walk through the ornamental gardens of Hampton Court Palace. Travelers will then head north along the west coast of England stopping at Stonehenge and Bath, Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, picturesque Llangollen in North Wales, the historic county town of Chester, Wordsworth's beloved Grasmere in the Lake District, and Gretna Green in the Lowland Hills before arriving in Scotland's capital of Edinburgh. In Edinburgh, travelers will visit its famous castle, the Queen’s Holyrood Palace, and Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House. The trip back to London takes a route along England's eastern coast, with a walking tour of the medieval city of York and the unique Belvoir Castle. Visits to the market town of Stamford and the beautiful university city of Cambridge complete this magnificent vacation.

The Britain Sampler Package Includes:


Accommodations - 8 nights hotel stays throughout Britain:

•2 nights Hilton London Metropole, London
•1 night Bath Hilton, Bath
•1 night Chester Ramada or St. David's Park at Ewole
•2 nights Mount Royal Ramada, Edinburgh
•1 night York Ramada, York
•1 night Novotel London West, London
Transportation

•Transfers from the airport to hotel and back to airport at the end of tour (if air is purchased through Sceptre Tours)
•Private luxury motorcoach with services of a professional driver and guide
Other Inclusions

•Eight full Breakfasts
•Three 3-course Dinners with a choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Bath
•Complete sightseeing program as detailed in the itinerary including: London Guided City Tour; Hampton Court; Stonehenge; Salisbury; Bath; Stow-on-the-World; Stratford; Llangollen; Chester Walking Tour; Grasmere; Edinburgh Guided City Tour; Abbotsford; Jebburgh; York Walking Tour; Belvoir; Stamford

Departure Dates Available & Land Only Rate:
November 12, 2010 - from $1179
December 3, 2010 - from $1179
January 14, 2011 - from $1099
February 11, 2011 - from $1099

*Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Single room supplement $349-$459. Triple room reduction of $30 per person. Extra nights per person in London: Mar.-Apr.: in single room $123, in twin room $76, in triple room $69. May-Oct.: in single room $223, in twin room $134, in triple room $124. Nov.-Feb.'11: in single room $129, in twin room $77, in triple room $70. Airport transfers are included if air is purchased from Sceptre Tours.

Planning the Vacation of a Lifetime

Many families take European vacations during the holidays, but travel isn’t necessary for you and your family to enjoy a “holiday of a lifetime.” However, since interests range so widely among different people, we will break this article in half and give you six top tips for a holiday vacation, and six top tips for general holiday wonderfulness!

Since the first set of tips does involve some cost (perhaps a great deal), the tips will focus on getting the highest value for the money, which is a bit different than just trying to spend the least amount of money. For penny-pinchers, of course, these tips will serve as pointers to money-saving deals and ideas. There is a lot to be learned about traveling on a budget, by everyone, regardless of what you want to spend.

The other “general” holiday tips will concentrate on bringing the family together, as opposed to spending money and not getting involved in any more than wrapping a present. The holidays are for kids and families, first of all, so there will be some ideas on how to have fun and enjoy other. Since most people get to the end of their lives and wish they’d spent more time with family, following some of these general, family-oriented tips truly could be a life-changing experience.

Credit Cards on Vacation

Aiming to save money on our credit cards should be something that we all should be doing. This can be done by switching your credit card to one that has a 0% interest free offer on balance transfers and purchases, or simply playing a credit card game such as "stoozing". The term stoozing is used to describe the practice of using the credit limit you receive on a credit card to make money by transferring the balance to high interest savings account.

It can be so much simpler to save money without having to go through all of these games and switching from one credit card issuer to the next. Many people while on holiday use their credit card to either make purchases or to withdraw cash from an ATM. This is one credit card usage you should always avoid.

Your credit card will incur a load of different charges when it is used abroad, which will be adding up on the bill when you return from your trip. Many of these charges you will not even be aware of, as many of us do not even realise that the charges exist when we are on vacation.

Every purchase incurs a foreign usage fee...

Did you know that you could be charged by up to $2.00 a transaction on your credit card for every transaction that you make or $1.50 if it's a debit card? This is bad enough, but you could also be getting charged interest from the moment that you have made the purchase, even though when you are back home you will not be charged interest from anything up to 59 days. So if you have purchased goods or paid for your meals using your credit card when you first arrived, then depending on how long you are away the interest has already built up by the time that you return home.

A Final List of Must-Sees in London

7. St. Paul's Cathedral - this historic site has been the venue of many notable events such as the wedding of Charles and Diana - the Prince and Princess of Wales. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1710, we suggest you don't miss the Whispering Gallery.

8. Trafalgar Square – Don't miss Nelson's Column, which celebrates England's greatest sea-farer. Also, don't miss the lions! You can walk across the square to the National Gallery too. Each year in December, the people of Norway send a gift of an enormous Christmas tree to Britain, which is erected in Trafalgar Square.

9. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - this theatre is a reconstruction of the original Globe where Shakespeare's plays were first shown to the world. The Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse designed in 1599. The theatre season runs from May to September with productions of the work of Shakespeare, his contemporaries and modern authors.

