A great museum! We saw so much and barely scratched the surface! Huge...enormous. I am sure I could…read morespend a week in London only visiting the Tate and still not see everything. I am a lover of modern art, and the Tate did not disappoint. Great special exhibits, engaging and spectacular large scale pieces in the atria and transition spaces, really bright and fantastic stuff. This was high on my list of want-to-visit spots on my last London visit. And though I don't like to repeat experiences if there is more to do...I may pay it another visit on my coming trip back to the city later this year! Highly recommend. And if you know someone who is a member, a snack and a drink in the lounge/restaurant is a great sit-break.

Art, adaptive reuse and concrete forms…read more The Herzog & de Meuron adaptive reuse of the Bankside Power Station building had been on my architectural bucket list for quite some time. The building itself is an unapologetic mashup of industrial steel and brutalist concrete forms. The art plays really well against this backdrop. We saw a number of great pieces with the free admission. I thinks it's worth your while and I don't understand the poor reviews.

Tip: The lanterns that hang above you as you walk along the streets in Chinatown are lovely. Take a…read morephoto! I visited London in 2013. During my first full day in the city, I had one goal, which was to visit M&M's World. I took the underground to Piccadilly Circus. As I was walking towards M&M's World, a Russian man approached me. "Chinatown?" he asked. I had no idea where it was. Folks tend to ask me for directions no matter where I am. Maybe I look like I know what I'm doing, but I didn't this day with a map in my hands and a confused look on my face. Well, after visiting M&M's World, I walked around the area. I ended up in Chinatown. Ask me now. I know where Chinatown is! I liked the lanterns around the area. It was nice. There were bakeries, restaurants, cute stores, and more. I loved the excitement being in a decent Chinatown. I ended up having a late lunch at Jade Garden, which was an authentic restaurant that served dim sum. Sadly, it's no longer there. However, it has other locations across the city. I enjoyed the best har gow, siu mai, sticky rice bundles, barbeque pork rice rolls, and steamed pork dumplings. I'd love to check out this Chinatown again. I hope to revisit London someday and eat my way through this cool part of the city. (26)

This is one of the cool Chinatown that I've been through. I've checked out loads and I can say, the…read moreone in London is pretty much up there. Most are quite small and in a small cluster but this one does offer a major punch. It's near the bar area, soho and theaters. Loads of fun restaurants throughout the walkway as well as some along the main strip. I don't think car are allowed as it caters to pedestrians. Regardless on whenever you visit, it'll always be packed with people walking up and down the street. Restaurants are lined with people trying to usher you inside. A good amount of pastries shop as well as groceries store. Can't have Chinatown with a grocery store. I'm sure they tend to get more tourist visiting versus locals. Plenty of restaurants that offer dim sum and local Chinese cuisine. You'll be greeted with all the lanterns hanging along the alleyway. It's a fun spot even if you're just walking through or having a meal. A must in London.

The Brits plundered many fascinating archeological artifacts from around the world, and the…read moreBritish Museum displays some of the most famous, such as the Rosetta Stone. Admission: free Time budget: minimum 4 hours Free WiFi is available Plenty of clean bathrooms Caution: The museum has no air conditioning. I visited during a rare heat wave, and the museum was a sweat box. Also, if you don't like crowds, you won't like this museum. It gets packed early. Pre-opening tour: The museum offers for UK $35 various pre-opening tours. I took the Greece pre-opening tour. Pros: Small group of 20 before the unwashed masses crowd into the museum. Tour guides are knowledgable. Guides may offer extra time at no charge (e.g. 15-20 minutes extra). Cons: My tour guide did not enunciate or project his voice, so much of the tour was unintelligible.

How is this place free?!?! As they state themselves, it is the greatest collection of stolen items…read moreanywhere...lol. Meaning there are artifacts from countries all around the world. You do have to register for timed tickets ahead of time to get in. We got some just a few days before and they didn't check for times as we were almost an hour late. It was super crowded and getting through the queue took about 10 minutes. Once inside, we knew we had to move fast since they close at 5pm and you could spend all day here. The information booth was helpful as they gave us a map with the option of hitting the highlights, which was perfect for our amount of time. The items from the Easter Islands were my favorite and the library room right when you walk in was cool too. Of course the Rosetta Stone was amazing as well! There is food and a gift shop inside so get an early time and spend the day here.

