By Jane Coloccia

Let's face it… London is regal, royal, and full of pomp and circumstance. There aren't many places you can travel here where some king or queen wasn't beheaded, married, crowned, buried, or paraded by. This is one city that is still steeped very much in tradition and history and there is much to see and do.

One of the best ways to orient yourself is to take a double-decker bus tour. Those famous red two-storey buses provide a wonderful overview of London , pointing out the highlights so that you can go back on your own for closer inspection. They also feature a “hop on/hop off” service so if something in particular strikes your fancy, you can get off, take a look, and get back on later in the day.

Buckingham Palace is home to The Royal Family and whenever the Union Jack (the flag of the United Kingdom ) flies atop it means that the Queen is in residence. If you time your visit right, you can see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace — one of the traditional royal events and a great opportunity to experience the pageantry for yourself. The ceremony takes place on alternate days at 11:30 a.m. (lasting for 40 minutes) so be sure to check in advance if it occurs on even or odd days during the month you are visiting. Hotels close to Buckingham Palace include the Grange White Hall, De Vere Cavendish St. James, and the Flemings Mayfair Hotel.

The Tower of London (the Citadines London Barbican Hotel is nearby) is the place to go to visit the Crown Jewels that have been housed here since the fourteenth century. This is one of the oldest and most fortified buildings in London and it has seen its share of drama…King Henry VIII ordered the execution of his wife Anne Boleyn there….guess it was easier than getting a divorce! Also nearby is the HMS BELFAST which is the only surviving armored warship from World War II.

London 's most famous icon is undoubtedly Big Ben, which is actually part of the Houses of Parliament, and chimes hourly (the Grange Rochester is close by). And not far away is Westminster Abbey, which was built during the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries and has been the site of every Coronation since 1066 (Princess Diana's funeral service was held here). Hotels close to Westminster Abbey include the Jolly Hotel St. Ermin's and the Crown Plaza London St. James. Another architectural masterpiece is St. Paul 's Cathedral, the Baroque structure that was the site of Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding and the funeral service of Winston Churchill.

One cannot come to London without paying homage to The Bard, better known as William Shakespeare. While daytrips from London are available to Stratford-upon-Avon , Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Exhibition is definitely a “must see.” This unusual structure is a faithful reproduction of an Elizabethan theatre using the same materials and techniques from 400 years ago.

But not all London attractions are “ancient.” One of the newest sights is the “London Eye” or Millennium Wheel which is the world's highest “observation wheel” taking visitors on a 30-minute, 135-metre high bird's-eye view over London . If you want to see something truly spectacular…go for a ride after dark. The K + K Hotel George is only about two miles away.