Borough Market
Southwark Street
www.boroughmarket.org.uk
London's best organic food market with specialist producers from around Britain and Europe in a historic market setting. Thurs. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. noon-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate St.
020-7247 4013
www.dennissevershouse.co.uk
Step into the past at this perfectly reconstructed 17th century house in Spitalfields. 'Silent Night' by candlelight, Mon. evenings. Book. £12. Also Sundays noon-4 p.m., £8. No booking necessary. And Monday after the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, noon-2 p.m. £5. No booking necessary.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Gdns.
0870-751 5170
www.hrp.org.uk
Beautiful red brick palace in the heart of London with small state rooms and Princess Diana memories. Open Mar. 1-Oct. 31 10 a.m.-6 p.m., (Nov. 1-Feb. 28 10 a.m.- 5p.m.). Adult £12.50, child £6.25, family 2 adults + 3 children £34 (reductions if booked on line).
Old Royal Naval College
2 Cutty Sark Gdns.
Greenwich
0870 608 2000
www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
Sir Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece now houses university buildings, but you can visit both the Painted Hall and the Chapel. Free. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (chapel opens at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays after service, open to the public).
Royal Observatory
Greenwich
020-8312 6608
www.nmm.ac.uk
Plenty of interactive exhibits and plenty of history at this venerable Observatory, founded in the late 17th century by the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed. Free. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York's Sq.
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
Exciting private gallery which puts on cutting-edge, frequently controversial exhibitions. Free. Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Shakespeare's Globe
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
020-7902 1400
www.shakespeares-globe.org
See how Elizabethan productions were staged in this perfectly rebuilt theatre. The exhibition and Globe theatre are open in the mornings; in the afternoons during the summer season where there is a play you can visit the site of the Rose theatre nearby. April-Oct. Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Exhibition and Globe Theatre tour), 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (Exhibition and Rose Theatre tour), Sun. 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and noon-5 p.m. Exhibition and Globe Theatre: £10.50, child £6.50, family £28; Exhibition and Rose Theatre: £7.50, child £4.50, family £20.
Tower Bridge
Tower Hill
020-7403 3761
www.towerbridge.org.uk
Glorious, massive Victorian piece of engineering with a walkway offering spectacular views up and down the mighty Thames river. Apr. 1-Sep. 30 10 a.m.-6.30 p.m., Oct. 31-March 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Adult £7, child 5-15 £3, family £10.50-£15.50.
Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms
Clive Steps
King Charles St.
020-7930 6961
www.iwm.org.uk
The story of how World War II was conducted, way below the government offices in Whitehall comes to life, along with a thoroughly human and interesting look at the life of the great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill. Daily 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Adult £12.95, under 16s free.
Dr. Johnson's House
17 Gough Sq.
020-7353 3745
www.drjohnsonshouse.org
This was the house where Dr. Johnson lived from 1748-1759, compiling his famous Dictionary by the light of a guttering candle up in the somber attic. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (5 p.m. in winter). Adult £4.50, child £1.50, family £10.
Handel House Museum
25 Brook St.
(020-7399 1953) 020-7495 1685
www.handelhouse.org
Small, atmospheric rooms with creaking wooden floors contain memorabilia on this most private of composers. 2009 celebrates the 250 th anniversary of his death here (on April 14, 1759). Tues., Wed, Fri., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-8pm, Sun. noon-6 p.m. Adult £5, child £2 (child free on Saturdays).
Household Cavalry Museum
Horse Guards
Whitehall
020-7930 3070
www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk
Get a real sense of a soldier's life home of the Household Cavalry (founded in 1661) since it was built in 1750. Mar.-Sep. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Oct.-Feb. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adult £6, children 5-16 £4, family £15.
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Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms |
National Maritime Museum
Romney Rd.
Greenwich
020-8858 4422
www.nmm.ac.uk
Large, impressive museum in a gorgeous setting devoted to Britain as a seafaring nation with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. Free. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Rd.
020-7942 2000
www.vam.ac.uk
Founded with the active support of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, this splendid, huge museum is full of the most fascinating and unusual artifacts, from priceless jewelry to the Great Bed of Ware, from Oriental antiquities to fiendish locks. Free. 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. (to 8 p.m. on Thursdays).