Kin is a street art print shop/ gallery space created by creative art retailer, Scrawl Collective,…read moreselling posters, prints, art books, t-shirts and original paintings at unexpectedly low prices. Situated on the middle floor of Kingly Court, the shop offers a wide range of artwork from cheap black and white prints at £20 to large framed silk screen prints at over £100 (there was a huge painting of the little boy from This is England, which we all loved) The guy behind the desk was extremely helpful-he was very sweet to my teenage cousin who was looking for a poster for his wall and talked him through some of the cheaper designs. To my confusion, but to my cousin's absolute delight, he left with the strangest illustration by Sam Green of a fat amputee playing the guitar.

The V&A is one of the jewels of South Kensington's museum cluster and easily one of the most…read morerewarding places in London to explore. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, it's perfect for wandering and discovering. The rich collection of carpets, ceramics, and silverware is breathtaking and might just spark a new passion. The same goes for the Indian galleries, the Japanese rooms, and the many other non-European collections, each one offers a fascinating window into different cultures and craftsmanship. Even if you prefer Western art, there's plenty to enjoy magnificent sculpture, elegant furniture, and exquisite British and European silverware. My advice, pick two or three sections that interest you most rather than trying to see everything. You will enjoy the visit far more and actually absorb what you see. Don't miss the beautiful cafe downstairs. Bypass the modern seating area and step into one of the two opulently decorated historic rooms. They are more spectacular than most luxury hotels or traditional London tea rooms. You can enjoy hot meals, proper tea, and excellent cakes at surprisingly reasonable prices. For the best experience, visit mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the busiest times. I highly recommended this museum!

The V & A is HUGE and it's FREE. Visiting V & A is like taking a trip around the world in one…read morebuilding. Remarkably, V & A, who were progressive thinkers, had this notion that they could inspire artisans and craftsmen by having replicas of artwork made from around the world and house it in London for people to see and learn from. Moreover, many of the the replicas are full scale which is impressive to view. Memorable items include a full-sized David by Michelangelo, an ancient early 1500s Ardabil Carpet (real not replica) encased in glass where the light shines for a few minutes every hour, and full-sized Knight Effigies. Like any impossible-to-see-it-all-in-one-day museum, I focused on things that interested me like Assyrian, Italian, and Asian art. When I asked the staff a question, they were more than happy to share their knowledge. Despite many of the objects being replicas, it's still worthwhile to see them.

The mural has been flooded with flowers and candles and letters since Bowie's passing. It's amazing…read moreto see how lived he was and it is a significant time to visit now that all the tributes are still there.

Simple tribute yet emotionally humbling. There are many Bowie tributes around London in different…read moreforms, many of which we hit, however, this was more humbling to read everyone's messages. I penned one myself.

I have been to the Wellcome many times. Their stationary exhibition on human beings is lovely, and…read morethe ever revolving exhibit makes it worth a visit at least once a year. Popped in on 24th July to see the tenderness and rage exhibit and it was done with so much care. I am always in awe at how accessibility-first their exhibit designs are. I benefit from large print and audio tours, and so many of their exhibits have these freely available to all - no awkwardly having to ask for it, or book it in advance, or feel judged as to whether you're "disabled enough" by the desk team that you can sometimes experience at other museums.

Begun by the founder of Burroughs-Wellcome, the first company to introduce medicine in pill form,…read morethis marvelous free museum specializes in things related to health and the human body. Or science, medicine, life, and art. Or health, life, and our place in the world. Just looking at those descriptors sort of ensured that there'd be something compelling here and there was. A lot. One floor is given over to the collection itself, which is a quirky assemblage of old medical devices and the like, including old sexual devices. Free guided tours are one way to enjoy this part of the museum though I cop to liking the rest of the place even more. The other floors contain exhibits and art which ranged from interesting to fascinating to heartwarming and inspirational. A couple examples: * Words which, when pressed, would light up the associated internal body parts. It's fair to say I don't know where anything inside my body is except maybe my heart and stomach. Now I do. Or I did, for a moment there. * The origins of a mental health project in Africa, where mental health providers are sparse and grandmas we're trained to fill the gap. The results? Improved mental health in the community and the grandmas. There was just so much neat stuff here and not just in the museum exhibits. The ground floor cafe has very good food (try the eggplant parmesan baked individually in a sweet little French crock) and don't miss the gift shop where you'll likely blow all that you saved by coming to this free museum. I certainly did. I left wanting to return to the Wellcome Collection and that was before I even looked at their web site and saw all of the talks and group activities they regularly offer (Death Cafe anyone? Grief Group?). I wish the Wellcome Collection were in my own community as I'm certain I'd take advantage of much more that they have to offer.

