HOUSE OF DETENTION

HOUSE OF DETENTION

Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. Telephone: (0207) 253 9494. Tube: Farringdon. Daily 10.00-18.00.
Prisons on this site date back over 300 years. Thirteen underground cells are now restored and open to view.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum is an imposing ten-acre decorative arts museum. Whether you are fascinated by treasures from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, by things Gothic and Byzantine, or by furniture and ceramics, the V&A will keep you mesmerised. Entrance is free but you'll pass a glass booth where there is a forceful request for a donation
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Tube Station: South Kensington on Circle and District Lines Telephone: 0207 938 8500

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood

Children will be enchanted by the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. It is an Aladdin's cave of antique toys dating back to the 18th century. There are dolls, teddies, doll's houses, games, puppets, model railways and children's clothing. Every Saturday, the museum runs free art workshops for children aged 3 and upwards - each week takes a different theme. Closed Fridays

Tube Station: Bethnal Green Telephone: 0208- 980 2415

Royal Festival Hall

The Royal Festival Hall hosts free music every lunchtime except Sundays, when you can hear anything from classical to African beats in foyer. On Friday evenings from 17:15 till 18:45, you can wind down after a week's hard work listening to jazz. There's a bar and several places to eat, but you don't have to order anything to enjoy the music.

Tube Station: Waterloo on Bakerloo Line

CHANGING THE GUARD

CHANGING THE GUARD

Buckingham Palace: The Mall, London SW1. Tube: St James's Park or Green Park. Daily at 11.30.
For confirmation Telephone: Visitorcall (01839) 123456. This famous ceremony involves the trooping of the Queen's colour from St James's Palace to Buckingham Palace. The best views are from the Queen Victoria Memorial, or near the centre gates. Musicians do not play in very wet weather.
Horse Guards: Whitehall, SW1. Tube: Charing Cross. The Mounted Guard Changing Ceremony takes place daily Mon-Sat 11.00; Sun 10.00. No tickets required for either ceremony.

THAMES BARRIER VISITORS CENTRE

THAMES BARRIER VISITORS CENTRE

Unity Way, Woolwich, London SE18. Telephone: (0208) 854 1373. BR: Charlton. Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00; Sat, Sun 10.30-17.30.
The world's largest movable flood barrier, built in 1982 to protect London against rising water levels and tidal surges of the Thames. The unique structure consists of 10 separate movable steel gates each weighing 3,700 tonnes. The Visitor's Centre has scale working models of the construction.

SYON HOUSE

SYON HOUSE

Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex. Telephone: (0208) 560 0881. Tube: Gunnersbury + bus 237 or 267. Sat, Sun and Bank Holiday Mondays 11.00-17.00.
This elegant London home of the Duke of Northumberland, re-modelled from its Tudor original (formerly a monastery) by Robert Adam, is considered to be one of his finest works. Gardens, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown open daily 10.00-18.00,

SPENCER HOUSE

SPENCER HOUSE

27 St James's Place, London SW1. Telephone: (0207) 409 0526. Tube: Green Park. Open Sun 10.45-17.30 (last tour 16.45). Tours begin every 15 mins.
A private palace built between 1756-66 by John Vardy for the first Earl Spencer (ancestor of Princess Diana). The nine state rooms were the first in the neo-classical style to be designed in England.

GREENWICH PARK

GREENWICH PARK

This 185 acre Park was created in 1433, the first Royal Park to be enclosed. There have been deer in the Park since the 15th century and these are now enclosed in the area known as the Wilderness. There is a fine viewtowards the National Maritime Museum and across the Thames to Docklands and the City of London. The Royal Observatory is the centrepiece of the Park, which, in addition to the deer enclosure, contains formal gardens, open areas, many historic avenues of trees and a popular boating lake and children's playground. There are also sporting facilities and a popular cafeteria.Amenities * The Old Royal Observatory * Open every day except Chrisrtmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day April 1 - September 30: Monday to Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, Sunday 12 noon - 6 pm October 1 - March 31: Monday to Saturday 10 am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 2 pm - 5 pm * Observatory planetarium (by appointment) * Cafe at Greenwich Park (open all year) * Tennis courts (6) * Putting green * Rugby footbal pitch * Cricket pitch * Hockey pitch * Bandstand (Sunday concerts during summer) * Children's playground * Children's boating pool (pedalos, canoes) * Children's entertainment (puppet shows and workshops for six weeks of summer school holiday, excluding Sundays) * Car parking
Park opening times Greenwich Park is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.Park office Telephone: 0208-858 2608Postal address: Park Manager, Blackheath Gate, Greenwich Park, London SE10 8QY

ST JAMES'S PARK AND THE GREEN PARK

ST JAMES'S PARK AND THE GREEN PARK

These two Parks lying to the east of Buckingham Palace were acquired by Henry VIII in the early 16th century at the same time as Hyde Park. They provide the backdrop for British ceremonial life with The Mall, the processional route between the Palace and Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade, the venue for major ceremonial occasions. St James's Park reflects the English picturesque style of landscaping which was prominent in the 19th century. Although there have been many minor additions and alterations, the layout is essentially that laid out by John Nash in 1827. It is a very popular Park especially with tourists and office workers. It is famous for its views, its waterfowl and its flower displays.Amenities * The Cake House * Children's playground * Deck-chairs (April to September) * Band concerts (lunchtime and early evening end of May to end of August, twice daily)
Park officeTelephone: 0207-930 1793 Postal address: Park Manager, The Storeyard, St James's Park, Horse Guards Parade, London SW1A 2BJ