BBC Broadcasting House Tour

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is UK's tax-funded media source. They provide television, radio and news to every citizen of the UK who pays taxes. A unique opportunity while in London, is to tour the BBC Broadcasting House and get a behind the scenes look at some of their activities. This tour can be booked online, and makes a great day trip for groups. On the tour, you will have a chance to see the BBC news room, learn about radio programs, hear some of the BBC's history and gain backstage access to its recording studios.

The Newsroom.

 This tour is a must for any broadcasting buff or someone seeking a job in Journalism. The tour guides are friendly and willing to answer questions from the group. The tour itself includes some unique highlights, including a chance to participate in a radio broadcast and perform a mock television news broadcast. The highlight of the tour comes at the end, when the guides lead you to an overlook of the BBC's news room, a bustling headquarters of the corporation. This tour is highly recommended, especially for TV/radio buffs.

Borough Market

Borough Market is London's most established food market, running a full market Thursday-Saturday weekly near the London Bridge Tube Station. The stands feature local and international cuisine ranging from freshly foraged mushrooms to American-style cheeseburgers. This location is bustling, and you should go prepared to have your bubble invaded. However, pushing your way through the crowds to explore this vibrant market is worth the effort! The market sprawls over a large area, and when you think you've reached the end, you can usually find an area of the market you haven't yet explored. This market is renowned for produce, and street food alike. There are stands offering traditional meat pies, Mediterranean and Indian cuisine, gelato, and alcoholic beverages. You can also find, cheese, bread, fruit and vegetables, flowers, jams, pates and other spreads. This location hosts a food item for everyone to enjoy. Borough Market is a must-see for foodies and those who love a good meal.

The Grant Zoology Museum

The Micrarium.

A collection of feline skulls.

The Grant Zoology Museum is located in the Darwin building at the University College London. This little known museum is London's last remaining zoology museum. It contains preserved specimens and bones detailing the whole of the animal kingdom. Admission is free, and the museum is small, but worth the visit. You can see the rare skeletal remains of extinct animals including bone specimens from the Dodo Bird and a complete Quagga skeleton (an extinct species of African Zebra for which only 7 skeletons remain.) Other highlights of this collection include a series of bisected heads and a "Micrarium" that hosts hundreds of micro-sized samples stored on slides. The Grant Collection is a traditional museum, hosted in a cool dimly lit room. It's a great place to get out of the sun (or rain) for a day and enjoy some historical samples of creatures from around the world. The museum is not for the faint of heart, as many specimens are preserved in fluid-filled jars and some displays are quite graphic. However, for someone who has an interest in biology or zoology, this location is a must-see.

The Camden Market and Canal Tour

A view along the Canal.

The Camden Market is located directly off the Camden Town tube stop along the Northern Line. These markets host stalls selling everything from tattoos to flowers and jewelry. This unique location is seemingly never-ending, each time you think you’ve reached the markets’ end, another small passageway leads back to an unexplored corner. This location offers many things, but is best for its food. Every other stand is boasting food of varied backgrounds. The smells of each stand mingle and entice you in every direction. Many stands offer free samples, so you can get an idea of which food you’d prefer. From falafel to kielbasa or Jamaican jerk chicken, everyone will be able to find something they enjoy here. There’s even a stand at which you can buy exotic meat burgers, including camel and zebra. The spaces in between stalls can be tight, and the market is often crowded, so it’s good to anticipate your personal bubble being burst a bit. On top of the comfort level, it is especially important to remember your valuables in this location, and keep them near to you always, since the close proximity encourages pickpockets. One of the best things to do at Camden market is take a gondola tour through the canals. This quaint tour is led by one man with a large oar who steers the boat, while another serenades the group while playing the guitar. This experience not only gives a great view of the canals, and the unique architecture built along them, but also provides some needed rest after a day touring the markets.

The British Museum

The British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world. A shining gem of the nation’s government subsidized arts program, admission is free. Visiting the museum is much like a trip to the Louvre, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with artifacts and not knowing where to begin. A handy guide, distributed near the entrance to the museum, can help point out some of the most interesting artifacts. Although general admission is free, tickets are required for the special exhibit which changes frequently. Often, this exhibit contains highly prized artifacts, and tickets sometimes sell out, so if you plan on visiting the special collections, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance. The artifacts hosted here are varied, and you can find everything from Egyptian hieroglyphs and Japanese samurai swords to ancient Roman coins, as well a plethora of things in between. This location is truly not one to miss out on. There is a collection that will interest everyone, and a dedicated day to wander around this vast museum will truly provide entertainment for all. Its located near International Hall, only a short 5 minute walk away, so it’s cool hallways make a great place to get out of the sun and ruminate on history for a bit, either alone or in a group. A trip to this museum is a must on any tourists’ list.

Sir John Soane's Museum

No photos were allowed of artifacts inside.

Tucked in between corporate buildings, Sir John Soane’s Museum is truly one of London’s hidden treasures. The building functioned as Soane’s home when he was still alive. After his death, he donated the location to the nation, specifying that admission must always be free, and the house must be preserved in the state he left it. Inside, a vast collection of historical artifacts is tucked away within a feat of architectural genius. Soane, an architect, fashioned the home into a haven of history and mood. The rooms each have a distinct feel about them, from the dimly lit, gothic Monk’s sanctuary to the Egyptian inspired basement which holds a sarcophagus. The artifacts inside would be interesting enough, but the addition of Soane’s magnificent architecture is what really makes the museum.

Building Exterior.

Woven throughout the incredible building are plaques stating the history of John Soane, which gives the viewer real insight to the man who collected a vast amount of pottery, paintings and historical artifacts of all sorts. The gift shop which ends the tour offers more history on the Soane family, for the curious visitor, including many books going in depth into the various artifacts spread through out the house. Well off the beaten path, this museum is one that should not be missed, especially when its free admission is considered.

The National Theatre Tour

The National Theatre is one of Britain’s oldest venues for theater, located in the historical cultural hub of the Southbank Centre. The Southbank of the River Thames has historically been used as a destination for entertainment. Today, it hosts a variety of cultural events and venues. The National Theatre has 3 stages which run plays on a rotating schedule, allowing for up to 8 plays to run during a given season. The company offers a tour of their facilities, which allows visitors to learn not only history about the stages themselves, but also gain access to the backstage area and knowledge about how the theatre produces their shows. You can expect to see a collection of costumes and props, as well as each theatre individually. The guides are knowledgable and happy to answer any questions that participants have. The tickets are about 15 pounds, which is reasonable given the backstage access and vast amount of knowledge shared. A great destination for groups, The National Theatre tour is an interesting tour that is off the radar of many tourists. Highly recommended, this trip is a must for theater buffs and newcomers alike. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed during the tour.