While in London on your Spring Break

Capital Tours Best Ideas for Exploring London For Free

British Library Euston Road, NW1
Tel: +44(0)20 7412 7332

The British Library houses one of the greatest collections of the written word in the world. See world famous items like the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623, King John's Magna Carta, Handel's Messiah and original Beatles' manuscripts.

John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2
Tel +44 (0)20 7405 2107

Sir John Soane was the architect of the Bank of England and his own home, now known as the Sir John Soane Museum, as well as Dulwich Picture Gallery, England's first portrait gallery. The Soane Museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields is now an amazing museum dedicated to his works and incredible collections.

Kenwood House
Hampstead Lane, NW3
Tel +44 (0)20 8348 1286

Kenwood House is one of the finest examples of the work of architect Robert Adam. This stunning villa contains a spectacular library and fine neo-classical furniture. It also holds the most important private collection of paintings ever given to the nation. Scenes from the film Notting Hill were staged here.

National Army Museum
Royal Hospital Road, SW3
Tel +44 (0)20 7730 0717

The National Army Museum tells the story of the British soldier in peace and war, through five centuries. You can learn why the British soldier wore his red coat and why, for hundreds of years, the weapons were so inaccurate it didn't matter if the enemy could see where you were! The archers of Agincourt and modern peacekeepers are all featured and you can experience what it was like to be bombarded in a First World War trench and see the meagre wartime rations.

St-Martin-in-the-Fields Church
Trafalgar Square, WC2
Tel +44 (0)20 7766 1100

This historic church, designed by James Gibbs and built in 1726, overlooks Trafalgar Square. Features include Cafe in the Crypt, a gift shop, art gallery and market in the courtyard. Candelit concerts take place from Thursday to Saturday, and there are lunchtime recitals Monday, Tuesday and Friday. All profits go to support the work of the church, with its particular ministry to the homeless.

The church crypt is also home to the London Brass Rubbing Centre, which offers a unique opportunity for all the family to make pictures, with this simple technique, of Britain's royalty, medieval and Tudor characters and unusual Celtic designs.

More On London's Churches

Most of London's historic churches, for example, St Brides in Fleet Street, the model for the classic wedding cake and St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square charge no admission. St Martin's also organises free lunchtime concerts. Also, London's second cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, is well worth a visit to see the burial place of the founder of Havard.

St Bartholomew-the-Great in Smithfield is one of London's oldest churches. Dating from the twelfth century, London's history is inextricably linked with the church and surrounding area. It was used more recently to film scenes in Shakespeare in Love.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries provide a who's who to London's past as well as a fascinating wander through Victorian memorial sculpture. Kensal Green is the burial place of Thackeray and Trollope while Highgate Cemetery * is the resting place of Karl Marx and George Eliot. Also check out Abney Park, West Norwood and Nunhead cemeteries.

Old Curiosity Shop
13 - 14 Portsmouth Street, London WC2

The Old Curiosity Shop, standing just off Lincoln Inn's Fields, is claimed to be the inspiration behind Charles Dickens' famous novel of the same name.

Although this may, or may not be, true, the building, which dates from around 1567, is almost certainly the oldest shop in central London. Now protected by a preservation order, the building, with its overhanging upper storey, gives visitors an idea of how a London street would have appeared before the Great Fire of 1666.

A stroll through Covent Garden

Covent Garden hosts events and celebrations in all manner of ways all through the year, and the daily routine includes street entertainment performances seven days a week. Many of Europe's most celebrated theatres, museums, galleries and other places of interest are here; there is always plenty to see and do in and around Covent Garden. Shopping in Covent Garden is every browser's idyll, there are shops for everyone, all tastes and all budgets are equally welcome amongst our varied range of top shops. Covent Garden more theatres in Covent Garden than anywhere else in the world, the shows on offer range from musical favourites to classic operas via contemporary theatre and balletic grace. The National Theatre and the Royal Opera House are just two of the major theatrical attractions in the area. With regular festivals throughout the year, and an abundance of museums, galleries, shops, fine restaurants and other places of interests, there is always plenty going on in and around Covent Garden.