A weekend in our electrifying capital

England Special feature

The best way to see London is by jumping right into the heart of the bustling, jostle. Bus tours are a great way to better understand the structure of the city. It is also the way to see the city's most wonderful monuments in 24hours. Walking is also a good idea, but distances are so far that visitors can soon get tired; the tube is also a great way of getting around, but being underground, a lot is missed out on. There are a number of sightseeing tours departing from Baker Street (outside Madame Tussaud's), but as with the boat tours, it is best to know which company and which tour to embark upon before reaching the departure spot as it can get quite frantic. Generally tickets should cost £22 for a hop-on/hop-off ticket and £10 for a child valid for 24 hours. There are often several routes to explore with a guided commentary. A bus tour must not be underestimated as it is a great and easy way to learn bags of facts about the vibrant capital. The best option is to choose a tour with a headphone set; that way there is no distraction from looking at the various sites. Having a real tour guide can be fun, but it can also detract attention from the surroundings.

Contents

• 1

  Eurostar: take a break

  
• 2

  The Mayor's Thames Festival

  
• 3

  Banglatown curry in Brick Lane

  
• 4

  Oxo Tower for drinks

  
• 5

  London on the water

  
• 6

  See London through its one eye

  
• 7

  The Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel

  
• 8

  Gruesome excitement at the London Dungeons

  
• 9

  Shop till you drop

  
• 10

  Dumb-struck on a double decker