Central London

Places to see

Described as the "West End Theatre on Richmond Green" - this classic theatre provides high quality drama, musicals, dance, family shows and children's entertainment.

Literally on the Victoria's doorstep, the Royal Richmond Park provides an excellent opportunity to escape the town for the country life. The 2,500 acre park, first enclosed in 1637 by Charles I as a favoured hunting ground, provides beautiful walks through both grassland and woodland and features maintained plantations and herds of wild deer.

For Centuries Hampton Court Palace was home to some of Britain's most famous kings and queens: King Henry VIII's only son Edward VI was born there, Charles I was imprisoned there during the civil war, Oliver Cromwell, having been proclaimed Lord Protector, lived there ....

To appreciate the day-to-day reality of living in the palace simply go inside. Explore the endless corridors, vast kitchens, grand apartments, lavish bedrooms - join a free guided tour with guides dressed in full traditional costume, or take one of the audio tours (available in six languages) - to discover what life was like inside the greatest palace in Britain.

The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew provides 300 acres of magnificent gardens containing the finest plant collection in the world. A visit to Kew provides a wonderful journey of discovery - amazing plants, in fabulous buildings, set in a beautiful landscape. Princess Augusta, mother to George III started the collection of rare plants in 1759 and today Kew has become the world's leading centre for plant science and conservation.

The gardens hold seasonal festivals throughout the year, and every season provides a new experience and there is much to enjoy:

• 30,000 types of plant - more than any other garden
• seven magnificent glass houses
• museum with interactive exhibition
• unique art gallery
• places to shop and eat
• open air music concerts in the summer months

The Wetland Centre is a wetland landscape stretching over 105 acres close to the Thames in South West London. Providing a natural haven for wildlife and city dwellers alike, the area provides a habitat for: over 140 wild bird species, more that 300 butterflies and moths, 18 dragon and damsel flies, and many amphibian and mammalian species. The centre also features: an observatory, a pond zone, the planet water show, three wildlife gardens by award winning garden designers, and six bird-watching hides.

Syon House, the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, is built on the site of a medieval abbey dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539. Lady Jane Grey was believed to have been offered the throne at the house in 1553, and in 1597 the king's coffin was brought to Syon on its way to Windsor for burial. In the 1760s, Robert Adam remodelled Syon House in the grand neo-classical style it now displays.

The 40 acres of gardens at Syon have been renowned for their extensive collection of rare trees and plants since Capability Brown landscaped the park during the mid 18th century. In Syon's 200 acre landscaped park there is something for all ages, ranging from: a childrens indoor play area and fly-fishing for trout, to wonderful walks on the Thamseside watermeadows.

The modern Twickenham Rugby Stadium is the home of Englands Rugby Football Union. Capable of holding approximately 80,000 spectators for an international rugby game the stadium is open to the public on non-match days. Expert stadium tour guides show visitors around the world's most famous rugby stadium, including a visit to the England team's inspirational dressing room.

The Museum of rugby provides a fascinating history of the game through its extensive collection of rugby memorabilia (including the oldest jersey in existence) and its captivating interactive exhibits.

The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, which is responsible for staging the world's leading tennis tournament, is a private club founded in 1868. The first meeting of The Lawn Tennis Championships held in 1877 attracted a few hundred spectators, the latest tournament (the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass) attracted an attendance of over 450,000 people.

The Public Record Office (PRO) is home to to an archive that spans 1,000 years. Many of the UK's most famous documents are on display in the PRO's Visitor Centre including: the Doomsday Book, Guy Fawkes' Confession, letters from Jack the Ripper, the last telegram from the Titanic, and Elton John's change of name by deed poll. The Visitor Centre is free and hosts a number of temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year. There is also a virtual museum available online: www.pro.gov.uk/virtualmuseum

For many centuries Richmond has been the centre of fashion, the arts and the intellect, as well as the home to many of Britain's monarchs. The museum celebrates the heritage of the surrounding area with colourful displays spanning prehistoric times to the present day. There are two special exhibits on Richmond Palace and Shene Charterhouse, the two royal creations which invested Tudor Richmond with such importance.