London has many attractions. There is never a shortage of things to see and do. Discover the big sites like Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, experience one of the grand royal pageants that take place throughout the year, visit a traditional English market or simply take it all in whilst cruising along the river Thames.

Whatever you decide to do, set out early as the summer can be very busy. Most attractions are easily accessible by public transport. Travel overground wherever possible to enjoy many sights en-route. Sightseeing tour pass all the main sights and are an excellent way to get to know London - especially if this is your first visit.

Buckingham Palace, SW1, Victoria or St James's Park underground. The official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen. The State Rooms are open to the public during August and September - an excellent opportunity to marvel at the lavish interiors and tread the very same floors as the Royal Family. The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place outside the palace at approximately 11:30 daily April - August and alternate days September - March.

Downing Street, W1 Westminster underground. No 10 has been at the heart of British political life since 1735, when Sir Robert Walpole made it the Prime Ministerial residence. No 11 next door, is the home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, SW1 Westminster underground. The Stranger's Gallery is open whilst the House sits - usually 14:30-22:00 on Mon/Tues/Wed Thurs, and 09:30-15:00 on Fridays. Tours of the Houses of Parliament are also available, it is advisable to contact the public information office for details.

Whitehall is a broad street lined with Government offices. In King Charles Street you can visit the underground Cabinet War Rooms, used by Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet during the Second World War. In the middle of Whitehall is Sir Edwin Lutyens' Cenotaph, which commemorates the dead of the two World Wars. In a ceremony held here every November in the presence of the Queen, wreaths of poppies are laid at the foot of the Cenotaph.

Banqueting House was built by Inigo Jones from 1619-22 in Palladian style. The impressive ceiling glorifying the monarchy was commissioned from Rubens by Charles I. Ironically it was from one of the windows of this hall that Charles stepped to his execution in 1649.

Horse Guards, designed by William Kent. The mounted guard is provided by the Household Cavalry and is relieved every hour At 11.00 (10.00 on Sunday) the colourful ceremony of Changing the Guards takes place. Through the arch under the clocktower is Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place every year on the Queen's official birthday in June.

Mall runs along the north of St. James's Park. A wide professional route lined with plane trees, stretching from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace. It takes its name from the game of "paille-maille" which was played here in Charles II's time. Overlooking the Mall are a number of impressive mansions. At the eastern end is Nash's Carlton House Terrace, now occupied by the Institute of Contemporary Art. At the western end is Clarence House, home of the Queen Mother. St. James's Palace, with its fine Tudor gateway, was built for Henry VIII on the site of a former leper hospital. Although no longer the main royal residence, ambassadors are still accredited to the "Court of St. James's".

Albert Memorial, unveiled in 1876 by Queen Victoria as a tribute to her consort, Prince Albert, who is holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition, with which he was closely associated.

The Royal Albert Hall, like the nearby museums, was built with the profits of the Great Exhibition. This vast hall, in the form of an amphitheatre, can seat up to 8,000 people, and is best known as the home of the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts.

Marble Arch, originally designed by Nash for Buckingham Palace, but moved here in 1850. It is close to the site of Tyburn, the infamous gallows where public executions were carried out until 1783.

Oxford Street, London's busiest shopping street, with many well known department stores. South of Oxford Street is the fashionable area of Mayfair, with its elegant squares and exclusive shops.

Madame Tussaud's, the popular wax museum. Here, alongside modern celebrities, you can see some of Madame Tussaud's original wax figures of victims of the guillotine, made during the French Revolution.

Regent Street, part of the royal route linking the park with Carlton House, the Prince Regent's residence. Nash's elegant buildings have long gone and the street now contains many famous shops, including Hamley's, the toy shop, and the mock-Tudor Liberty's.

Piccadilly Circus, at the bottom of Regent Street, famous for its brightly-coloured illuminated signs and the statue of Eros, more correctly the Angel of Christian Charity. The London Pavilion houses Rock Circus, an exhibition about rock and pop music, and in the nearby Trocadero is the Guinness World Records exhibition. To the west is Piccadilly, where you will find the famous store, Fortnum and Mason, and the Royal Academy of Arts, best known for its annual Summer Exhibition.

Soho, one of London's most colourful and cosmopolitan areas, with many foreign shops and restaurants. French Huguenots settled here in the 17th century and from then on the area has always attracted large numbers of immigrants. Among the more recent arrivals are the Chinese, who have created a community of their own in the streets around Gerrard Street. Now known as Chinatown, it has an atmosphere all its own, especially during the noisy and colourful Chinese New Year celebrations. Soho has always been a magnet for artists and writers, and many of London's best known theatres are to be found here. Leicester Square was once home to artists such as Hogarth and Reynolds; now it is better known for its cinemas.

Trafalgar Square is famous for its pigeons, demonstrations and New Year revelries. It was laid out in 1829-41 to commemorate the great naval battle of 1805 when the French fleet was defeated by the English under Admiral Lord Nelson. The square is dominated by the 170ft. Nelson's Column, which is guarded at the base by Landseer's popular bronze lions.

Strand once ran alongside the Thames, and it was lined with mansions of the nobility. Now it is better known for its theatres and hotels, but a reminder of those earlier times can be found in many of the street names and in the York Watergate in Victoria Embankment Gardens. The Victoria Embankment, built by Bazalgette in 1865-70, stretches from Westminster Bridge to Blackfriars, and is a pleasant place to walk, offering some excellent views.

