It's like nowhere else in London. Some might say sanitised and boring, but I'd disagree. If you're tired of the hustle and bustle of central London hop on the Jubilee line, or, even better, the DLR, and come over. Great waterside eating and drinking (dimsum at Royal China is fantastic, and not too costly), super tall buildings, and expensive subterreanean shops. Whilst it is certainly not the weekend ghost town of earlier years, it still feels much calmer than London proper on a Saturday or Sunday.
In the summer especially there are often good free events in the small parks that are dotted around, such as concerts on Friday evenings, and films sometimes on Saturdays.

If you're coming with children then combine your visit with Mudchute City Farm down in the Isle of Dogs. It has cows, goats and guinea pigs, plus a riding school.

www.mycanarywharf.com/whatson/calendar.html;
Royal China: tel - 0207 719 0888;
www.royalchinagroup.co.uk

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We loved this museum! It seems impossible that one man could have collected so much. While there is a great deal to see, one doesn't feel overwhelmed as in the British Museum. The Hogarths are wonderful. One of the staff, who obviously loves the paintings, spent a great deal of time with my husband and me pointing out and explaining the hundreds of details in the paintings. A most memorable afternoon.

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC
Holburn LU
Free admission: a great benefit in a wonderful, but expensive, city

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The only football stadium with a tube station named after it! Only a stone's throw away from the Arsemal tube station, go savour the atmosphere of a Premiership football match and admire the Art Deco architecture of the listed East Stand Building. Better still, read Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch before going! Matches usually take place on alternate Saturdays/Sundays from August to May.

PS. This review may be a tad biased, coming from an Arsenal fan, but even a non-football fan will enjoy the matchday atmosphere. My wife can attest to that!

www.arsenal.com
Tube: Arsenal, Picadilly line
Address: Avenell Road, London N5 1BU

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Newly restored, this glorious Nicholas Hawksmoor designed baroque church towers over the streets of Spitalfields. It's a thriving parish church, but you can also visit on Tuesdays and Sundays to marvel at the beautiful Purbeck stone floor, soaring pillars and decorative wood carvings.

In December it plays host to Spitalfields Winter Festival. There seem to be many musical treats in store from 12-21 December, from choral classics, via medieval music, to a community carol service. Some concerts are free.

Commercial Street, London E1 6LY
near Liverpool Street station
www.spitalfieldsvenue.org
www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Architect Sir John Soane's house, museum and library. Soane designed this house to live in, but also as a setting for his collections of antiquities and works of art. The museum was opened for the benefit of students when Soane was made Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1806 and on his death in 1837 a trust was established to maintain the Museum, 'as nearly as circumstances will admit' in the state in which it was left. Both the collections and the house itself are fantastic and admission is free.

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, +44 (0) 20 7440 4263 www.soane.org/ nearest tube - Holborn

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Head for central London and then take a bus, any double decker, head for the top deck and sit at the front. You'll see the intricacies of London architecture and street life that you wouldn't see at any other angle. I've heard that these buses are being phased out which is a huge shame. So do it now while you have the chance.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Where to begin? One of the most beautiful buildings in London is also home to one of the richest natural history collections in the world. This is also one of the few museums that pulls off the trick of being immediate and exciting enough for children while providing the kind of depth that keeps adults coming back time and again. Unbelievably, it's also free.

Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD; Nearest tube: South Kensington; www.nhm.ac.uk/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Big (and heated) open air swimming pool, opened in 1929. Entry costs £4.60, but the pleasure of floating on your back and gazing at the sky is absolutely worth it. You can also sunbathe by the pool. Fabulous.

20-minute walk from Highgate tube, or Hornsey rail from King's Cross. Then a steep walk.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The lido is Europe's third biggest pool - 92m x 32m - with newly refurbished kiddie pool, cafe and changing facilities. Open all year if you're a member of the south London swimming club, but only swimmable by mere mortals between May and September. Arrive early on a sunny weekend with a copy of the Guardian to read and you're in a small part of heaven.

Tooting Bec Road, London, SW16 1RU; tel: 020 8871 7198; www.wandsworth.gov.uk/Home/LeisureandTourism/Leisurecentres/TootingBecLido.htm

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

During the week, the City is a place to be avoided, but come Saturday morning it is eerily, magically silent. The chance to walk the empty streets and explore the extraordinary number of churches, all utterly different in architectural style and atmosphere, should not be passed up.

Nearest tubes: Bank, St Paul's, Mansion House, Monument

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Two museums, right next door to each other, and a great way to occupy all of the family.

The Natural History Museum is wonderful before you enter it, a beautiful example of Victorian extravagance. Plenty to see and do, especially the dinosaurs; be warned though, the animatronic T Rex is very real and great for scaring small children! There's a decent little coffee shop, although it was a bit disturbing eating chocolate cake sat next to Chi Chi the Panda!

The Science Museum is more modern, although the exhibits go back some way. All kids will love the 'Launchpad' area in the basement, all hands on, noisy, messy and great fun. The Deep Blue Cafe does a decent lunch as well.

Both museums have regular exhibitions as well, although these will have an entry charge; usually well worth it though. There is also an Imax Cinema in the Science Museum, any of the underwater or outer space movies are good value.

www.nhm.ac.uk/
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
South Kensington Underground

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Now part of Tyburn Convent, it is 3 feet 6 inches wide. One theory for its existence is that it served as a watch house overlooking the old St George's graveyard - extremely popular with bodysnatchers in the 18th Century!

10 Hyde Park Place, Marble Arch, W1

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The view of St Paul's Cathedral at dusk from the Millennium Bridge outside Tate Modern. The clean lines and high-tech modernity of the 330 metre steel bridge offer a dramatic, light-enhanced view of Wren's cathedral.

Tube: St Paul's, Southwark

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends