The Summer Olympic Games of 2012 will be held in London. But there is no reason to wait until 2012, before you visit the city, because today you can find great sights, fantastic shopping and a exciting nightlife. And the food is not the typical English dishes.
The London Eye is a new and very interesting sight. You can find the meter (443 feet) high Ferris wheel between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge. The wheel was planned to open the 31th of December 1999, but the public was not allowed before March 2000 because of technical problems.
The 32 cabins on the wheel have room for 25 persons each. It is a very popular attraction; and because one rotation takes about half an hour, you can expect long queues in the high season. But the view from the top over the central London (including Big Ben and the House of Parliament) is worth the waiting.
In the opposite end of the timeline is Tower of London. The royal fortress has a 900 year old and bloody history. Many people have walked through the Traitors Gate; but few of them have returned. Torture, rats, and not least executions killed a lot of the prisoners.
Today the rats have gone; and the torture and executions stopped. And the prisoners have been replaced with tourists watching all the ceremonies. One of the most exciting is the Ceremony of the Keys. At exactly 9.52 pm the head of the guards hands over the keys to the head of the night watchmen.
On a tour in the Tower of London, you can see both the royal apartment as well as the dungeons. But the most fascinating is the Jewel House where the British crown jewels can be seen; including the worlds largest diamond Star of Africa, which is placed in the scepter of the sovereign.
For more great sights, visit St. Pauls Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Do also take a look at the 106 meter (348 feet) high Big Ben, and go for a walk in Hyde Park. Finish the sightseeing in British Museum, where you find an enormous collection of art.
A must thing to do in London is people watching. In the city you can see everything from punkers with safety pins through their noses and cock’s combs to businessmen with bowler hat sand stiff upper lips.
It is actually possible to find great food in London. And no, it is not the notorious fish and chips. Many famous cooks like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver have restaurant in the city. If you like cheaper options, you can find great, exotic restaurants with inexpensive food. London is a melting pot of multi-ethnic populations; which means you can eat food from all around the world.
You can also find great shopping in London. A good place to start is the Harrods; the famous department which brags about their ability to provide everything you can think about. In Designers Guild you can find wallpaper and fabric for you home and in Muji, you can buy minimalistic, Japanese design. If you bring kid, they will love you for taking them to the toyshop Hamleys of Regent Street; six story paradise for children.
Morten Elm is writing about city breaks in London on Storbyferie London. Read more about the shopping in Shopping London.