Stopped by the National Gallery yesterday, and honestly, this place is amazing. It's way bigger…read morethan I expected -- room after room packed with artwork from all the famous painters you learn about in school. And the vibe is super chill. Every room has benches so you can sit down, relax, and actually enjoy the art instead of rushing through. The best part? It's completely FREE to get in. You just walk in and suddenly you're face‑to‑face with pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and a ton of others. You could easily spend hours here and still not see everything. There's just so much to take in -- colors, details, history, all of it. It's the kind of place where you keep saying "okay, just one more room" and then an hour goes by. If you're in London, this is a must‑visit. Beautiful art, relaxed atmosphere, and again... it's FREE. Absolutely worth your time.

The National Gallery is a must see on your visit to London. We went on a Friday night because they…read morewere opened until 9:00 pm. We thought that evening might be a quiet time to go, but the Gallery was packed with art lovers. The Gallery is huge and free to visit, although donations are emcouraged. The building is Greek Revival with a modern addition that serves as the visitor entrance. Ornate domes, marble and granite staircases and beautiful woodwork add to the grandeur. The complex is made up of galleries of art organized by time period, several cafes and gift shops. Maps throughout the complex are very helpful. The Museum houses the most extensive collection of Masters that I've ever seen. There is an entire gallery of spectacular Rembrandt paintings. I enjoyed comparing his style between the different works. Four galleries are filled with Impressionistic greats including a room devoted to Monet's water lily pieces. I saw so many Van Gogh's that I had never seen before. Beautiful benches in each room were inviting to sit and take in the art. There is so much to see that you can't see it all in one day. I ordered free tickets on-line but they were not checking tickets during my visit. I did go through security and they check bags. Rest rooms are sparse, expect to wait in a line to use the facilities. There are lots of stairs with a few elevators available.

An iconic, famous, and crazy busy section of London. From…read morehere you can get just about anywhere. It's a great starting and landing point for tourists. It is a central area to get to places like Leicester Square, Chinatown, etc. Tons of giant, lighted, neon adverts adorn the area. It's like the London version of NYC's Times Square. It's exciting, frantic, busy, and a perfect spot for first-time visitors to London.

Tip: I recommend riding the tube to get here. Piccadilly Circus tube station is conveniently…read moreunderground and it's affordable. Piccadilly Circus was an area that I frequented a lot during my visit to London in December 2013. It is a touristy place. I liked it for a number of reasons. Piccadilly Circus tub station is under Piccadilly Circus. I took the underground to get to this touristy site. It was a cheap, efficient means to get to and from the area. The area feels like Times Square (New York), or Yonge and Dundas (Toronto) with brightly lit screens and signs. You then realize that Piccadilly Circus established illuminated, giant advertisements since the early 20th century. What's special about Piccadilly Circus is that it's a junction where Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket, Coventry Street, and Glasshouse Street meet. Circus in the name doesn't mean seeing clowns and acrobats. Rather, it means a circle or roundabout. It makes sense when you see the statue of Anteros, which is also known as Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It gives you a good look at how the streets comprise this junction. Piccadilly Circus is close to these touristy spots: - M&M's World - Chinatown - Soho - Theatre district - Oxford Street (shopping) - Hop-on, hop-off stops Gone are these places that I enjoyed visiting: - Ripley's Believe It or Not - Angus Steak House I'm an M&M's fan, so I visited this place three times. I loved it so much! Shopping was great. You can find everything from phone accessories (I still travel with a USB cable with three different charging tips that I bought in London) to weed edibles. I liked the eclectic variety that was eye-opening at the time. I remember that there was a small winter fair at a park that I had visited nearby. I don't remember the name of the park or the fair. What I do remember is enjoying banoffee fudge for the first time. So good! It was fun being in this area. I'd love to go back and see how things have changed. If you've never been to Piccadilly Circus before, I recommend going at least once. (44)

I went to see the exhibition of Churchill paintings. It was absolutely stunning! It was well…read morecurated, and the audio guide really gave you a sense of importance of painting in his life. I walked through the rest of the collection, which is almost overwhelming. There is a lot to see there. You really do need to use the audio guide, because there is so much art in a small space. I also appreciated the staff. They were helpful, without being intrusive. One of the things I enjoy the most was that people there were truly interested in art. They stopped and looked. Unlike the crowd at the National Gallery, which just went up to a painting, took a photo, and left without ever even looking at it.

Wonderful collection of European paintings and decorative objects. Whole gallery were well…read moredisplayed and easy to navigate. The best part of the collection was, to my taste, European weapons/armory on the first floor. This section is huge and ranging from Middle Ages to late 18th century. The gun selection is exquisite. If you are studying armory, this is a place to visit. Admission is free and accessible. You can easily spend two to three hours wondering and enjoy the atmosphere. Staff are helpful and willing to help. There is a restaurant/cafe to refresh after long day of sightseeing.