First-Timer London & Paris

London is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and is the largest city in Western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in southeast England, London is historically one of the great world cities and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance. London will serve as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveler. Among the most famous are Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. Shoppers can head to Portobello Road, which claims to be the world’s largest antiques market, for antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time.

London has a large variety of shows from fringe to Broadway-like musicals and productions. The West End district is where you’ll find the last type, with famous imported Broadway shows and some very good local productions.

The London Guards Hotel is located within walking distance of Hyde Park and approximately 25 miles from Heathrow International Airport. It is situated in a quiet area of Lancaster Gate, just a few minutes' walk from the famous shopping area of Oxford Street. The nearest underground stations are Lancaster Gate (few minutes walk from the hotel) and Paddington (with a direct link to Heathrow Airport via Heathrow Express). Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant and lounge. The hotel also offers limited room service, dry cleaning, 24-hour front desk service, and safety deposit. All units have air-conditioning, private facilities, satellite TV, safes, fridges, telephones in bedrooms and bathrooms, heated towel rails, and tea/coffee making facilities. Irons are available upon request.

First built in 694 but destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666, the beautiful building that stands today was designed by Christopher Wren and completed in 1710. St. Paul's has been host to many great occasions including the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. There are numerous treasures to see and experience in St. Paul's - a visit is a must. However, the Whispering Gallery is worth a special mention. Just a whisper against the blank circular wall can be heard 42 meters away on the opposite side. Admission is GBP10 for adults; seniors GBP9; students GBP8.50; children (under 16) GBP3.50; concession GBP7. There is a small additional charge to visit the galleries.

The Tower of London is mainly perceived as a medieval place of imprisonment and execution. Nine hundred years of history are embraced within its thick, turreted walls. Even though the Tower's violent years are long gone, an aura of death and medieval torture remains. Today, guided tours are available. The main attraction for most visitors is the breathtaking Crown Jewels. It is also a chance to see the legendary ravens who live within the walls. Folklore has it that if they ever leave, Britain will again fall to foreign invasion. Interestingly enough, orders have been received to clip their wings!

Designed by Sir Horace Jones and opened in 1894, Tower Bridge is famous the world over. Due to the volume of river traffic at the time, Tower Bridge was designed to have twin bascules that could be raised. This famous landmark also has fabulous views over the Tower of London and of river life on the Thames. Visitors can ascend by the North Tower and traverse the river protected from the erratic English elements in an enclosed walkway before descending by the South Tower. Also on offer is The Tower Bridge Experience, a fascinating exhibition situated inside the towers and engine rooms. Want to get a great view of the Tower Bridge from afar, but not too far? Head on over to Potters Fields Park, right next to City Hall, where you can enjoy a picnic with a view.

Wagamama serves up a pan-Asian cuisine that features a fusion of eclectic traditional favorites with modern flavors. The fare is made fresh and all items are featured on a dietary menu, allowing guests full access to the ingredients in their food. Orders are taken via electronic pads, meaning that preparation begins in the kitchen as soon as you have made a choice on what to order. Dishes come to the table in the order that they are prepared, which can be problematic for groups who want to eat together. Start off with a range of dumplings, or dive right into the kare noodle soups. The atmosphere is also a major draw with lots of open, light space and minimalist décor. The end result is a dining experience that has only grown in popularity as new locations have opened worldwide.

Here, amongst Fortnum & Mason's luxurious surroundings, the British Empire lives on. Small and always heaving with tourists, Fortnum and Mason is much more than just the Queen's grocer. With full carpeting and chandeliers, department store shopping takes on a whole different meaning. F&M's packaging is traditional and elegant, and is free when you buy any gift (except food, which is a pity, as the Food Hall is F&M's highlight) and there's a vast selection of own-brand teas, coffees, wines and provisions to choose from. Also, make sure you stop to see the curious fountain by the doors. But F&M is most famous for its inimitable hampers.

Visiting Oxford Street is essential on any trip to London. Towards the end of the 18th Century it was bought by the Earl of Oxford and soon after this, Oxford Street started to become popular for shopping. When Debenhams and Selfridges opened in 1909 the street became the place to go for good quality shops. It now has over 600 shops and there are over 200 bars, cafes and restaurants in close walking distance as well as many other places of interest. Many of the more popular stores consider their branch in Oxford Street to be the flagship store and the one where they have their special openings and promotions.

Buckingham Palace has been the official abode of British royalty since 1837. The forecourt is the setting for one of London's most popular tourist events: The Changing of the Guard. The Mews are working stables, where you can see the Queen's horses and state carriages. The Buckingham Palace state rooms are only open during certain days in August and September. Just outside the front of the palace, you can enjoy the Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens and the Victoria Memorial, a striking and impressive sculpture facing the Mall. The visiting hours vary seasonally.

