Top Attractions in London - A List For Tourists

A new advertising campaign has been introduced to attract overseas visitors to England's capital. Simply known as Only in London; the campaign revolves around a list of 100 attractions and things that visitors can do in the city.

The focus of the campaign is to increase the number of overseas visitors and judging by the amount of diverse activities listed, it is hoping to attract people from many different countries and backgrounds. For example, the first item on the list is a suggested visit to Eastbury Manor House in Barking where, according to the compilers of this list, the Gunpowder Plot was first contrived.

Plenty more historical references appear on the list including trips to St. Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London and a more obscure reference to stroll the gardens of Down House in Bromley, which was home to Charles Darwin and where he wrote 'On The Origin of Species'.

Sports fans will be interested to see a number of items quoted on the list. The first at number five is the opportunity to see the NFL in action at Wembley. This has now become an annual event featuring a regular season game - the only one to be played outside of continental USA - between two of the League's top American football teams. In October 2009 the game will be contested by the New England Patriots and The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 15th suggestion on the list is a tour of Wembley Stadium itself, but there is no mention of any of the capital's top football teams; Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham, Fulham or Tottenham.

However, the option to experience the capital's transport systems does feature. Take a ride on the tube appears low down on the list at 79, but higher up at 39 there is the invitation to connect to the world at Heathrow airport where many of the flights to London arrive.

Music lovers are also catered for on the list with the first suggestion just scraping into the top 10; namely recreate the famous Beatles album cover at the Abbey Road zebra crossing. At 45, a suggestion is to view Pete Townshend of The Who's smashed guitar at the Victoria and Albert's new Theatre and Performance Galleries. Also included at 27 in the list is to buy a ticket to see Michael Jackson at the O2, or alternatively any other O2 show at 24th place!

As you would expect, The London Eye - which was recently voted the UK's number one tourist attraction - appears in the list, as do many other 'must-see' London attractions such as the British Museum, Tower Bridge and Hyde Park. But, however exhaustive the compilers of the list themselves say, this is only a tiny snapshot of the thousands of things visitors can do in London.

10 Free London Attractions

I have visited London almost every year since 1984. Like other major cities it can be expensive. During my visits. I discovered many free attractions. The ones I have listed here are among the favorites. Check out the following 10 free London attractions for an enlightened and satisfying visit.

Among the sites I have chosen are some of the many museums and galleries that are free. There are large ones where you have to choose what you want to see and smaller ones where you can view the contents in one or two hours. Any one of them is well worth your time. While you are visiting you can also stop for food. The large museum and galleries have cares where you can get homemade food at reasonable prices.

1. British Museum
Located in the Bloomsbury section of the city, this museum is one of the most visited in the world. Opened in 1759, it is best known for its Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections. The Egyptian collection includes large and small displays. The most famous is the Rosetta Stone. It provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. Among other displays are sculptures from the Parthenon in Greece, and artifacts from Rome, Assyria, China and India.

2. National Gallery
Located on the north side of Trafalgar Square, it houses one of the world's great art collections. The art is contained in sixty rooms and divided into periods. Among the artists included are Michelangelo, Da Vinci and the impressionists. It's impossible to view the whole collection in one visit. For a quick overview, join one of the free guided tours.

3. Victoria and Albert Museum
Locally known as the V&A, it's located in South Kensington. In addition to sculptures and paintings, the V&A has one of the world's largest collections of furnishings, textiles. carpets, jewelry, tapestries, musical instruments and glass in the world. There is something to please everyone's taste. Spread over seven levels and organized into major themes, you have to choose what you want to see.

4. Natural History Museum
In the same neighborhood as the V&A, this is a great place to take the family. The collection is divided into zones.

• Red Zone - the earth
• Green Zone - planets, environment, evolution
• Blue Zone - Smallest invertebrates to the great Blue Whale
• Orange Zone - Wildlife Garden

5 Tate Britain
Opened in 1897 in Millbank, this collection covers five centuries of art. It is divided into two main groups: the British Collection and the European and American works. The U.K. collection dates from 1500 to the present.

