Five tips for a good time in London

1. London Portrait Gallery. If real-life paintings of famous people are your passion, look no further than the world's oldest portrait gallery. There are 47 portraits of the late Princess Diana and recent acquisitions include paintings of the late singer Amy Winehouse and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

2. Globe Theatre. For Shakespeare and history lovers, a visit to the reconstruction of the original 1599 theatre is a must. It's even more special if you take in a performance; I saw Julius Caesar on a balmy summer's night. Play tickets range from 15 pounds ($28) to 42 pounds. If you are up for it, there are 700 standing tickets, costing only 5 pounds, for every performance. If you are sitting, make sure you hire a cushion and seat back, as the wooden benches can get very hard.

3. English pub. Even if you don't drink, a visit to a quintessential English pub is a must. We stayed in Covent Garden and our local was the Theodore Bullfrog in Sir John Adam Street. The atmosphere and affordable food, including the mandatory fish and chips, as well as more healthy options, were fab.

4. Liberty of London. Inside the gorgeous Tudor revival building, opened in 1875, are wonderful quirky spaces chockfull of fashion, decorative household goods, artefacts, jewellery and knick-knacks. A great place for unique gifts.

5. Tate Modern. If you are interested in the revitalisation of industrial buildings, a visit to this gallery should be on your agenda. The galleries displaying international modern art are housed in an enormous brick building designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who also designed Waterloo Bridge) and built between 1947 and 1963. With a striking tower 99 metres high, it was reopened as the Tate Modern in 2000.

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