London & Partners

SIGHTSEEING
refurbished wine tasting
venue, plus master classes
and tasting events. Two
restaurants offer food and
wine deals. Thurs-
Fri 14.00-22.00; Sat 12.00-
22.00; Sun 12.00-18.00
(last admission two hours
and 30 mins before
closing). Self-guided tours
from £22.50.
1 Bank End, SE1.
020 7940 3000.
vinopolis.co.uk
Ë t London Bridge.
Map C8.
WARNER BROS.
STUDIO TOUR LONDON
Explore behind-the-scenes
magic on The Making Of
Harry Potter tour. Visitors
can see some of the series’
most iconic film sets,
covering over 150,000
square feet, including the
Great Hall, Dumbledore’s
Office, Hagrid’s Hut, the
cobbled shop-fronted
Diagon Alley and the
Gryffindor Common Room
(p. 33). Advanced, timed
tickets only from the
website. Mon-Fri 10.00-
17.00, weekends, bank
holidays and school holidays
10.00-18.00. Admission
£28, child £21.
Studio Tour Drive,
Leavesden, Hertfordshire,
WD25. 08450 840 900.
wbstudiotour.co.uk
Ë t Watford Junction.
Off map.
WELLINGTON ARCH
Climb to the viewing
galleries of this magnificent
arch standing astride Hyde
Park Corner, for panoramic
views over the Royal Parks
and Houses Of Parliament.
There’s also an exhibition
about the arch’s history.
Wed-Sun 10.00-17.00.
Admission £4, child £2.40.
Apsley Way, Hyde Park
Corner, W1. 020 7930
2726. Ë Hyde Park Corner.
Map D4.
WEMBLEY
STADIUM TOURS
This 75-minute tour gives
visitors a behind-the-scenes
look at one of the most
famous football stadiums
and concert venues in
the UK. Peep inside the
dressing rooms, see
exclusive VIP areas, walk
through the players’ tunnel
onto the pitch and even
have your picture taken with
a replica of the FA Cup.
Daily 10.00-16.00. Tickets
£16, child £9.
Olympic Way,
Wembley, HA9.
08448 002 755.
wembleystadium.
com/wembley-tours
Ë Wembley Park.
Off map.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Consecrated in 1065, this
magnificent abbey is the
crowning and burial site
of most English monarchs,
including Queen Elizabeth
I. It also houses Poets’
Corner, the burial place of
Charles Dickens and other
famous writers. Royalists will
remmeber that this is where
the world-famous marriage
ceremony of Prince William
and Kate Middleton (now
the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge) took place in
2011. Free 30-minute organ
recital every Sun 17.45.
Mon-Tues, Thurs-Fri 09.30-
16.30; Wed 09.30-19.00;
Sat 09.30-14.30. Admission
£16, child £6, under-11s
free; tour £3.
Broad Sanctuary, SW1.
020 7222 5152.
westminster-abbey.org
Ë Westminster.
Map D6.
WIMBLEDON LAWN
TENNIS MUSEUM
This modern museum
features trophies,
memorabilia, historic
sporting fashions, and the
‘ghost’ of John McEnroe.
Visit the exhibition Game
On, showcasing Olympic
medals and ephemera,
and don’t miss the new 3D
cinema. The tour includes
Centre Court. Daily 10.00-
17.00. Museum £11, child
£6.75; museum and tour
£20, child £12.50.
The All England Lawn
Tennis and Croquet Club,
Church Road, SW19.
020 8946 6131.
Great skates
For some outdoor winter fun, a glide around an
open-air ice rink followed by a warming cup of cocoa
is hard to beat. A number of ice-skating venues have
popped up at iconic locations across London over the
festive season, so January offers your last chance to
get in on the action. If you are planning on visiting the
EDF Energy London Eye (p. 28), Somerset House
(p. 33), the Natural History Museum (p. 54) , The
Tower Of London (pictured, p. 34) or Hampton
Court Palace (p. 28, until 13 Jan; others until 6 Jan)
then a skate around the ice is the perfect add-on to
your sightseeing itinerary. Broadgate in the heart of
the city is also hosting open-air ice skating until
24 Feb (Broadgate Circle, EC2. Ë t Liverpool
Street. broadgate.co.uk) or if you want to shop and
skate ‘til you drop, head to the icy atrium of
Westfield London (p. 62) shopping centre.
wimbledon.com/
museum Ë Southfields.
Off map.
WORLD RUGBY
MUSEUM &
TWICKENHAM TOUR
A rugby enthusiast’s
dream, this entertaining
museum chronicles the
sport’s colourful history
with an unparalleled
collection of memorabilia.
The tour gives access to
the stadium, including the
England team’s dressing
room. Check for occasional
closures. Museum Tues-Sat
10.00-17.00; Sun 11.00-
17.00. Tours Tues-Sat
10.30-15.00; Sun 13.00-
15.00. Tour and museum
admission £15, child £9.
Twickenham Stadium,
Rugby Road, TW1.
020 8892 8877.
rfu.com/museum
t Twickenham. Off map.
ZSL LONDON ZOO
Immerse yourself in the
animal kingdom at the
world’s oldest scientific zoo,
with more than 750 species
including gorillas, lions and
zebras. There’s a colourful
Aquarium and an exotic
Reptile House, plus don’t miss
Rainforest Life and Penguin
Beach (daily shows 14.30).
Zoo daily 10.00-17.30.
Admission £21.50, child £16.
Regent’s Park, NW1.
020 7722 3333.
zsl.org Ë Camden
Town. Map A4.
IMAGE © HRP/TOWER OF LONDON
36 | visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013