My Favorite City: LONDON!

London, England is just my favorite city in the world so far. It could be my love Jane Austen and William Shakespeare, or my fascination with England's long history. Perhaps, I just appreciate that they speak the same language (though any respectable Englishman would disagree), but I think that London, England is a great place to visit on holiday!

• London Travel Secret #1: Join the Club.

British Airways has great deals to London two or three times a year. I recommend that you join the British Airways Executive Club. You can do this by going to the British Airways website. They will send you periodic updates of deals on airfare and hotel stays. British Airways is a great airline to fly into London and if you can wait for those deals to roll around, you will be able to save more than $800 per person.

• London Travel Secret #2: The London Eye is a waste of time and money

There are times that you need to rest your feet and take in the view, but paying £33.00 per adult is not the way to go. Don't forget the exchange rate, so the price to sit in a glorified, enclosed ferris wheel that moves at the speed of sap will cost you approximately $66.00. However, if you enjoy knitting, maybe you will love the slow pace and the panoramic view that the British Airway's London Eye offers. And yes, I rode the London Eye with my dear mom--and it was too slow for her.

However, for a cool £299.00, couples can be in their own capsule, "sipping Laurent-Perrier champagne and enjoying Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles served by a London Eye host in the luxury of a Private Capsule." Private? what about the London Eye host that is watching you?

• London Travel Secret #3: Covent Garden

When you are done doing all the touristy things you thought you wanted to do in London, you need to visit an area of London known as Covent Garden. It is my favorite bit of London. There is some great open-air market shopping, street performers, and cafe tables where you can sip your coffee and enjoy the show.

• London Travel Secret #4: Half-price tickets at Leicester Square

If you would like to experience the London theatres, head over to the Half-Price Ticket Booth at Leicester Square (located at the south entrance to the gardens). First and formost, remember that Leicester Square is pronounced as LESTER Square. There you will find discounted tickets for shows for that day. I've had the chance to see The King and I and My Fair Lady for half price, and since same-day tickets are popular, it's okay for you to show up in your jeans for the evening shows.

Important info: The Ticket Booth at Leicester Sauare is open Monday to Saturday 2.30 - 6.30 pm for evening performances; tickets are sold on a first come first served basis and there is a limit of four tickets per customer. Payment must be by cash.

• London Travel Secret #5: The Big Bus Company

Don't be afraid of buying a ticket to the Big Bus Company tour. Tickets are hop-on/hop-off, meaning you can get on and step off as you like. The tour points out different attactions in London, and gave us new ideas of places to see in London. We got the tickets by accident, but ended up enjoying it and checking out new parts of London like Carnaby Street.

Tickets are valid, on average for 24 hours (though from from now through February 29, 2008, tickets are valid for 48 hours). We recommend touring 12noon-12noon so that you can get two days worth of rides and ideas.

• London Travel Secret #6: The Tower of London (okay, it's not a secret...but it is worth it!)

Visiting the Tower of London is a must! But don't just wander around, catch a tour with one of the Beefeaters and you will get a snapshot of the gruesome history of the Tower of London and a look inside the history of the royals. Plus, the Beefeaters have some great stories that you won't want to miss!

• London Travel Secret #7: Most museums are free!

Yes, London is an expensive city, but one way you can enjoy London on a small budget is to enjoy its many museums that are free to get into. Among these free museums are: Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, and Natural History Museum. There is too much to see in these museums for you to see in one trip to London. On our last trip, Ashley and I went to the British Museum, where he learned that you are not supposed to take pictures of the art! We also when to the Natural History Museum, where you can take as many pictures as you want! This is a pretty cool museum too!

However, there are museums that charge to get in, so do you research before you go. I've been to Madame Tussauds, which is 12.50Pounds to enter and is well worth the fun and pictures you will get! Ashley and our love for coffee and tea took us trekking across London in search for the Bramah Coffee and Tea Museum....here is our reaction:

• If you come to London...
• Take a few side trips to Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Stonehenge