They say that the Brits are in love with gardening and with just one look at their incredible parks, one would have to agree. London offers an incredible array of gardens and parks just perfect for an afternoon stroll or to relax on a sunny day. Hyde Park is an incredible venue and on Sundays at Speakers Corner you can hear various orators sharing their views on world events. Le Meridien Grosvenor House is across from Hyde Park , the Kensington Close Hotel is on the west side, The Commodore is one mile away, and the Quality Hotel Paddington and Royal Lancaster Hotel are also close by.

Kensington Gardens is adjacent to Hyde Park and also surrounds Kensington Palace (birthplace of Queen Victoria ). There are many noteworthy structures here including the Italian Fountain Gardens , Albert Memorial, and Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground. The Quality Hotel Kensington is in this area. St. James's Park is perhaps one of the most regal of all the royal parks…could be because it brings visitors right to Buckingham Palace . Greenwich Park is the oldest royal park in London and is also home to the Royal Observatory Museum of Time and Space (and the location they quote when mentioning “Greenwich Mean Time”). Green Park lies between Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly and whilst there was a time when it was known for dueling, today most people just go there to hang out and soak up the sun. And just one more garden…The Royal Botanic Garden is a true attraction for botanists and those who love anything green…in fact there are over 40,000 varieties of plants there.

Not far from Greenwich Park is Canary Wharf , formerly the West India Docks, which is considered a great engineering feat, and is another place to stroll and meander. The Britannia International and Holiday Inn London Docklands hotels are nearby.

If you are into the grim and gruesome, London 's biggest “horror attraction” is the London Dungeon that traces back some 2,000 years of torture and blood and guts (the London Bridge hotel is right across the street). There are also a number of interesting walking tours for those who love mystery and mayhem…including one that follows in the footsteps of Jack The Ripper.

The British seemed to have created the phenomenon of the wax museum and Madame Tussauds has long been a popular attraction. The Sherlock Holmes and Thistle Marble Arch hotels are close to Madame Tussauds where you can pose for photos next to your favorite celebrities, politicians, and more.

You might also be surprised to learn that many of London 's museums are free…yes free. The Victoria and Albert Museum (purported to be the world's finest museum of the decorative arts), the British Library, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern are all complimentary and definitely worth a visit. Hotels near to the prime museum areas include the Derby Hotel, Abcone Hotel, Millenium Bailey's, Rydges Kensington Plaza, and My Place Hotel.

If you tire of museums and history, plan a visit to the London Zoo, which has over 12,000 animals and a special Children's Zoo or the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum which is undoubtedly an attraction for anyone who loves the game of tennis.

We've pretty much covered the highlights, but there is so much more to see and do in London…take it slow and easy this time and then plan to come back to see what you didn't catch the first time.