DK Travel : London

A city of infinite colour and variety, London is both richly historic, tracing its roots back over 2000 years, and unceasingly modern, at the forefront of fashion, music and the arts. There is a fantastic amount to interest and entertain the visitor here: a selection of the best of the best is explored here.

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Christmas Greenwich

Although as much fun and as scenic a venue, the Christmas Ice Ring at Greenwich is less busy than it's central London counterparts. Located at the historic Old Royal Naval College.

Visit on a Saturday or Sunday and you can combine your trip with some Christmas shopping at the local market as well as a trip to a multitude of welcoming Pubs (The Trafalgar & Union to name but two).
Christopher's

Slick bar and restaurant combo in Covent Garden. The restaurant is pretty nice but really you come here for the bar with its cool little booths, great cocktails and fab bar food. Its not cheap but after much research this is the best mojito I've found in Covent Garden!
City Hall

Designed by Foster and Partners , City Hall has a unique shape reminiscent of a motor cycle helmet. Located on the South Bank near to Tower Bridge, the design contrasts with the historical buildings nearby.
City Inn Westminster

Ideally located next to the River Thames, the Tate Britain and the London Eye, this award-winning 4-star hotel combines stylish, contemporary design, luxurious modern accommodation and superb facilities.

The City Inn Westminster combines a passion for modern design and innovation with an understanding of the needs of contemporary living. Each room has a newly installed iMac in-room multimedia entertainment system. This stylish and innovative system is both an entertainment system and a computer, allowing you to work or play. Surf the web; watch digital TV; listen to digital radio; play CDs and DVDs; or use it like an ordinary iMac.

The stunning facilities include a critically-acclaimed restaurant, offering innovative European cuisine in stylish surroundings, and boasting an attractive open-air terrace. There is a well-equipped fitness room
Cleary Garden

Just up Queen Victoria Street from the Millenium footbridge linking Tate Modern and St. Paul’s Cathedral, sunken Cleary Garden is easy to miss. That would be a pity, because it is a wonderfully relaxing and quiet enclave in a particularly busy part of town.

Facing busy Queen Victoria Street, the benches on the northern side of Cleary Garden give little hint of the green terraces and vine-hung trellises just behind them. Heading down the stairs next to the benches, you come to a secluded garden of climbing roses and leafy vines. There are more benches in the shade of the vines, and a pleasant patch of south-facing lawn if you prefer to catch a bit of sun.
Clockmakers Museum

The Clockmaker’s Museum is well-signposted in the Guildhall – by following the signs past a couple of security checks I managed to avoid gate-crashing a traffic-planning meeting and a farewell lunch in the rooms between the main entrance and the museum. The museum itself is small and full of interesting clocks – lots of ticking and tocking and, shortly after my ten-to-twelve arrival, plenty of chiming and cogs whirring. Noon is definitely the time to be there.

The museum’s exhibits are beautifully-presented and clearly-annotated. There is plenty of intricate craftsmanship to be seen, and the skill on display is quite impressive. I am not a clock expert, but I did enjoy some of the annotations (clearly aimed at more-knowledgeable people than me). There is the nautical deck-watch with its silver case. Flat spiral balance spring with stud on a flexible arm an interesting feature. I also appreciated the “Verge escapement worm and wheel regulator” of a smaller clock.

The historical context of London clockmaking is also interesting. My favourite exhibit is of the clock taken by William Parry on the ship “Hecla” during his failed attempt to reach the North Pole in 1827. I also liked a small presentation of watch keys – in the shape of “two pistols, a skull, a horse’s hoof, a fox mask, a pomegranate, a hand, and an eagle”.

The museum is open from 9:30am to 4:45pm, Monday to Saturday. Impressively, it is also closed “briefly from time to time for re-winding”. I enjoyed my short visit, and would recommend the museum to passers-by, or to anyone with some interest in clocks and clockmaking.
Commercial Tavern

Although possessed of a dull and misleading moniker, the Commercial Tavern is a wonderful place to while away an evening. A cross between a Cath Kidston shop and eighteenth-century bordello on the inside, its narrow staircase up to the second floor and private room only opens up at 6.30, so be sure to be lurking round it if the downstairs bar is busy. With baby blue picnic tables outside in the summer and a relaxed atmosphere it's one of my favourite East End pubs.
Coronet cinema

Small, good value, independent cinema showing a variety of films in cosy, intimate surroundings. Not like the 'faceless' branded mutiplex cinemas you often get.
Covent Garden Market

This great little market which is partially indoors is great for a quiet evening walk, with a few shops and places to eat you can usually find some sort of entertainment around too.
Cybercandy

A vast range of scrumptious sweets imported from all over the world fill the shelves in this amazing shop. Try some Chocolate Covered Giant Ants, Sour Scream Candy Foam or a Gobstopper Lollipop! More traditional treats like Sherbet Fountains and Kola Kubes can also be found, ensuring that this store has something to tempt everyone, no matter how sweet your tooth!