By Aurelio Locsin
Things to Do in Central London
One of the most visited cities in the world, London is England's political and cultural capital and boasts enough sights and entertainments to keep a traveler occupied for months. The English-speaking population and common historical heritage makes its wonders totally accessible to Americans. Note the prices in this article are accurate as of June 2009, but they fluctuate with the exchange rate.
Ride the eye
London Eye
On the London Eye, the world's tallest observation wheel, you can soar to 440 feet in an enclosed capsule and look out over 25 miles on a clear day. You'll get a bird's eye view of Big Ben, Windsor Palace and St. Paul's Cathedral as you make one rotation in 30 minutes. Adult prices start at $28.
London Eye
Riverside Building, County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London, SE1 7PB
011 (+44) 0870 5000 600
www.londoneye.com.
Blowing glass
London Glassblowing
When the weather turns cold and damp, literally add some heat by stepping into London Glassblowing, where Peter Layton and his team use tubes and furnaces to transform solid glass into colorful contemporary pieces. Try your hand with an all-day lesson or view more creations in the adjoining gallery. The gallery is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everything is free though the lesson cost about $400.
London Glassblowing
7 The Leather Market
Weston Street, London, SE1 3ER
011 (+44) 020 7403 2800
www.londonglassblowing.co.uk
Watch a show
London theater
London theater boasts the finest acting, writing, directing, and production values in the world. With premium seats topping out at $90, tickets are a bargain compared to Broadway. To save even more money, you can buy them for half price at the TKTS booth on Leicester Square.
TKTS
Leicester Square
London, WC2H 7LH
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/leicester_square.
Roam through history
British Museum
As one of the world's great collections, the British Museum houses such historically significant artifacts as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon marble sculptures and Egyptian mummies. You'll need from half to a full day to explore its 33 galleries, which, except for occasional special exhibits, are free.
British Museum
Great Russell Street
London, London, WC1B 3DG
011 (+44) 020 7323 8181
www.britishmuseum.org.
Shop for antiques
Portobello Road
Billed as the "world's largest antiques" market, the 1,000 stalls at Portobello Road set up every Saturday to sell everything from centuries past, such as clothing, china, furniture, and books. (The surrounding permanent shops are open six days a week.) Though prices are clearly marked on each item, haggling is common.
Portobello Road Antique Dealers Association
111 Portobello Road
London, W11 2QB
011 (+44) 020 7229 8354 (antique questions only)
www.portobelloroad.co.uk.
Drink ale
A pint of pub lager
For a peek into traditional British social life, drink some ale at one of the many London pubs. Among the most atmospheric is Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, established in 1546, where the cozy, wood-paneled nooks and crannies encourage conversation. Forget about fancy wines and cocktails. This is a bar for beer, ale and old-fashioned pub grub.
Ye Olde Mitre Tavern
Ely Court, Hatton Garden
London, EC1N 6SJ
011 (+44) 020 7405 4751.
Take a medical journey back in time
Old Operating Theatre
After a climb up a narrow, winding staircase, what looks to be a charming garret in an old Church steeple reveals itself to be the pre-1850s Old Operating Theatre, where surgeons demonstrated bloodletting and amputations in front of a gallery of eager students. No actual bloody specimens but enough saws, knives and drills to make you wonder how they survived before anesthesia.
The Old Operating Theatre, Museum & Herb Garret
9a St. Thomas St
London SE1 9RY
011 (+44) 020 7188 2679
www.thegarret.org.uk
Phone tip
When calling the listed phone numbers from outside of the United States, substitute the international dialing code "00" for "011." When calling in Great Britain, drop the code altogether as well as country code "+44."
About the Author:
Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and had his first play produced in 2005. He is now a playwright, director and actor in Southern California. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.
Photo Credits:
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