If you are planning a trip to London, you may be overwhelmed trying to sort out what you want to do on your trip. It’s a new country, new city and there are all sorts of options. So which ones should you put at the top of your list? Here’s a quick top three list of the things you want to make sure NOT to miss:

London Eye – How would you like to see all of London in one stop? You can do that by visiting the London Eye. This magnificent observation tower turns like a wheel and once you are at the top you can see all of London in one 30-minute revolution. Just sit still and enjoy the view! This is the most amazing way to see London.

National Gallery – In the national gallery is an amazing collection of artwork like no other that spans the almost 700 years. This is one of the most amazing collections in the world including pieces you can see nowhere else from artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Botticelli.

Tower of London – There is no doubt you have heard of the Tower of London. The tower has almost a 1000 year history of being a main focal point for London serving a number of roles from a fortress to a prison to a palace and even a home for some of the world’s most amazing jewels. The Tower has an amazing historical background which you can read about at Historical Palaces.

If you finish the top three and still have a little time left, there are a few more places you may want to try including the British and Tate Modern Museums, the National History Museum, the Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Madame Tussards Wax Museum and the National Maritime Museum.

We can truly recommend that you purchase a London Pass which gives you access to over 55 of London’s tourist attractions. We found it invaluable.

When in London you just have to visit the Tower of London, Harrods, Piccadilly Circus, Petticoat Lane and all those other places that are synonymous with the old country.

We were so excited to be out and about and headed off to see the Tower of London by boat.

Taking a boat trip to the Tower of London is very relaxing and gives you time to take in the sights.  I bet it was a lot less stressful for us than it would have been for all those people in the past who were taken to the Tower prior to being executed.

A few of the notables  who were executed  at the Tower were:

• Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry Vlll  who was beheaded on Tower Green;
• Guy Fawkes a conspirator who attempted to blow up Parliament House, in the gunpowder plot and tried to assassinate James 1;
• Lady Jane Grey, who was queen for only 9 days was beheaded.

There are many interesting tales to hear and of course you will get to see the Crown Jewels and the armory.

There are actually a number of towers that make up the Tower of London, so there is lots to see including the ‘Beefeaters’  in there elaborate attire, who are the Yeoman warders of the Tower.

One thing you really must do when your are in England is to go and see the crown jewels, what a magnificent collection.

The Crown Jewels of England are considered to be the most valuable and one of the largest jewelery collections in existence.

It is a truly awe inspiring experience to look on the wealth and craftsmanship of ages gone by.

The collection is made up of crowns ( for every occasion) swords, orbs and more.

There is the ring that was made for William IV’s coronation in 1831. Up until 1831 each Sovereign received a new ring that symbolised their “marriage” to the nation.

This tradition seems to have ceased in 1831. Pity really.

There is an amazing array of weaponry in the armory room. Below is a very small selection of swords, rifles and daggers set out in precision formation.

And of course no visit to London is complete without stopping in at the British Museum. Totally awe inspiring.

Another place you must visit when you are in London is  Harrods.

The food hall is a must to visit, they have just about anything you could want to buy including some very exotic foods.

Things are not cheap, so we brought the customary tourist purchase – a plastic bag and a mug. The toy section is also a must to visit.

Harrods is  well worth a visit if you have and hour or two to kill.

If you are heading into London then make sure you make some time to go to Madame Tussauds.

For those that don’t know, Madame Tussauds is where you can see all your favorite stars, both old and new, replicated in wax. The figures are so lifelike that you often find yourself apologizing to someone you bump into, only to find it’s a wax figure.

Here I am with a few of the rellies on the royal side. Bit stuffy this lot. Didn’t even get a cuppa. Thought the Duke of Edinburgh might crack a smile.

The waxworks is a fun outing and well worth the money.

We spent a few hours there and took heaps of photos with our favorite and not so favorite stars and personalities stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, the Beatles and the Queen.

Here I am chatting to my mate Anthony Hopkins. He looks rather dashing don’t you think!

And goodness me here comes Harrison Ford down the stairs.  Its amazing who you catch up with at Madame Tussard’s in London.

The beautiful Princess Diana

Marlon Brando

The London Eye is a great way to get a birds eye view of London.

For those that don’t know, the London Eye is an observation ferris wheel.

Unfortunately it  was fairly overcast on the day we went on it … this  is London after all…but we still got a great view of the city.

The trip takes about 30 minutes and you are stuck in a capsule with about 20 other people but even so there is plenty of room to look out over London,  to move around and  to take plenty of  photos of the view.

Above  is a picture of Chilli, the stuffed dog that the girls at work gave us to take on our travels.  He really had a great time.

This is definitely another one of those ‘must do’s when you visit London.

Overlooking the Thames and Big Ben. The weather was a bit dodgy so the photos aren’t as nice as they could have been.  But the view from the London Eye is great and on a clear, sunny day I am sure it is quite spectacular.