London

With more than six million visitors trooping through its doors annually, the British Museum in Bloomsbury is Britain’s most visited attraction. You could spend a lifetime in this vast and hallowed collection of artefacts, art and age-old antiquity, and still make daily discoveries. If you're not sure where to start, join one of the highlights or eye-opener tours for a precis of the museum’s treasures. Whatever your approach, make sure you glimpse the Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering hieroglyphics, and the other-worldly mummies.

The favourite museum of Londoners (and quite possibly the world), this contemporary art collection enjoys a triumphant position right on the River Thames. Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern is a vigorous statement of modernity, architectural renewal and accessibility. The permanent collection is free, and the gallery's ziggurat extension, opened in 2016, provides 60% more exhibition space and a new (and free) vantage point in London. Exhibition spaces are pushing the conceptual envelope, too, with installation and performance art.

This superlative collection of (largely premodern) art in the heart of London is one of the largest anywhere, and provides a roll-call of some of the world’s most outstanding artistic compositions. With highlights including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Gainsborough, Constable, Turner, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh, it’s a bravura performance and one not to be missed. The on-site restaurant is also exceptional, rounding out a terrific experience and putting the icing on an already eye-catching cake.

London’s urban parkland is virtually second to none and is the place to see locals at ease and in their element. Hyde Park alone ranges across a mighty 142 hectares; throw in Kensington Gardens and you have even more space to roam and everything you could want: a central London setting, a royal palace, extravagant Victoriana, boating opportunities, open-air concerts, art galleries, magnificent trees, a tasteful granite memorial to Princess Diana as well as a magnificently overblown memorial to Prince Albert facing the grand form of the Albert Hall.

Don't let anybody tell you that the food in England is a let-down: London has long been a shining light in culinary excellence, with a kaleidoscope of cuisines unrivalled in Europe. The capital is particularly strong in Indian and other Asian flavours, but don't miss the opportunity of trying traditional or Modern British cuisine, either in a good gastropub or one of the finer restaurants, such as Dinner. For those with a sweet tooth, an afternoon tea or a treat from the capital's many cake shops is a must.

You could spend a whole day in the huge Victoria & Albert Museum and still be astounded at its variety and depth. Located in stylish South Kensington, the world’s leading collection of decorative arts has something for everyone, from Islamic textiles to antique Chinese ceramics, photography, fashion, works by Raphael and modern design classics from iMacs to Nike shoes. And don’t overlook the fabulous architecture of the museum, which is a major attraction in itself.

Few parts of the UK are as steeped in history or as impregnated with legend and superstition as the titanic stonework of this fabulous fortress. Not only is the tower an architectural odyssey but there’s also one of the world's largest diamonds, free tours from magnificently attired ‘Beefeaters’, a dazzling array of armour and weaponry, and a palpable sense of ancient history at every turn. Because there is simply so much to see, it’s well worth getting here early – you will need at least half a day for exploration.

London minus its pubs, such as Lamb & Flag, would be like Paris sans cafes. Pub culture is a part of London's DNA and the pub is the best place to see local people in their hop-scented element. Longer opening hours have cemented them as the cornerstone for a good night out across the capital. They're also a favourite for family-friendly long weekend lunches. Once no-go zones for discerning foodies, pubs have long upped their game: standout gastropubs dot London’s culinary cosmos and rival great restaurants.

You may have eyeballed London from altitude as you descended into Heathrow, but your pilot won’t have lingered over the supreme views that extend in every direction from London’s great riverside Ferris wheel. The queues move as slowly as the Eye rotates (though there are ways to fast-track admission), but you're rewarded once you’ve lifted off and London unfurls beneath you. Avoid grey days – if possible! If you’ve limited time, make this the first stop on your visit so you can at least say you’ve seen the sights.

A foray into trendy North London, away from the central sights, is a crucial part of the London experience. Camden market – actually three markets in one great melange – may be a hectic and tourist-oriented attraction, but snacking on the go from its international food stalls is a great way to enjoy browsing the merchandise. At night Camden’s terrific music scene, throbbing nightlife and well-seasoned pub culture are magnets pulling in night owls from across the city.

Few London experiences can beat a Bard’s-eye view of the stage at the recreated Shakespeare's Globe. Get a standing ticket as one of the all-weather ‘groundlings’ who watch from the open-air yard before the stage for an unusual Elizabethan-style experience. Otherwise pay extra for a seat in the gallery. The theatre is a triumph of authenticity, right down to the nail-less construction, English-oak beams, original joinery and thatching (sprinklers are a modern touch). If you’ve a soft spot for Shakespeare, you’ll have an absolute ball here.

Every August, trendy Notting Hill throws a big, long and loud party. Europe’s leading street carnival is a vibrantly colourful three-day celebration of Afro-Caribbean music, culture and food. More than a million people visit every year to take part in the celebrations, thronging the streets and letting their hair down. The festival is a must if you want a spirited glimpse of multicultural London and its amazing cross-pollination of music, food, clothing, language and culture.

With its thunderous, animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex, riveting displays about planet earth, the outstanding Darwin Centre and architecture straight from a Gothic fairy tale, the Natural History Museum is quite simply a work of great curatorial imagination. Kids are the target audience but, looking around, you'll see adults equally mesmerised. Unveiled in 2017, the new-look Hintze Hall, with its diving blue whale skeleton and new exhibits, keeps the museum looking fresh. Winter brings its own magic, when the glittering ice rink by the East Lawn swarms with skaters.

Where else in London can you size up an 18th-century 10-storey Chinese pagoda and a Japanese gateway while finding yourself among one of the world’s most outstanding botanical collections? Kew Gardens is loved by Londoners for its 19th-century Palm House and other Victorian glasshouses, its conservatories, tree canopy walkway, architectural follies and mind-boggling variety of plants. Kids will have a blast in the play areas. You could easily spend the day here, but the Kew Explorer train will help you tick off the main sights in half that time.

Adorers of medieval ecclesiastic architecture will be in seventh heaven at this sublime abbey, hallowed place of coronation for England’s sovereigns. Almost every nook and cranny has a story attached to it. Among the highlights, you will find the oldest door in the UK, Poet’s Corner, the Coronation Chair, 14th-century cloisters, a 900-year-old garden, royal sarcophagi and much more. Be warned that the crowds are almost as solid as the abbey’s unshakeable stonework, so aim to join the queue first thing in the morning.

The West End is synonymous with musicals; no trip to London would be complete without an evening of Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables or The Phantom of the Opera. But if musicals aren't to your taste, there are more alternatives than you'll have evenings to fill: theatre, dance, opera, small gigs, big-ticket concerts or live jazz at venues such as Ronnie Scott's. London truly is the capital of the arts. The trick is to book either far in advance for a particular show or dive in last minute for bargains.

It may no longer be a royal residence but Hampton Court hasn't lost its splendour – inside or out. The magnificent Tudor palace, so coveted by Henry VIII that he coaxed it from Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1515, was extended in the 17th century by Christopher Wren, and visitors can delight in the different architectural styles. Don't miss the Tudor kitchens, which once churned out meals for up to 1200 people for Henry's court, and do leave time for the sumptuous gardens and to tackle the legendary maze.

You may not land tickets to the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium or front-row seats for the Wimbledon finals, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy sport in London. You could find yourself watching the Oxford–Cambridge boat race, cheering runners at the London Marathon or hopping on a Santander Cycle – there’s lots on offer. Why not check out the impressive facilities in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which hosts the (former Olympic) London Stadium, the stunning Aquatics Centre and the cutting-edge Velodrome.