10. The British Museum – founded in 1753, the British Museum holds in trust for the nation and the world a collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. Housed in one of Britain's architectural landmarks, the collection is one of the finest in existence, spanning two million years of human history. Access to the collections is free.

More to See in London

4. The London Eye - Created by British Airways for the millennium, it is a giant Ferris wheel that gives you a 360-degree view of the city. We suggest you book in advance if possible – you can do it online. Otherwise, prepare for a very long wait.

5. The Houses of Parliament – the home of the UK's government. Actually made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, Big Ben is also one of the biggest attractions with its characteristic chiming every quarter of hour. Make sure you arrive on the hour for the full effect.

6. Westminster Abbey – a short walk form the Houses of Parliament, this great building is an architectural delight. The location for Princess Diana's funeral, and home to Isaac Newton's tomb, the Abbey recently featured in the film "The Da Vinci Code".

Must-Sees in London

Millions of visitors travel to London every year. As the nations' capital it is a great blend of old and new, with plenty of medieval history and modern attractions all rolled into one. Whatever your interests there is something for you. But here is our top list of the sites you just must not miss on a trip to London:

1. Buckingham Palace – home of the Queen of England and a great building in its own right. Don't miss the changing of the guards at 11:30am, but do check when you get into the capital as it doesn't always take place every day. We recommend you get there early to secure a good location.

2. The Tower of London – it doesn't get more historical than this! Home to the Crown Jewels of England, and where Anne Boleyn, the famous wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7, today the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. In 900 years it has been a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.


3. Tower Bridge – Often called London Bridge by those who don't know better. This iconic bridge is recognisable anywhere in the world. Now you can take a tour around its innermost workings too.

London; You Must Visit in the UK!

The UK continues to be a popular tourist destination, with millions of visitors each year. In addition to continued foreign visits, we are seeing that due to the economic downturn more and more people are going to holiday at home, so expect a growth in UK domestic trips for 2010 and beyond.

In line with these vacation trends we have put together a guide to the Top 7 Most Popular Cities to Visit in the UK, so you can pick up some ideas for your holiday break. For more details please read on!

London
The UK's capital city has long been the "jewel in the crown" of the UK tourism Industry. The city is located on the majestic River Thames and there is so much to see in the city. This bustling city is well served by the underground tube stations so it is very easy to get from place to place, and discover the gems of the city which range from the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben, London Tower Bridge to Westminster Abbey and the British Museum!


London is a world centre for music, shopping, theatre, drama, literature and culture and if museums, theatre and drama are your thing, you are spoilt for choice here! You could take in a play at the National Theatre or visit the Tate Modern Gallery. Or visit the London Eye or take a boat trip on the River Thames! Or shop at Oxford Street or Regent Street! Whatever you decide to do a visit to London is a place you will always remember.

Entertainment in London

Come nightfall, the entertainment and leisure scene is astounding. London's restaurant scene is staggering, with the rise of British and London-based celebrity chefs and their restaurants, to smaller and more intimate restaurants offering a remarkable range of cuisines. If bars and clubbing is not quite your idea of a great night out, perhaps a night at the theatre or concert might appeal to you. London is also home to many internationally acclaimed arts groups, and each season, they offer a wide range of theatrical or arts productions.

Popular musicals such as Les Miserables, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, and so on, are mainstay offerings for tourists in search for some night entertainment. There are also other music and dance performances available at different clusters. While the West end is renowned for its popular culture after-dinner scene, the South Bank Center is home to the National Theatre, Hayward Gallery and Royal Festival Hall, and there is a range of dance, theatre and music performances available throughout the year. The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden offers ballet and opera, while Sadler's Wells is a dance and music venue.

Visiting London

For the first-time visitors, the best advice I can offer when visiting London is to prioritize what you want to see and do. This is because London simply cannot be covered in a matter of days. Trying to cover too much ground in one go will leave visitors feeling exhausted. Many tourists to London are repeat visitors, and for good reason, too. London's entertainment and leisure scene is incredibly diverse. There is a great many things to do in London, and there are many great sights and experiences in store for tourists.

The London experience is a rich assortment of English culture, history, and the arts. Get photographed against some of the world's most historic architecture, such as the Tower of London, or the houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Cathedral. For modern architecture, how about The London Eye or The O2? Indulge in some history or art education at the British Museum or the Natural History Museum, or visit the Tate Modern for contemporary art, or the National Gallery for a wide collection of European art. Or, you could rub shoulders with who's who of a who in History at the world famous wax museum of Madame Tussauds. Stroll through the internationally acclaimed Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, or take a literary journey at the excellent Shakespeare Globe.

For a taste of English culture and royalty, there is the changing of the keys ceremony at the Tower of London, or you could watch the changing of guards at Buckingham Palace, where there is a chance of meeting the Queen or the Royal Family in person! The State Rooms of the Buckingham Palace are open to visitors in August and September each year. A good way to experience London is to go for one of London's walks, which are featured walks around places of interest conducted by the locals, who will entertain you with their animated stories.