Must-see in London: a first-timer's guide

A brief history London began as Roman Londinium around AD 47, was refounded by the Saxons, and became the capital of England after the Norman conquest. The Great Fire of 1666 cleared the medieval city for Wren's churches; empire and industry then made it the largest city on earth by 1900. Bombed in the Blitz and rebuilt through waves of postwar migration, it is now one of the most multicultural capitals in the world. 10 must-see attractions 1. Tower of London — Norman fortress, prison and home of the Crown Jewels. 2. British Museum — the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures and world collections, free to enter. 3. Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament — coronation church beside Big Ben. 4. Buckingham Palace — the royal residence, with summer state room tours and the guard change. 5. Tate Modern — modern art in a converted power station on the South Bank. 6. St. Paul's Cathedral — Wren's dome, with the whispering gallery and a rooftop view. 7. Borough Market — a 1,000-year-old food market beside London Bridge. 8. Camden and Notting Hill markets — vintage, street food and Portobello Road antiques. 9. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens — boating, Speakers' Corner and the palace. 10. Greenwich — the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory and the prime meridian, best reached by river boat. Tip: tap in with a contactless card; daily fare capping beats paper tickets.