Covent Garden, one of the liveliest quarters, with bars, shops, restaurants and open air entertainment. Originally the covent garden of Westminster Abbey, the land was later developed by the Bedford family, and Inigo Jones designed a splendid new piazza, of which St. Paul's Church is all that remains. In the 19th century the Central Market was added and Covent Garden was London's wholesale fruit and vegetable market until it moved to Nine Elms in 1974. On the east side of the piazza are the London Transport Museum and the Theatre Museum, and in Bow Street is the Royal Opera House.

Fleet Street has long associated with printing, and was until recently the home of many national newspapers. The area has close links with the legal profession, as the four Inns of Court are all nearby. To the north are Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, while to the south are Inner Temple and Middle Temple, the last two both served by the unusual circular Temple Church, which dates back to the 12th century. Another church of note in Fleet Street is Wren's St. Brides, with its famous "wedding cake" spire.

Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor. Nearby are the Stock Exchange and the striking modern Lloyd's building, designed by Richard Rogers.

Monument is a 202ft. column designed by wren to commemorate the Great Fire, which broke out a short distance away in Pudding Lane. A walk up its 311 steps will give you an impressive panoramic view of the surrounding area.

London Bridge crosses the Thames, taking you to Southwark, with its fine Gothic cathedral and theatrical associations. The first bridge here was built by the Romans, and a stone bridge was commissioned by Henry II in 1176. The 19th century bridge was sold to lake Havasu City in Arizona and replaced by the present bridge, built between 1967-73.

HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy Cruiser built in 1938 and now serving as a museum.

St. Katharine Docks, built in 1827 by Thomas Telford, but now converted to a yacht marina and leisure centre. Some of the original warehouses have been imaginatively converted and the complex contains shops, restaurants, a hotel and the Dickens Inn Pub, as well as a number of interesting boats, including Thames sailing barges.

Greenwich - its many maritime links. On the riverfront are the Cutty Sark, the last of the tea clippers, built in 1869, and Gipsy Moth IV, in which Sir Francis Chichester circumnavigated the world in 1966-7. The Royal Naval College was designed by Wren and it is possible to the Chapel and the Painted Hall, so called because of the magnificent wall and ceiling paintings by Sir James Thornhill. The National Maritime Museum houses an extensive collection illustrating Britain's maritime heritage, including the uniform worn by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. The Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones, contains an interesting collection of maritime paintings. Outside the Royal Observatory, on a hill overlooking the museum, is a line marking the zero meridian of longitude, from which time relative to Greenwich Mean Time is calculated.

Hampton Court Palace, to the west of London is magnificent Tudor building set in beautiful grounds in a splendid setting by the Thames. It was begun in 1514 by Cardinal Wolsey, but was appropriated by Henry VIII, who added the Chapel and Great Hall, with its hammerbeam roof. Later Sir Christopher Wren added the south and east wings for William III. The State Apartments contain some fine period furniture and there are many splendid decorated ceilings, including several by Verrio. Also on a display is a fine collection of paintings from the Royal Collection. The gardens are mostly those laid out for William III, but also look out for the delighted Pond Garden created for Henry VIII. The popular Maze is to be found to the north of the palace.

Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8. Queensway or High Street Kensington underground. While Kensington Palace remains a private Royal residence, the State Apartments and Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are open to the public.

Lord's Cricket Ground Tours of Lord's Cricket Ground are available throughout the year. An expert guides you around the historic home of the Marylebone Cricket Club. Real Tennis Court, Mound Stand and Indoor School lasting approximately 90 minutes. Tours are normally available at Noon and 2pm daily but there are restrictions on some match days.

St Paul's Cathedral, EC4, St Paul's underground. This is a Wren masterpiece. There have been five churches dedicated to St Paul on this site, the previous one having been destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. It took 42 years for the completion of Wren's master work. The 365ft-high dome that crowns St Paul's is the second largest in the world, being second only to St Peter's in Rome. Wren is buried in the Cathedral, an inscription above, thought to have been written by his son, when translated reads: "If you seek his monument, look around." Open daily.

The Tower Bridge Experience, SE1. One of London's most unusual and exciting exhibitions is situated inside Tower Bridge. Animatronic characters from the bridge's past guide you through a series of audio-visual presentations, which tell the story of this world famous landmark. From the high-level walkways which link the two towers, you'll also enjoy one of the most memorable panoramic views of London.

Tower of London, EC3. This world famous fortress was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror to guard the river approach to London. In its 900 year history, the Tower has been a palace, prison, mint, arsenal and even a zoo. Today it is best known as the home of the Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders and legendary ravens.

Trocadero, No.1 Piccadilly Circus, W1. London's total entertainment complex offers visitors the unique opportunity to experience hi-tech attractions. The Trocadero features Funland, Virtual World, Showscan's Emaginator, Alien War and Madame Tussaud's Rock Circus. There are also a variety of restaurants including the word famous Planet Hollywood, shops and multiplex cinema.

Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, SW1, Westminster underground. A church has stood on this site since at least early Saxon times. It is the crowning place of English monarchs and host to many royal occasions. Several generations of English Sovereigns are buried here in beautifully carved tombs. Nave and Cloisters open daily., admission free. Royal Chapels, open Monday-Saturday. Admission charged.

Westminster Cathedral, Victoria Street, SW1, Victoria underground. This is the largest and most important Catholic church in England. You can take a lift to the top of the 273ft high campanile. Open daily. Admission free.