LONDON

NAMCO FUNSCAPEEntertainment venuewith more than 150 ofthe latest video games,an American-style poolhall, techno bowling andbumper cars. The privatekaraoke room has waiterservice and 4,000 songsto choose from. The Vault:Laser Maze Challengeis an exciting MissionImpossible-style labyrinth.Daily 10.00-00.00.Admission free.County Hall, WestminsterBridge Road, SE1 7PB. 020 7967 1066. namcofunscape.comË t Waterloo. Map C6.RIPLEY’S BELIEVEIT OR NOT!This curiosity shop-stylemuseum is a hit acrossthe globe. Explore a hugerange of oddities, froma shrunken head to analbino alligator. Don’t missthe mind-blowing MirrorMaze and check out theDungeon Zone for a doseof frightening fun. Daily10.00-00.00. Admission£26.95, child £21.95.1 Piccadilly Circus, W1J0DA. 020 3238 0022. ripleyslondon.comË Piccadilly Circus.Map C5.ROYAL ALBERTHALL TOURSA 60-minute front-of-housetour around this neo-gothicVictorian building, includingthe Royal Retiring Room,the auditorium and theQueen’s Box (refer toreview, p. 96). Departshourly on selecteddates between 10.30-15.30. Tickets £11.50,child free.Kensington Gore,SW7 2AP. 020 7589 8212. royalalberthall.comË South Kensington.Map D2.ROYAL BOTANICGARDENS, KEWA botanical researchcentre and World HeritageSite containing plantsfrom across the globe witha tropical greenhouse anda stunning pagoda. TheXstrata Treetop Walkwayhas great views. Gardensopen 09.30, closing timesvary; glasshouses andgalleries close 17.30.Admission £16, child free.Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. 020 8332 5655. kew.org Ë KewGardens. Off map.THE ROYALOBSERVATORYThe home of GreenwichMean Time. The PeterHarrison Planetariumhas a programme ofregular shows, includingthose designed with youngchildren in mind. Daily10.00-17.00; Planetariumtimes vary. Admission£7, child £2; Planetarium£6.50, child £4.50..Greenwich Park, SE109NF. 020 8858 4422. rmg.co.uk Ë CuttySark, or take a boat(p. 44). Map inset.ROYAL OPERA HOUSEThe UK’s most famousopera venue is alsohome to the RoyalBallet. Choose betweenthe Backstage Tour,which lasts 75 mins andincludes an introductionto the history of the19th-century theatre;and the 45-minuteVelvet, Gilt And GlamourTour, which focuses onthe architecture of theauditorium. BackstageTour three times dailyMon-Sat. Tickets £12child £8.50. Velvet, GiltAnd Glamour Tour 16.00on selected dates. Tickets£9.50, child £7.50. Tourtimes and dates vary,please check.Bow Street, WC2E 9DD. 020 7304 4000. roh.org.uk Ë CoventGarden. Map B6.SHAKESPEARE’SGLOBEReconstructionof Shakespeare’s originalElizabethan Globe theatre,including one of the onlythatched roofs in London.Daily, 09.00-17.00.Admission £13.50,SIGHTSEEINGMay 2013|LONDON PLANNER|visitlondon.com | 37