London Attractions

A is for Aquarium, London Aquarium County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road
All the oceans are covered in a fabulous exposition of underwater life. The sharks are a favourite but best of all is the touch tank where Kidz can feel rays as they swim past. There are talks and feeding times which are advertised on their web site and now the London Aquarium has an off peak pricing scheme which should help ease the financial pain.

B is for Big Ben, St Stephens Entrance Parliament Square London SW1 0AA
Tours of the Clock Tower are available on request. There is a very limited capacity with a maximum of 16 visitors per tour; no children under 11 are allowed. Where demand is high, preference will be given to those with a proven interest in clocks or bells.

C is for Cathedral St Pauls Cathedral
Cathedral, crypt, shop, cafe, restaurant. Most fun to be had by those who can climb stairs. These can be steep and narrow, but yield benefits in internal and external views. One good view is across the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern.

D is forDungeons, London Dungeons
28 - 34 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2SZ
The London Dungeon brings more than 2,000 years of gruesomely authentic history vividly back to life....and death. As you delve into the darkest chapters of our grim and bloody past, recreated in all its dreadful detail, remember: everything you experience really happened.

E is for Eye, the London Eye
The British Airways London Eye is the world's highest observation wheel and offers passengers amazing views of Britain's capital city.

F is for Fashion and Textile Museum
The Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM) represents the life long dream of founder, Zandra Rhodes. The mission of the Fashion and Textile Museum is to exhibit the immense changes in contemporary fashion and textiles and educate a wide audience in all areas of fashion and textile design.

G is for Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ
Many famous and much-loved pictures are once again on view for the public to see and enjoy in the new Guildhall Art Gallerywhich opened in 1999. The original gallery was burned down during a severe air raid in May 1941.
The new gallery displays about 250 works of art at a time, with a programme of temporary exhibitions exploring different themes and allowing many lesser-known pictures from the collection to come out of store.

H is for Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Palace East Molesey Surrey KT8 9AU
Hampton Court Palace was the residence of Henry VIII and is the only one of his palaces to survive in anything like its original form. This is both an inside and outside venue but of course the maze is a must for Kids of all ages. Under 5s go free everyone else pays.

I is for Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road London SE1 6HZ
The Imperial War Museum is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. It seeks to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and how it affects our lives.

J is for Jewish Museum Camden Raymond Burton House 129-131 Albert Street London NW1 7NB
The Jewish Museumoffers a lively and varied programme of events and activities to complement its permanent exhibitions. Visitors can explore Jewish religious life and view the Museum's stunning collection of Jewish Ceremonial Art - one of the finest in the world. The History Gallery traces Jewish history in Britain from the Norman conquest to recent times, while the Temporary Exhibitions Gallery shows changing exhibitions on a wide range of themes.

K is for Kensington Palace Kensington Gardens London W8 4PX
In a series of rooms which were formerly part of Princess Margaret's apartment, a photographic exhibition will tell the story of the people who lived in this part of the palace from the 1700s to the 20th century, and will highlight the work carried out by the Princess and Lord Snowdon to refurbish the rooms.

L is for Lords & MCC Museum Lords Cricket Ground St Johns Wood London NW8 8QN
The MCC Museum is the worlds oldest sporting museum and, to this day, it remains both world-class and world-famous. While it contains a wide range of exhibits, it is best-known for being the home of The Ashes.

M is for Madame Tussaud's Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR
Madame Tussauds invites you to experience what it is like to be famous as you join a host of the world's hottest celebrities.

N is for National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
The National Gallery offers a lively and diverse programme of talks, workshops, theatre shows, costumed activities and drawing events for families and young people, providing a fun interpretation of the collection and special exhibitions. Activities are run during weekends, half-term and the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays.

O is for Open Air Theatre The Ironworks Inner Circle Regent’s Park NW1 4NR
2000 saw the theatre re-open with wonderful improvements to the front of house areas - an extended picnic lawn, a new dedicated sponsors' building and replanting to enhance the magic of this beautiful venue. As part of their commitment to young people, the theatre runs a series of workshops during the summer encouraging students and school-leavers' to take part in, and be inspired by, the magic of the theatre. Many people gain their first experiences of the theatre here, encouraged to learn by the relaxed, informal atmosphere and a unique opportunity to work alongside practicing theatre professionals.