Westminster Abbey is regarded as a Medieval architectural masterpiece. It has been the venue for most of the country's coronations since 1066 and for numerous other Royal occasions. At present, it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the British nation. Westminster Abbey features the final resting places or commemorations of a large number of famous poets, scientists, musicians, artists, authors and more.

"Big Ben" is the name of the clock inside the famous tower that also forms part of the Houses of Parliament. Its impressive mechanism weighs in at over 13.5 tons, and the pendulum, which beats once every two seconds, is 13 feet long and weighs 690 pounds. The clock was named "Big Ben" after the First Commissioner of Works, and since 1885 a light above it has been lit while the House of Commons is in session. UK residents can schedule a time to climb the clock tower. Unfortunately, non-citizens of the UK are not permitted to climb the clock tower.

Trafalgar Square was built following the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The man responsible for this famous naval victory, which finally destroyed French naval power and secured Britain from invasion, was Admiral Horatio Nelson. A column, with an 18ft statue of Nelson at the summit is the centerpiece of the Square. At the base of the column are the renowned Landseer lions. Renovations in 2003 removed traffic lanes to make room for a sizable staircase, connecting the National Portrait Gallery to the square. The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery border one side of the Square, and it's a good place to sit and soak up the atmosphere on a sunny day. The Square is also famous for the large number of pigeons that congregate there. It's one of the main places that visitors come to take pictures.

This is one of London's most prestigious shopping venues and serves as a glittering tribute to opulent and stylish things. Owned by Mohammed Al Fayed, each floor scales the heights of designer fashion clothing and accessories, luxury furniture, cosmetics, fine jewelery and classic toys. If you are in a hurry, you can have a complimentary Harrods personal shopper assist you. This Knightsbridge palace has 19 cafés and restaurants, an online casino and a pet department. Harrods's own brand provisions make perfect presents; you can have your purchases delivered anywhere in the world. In the basement, Al Fayed has erected a small gilded tribute to Princess Diana and his son Dodi who died tragically in August 1997.

Notting Hill - is there anywhere else like it? Back in the old days it was a huge slum, inhabited by the poorest West Indian and Irish folk. But these days, film crews, tourists, rock stars and Madonna come to visit all the time. You can't really buy Notting Hill cool but you can try. There is a plethora of great designer clothes shops you know (Paul Smith and Joseph) and newer labels you will want to get to know better (Debonair and Preen). On Fridays and Saturdays, you could luck out and find the next hot new designer at one of Portobello Road Market's clothes stalls. The vintage clothes and shoes are fabulous too. The Portobello Green Arcade, which, unlike the market, is open all week and has some lovely fashion boutiques. Oh and don't forget to observe how the locals wear the stuff in their natural habitat that is the various bars, brunch and dinner places in the area.

Portobello Road is primarily an antiques market, which comes to life on Saturdays, when the rows of stalls stretch far into the distance: antique dealers and merchants selling art, clothing, crafts and second-hand books are abound. Fashion mavens come here to browse and to be inspired. Many successful designers got their start under the tent by the bridge. During the week, there's a fruit and vegetable market every day and on Thursdays, there is an organic market.

Run by three ex-Portobello Road market stallholders, Rellik sells a great selection of second hand clothes. Tall, light and spacious, the gear is laid out as simply as possible, but you'll still need to do a bit of foraging. There's vintage gear from the 20's onwards, as well as a whole range of Vivien Westwood creations. Two of the owners also customise their second hand finds to make them even more unique, and they also do dressmaking with old fabrics as well. Whether you want to spend less or more, Rellik is a great place to go for that vintage look.

Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler.

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris. Those there are too many to list, highlights include: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum.

In spite of its modernization, the Gare du Nord is still a good example of a 19th-century train station. A German architect, Jacob Ignaz Hittorf, built the station in 1863. Its most notable features are its neoclassical façade, its statues of military greats, its Roman figures, and the steel and glass decorating its ceiling. Trains depart from this station for northern France, northern Germany, Belgium, Scandinavia, Holland and England (via the Channel tunnel).

Originally known as place Louis-XV, this square was created between 1755 and 1775 by the architect, Gabriel. Renamed Place de la Révolution in 1792, a guillotine was installed and 2800 executions took place including that of King Louis XVI. Louis-Philippe christened it Place de la Concorde in 1830. The Louqsor obelisk, a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt to King Charles X of France, has been standing in the center of the square since 1840. The eight statues representing France's largest cities and the two fountains were also added at this time. The square is home to one of Paris' most prestigious hotels, the Hôtel Crillon.

