London Vacations

If chats about the weather were an Olympic sport, Londoners would win the gold. So pack everything -- Queen Mum's climate is moody: The day can go from blazing sunshine to raining buckets all before afternoon tea. Winter brings cold, damp and Burberry peacoats, plus Christmas crowds and queues.

2012 Olympics (July 27 to August 12) are the talk of the town, so prepare for heavy tourism, and higher rates. Wimbledon -- the oldest tennis tournament in the world -- draws crowds annually from late June to early July.

Though London is busy year-round, high season peaks from June to August and again at Christmas, while January and February are a little slower. The crown jewel: bank holidays. They vary throughout the year, and the city is eerily quiet. Translation: cheap hotel rates, few(er) crowds.

Walk the world-famous Lord's Cricket Ground and Hampstead Heath. Be on the lookout for celebs and tucked-away pubs nearby.

Located in the Renaissance St. Pancras London Hotel -- a Victorian masterpiece -- this is your stop for proper authentic Olde English grub. (Think: Quail, Yorkshire puddings, orange marmalade).

Curb your jetlag at famed Savoy hotel's Fitness Gallery. Scrub, polish and dip your way into the Greenwich time zone with a massage and mani/pedi, or swim in the rooftop pool.

After a few hours' at the British Museum, scope out the ultra-cool Oscar Bar nearby. The scene: the unpretentious yet oh-so-stylish types, plus the sommeliers and generous portions.

Winding cobbled streets, mews and Tudor style. Visit Saint Bartholomew the Great, then take a candlelit tour of Sir John Sloane's Museum.

Catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and relive the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey. View masterpieces at the nearby Tate Britain or Saatchi Gallery. Stroll by Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Posh spiced with London's swankiest, find Harvey Nichols, Harrods and its famed Food Halls here. Stroll Oxford Street, take in a show at Royal Albert Hall, shop on Saville Row or dally 'round Piccadilly Circus.

This drama hub offers easy access to Soho, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. While theater takes center stage, enjoy great shopping, dining and museums, including the National Portrait Gallery and famed St Martin-in-the-Fields church.

One-square-mile marks London's Roman days and now it's the city's financial hub (London Stock Exchange, Bank of England). Bordered by the River Thames, the City features the iconic "Gherkin."

This glamorous haven near Hyde Park attracts paparazzi, fashionistas and foodies. But if you're keen on natural beauty, you can bike, walk or rollerblade along Serpentine Road, or visit Kensington Gardens.

Often mistaken for neighbor Tower Bridge, London Bridge is the ancient elder. Shop and be awestruck in Old Spitalfields, a nearly 400-year-old covered market. Meet the macabre on a dungeon tour.

Home of Kensington Palace (Princess Diana's home), this area is chock-a-bloc with smart shops along Kensington High Street. Museum goers, this is your stop for the Natural History Museum, the V&A, and the Science Museum.

Towering high over the City of London, this belled beauty is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. Psst! No secrets in the Whispering Gallery -- they're audible across the dome.

Queue up for an eye-conic view of the city from the luxury of your own glass capsule. (Champagne optional.) Photo ops: River Thames, Tower Bridge, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Sorry, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill's real claim to fame is the Portobello Market. Prepare to drop some British pounds at the bohemian shops and mega-watt jewelers.

When planning a London vacation, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This U.K. capital on the River Thames with nearly eight million people has everything one would expect from a world capital—history, art, culture, fashion, sports…you name it. The royal family may no longer be England’s political rulers, but they sure help bring in tourism dollars, er, pounds, to the tune of 15 billion per year from 14 million international visitors. And scoring the 2012 Summer Olympics boosted hospitality development along with investments to the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems. For those on a budget, London hotel deals are easy to find, and many of the city’s best museums charge no admission. Also free: a stroll across the Tower Bridge for a striking view at sunset, or a tour of the statues in Kensington Gardens. Punk may have been born in New York, but London made it fashionable, and the city continues its reputation for birthing top fashion designers, artists and musicians of all genres. Though saturated with history, London also is a monument to change and rebirth. Witness neighborhoods like Bermondsey and King’s Cross, once rough and tumble sections that have redeveloped into vibrant cultural destinations with galleries, shops and markets to explore. London’s dining scene has evolved in recent years as immigrant cuisines helped push palates toward spices and ingredients beyond meat pies and fish and chips, though they remain popular table staples. And London’s West End Theatre District and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre remain musts for thespian fans. With so much to do and see, visitors can save time and money getting around London on the Tube. An Oyster card provides the best rates on access to all of London’s public transport—including the bus, tram and Thames Clippers.

AOL Travel’s London Guide

AOL Travel's Best London Hotels