By Beau Prichard
No matter what time of year you decide to visit London, England, you should assume you will spend at least one day fighting the city's famous rain. The locals are used to it, and fortunately London's excellent public transport, especially the underground, makes it easy to stay out of the weather, and there's plenty to do without having to face the rain.
Museums
London is home to hundreds of museums, including some of the best in the world. With several museums requiring more than a single day to explore, spending some time in one of London's excellent museums is a great way to get out of the rain. Start with the British Museum (britishmuseum.org), where the first collection was donated in 1753. With exhibits and displays of items from all over the world and from throughout Britain's history, the British Museum offers visitors a fresh perspective on the long history of this great nation. Visitors to London with more specific tastes can visit palaces, libraries, football museums, war exhibits and even the mysterious Black Museum, a collection of crime memorabilia at Scotland Yard.
The Theatre
London's locals know that one of the best things to do when the weather is rotten is to get dressed up and go to the theatre. With one of the most well-known theatre districts in the world, London's West End is home to dozens of venues, offering shows from mainstream musicals to avant garde and fringe offerings. Long running shows such as Agatha Christie's Mousetrap form the cornerstone of London's theatre, but new shows open and close constantly. You can always take in Shakespeare at the Old Globe or expertly staged classics at the Old Vic. Locals know they can always take pot luck with a half-price ticket on the day of by visiting Theatre Tickets Direct at 6 Leicester Square (theatreticketsdirect.co.uk).
Shopping
London has long been a destination for fashionistas, and as one of the planet's capitols of fashion design, London offers some excellent shopping. When the skies cloud over, however, you can use London's Underground to travel from shopping center to shopping center without ever stepping foot outside. If you decide to brave the elements, Harrod's is very close to the Knightsbridge tube stop. It was one of the first department stores in the world. Founded in 1834 by Charlie Harrod, it is still a self-contained shopping experience, and an easy place to get lost for a day.
About the Author:
Beau Prichard has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. He specializes in fiction, travel and writing coaching. He has traveled in the United Kingdom, Europe, Mexico and Australia. Prichard grew up in New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Arts in writing from George Fox University.
