Making the Most of London

London's status as one of the greatest cities in the world is reflected in the wealth of its cultural heritage. World class museums and art galleries stand side by side with an architectural legacy which carries the history of this great capital city. We hope that the following selection of London's highlights, although it is by no means complete, may serve as an introduction to what London has to offer the visitor.

London has a wealth of museums, covering a myriad of subjects. Kensington plays host to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (pictured right), all of which are within walking distance of each other and offer free entry.

The British Museum has an unrivalled collection spanning two million years of human history. Entry to the collection is free. The Churchill Museum in the Cabinet War Rooms is a cutting edge multimedia museum dedicated to the life of Winston Churchill. The life of this great Prime Minister is given full historical and personal context, bringing to life the events that shaped and were shaped by Churchill's life.

The Imperial War Museum features military vehicles, weapons, war memorabilia, a photographic archive, and an art collection of 20th century and later conflicts, especially those involving Britain, and the British Empire.

One of the most popular private museums is the Sherlock Holmes Museum, located at 221b Baker Street (of course!) which covers the period between 1881 and 1904, when Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson lived there as tenants of Mrs Hudson.

A glimpse into the history of a working royal military unit can be found at the Household Cavalry Museum (pictured below) is set within Horse Guards in Whitehall, near the 10K finish line. Dating from 1750, the building is still the headquarters of the Household Division, in which the Household Cavalry has performed the Queen's Life Guard in a daily ceremony that has remained broadly unchanged for over 350 years.

Visit the museum and you can see troopers working with horses in the original 18th century stables and hear first-hand accounts of their rigorous and demanding training.

There are over 240 museums in London for you to visit. For a full listing you can click here.

London has a thriving artistic life and the city plays host to some of the finest art collections in the world. Galleries along the Official British 10K route include the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square, built to house a national collection built upon the personal collection of banker John Julius Angerstein.  This grade 1 listed building (pictured) was placed to allow both rich and poor easy access to the gallery. It now houses over 2,300 pictures and the collection is being added to regularly.

Behind the National Gallery you can find the National Portrait Gallery, founded in 1856 to house portraits of great British citizens from all walks of life. The gallery was started with the emphasis on history rather than art so the status of the sitter is one of the fundamental criteria by which inclusion is granted.

On Piccadilly you will find the Royal Academy Of Arts, which houses a collection which focuses mainly on British art and artists from the 18th century to the present day. Major works by Gainsborough, Turner, Constable and many others can be seen there.

Somerset House, between the Strand and the river Thames, was conceived as an object of national splendour, this massive building rising from the banks of the Thames was designed to house public offices, including the Navy Board and the three principal learned societies. It now houses the world renowned collections of The Courtauld Institute of Art, the Hermitage Rooms and the Gilbert Collection as well as hosting musical events and other activities.

On the opposite bank of the Thames is the Tate Modern, the national gallery of international modern art. Created in the shell of an unused power station in the year 2000, the gallery houses art dating from 1900 onwards. The collection includes works by Picasso, Dali, Warhol, Magritte and many others.

London offers the visitor a spectacular selection of historic churches. Along the 10K course there is the Christopher Wren designed St James's in Piccadilly (1684), St Martin-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square (1726), the Queen's Chapel (1625) opposite St James's Palace, and Wren's last city church St Andrew-By-The-Wardrobe (1695), so called because of its proximity to Edward III's Royal Wardrobe!

There is also one of the London skyline's most instantly recognisable landmarks, St Paul's Cathederal (1710), which is a spectacular baroque church.

The Cathedral - the fourth to occupy this site - was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Its architectural and artistic importance reflect the determination of the five monarchs who oversaw its building that London's leading church should be as beautiful and imposing as their private palaces.

Also along the Official British 10K route is the magnificent Westminster Abbey (1245--1500s, pictured), begun by Henry III on a site that has been used as the Coronation Church since 1066.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart. A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated.

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining. The changing of the guard is one of London's most popular sights, and visitors have recently been allowed to see the inside of the palace on guided tours.

Originally known as Buckingham House, the building was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by George III in 1761 as a private residence, known as "The Queen's House". Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

Buckingham Palace is one of the world's most familiar buildings and more than 50,000 people visit the palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the royal garden parties.

London's hotels are famous in literature and film, and there are some fine examples alongside the 10K route. For those with expensive tastes The Ritz (pictured right) on Piccadilly offers guests a luxurious French chateau style environment for those who wish to stay in style.

Offering luxurious and reasonably priced accommodation close to the race start is the London Mayfair Holiday Inn - our preferred hotel partner for 2011. The hotel offers beautifully appointed guest bedrooms, restaurant and bar/lounge - all minutes from the heart of central London and a perfect location for those wishing to combine the race weekend with sight-seeing.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair and the Stafford Hotel in St James also offer a high standard of service and style to the visitor, as does the Dukes Hotel in St James.
Just south of Trafalgar Square is the Grand At Trafalgar Square, a boutique hotel within the newly restored historic landmark, Northumberland House and in the heart of theatre-land is The Savoy, another London icon.

For an extensive choice of hotels to suit every budget and a range of discounts at many of London's fine hotels, visit the Hotel Direct website or LondonNights.com.

London has a rich and diverse mixture of cultures which is reflected in the choice of dining available to visitors. From the oldest restaurant in London, Rules (pictured right) established by Thomas Rule in 1798 and specialising in traditional English fare, to the Moroccan delights of Pasha, from the Indian cuisine of Amaya to the opulent Cantonese restaurant China Tang in the Dorchester, fine dining is a truly multicultural experience.

Other well-known restaurants with a family led feel include the world famous Hard Rock Cafe, by the race start in Piccadilly, Planet Hollywood with its movie themed rooms, the Sports Cafe where you can watch others burning calories while you eat, or the jungle themed Rainforest Cafe, all in the West End. Fine food is available at a budget to suit every pocket in the Capital and there are a wealth of restaurants and cafés to be discovered by the visitor. To find a menu to suit your taste and budget visit Squaremeal.co.uk and search their extensive database.

London has a thriving nightlife to be experienced. The city's theatre-land offers some of the best loved shows on the stage. There is the ever popular Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. or perhaps you would prefer he longest running musical on the London stage, the spectacular Les Misérables, the show based on the Victor Hugo story, which is now in its 20th year.
Another London theatre institution is the most famous murder mystery on the stage, The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, which is the longest running show of any kind in the world and is now in its 57th year! To find out about the many theatrical shows on offer visit Broadway.com.

There are a host of cinemas in the central London, many clustered around the world famous Leicester Square, where stars regularly attend premieres of the latest films, and a selection of nightclubs that cater for every age group and taste. Of course there is much more to London than we could ever show here, but perhaps this can serve as a starting point for your visit. Whatever you choose to do in our great capital you will surely take home great memories!