Standing with one foot in the world's western hemisphere and the other in the east: that's the Royal Observatory's cheap thrill. But as well as the chance to straddle the prime meridian (of time and longitude) there's also an absorbing tale of how the

Charles II, sick of ships foundering because they had no idea of their east-west coordinates, had the Royal Observatory built on the hill here in 1675, intending that astronomy be used to find an accurate means of navigation at sea. The first astronome

The colossal London Eye (aka the Millennium Wheel). At 135m (443ft) tall, it's the world's largest Ferris Wheel and London's fourth-tallest structure. It's a thrilling experience to sit in one of the 32 enclosed glass gondolas, enjoying views of some 4

A spectacularly converted power station, the world's most successful contemporary art gallery hasn't ever really been about the art, but about the building, location and views. So the recent rearrangement of its works into a more thematic and chronolog

The Tate's reputation for avant-garde special exhibitions is exemplified by past exhibits such as those focusing on the Italian Arte Povera (Poor Art) school and the sculptures of the late Juan Muñoz.

The building itself still continues

The National Gallery is to the north of Trafalgar Square and was founded in 1824. Counting some 2100 paintings on display at any one time, it is one of the world's largest and richest art galleries. The gallery's paintings are hung in a continuous time

By starting in the Sainsbury Wing and progressing west you can take in a collection of pictures painted between the mid-13th century and late-19th/early-20th centuries in chronological order.

If you're keen on the real oldies, stay in the Sainsb

This former Victorian surgical theatre is not for the squeamish. However, others will be compelled to see the rough-and-ready conditions under which simple 19th century operations took place - without antiseptic or anaesthetic, and on a wooden table in

Early medical instruments are on display, accompanied by discussions on body-snatching - how the medical profession bought dug-up corpses to practice on. Explanations are also given as to how, without anaesthetic, surgeons had to perform quickly on liv

The Whitechapel is one of the most interesting and challenging of London's contemporary art galleries. Behind its Art Noveau facade and entry hall, you'll find revolving exhibitions of photography, painting, sculpture and video art, plus fundraising ev

It hasn't just confined itself to exhibitions by established and emerging artists from Gary Hume and Liam Gillick to Frida Kahlo and Nan Goldin. It also regularly holds debates or talks by musicians and film-makers such as David Byrne and Robert Altman

Highgate Cemetery can't be beaten for Victorian-Gothic atmosphere and downright eeriness. Its overgrown grounds include Egyptian-style catacombs, enough chipped angels to please the most discerning Joy Division fan, Karl the more serious Marx brother a

Sir John Soane's Museum is partly a bewitching house and partly a small museum brimming with surprising effects and curiosities, representing the taste of celebrated architect and hoarder extraordinaire, Sir John Soane (1753-1837). The candlelit night-

Soane, the son of a country bricklayer, is most famous for designing the Bank of England. In his work and life he drew on ideas picked up while on an 18th-century Grand Tour of Italy. He married into money, which he then poured into building this house

Spitalfields has always been about snaffling. Up-and-coming designers tout clothes, cutting-edge jewellery and household objects, and adventurous shoppers get their fill. Unfortunately, a new retail complex now hogs a good deal of the market's space, b

One of London's most-lauded retro clothing stores, this place is not cheap, but there is a chance of unearthing secondhand designer labels, including from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes and even 1960s icon Ossie Clark. While you're here,

One of Europe's leading centres for contemporary jewellery, this has exquisitely understated, and sometimes pricey, metal designs, as well as a small selection of cheaper, mixed-media pieces. Perfect if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.

Stylish Ottolenghi is one of Islington's best, with its long white communal table (plus a few private ones) and arty meringue displays. It's casual enough for a relaxed breakfast and chic enough for a night out. Meals are usually composed of two or thr

The swish, shiny bar lined with amber and vodkas tends to attract a buttoned-up after-work crowd, but the food in the high-ceilinged restaurant behind is excellent, taking Polish to the mainstream, with excellent renditions of blini (crepes), he

This faux rustic outfit is good for an unpretentious helping of old-fashioned comfort food. Wash down everything from dorset crab bruschetta, to beef pie and huge steaks, with a glass of Guinness, Adnam's or some very unusual whisky cocktails. The cook

This is a 21st-century Wagamama-style noodle bar - a bit more stylish with it, but brought to you by the same man, Alan Yau. Below ceiling fans and golden buddhas, customers lap up delicious Thai curries and soups on dark wood benches and communal tabl

This renowned round-the-clock bakery turns out some of London's springiest, chewiest bagels and attracts daytime and after-club crowds. It's a slice of real London, but not kosher (in the Jewish sense). The hot salt-beef bagels have eager punters qu

This comprehensive centre has a map and guidebook shop, hotel-booking desk, travel desk and theatre-ticket agency.

Despite having a name that sounds like it should be on the Costa del Sol, this sparkling budget option is a rare find in central London and is easily the best choice in the area. Luckily for them, more budget hotels aren't like this.

The hotel was completely refurbished a couple of years ago, but the rooms and bathrooms look so new that you'd be forgiven for thinking the builders had only just left. The bedrooms aren't huge and there's little going on in the way of interior design,

These days Smithfield is seen as one of London's hippest postcodes for clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, but this wasn't always the case. Old Smithfield, being outside the city jurisdiction, was a haven for crooks and criminals and was commonly know

Built within a row of once-derelict 18th-century Georgian houses, this 33-room hotel is brimming with history and personality. Each of the rooms - named after colourful local characters - has been individually designed and decorated with period feature

A beautiful pub that makes you envy the privileged residents of Hampstead, Hollybush has an antique Victorian interior, a lovely secluded hilltop location, open fires in winter and a knack for making you stay longer than you had intended at any time of

London's club of the moment mines a rich vein of post-modern irony, with its red-heart of lights on stage and events like 1950s tea-dance Viva Cake (girls on roller-skates serving Earl Grey tea and trestle tables laden with cakes), lounge-meisters The

The first stop on the London scene for many international clubbers, 1500-capacity Fabric is still going strong. In a converted meat cold-store, it's a bit of a labyrinth: you enter on the ground floor and the club stretches down through three dance flo

The Globe is a near-perfect replica of the building on this site where Shakespeare himself worked in from 1598 to 1611. Even if the particular production you attend comes across a bit 'theme-park Shakespeare' - and they occasionally do - you'll never f

'Groundlings', with their much-cheaper tickets, will need the stamina to stand all evening, as fire regulations prohibit sitting on the ground.

If you're in the mood for a little glamour, make your way to this 'maximalist' styled bar. Entering from the run-down streets outside, you'll find yourself faced with an entrancing mish-mash of chandeliers, antiques, street lanterns and comfy lounge ch