6. Tate Modern
On the South Bank of the Thames River at Bankside, this collection is housed in a renovated ex-power station. It gives you a very different feel from the traditional museum. There are five galleries of international modern art that covers the periods from 1900 to the present. Included in the presentation are works by Picasso, Dali, Warhol, Rothko and Lichtenstein. After your visit you can walk the South Bank and view the Globe Theater and the National Theater. There is a spectacular of St Pauls' across the river.

7. National Maritime Museum
For a day out take the short trip to Greenwich were you can visit this museum and the adjoining sites. It houses the world's largest collection of maritime artifacts including a permanent display from Vice-admiral Horatio Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. You can also visit the Queen's House with it's collection of maritime art. Up the hill is the Royal Observatory, site of the Prime Meridian, from which all time on earth is measured. You can stand with one foot in the Western hemisphere and one in the east. All these sites are fee.

8. St. Martin in the Field
This small Palladian style church, where Bach and Mozart played, is located on the east side of Trafalgar Square. If you enjoy music, stop in for one of the free lunchtime concerts held three days a week. Known for its outstanding acoustics, you can enjoy an hour of artists that range from the piano, violin to trios and quartets. You could combine this with a trip to the National Gallery, and you can walk through Trafalgar Square.

9. Covent Garden
The main building in the center of Covent Garden houses a number of restaurants and boutiques. The area's main attraction is the numerous street entertainers who must audition and obtain a license before performing. Within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, it's a delight for the whole family. Always crowded, you can find restaurants where you sit outside and can enjoy the entertainment in comfort.

10. Changing of the Guard.
Viewed from the outskirts of Buckingham Palace this is one of the favorites of London visitors. You can get there by strolling through St. James Park from Trafalgar Square. Get there early to get a place where you can see. It takes place every day during the spring and summer and every other day in the fall and winter at 11:30 AM. It's the pageantry the British are known for.

I can say, without a doubt, that London is my favorite city. I continue to go back to these sites and see something new each time. The ten free attractions that are included in this article are but a few of the ones in London.

London's Free Attractions

London's a great city to visit and it doesn't have to be expensive if you don't want it to be. I've found that it is actually possible to visit London on a budget! There are plenty of museums in London that are free (apart from some special exhibitions).

Two of the best are The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, both museums are located in South Kensington and are open seven days a week. The Natural History Museum is great for anyone who is interested in nature. September would be the best time to visit, as a new building called the Darwin centre is opening, which gives the public a chance to see real scientists at work. If this doesn't appeal and you wish to have a more hands-on experience then the Science Museum is the one for you! It is here that you can shout down a giant tube, play with huge spinning drums and even morph your face to make yourself look younger!

A visit to the British Museum is also free and lets you explore different world cultures. These include the Aztecs, where you can see the masks of Xipe Totec and Ancient Egypt that displays the Mummy mask of Syros. The British Museum is located on Great Russell Street and is also open seven days a week.

If you're looking to gain some knowledge on London and to learn about its history, then the Museum of London located on London Wall, is the place to visit. Entry is free and the permanent galleries at this museum include Roman and Medieval London.

If art galleries are more your thing, then the Tate Modern is a must! Entry is free and the Tate is also open seven days a week. Here you can find pieces of art for everyone's taste and they even have exhibitions to keep the kids entertained. The National Portrait Gallery located on St Martins Place is a fantastic building to visit and the Beatles to Bowie: The 60s exposed exhibition opens in October.

The best way to get to all these museums is on London's public transport. An oyster card will be the cheapest way to travel round London and can be used on buses, tubes and trams. They are pay as you go cards so you can just top them up, as you need them.

If you want to find cheap places to stay in London, then read a London travel guide for some recommendations! They might even recommend some good value for money restaurants to eat out at too!