London & Partners

SIGHTSEEINGare on-hand throughoutthe three-and-a-half hourexperience. Sat-Sun 09.30-16.00. Admission £30.Trent Park, CockfostersRoad, EN4. 020 84499240. goape.comË Cockfosters. Off map.HAM HOUSE & GARDENThis is one of Europe’sgreatest 17th-centuryhouses, said to be haunted,with a beautiful collection offurniture and gardens (p. 18).House Sat-Thurs 12.00-16.00; café and garden11.00-16.30. House andgarden admission £10.90,child £6.05.Ham Street, TW10. 020 8940 1950. nationaltrust.org.ukË t Richmond. Off map.HAMPTONCOURT PALACEOnce home to King HenryVIII, this magnificent Tudorpalace and impressive mazeis set in 60 acres of parkland(p. 18). Until 13 Jan IceAt The Palace. Pop-up iceskatingrink. 10.00-22.00.Admission from £11. Daily10.00-16.30. Palace, mazeand gardens admission£16.95, child £8.50; maze£3.85, child £2.75; gardens£5.50, child free.Hampton Court, EastMolesey, Surrey, KT8. 08444 827 777. hrp.org.ukt Hampton Court.Off map.HMS BELFASTPermanently moored on theRiver Thames, this ship isEurope’s only surviving WorldWar II cruiser. In serviceuntil 1965, it’s a reminder ofBritain’s naval heritage. Daily10.00-17.00. Admission £14,child free.Morgan’s Lane, off TooleyStreet, SE1. 020 79406300. iwm.org.ukË t London Bridge.Map C9.HOUSEHOLD CAVALRYMUSEUMAt this living museum youcan discover the history ofthe mounted guards (whoparticipate in ChangingThe Guard, p. 26), andwitness their day-to-daylife, including working theirhorses in 18th-centurystables, with daily inspectionat 16.00. Daily 10.00-17.00.Admission £6, child £4.Horse Guards, Whitehall,SW1. 020 7930 3070. householdcavalrymuseum.org.ukË Westminster. Map D6.HOUSES OFPARLIAMENTThis has been Parliament’shome since 1265, thoughthe current building wasconstructed in the 19thcentury in neo-gothic style.Its clock tower houses thefamous bell, Big Ben. Watchdebates and committees orenjoy a 75-minute guidedtour on Sats 09.15-16.30that includes the Queen’sRobing Room and the RoyalGallery. Admission free. Tour£15, child £6.Westminster, SW1. 08448 471 672. parliament.ukË Westminster. Map D6.THE JEWEL TOWERBuilt around 1365 to houseEdward III’s treasures, thisbuilding is one of only two leftfrom the medieval Palace ofWestminster after an 1834fire. It features a display onthe history of Parliament. Sat-Sun 10.00-16.00. Admission£3.50, child £2.10.Abingdon Street, SW1. 020 7222 2219. english-heritage.org.ukË Westminster. Map D6.KEATS HOUSEThis elegant 19th-centurybuilding was home toromantic poet John Keats.Its collection includes hisbooks, poetry, paintingsand household items, plusthe engagement ring hegave to sweetheart FannyBrawne (p. 18). Fri-Sun13.00-17.00. Admission £5,child free.Keats Grove, NW3. 020 7332 3868. keatshouse.cityoflondon.gov.ukË Hampstead. Off map.Top: Valentino: MasterOf Couture at SomersetHouse. Bottom: The EDFEnergy London Eye.KENSINGTON PALACEThis royal residence sitsin Kensington Gardensand was Princess Diana’slast home. Don’t missVictoria Revealed, anexhibition exploring the lifeof former palace residentQueen Victoria, featuringfascinating personal objectsand artworks (p.18).11, 18, 25 Jan Eerie EveningTours. An after-dark touraround the echoing corridorsand rooms of the palace.18.45. Admission £25.Daily 10.00-17.00. Generaladmission £14.50, child free.Kensington Gardens, W8. 08444 827 777. hrp.org.uk Ë HighStreet Kensington/Queensway. Map C1.LONDON BRIDGEEXPERIENCEA very scary and excitinghistory lesson that describesthe past of the 1,700-yearoldLondon Bridge site –expect plenty of thrilling liveaction shocks. Tickets alsoinclude The London Tombs,housed in a former plaguepit. Mon-Sun 10.00-18.00.Admission £23, child £17.2-4 Tooley Street, SE1. 08448 472 287. thelondonbridgeexperience.comË t London Bridge.Map C8.LONDON DUNGEONSpectacular sets, live actorsand state-of-the-art specialeffects evoke ghoulishencounters from Britain’spast in a grimly comedicstyle. Not for small kids orthe faint-hearted. 10.00-17.30. Admission £24, child£18.60; cheaper onlinedepending on date and time.Joint tickets with LondonEye, London Aquarium andMadame Tussauds available.28-34 Tooley Street, SE1. 020 7403 7221. thedungeons.comË t London Bridge.Map C8.EDF ENERGYLONDON EYEThis icon is one of theworld’s largest observationwheels, and takes centrestage on the River Thames.Interactive screens in eachpod give an insight into thelandmarks. Each experiencelasts 30 mins. Daily 10.00-21.00. Admission from£18.90, child £9.90. Rideand river tour packages,plus joint tickets with theLondon Aquarium, LondonDungeon and MadameTussauds available.Until 6 Jan Eyeskate. Takea whirl around this riversideice rink. Daily 10.00-21.00.Prices vary.South Bank, SE1. 08717 813 000. londoneye.comË t Waterloo. Map C6.LONDON WETLANDCENTREOn this 42-hectare wildlifereserve, look out for morethan 100 species of rareand wild birds, as well asa family of otters who havetaken up residence ina specially-designed holt.There are various toursand bird-spotting hides, aswell as the Water’s EdgeVALENTINO IMAGE © RUVEN AFANADOR; LONDON EYE IMAGE © THINKSTOCK/COMSTOCK28| visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013