LONDON

INFO
Map: refers to the grid coordinates on our Central London map. Transport symbols: see
Contents p. 5 for key. Prices listed here are for tickets bought in person – reductions may
be available online. Admission prices and opening hours can change
MAIN ATTRACTIONS
Apsley HOUse
Visit the home of the Duke of Wellington to see
its grand interiors and fine art. Sat-Sun 10am-
4pm. Adult £8.30; child £5. 149 Piccadilly, Hyde
Park Corner, W1J 7NT. 020 7499 5676. englishheritage.org.uk.
Hyde Park Corner. Map C4.
ArcelOrmittAl Orbit
This 114.5-metre-tall observation tower offers
views over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Daily
11am-5pm. Adult £10; child £5. Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park, E20 2SS. 0333 800 8099. arcelor
mittalorbit.com.
Stratford. Off map.
bANQUetiNG HOUse
This 17th-century building was designed by
Inigo Jones for James I. Daily 10am-5pm. Adult
£6; child free. Whitehall, SW1A 2ER. 020 3166
6000. hrp.org.uk. Charing Cross. Map C6.
bUckiNGHAm pAlAce
The London residence of the monarchy is
closed to the public but it’s still a magnificent
landmark to witness. Buckingham Palace, The
Mall, SW1A 1AA. 030 3123 7300. royalcollection.
org.uk. Victoria. Green Park. Map D5.
eltHAm pAlAce & GArDeNs
Experience the decade of decadence as you are
transported back to the 1930s. Part showpiece
of Art Deco design and part medieval royal
palace, make yourself at home as a guest of the
Courtaulds. Sun 10am-4pm. Adult £13; child
£7.80. Court Yard, SE9 5QE. 020 8294 2548.
english-heritage.org.uk. Eltham. Off map.
elvis At tHe O2
to 10 Jan: Fascinating
exhibition exploring Elvis Presley’s impact
on music today. Daily 10am-5.30pm. Tickets
£10-£20. Building Five, Peninsula Square,
SE10 0DX. 0844 856 0202. elvisattheo2.com.
North Greenwich. Off map.
emirAtes Air liNe
London’s only cable car soars 90m over the
River Thames, between Greenwich Peninsula
(Emirates Cable Car Terminal, Edmund Halley
Way, SE10 0FR) and the Royal Docks (27 Western
Gateway, E16 4FA). Mon-Fri 7am-8pm; Sat
8am-8pm; Sun 9am-8pm. Adults from £3.40;
child £1.70 one way with an Oyster card. 0343
222 1234. emiratesairline.co.uk. North
Greenwich Royal Victoria. Off map.
cHANGiNG tHe GUArD
At 11.30am on alternate days, watch the
changing of the Queen’s Guard on the Palace’s
forecourt. There is no ceremony in very wet
weather. Buckingham Palace, The Mall, SW1A
1AA. 020 7766 7300. changing-the-guard.com.
Victoria Green Park. Map D5. The
Changing the Life Guard Ceremony takes place
Mon-Fri 11am; Sun 10am. When the sentries
change, trumpeters play. Horse Guards Parade,
Whitehall, SW1A 1DH. 020 7801 2519. royal.gov.uk.
St James’s Park/Green Park. Map C6.
cHelseA pHysic GArDeN
London’s oldest botanic garden, where you can
admire 5,000 species of plants. Mon-Fri 9.30am-
4pm. Adult £9; child £6. 66 Royal Hospital Rd,
SW3 4HS. 020 7352 5646. chelseaphysicgarden.
co.uk. Sloane Square. Map C6.
cUtty sArk
This 19th-century ship is the world’s
last surviving tea clipper. Ship daily 10am-5pm.
Adult £12.15; child £6.30. Joint tickets with
Royal Observatory available. King William Walk,
SE10 9HT. 020 8312 6608. rmg.co.uk/cuttysark.
Cutty Sark Greenwich. Off map.
Our
pick
in bloom
Winter is not over yet but the early signs
of spring are peeking through. Drop in to
chelsea physic Garden for its annual
Snowdrop Days (from 30 Jan), which
celebrate the humble snowdrop and other
flowers that bloom in winter. Snowdrops
will be suspended from trees in moss balls
at eye level so you can study them. Once
you’ve strolled around the garden, you can
listen to talks by experts who will be on hand
to offer advice and answer your questions.
You can take part in workshops, too.
snowdrop days © megan Taylor
24 | LONDON PLANNER