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 Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, Tel: 020 7722 3333,
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Spread out over a 36-acre site, and housing more than 650 different animal species, London Zoo
enjoys a downtown location on the north side of Regent's Park. Originally founded in 1828, the zoo
opened to the public in 1847, before going on to establish the world's first reptile and insect
houses, public aquarium and children's zoo.
Although as a consequence of dwindling attendance figures the zoo almost
closed in the late 90s, it has now managed to promote itself as an eco-friendly attraction, looking
after both threatened species (with an in-house and inter-zoo breeding programme) and introducing
educational exhibits for youngsters.
Linked by pathways, tunnels and bridges, visitors can see lions, tigers,
gorillas, bears and reptiles, along with invertebrates in the Web of Life. Elsewhere, the children's
petting zoo provides plenty of opportunity for youngsters to feed and touch friendly animals, while
special events are also organised on school and bank holidays.
Aside from the animal attractions, London Zoo also has some impressive
architectural features including Decimus Burton's Tudor style Clock Tower, his neo-classical style
giraffe house and the 1930s Lubetkin inspired spiral penguin pool. London
Pass Accepted Here.
 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LR,
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Next door to the Planetarium (now known as the Auditorium), Madame Tussaud's regularly plays host to hundreds of celebrities and
famous people, well at least their waxwork replicas anyway. And, although lesser mortals may balk
at the entry prices, it's
an extremely popular London attraction.
Indeed, though largely inanimate - with the exception of a few jerky
automatons - many of the figures are extremely lifelike. However, there are a few disappointments
along the way with JFK, Diana, The Beatles, Pavarotti and Sean Connery having distinctly iffy
doubles. However, as new figures are added regularly (and others retired, so to speak) the exhibits
tend to reflect "who's hot" in the showbiz world (for example Kylie and Britney
feature prominently right now). Amusingly, those who have fallen out of favour
are relegated to the 200 Years gallery - a large collection of dismembered heads and limbs.
Full-blown exhibits are however, dressed in clothes provided by the stars themselves.
There's also a Spirit of London exhibit which uses wax figures to enhance
its vivid portrayal of life in London during the last five hundred years, while other galleries
include Blush (lots of movie stars such as Brad Pitt, Sarah Michelle
Gellar, J-Lo and her bottom etc.) and the Chamber of Horrors.
 SW1,
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Along with the Victoria Monument which stands in front of Buckingham Palace, The Mall was laid out
in 1911 as a memorial to the late Queen Victoria. Designed by Aston Webb, this triumphal boulevard
begins at the gates of the Palace and ends at Admiralty Arch on Trafalgar Square. Traditionally
used as the route followed by royal processions, the tree-lined thoroughfare is flanked on both
sides by flagpoles which regularly carry the national colours of visiting heads of state. On
Sundays, it becomes a pedestrian extension to St. James's Park, while also being famously used for
the Golden Jubilee and final stages of the London Marathon.
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