Samuel Johnson once said that, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” London, once the center of the greatest empire the world has ever known, is a city rich in history. It was founded two thousand years ago by the Romans and has, ever since, been the center of British culture and politics. It is a city with a myriad of attractions that will delight lovers of the past. Here are a few of them.

British Museum

The British Museum contains artifacts from virtually every world culture from prehistory to modern times. One can see ancient Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman statues, jewelry from European cultures, as well as arms and armor from Britain, Japan, and Africa, among many other exhibits. One of the most famous artifacts in the British Museum is the Rosetta Stone, discovered in Egypt by the French in the late 18th Century, which providing the key to translating Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Allow for most of an afternoon or morning for a visit to the museum. There is a very good Museum shop and places to eat and relax during your visit.

The British Museum is in easy reach of the Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square, and Goodge St. underground stations. Bus routes New Oxford Street: 7, 8, 19, 22b, 25, 38, 55, 98, Tottenham Court Road, northbound and Gower Street, southbound 10, 24, 29, 73, 134, and Southampton Row: 68, 91, 188 will also get you there.

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussaud perfected her craft by creating death masks of victims of the French Revolution, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Today, her wax museum contains figures of over four hundred famous and infamous from history and pop culture. One can see life size, life like figures of everyone from King Henry VIII (and his wives) to George Clooney and Spiderman.

Madame Tussauds is one minute away from the Baker St. underground station. Bus routes 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139, 159 and 274 will also get you there.

Kensington Palace

King William III bought the original mansion that later became Kensington Palace and commissioned the famous architect Christopher Wren to expand and improve upon it. The Palace was a favorite royal residence until the death of George II in 1760. The future Queen Victoria lived there and received news of her accession to the throne while living in the Palace. Kensington Palace was most recently the London residence of the late Princess Diana.

While Kensington Palace is a working royal palace, with portions of it a private residence for the British royal family, the State Apartments and Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection are open to the public.

Kensington Palace is closest to the Queensway, Notting Hill Gate, High Street Kensington, and Gloucester Road underground stations. It can also be reached by bus routes Bayswater Road: 12, 94. Kensington Road: 9, 10, 33, 49, 52, 52A and C1.

Buckingham Palace

Originally owned by the Dukes of Buckingham, Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the British monarchs since the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The Palace is used for numerous official events and receptions.

Portions of Buckingham Palace are open to the public, including the State Rooms, which contains some of the finest art treasures from the royal collection, in August and September. These include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.

Buckingham Palace is most famous for the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11:30 AM every day between April 1 and early July and every other day at other times.

Buckingham Palace can be reached via the Victoria or Green Park underground stations.

Tower of London

The Tower of London started as a fortress built by William the Conqueror to strengthen his hold on London and the surrounding area. In the thousand or so years since, the Tower has been added to and enlarged so that it is a sprawling complex on the banks of the Thames. It has been a royal residence, site of one of the first zoos in European history, and the jail and execution spot for high profile prisoners such as Sir Thomas Moore, Queen Anne Boleyn, and Sir Walter Raleigh. The Tower currently guards the crown jewels of Great Britain.

The Yeoman Warders, dressed in Tudor period garb, run very informative tours of the Tower of London complex. Also, a good highlight of a visit would be a viewing of the crown jewels. Tickets are available for the famous Ceremony of the Keys, which takes place late at night, is available for public viewing, but application has to be made months in advance in writing.

The Tower of London is closest to the Tower Hill underground station. Bus routes 15, 25, 42, 78, 100 and D1 will also get you there.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey was first built by King Edward the Confessor in the 11th Century as a Benedictine monastery. It became the coronation church for English Kings after Edward’s death. The Abbey was rebuilt by King Henry III in the 13th Century. It is the final resting place of both Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I, as well as various British notables including Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling. The Abbey is filled with statues, tombs, and beautiful stained glass windows. It is open for tours Monday through Saturday.

