For music lovers, experience the original Beatles walk organised by 45-year-old Richard Porter, a Beatles fan who started the Magical Beatles Tour some 20 years ago.
Visit 3 Savile Row, where the Fab Four played their final performance on the rooftop on Jan 30, 1969; and Ringo Starr's apartment that had the most Beatles history (Paul McCartney used it as a recording studio, then Jimi Hendrix lived there with his manager. John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved in shortly after).
Visit Abbey Road Studios where the group recorded their final album titled Abbey Road, featuring the iconic zebra crossing on the front cover. According to Porter, "Abbey Road and the famous crossing are places that get the most reactions". He recounts the most extreme "when one man got on his hands and knees and kissed the crossing - with cars coming towards him!" Check out http://www.beatlesinlondon.com for meeting points and availability.
Theatre
The official TKTS booth in Leicester Square will delight theatre aficionados, for half-priced tickets for Broadway musicals such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera go for a song shortly before showtime.
Some go for as low as ?10 so start queuing early, or visit the online site http://www.officiallondontheatre. co.uk/tkts/ for more details.
Literature
Marilyn Monroe's evening stole is available for auction at Christie's South Kensington
If prose is your cup of tea, the Charles Dickens Museum is a must see.
It holds the world's most important collection of paintings, manuscripts, original furniture and other items relating to the life and work of the famous Victorian novelist.
The British Library will also delight literary lovers with an amazing exhibition of original manuscripts, illuminated Bibles, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and the Magna Carta, as well as, believe it or not, hand-written lyrics of several Beatles songs.
Auctions
Christie's South Kensington is open to the public and has weekly auctions on interior furniture, contemporary art and popular culture.
The secret agents, superheroes and screen icons auction coming up on December 4 highlights James Bond memorabilia, tuxedo trousers from James Dean as Jeff Rink in the 1956 film Giant and a lavish black silk stole from glamour puss Marilyn Monroe.
Sightseeing
For a touch of grandeur, explore Kensington Palace, which was first adapted for royal residence by Sir Christopher Wren.
Feel the magic in the Victorian Rooms where the young princess Victoria awoke to the news that she was to be Queen of Great Britain in 1837, and marvel at the opulent State Apartments which showcase some magnificent examples of architect William Kent's work.
The current Diana, fashion and style exhibition features seven of the world's most famous designer dresses which once belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Food
The Beatles' walk at Abbey Road Studios
After a hard day of sight-seeing, relax with a quintessential English tea at one of the city's numerous cafes and bakeries.
Londoners' favourites include Bake-a-boo, a charming cafe with a dazzling selection of beautiful fairy cakes with passionfruit, raspberry swirls, scones with fresh cream and strawberry jam, perfect for those cold, windy days.
Hummingbird Cafe, the cupcake of all cupcake shops, offers the choice of two locations in South Kensington or Portobello Road.
It counts fans from Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow to Elle McPherson, with fairy cakes that resemble works of art rather than teatime snacks.
btnews@sph.com.sg
This article was first published in The Business Times on Nov 22-23, 2008.
