- British Museum with world-renowned treasures such as the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, and galleries of Egyptian Mummies and Islamic Art - Cabinet War Rooms, the vital operations centre for World War II and the connected Churchill Museum - Victoria & Albert Fine Arts Museum with fine displays of silver, glass, ceramics, water colours and Raphael's original cartoons for the Vatican tapestries. Also a unique series of casts of the world's most famous monuments. Art Galleries: - National Gallery containing one of the world's greatest collections of paintings from 15th century to the Impressionist - Tate Britain containing British Art from 16th century to the present day and home of the annual Turner Prize - Tate Modern containing a major collection of international modern paintings and sculpture - Courtauld Gallery displaying a compact history of art with masterpieces from 14th century to the 20th from an outstanding former private collection - Queen's Gallery, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, exhibiting important works of art from the private Royal Collection. Sightseeing options include: - Westminster Abbey, the ancient Coronation Abbey and site of royal weddings and burials of Kings and Queens, statesmen, writers and musicians - St Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, the church of the City of London and symbol of survival during World War 2, containing the American Memorial Chapel - Tower of London where the Crown Jewels can been viewed and the site of the scaffold where 2 of Henry 8t's six wives were beheaded: Changing of the Guard, a colourful military ceremony which takes place regularly at Buckingham Palace - Somerset House, the restored 18th century palace that formerly contained the Navy Office frequently visited by Lord Nelson. Contains the Gilbert Collection of silver, micro-mosaics and invaluable collection of snuff boxes, formerly in Los Angeles: Kensington Palace, former home of Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Margaret, sister to the Queen and birthplace of Queen Victoria. London Walks - Family History: - Westminster, to include the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Downing Street, the Horseguards Parade where the changing of the Mounted Guard takes place, and St James's Park - South Bank, including Westminster Bridge, the London Eye, the South Bank Arts Center which includes the National Theater, Royal Festival Hall, National Film Theater and Hayward Art Gallery; also the Millennium Bridge connecting the Tate Modern Gallery to St. Paul's Cathedral - Soho, center of London's cosmopolitan restaurants, theater land and China Town - Wren Churches, several architectural gems which Sir Christopher Wren and his assistants rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666 - London's East End, with its history of Huguenot refugees from France, Jewish population and now Bangladeshi inhabitants: Handel's London, visiting his house in Brook St and St George's Church, Hanover Square where he was a church warden and where an annual Handel Festival takes place - Contemporary music scene, Covent Garden Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, Home of English National Opera, etc. Day Trips, by public transport or hire-car with driver, include: - Windsor Castle, dating from 11th century and added to over the centuries, with priceless art treasures and St George's Chapel, scene of the installation of the Knights of the Garter: Hampton Court Palace, restored palace of Henry 8 and later Hanoverian kings - Oxford or Cambridge, ancient university towns: Stratford-pon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, whose plays are frequently performed there, a town which still preserves much of its ancient charm - Bath, beautifully preserved Georgian spa town: Stonehenge, prehistoric stone circle where ceremonies still take place at the summer solstice - Salisbury, with perhaps the most beautiful cathedral in England, which inspired paintings by John Constable - Canterbury including its gothic cathedral containing the shrine to Thomas a Becket and the place of pilgrimage celebrated in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. Notes: 
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