Buckingham Palace: The official London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837, Buckingham Palace was originally a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1705.
St Paul's Cathedral: This prominent feature of the capital's skyline, at the top of Ludgate Hill, was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710.
Victoria & Albert Museum: Set in South Kensington, the museum - now dubbed the V&A - showcases more than 3,000 years of artefacts from some of the world's richest cultures.
Science Museum: An ideal attraction for children and big kids alike, with its exhibits, interactive gadgets and IMAX 3D cinema.
Tate Modern: It houses a world-class collection of international contemporary art. Head to Tate Britain for a more conservative showcase of British art dating from the 1500s to the present.
Tower of London: Dating from the the Norman Conquest in 1066 and famous as a place of imprisonment and execution, the Tower is home to the Crown Jewels. Beefeaters, a tourist attraction in their own right, host guided tours around the Tower.
Houses of Parliament: With Big Ben, it's arguably the most famous attraction in the capital and to many the symbol of London. Visitors can watch bills being passed.
British Museum: Visitors flock to see the museum's Norman Foster-designed courtyard and its collection of seven million objects from all over the world.
Madame Tussauds: Marylebone Road’s Madame Tussauds pays homage to that era of the artist’s life in its dungeon-like Chamber of Horrors. Alongside the gruesomely recreated murder scenes and decapitated wax figures is the actual guillotine blade used to cut off Marie Antoinette’s head.
Shopping: Bond Street is the place to go for luxury shopping, while shoppers on Oxford Street dip in and out of department stores like Selfridges, Debenhams and John Lewis. Head to Harrods, London's most famous department store. Alternatively, Harvey Nichols is the fashionistas' store of choice.