DK Travel : London : Places of interest

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London Trocadero

The Trocadero entertainment complex in the heart of the West End is a magnet for children. Aside from its shops, restaurants and cinema, there is a stomach-lifting vertical drop ride, a bowling alley and a bewildering array of hi-tech video games and simulators that will keep them occupied for hours.
London Zoo

There’s a full day out to be had in this 36-acre zoo. Home of the Zoological Society of London, the zoo emphasizes its important international role in conservation and research work. Its cages and enclosures have won awards, such as the aviary designed by Lord Snowdon. The children’s zoo is full of things to do, with a pet care centre, Animals in Action and Predatory Birds displays.
London Zoo

Lying on the northern side of Regent’s Park, London Zoo is home to 600 different animal species. The zoo is heavily into conservation and you can see the breeding programmes of endangered animals, such as the giant weta and Knysna seahorse. A map is provided and their booklet is full of fascinating animal lore.
London’s Transport Museum

Some of the most innovative British designers have worked for London Transport, and their posters and furnishings are on display here. See vehicles that have served the city for two centuries. The bookshop sells souvenir model buses, taxis and goods displaying the distinctive London Underground symbol.
Madame Tussaud’s

One of London’s most popular attractions, this is where you can see everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Queen. A Spirit of London ride takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the city’s history. The famous Chamber of Horrors puts you face-to-face with London’s most infamous criminals and has the very guillotine that beheaded Queen Marie Antoinette in the French Revolution. The next-door Planetarium has a 30-minute star show and two interactive exhibits unravelling the mysteries of space. Get there early to avoid waiting in long lines.
Madame Tussaud’s

Madame Tussaud’s museum of waxwork models of the famous has been one of London’s major attractions for a century. To avoid a long wait, arrive early in the day or book ahead by phone or web to get a timed ticket. Next door, the Planetarium has a 30-minute show about the night sky. You can buy a combined ticket for both.
Marylebone Cricket Club Museum

This is the place to unravel the mysteries of England’s greatest gift to the world of sports. Founded in 1787, the MCC is the governing body of the game, and its home ground, Lord’s, is a venue for Test matches. The museum can only be seen as part of a guided tour of the ground.
Millennium Bridge

This stunning, blade-like suspension bridge links Tate Modern on Bankside with St Paul’s and the City opposite. Unfortunately, this new footbridge suffered from excessive movement when it opened to a rush of pedestrians in 2000. It has since reopened and is a delightful and apt approach to Tate Modern.
Monument

This 62-m (202-ft) monument by Sir Christopher Wren is the world’s tallest free-standing stone column. Its height is equal to the distance from the baker’s shop in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire of London began in 1666 – the event that it marks. Inside, 311 stairs spiral up to a viewing platform; when you return to the entrance, you will receive a certificate to say that you have made the climb.
Museum In Docklands

This museum tells the story of London’s Docklands, from Roman times to the present day. Displays of shipbuilding equipment and photographs illustrate the late-19th- and early-20th century, when the docks were at their peak, handling more ships than any other country. There is also a wonderful replica of medieval London Bridge.