Home comforts: London

You don't have to go far to enjoy the benefits of a top European city. England's very own capital city, London is a hot spot for history and culture, not to mention shopping!

Perhaps the best way to see the city, if you're a first-time visitor, is on an open-topped sightseeing tour bus, giving you great views of London's better-known landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London.

And aside from being an art-lover's haven, with some of the finest museums, art galleries and theatres in the world, London is just great for shopping.

There are Oxford Street's department stores, Bond Street's designer boutiques and the vibrant Portobello Road markets for bargain hunters.

Ride the Eye

135 metres above the South Bank of the River Thames is the London Eye. Its 32 capsules can each hold up to 25 people for a full 30-minute rotation of the wheel.

Prices (as of May 2007) - Adult: £14.50, Children: £7.25 (5-15), Seniors & Disabled: £11, Under fives: FREE.