P is for Planet Hollywood13 Coventry Street, London W1
Continue the excitement by having lunch with the stars at Planet Hollywood! Situated right in the heart of London's West End and Theatreland, the restaurant is just a stones throw from Piccadilly Circus. And don't forget to have your autograph book ready!

Q is for Queens Park Rangers Football Club Lofthouse Road Stadium South Africa Road London W12 7PA

R is for Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond Surrey TW9 3AB
In 2006 Kew will be hosting a series of sleepovers designed to feed the imagination of children age 8-11. By joining a 'Midnight Ramble' at Kew you will stay overnight in the Gardens and go on a range of explorations across the 300 acres. You'll search for local wildlife like badgers, bats and owls. Explore the great Glasshouses' tropical jungles and learn how cacti and other plants adapt to life in their environments. If the weather's too bad to venture out, there are a range of unique indoor games and activities, like habitat bingo to keep everyone in the team entertained. See their website for full details of the sleepover and how to book. May 12, Jun 17, and Jul 8

S is for Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple
105-119 Brentfield Road, Neasden London NW10 8LD
Swaminarayan Mandir is the first traditional Hindu Mandir in Europe. 2,820 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tones of Italian Carrara marble carved in India by over 1,500 craftsmen and in all 26,300 carved pieces were then assembled in London like a giant jigsaw puzzle in less than three years. Understanding Hinduism is a well-researched presentation of facts, figures and information describing the religion in an indigenous manner.

T is for Tower of London - HM Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB
The Tower of London has been an integral part of British royal history for nearly 1,000 years. Only at the Tower can you marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three English queens and hear the myths and legends that make a visit to the Tower "a day out to die for"

U is for University of London Observatory 553 Watford Way Mill Hill Park London NW7 2QS
This is the University of London observatory so the kit is serious and top notch. Parents and teachers should contact Valerie Peerless by telephone to organize viewing and tours.

V is for Vestry House Museum Vestry Road Walthamstow London E17 9NH
Vestry House, now the Local History Museum for the London Borough of Waltham Forest, stands within the village of Church End, Walthamstow. This secluded area still preserves a rural atmosphere, although it lies only a quarter of a mile from Walthamstow`s main shopping centre and barely six and a half miles from the City of London.

W is for Westminster Abbey 2 Dean’s Yard London SW1P 3NY
An architectural masterpiece of the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, Westminster Abbeyalso presents a unique pageant of British history - the Confessor’s Shrine, the tombs of Kings and Queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other Royal occasions. Today it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation. Neither a cathedral nor a parish church, Westminster Abbey is a “royal peculiar” under the jurisdiction of a Dean and Chapter, subject only to the Sovereign.

X is for X-Mas Tree, okay so this one is a bit loose!
Each year since 1947, the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square has been the traditional gift to the people of London from the people of Norway. It is given by Oslo, the Norwegian capital, as a token of gratitude for Britain's support of Norway during World War II.

Y is for York Hall Old Ford Road Bethnal Green London E2 9PL
One of the East Londons oldest leisure facilities, York Hall boasts a range of activities Including badminton, swimming, aerobics, weights, sunbeds, turkish baths and a fully equipped gym.

Z is for Zoo, London Zoo
Outer Circle Regents Park London NW1 4RY, Tel: 020 7722 3333
See what's new at London Zoo. Indulge your senses and engage your mind and with so many exciting animals, a day at London Zoo offers the ultimate back to nature experience and supports the active conservation of many amazing species. Watch out for the Happy Families area, where you can see meerkats keeping an eye on their neighbours from rocky outcrops. Watch the playful otters swimming gracefully underwater as they chase each other in and out of the pools and waterfalls. Visit the tapirs and see them enjoying their new pool in their indoor enclosure or see the endangered tamarins basking in the sunshine in their new outdoor enclosures.