Westminster Abbey is closest to the St. James Park and Westminster underground stations.

Houses of Parliament

The original palace that contains the Houses of Parliament was built by King Edward the Confessor. It contains both the elected House of Commons and the appointed House of Lords. Big Ben is also located in the vicinity.

Tours of the Houses of Parliament is open to overseas visitors when Parliament is not in session, generally August, part of September, and early October. Tours last about seventy five minutes and, starting at the Sovereign's Entrance, the route includes Queen's Robing Room, Royal Gallery, Prince's Chamber, House of Lords Chamber, Peers' Lobby and Corridor, Central Lobby, Commons Corridor and "No" lobby, House of Commons Chamber, St Stephen's Hall, Westminster Hall, and New Palace Yard.

The Houses of Parliament is closest to the Westminster underground station.

London Dungeon

For a rather offbeat and somewhat creepy experience, there is nothing quite like the London Dungeon. Exhibits depict every atrocity known to history, including burning at the stake, decapitation, boiling in oil, and impaling. There’s a section that simulates a walk down a street in Victorian London during the Jack the Ripper murders. Also depicted are the Great Plague and the London fire of 1666. The visit is not for small children or more sensitive adults.

The London Dungeon is closest to the Tower Bridge underground station.

National Gallery

The National Gallery contains one of the largest collections of European painting in the world, spanning from 1250 to 1900. There are also numerous exhibitions going on at various times.

The National Gallery is closest to the Charing Cross and Leicester Square underground stations.

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum contains artifacts and exhibits depicting Britain at war from 1914 to the present. The museum contains a large number of military equipment, fire arms, uniforms, and other military artifacts.

Lambeth North, Waterloo, Southwark, and Elephant and Castle are the closest underground stations.

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 to house the portraits of famous men and women from British history and now contains the largest collection of that type in the world. Of particular interest are the Holbein portraits of such figures from the Tudor era as Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Lady Jane Grey.

The nearest underground stations are Charing Cross, Leicester Square, and Embankment.

Hampton Court

Hampton Court was the residence of Cardinal Wolsey, who gave it to King Henry VIII at the King’s request. It was a royal residence for nearly two hundred years. During the 17th Century, Hampton Court was expanded and renovated by Christopher Wren for King William III. Hampton Court is filled with history, having been the scene of many events from the lives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. A visitor can see the royal apartments of Henry VIII and William III, as well as the gardens, the maze, and the royal tennis court (Henry VIII was quite a player during his youth), among other attractions.

Southwest Trains runs a service between Waterloo Station and Hampton court with a stop two minutes walk from the Palace.

Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms

During the darkest days of World War II, when London was being regularly bombed by the Germans, Prime Minister Winston Churchill conducted the war effort from a fortified, underground bunker known as the Cabinet War Rooms. The Cabinet War Room has been restored to what they looked like during the war years and represent a fascinating look at history. The Churchill Museum is located on the premises.

The Cabinet War Rooms are located closest to the Westminster and St. James Park underground stations. Bus routes 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77a, 88, 109, 159, 184, and 211 will also get you there.

City Tours

There are numerous city tours available for the visitor to London, some of which offer highlights of the city, some of which will stop at the attractions described above. There are also theme city tours designed for every interest. A personal favorite was one conducted at night that went to various haunted pubs and homes, as well as the sites of the rampage of Jack the Ripper. Check with your travel agent for more details.

Day Trips

London is centrally located enough that day trips to other destinations in England are possible. These destinations include Stonehenge, Canterbury, Stratford, Plymouth, Bath, and many other places. Again check with your travel agent for more details.

Going to London

London is serviced by Heathrow and Gatwick air ports and is accessible by car or rail from elsewhere in England or the European Continent. Accomodations ranging from the most posh hotels and quaint bed and breckfastes are available. The traveler can get around London with ease on the extensive bus system and the underground tube rail network.