Central London
London is home to many tourist attractions that are known worldwide. Some of the most popular include the many museums located in the city, many of which offer free entry. The British Museum holds seven million exhibits that not only have to do with London, but Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, etc. Popular exhibits include the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, 'Ginger', the world's oldest mummy, Lindow Man, etc. The British Museum is open seven days a week and is free. The British Library holds many literary exhibits and displays the original manuscripts of such classics as Alice in Wonderland, the notebook of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte's manuscript of Jane Eyre, Oscar Wilde's The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Magna Carta, a Gutenberg Bible, Codex Sinaiticus, the autograph of William Shakespeare, original music scores by Arthur Sullivan, Handel and Beethoven in a permanent exhibition of over 200 exhibits in The Sir John Ritblat Gallery. This gallery is open to the public seven days a week and is free. The Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the museum was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover some 12.5 acres (0.05 km2) and 145 galleries. Its collection spans 5000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa. Admission is also free. There are also historic or cultural attractions, the most popular of which include Buckingham Palace. This royal palace is still in use today. Here, visitors (approximately 15 million tourists every year) can witness the "Changing of the Guard" when a member of the royal family is in residence. During the summer months, some rooms are open to the public for tours. Other sights include The Tower of London, an historic royal fortress that holds the Crown Jewels of England. Nearby is the famous Tower Bridge, which is often mistaken by tourists for London Bridge. Other attractions include Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, London Eye, London Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the Globe Theatre, the London Bridge Experience, the Charles Dickens Museum and Madame Tussauds. There are many more attractions in the city itself, and in the surrounding areas. It is recommended that the visitor buy a good guide book to London and plan what he or she wants to see in advance. The larger museums, such as the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum will take several days to get around. It is best to select a few objects that one particularly wants to see and concentrate on them. London's West End is the city's theatre district. Here the latest stage shows and musicals can be seen. However, these are usually very popular and it is advised to book your tickets as far in advance as possible. All London's theatres have their own websites for booking tickets. These can be picked up at the Box Office on the day or sent by post.
View across Trafalgar Square
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