The ground on which the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Palais du Luxembourg stand was originally the site of a Roman camp. In 1257 the Chartreux religious order bought the land and built a monastery here and later princess regent Marie de Médicis had the palace built in 1615. This is one of Paris' favorite gardens. Sensitively and very prettily laid out, it is wonderfully popular with students and residents in Paris' Latin Quarter. Children can go on pony rides, play on swings and sail their toy boats on the octagonal pond. A much-loved and popular meeting place.Open daily from 7.30am

Climbing the 387 steps to the top of this masterpiece is well worth the effort for the spectacular view. Construction of the first great Gothic cathedral began in 1163 and was largely completed by 1212. The rebuilding of the two transept gates in 1270 marked its completion. The west face is adorned with three richly decorated doorways and crowned with two 69-meter (226-foot) towers. The cathedral is busy at the best of times; especially on Sundays, when much of the building is closed to visitors.

This friendly place in the heart of Paris serves a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights and the choicest of desserts. Also, get entertained by stage performers with guitar accompaniments as you feast on the treat.

This building was not always blessed with the famous address of the world's most celebrated detective, its number was changed to 221b in honor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation. The rest of the museum is also very true to the fiction. You can sit in Holmes' armchair, fiddle with his scientific experiments, and examine memorabilia from his adventures. Dedicated Holmes' fans will enjoy their money's worth.

The famous waxworks museum, started by Madame Tussaud in 1835, are one of the most popular tourist attractions in London, and usually have queues to match. Now they've introduced a fast-track booking system, so you should be able to bypass the queues by pre-booking a time slot. Madame Tussaud learned her trade making death masks during the French Revolution, and those of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are displayed beside the actual blade that beheaded them. There are wax models of the famous and the infamous from every walk of life, some of which are amazingly life-like. The Spirit of London exhibit is where memorabilia from London's past are on display.

Petticoat Lane is probably the best market in London for budget clothing, and most definitely the place to visit if you're looking for new leathers. The large selection of locally made leather jackets in the covered area at the southern end of Middlesex Street can be snapped up for less than half the shop price if you are prepared to haggle. When you do finally win over the seller, treat yourself to a cornet of fried king prawns in garlic and butter from the stall outside. Most of the other clothing on offer is standard market fare, but there is a stall selling French Connection seconds at bargain prices, and occasional designer clothes traders put in an appearance, too. This market opens at Wentworth Street at the beginning of the week and eventually lands up spreading to Middlesex and other trading streets by the weekend.

Developed during the 18th century by farmers selling livestock and produce outside the City's boundaries, the market today offers everything from fruits and vegetables to reduced-priced goods and bankrupt stock. Set among the curry houses and Asian restaurants of the vibrant Brick Lane area - home to many of London's Indian community - the market bustles with activity and is the place to find bargains on goods, including televisions, clothes, cameras, bikes and - yes - even kitchen sinks. Choose amongst the Backyard Market that takes place every weekend and shop for  knick-knacks  or the Sunday market and sample the choicest of mouth-watering delicacies!

Be a masochist and scare yourself with a nocturnal walk around Jack the Ripper's playground. At the end of the 19th century, a psycho left female victims (mainly prostitutes) so mutilated that people were scared to walk the streets after dusk. Walk the very streets tainted by his victim's blood and learn about the Ripper's possible identities (which to this day remains a mystery), listen to anecdotes, see gruesome photos of the scenes of crime and play a little role-playing game near the end of the tour. Meet at 6.45p at the exit of Tower Hill underground station - there is no need to book and you only pay at the end of the tour.

Known as both the London Eye and the Millennium Wheel, this huge 443-foot ferris wheel on the South Bank gives a fabulous bird's eye view of London. Its inception in the beginning of 2000 honored the Millennium; and the spectacular views stretch for 25 miles on a clear day to include views of Windsor and Tunbridge Wells. Up to 25 people can fit in each of the wheel's "capsules." The wheel turns surprisingly slowly; it takes thirty minutes to go round, so there's plenty of time to spot landmarks and take photos. Hours vary by season. Check website for timings.

Now open seven days a week, Camden Market sprawls across Camden High Street, Camden Lock Place and the Stables off Chalk Farm Road. The Camden Lock Market is great for arts & crafts and the Electric Market (Sundays only) is the place to go for the best variations on the latest high street trends. This is one of the two must-visit markets for anyone seeking street, alternative & hippie styles, the other being Portobello Market. Traders sell everything from second hand clothes to cheap antiques, records, clothes & accessories, as well as decorative items.

Move over Broadway. The West End district of London certainly gives that famous New York City street a run for its money. Plays and musicals draw theater-goers from all over England. The avenue was created to improve London traffic conditions and is now home to notable venues like Lyric, Gielgud, Queen's and Shaftesbury theaters.