1. Melbourne Museum (11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria).

Melbourne Museum is situated in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, about 2km north of the city’s Central Business District. Its permanent collection is housed in eight galleries, one of which is designed to appeal to children aged between 3 and 8.

Highlights include the Forest Gallery, a rainforest environment in whch you’ll find living birds and animals, and the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which contains a range of exhibits reflecting Aboriginal culture. The museum holds regular temporary exhibitions, and also has an IMAX cinema, a cafe and a shop.

Melbourne Museum is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. It’s closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Admission fees apply for adults, but children aged between 3 and 16 can visit free of charge. 

Image: Wikicommons

2. The National Sports Museum (Melbourne Cricket Club, Yarra Park, Jolimont, Melbourne).

Situated at Melbourne Cricket Club, the National Sports Museum has more than 2,500 exhibits relating to the history of sport in Australia. You can learn about the history of thoroughbred horse racing in Australia in the Champions – Thoroughbred Racing gallery, find about some of the  sporting legends who have been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and take part in a range of activities in the Game On interactive gallery.

The National Sports Museum is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. but it is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. On days on which major events are being held at Melbourne Cricket Ground, only visitors with tickets for the event will be admitted to the museum, and opening times may vary, so make sure that you check with the museum before visiting, to ensure that you will be able to get in. Admission fees apply.

3. Scienceworks (2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Melbourne).

Scienceworks is situated in the suburb of Spotswood, about 5km to the south-west of Melbourne’s Central Business District. It has a range of interactive exhibits relating to science and technology, and is a great place to visit for a family day out during your holiday in Melbourne.

Make sure you catch one of the 30-minute live shows in the Lightning Room, as you’ll get the chance to see the museum’s giant Tesla Coil, which can generate 3m long lightning bolts. Scienceworks is also home to Melbourne Planetarium.

Scienceworks is open daily between 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. It’s closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Admission fees apply, and additional charges apply if you want to see a show in the Lightning Room or the Planetarium.

4. Victoria Police Museum (World Trade Centre, Siddeley Street, Melbourne).

Victoria Police Museum contains a wide range of exhibits tracing the history of the Victoria Police Department. Its permanent collection includes items such as the remains of the car bomb which exploded outside of Russell Street Police Station in 1986, items belonging to the Kelly Gang and the death mask of Frederick Deeming, a British-born murderer who was convicted of killing his first wife, his four children and his second wife, and who some people have suspected to have been Jack the Ripper.

The museum also houses exhibits relating to the development of forensic science and to the men and women who lost their lives whilst serving the public as part of the Victoria Police Department. There are also regular temporary exhibitions.

The Victoria Police Museum is open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It is closed at weekends and on public holidays.

5. The Immigration Museum (Old Customs House, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne).

Situated in the Old Customs House in Melbourne’s Central Business District, the Immigration Museum is packed with exhibits telling the stories of some of the State of Victoria’s immigrants. The museum’s permanent collection contains documents, photos and audio-visual material, and you can explore the museum’s large model ship exhibit to see what it woud have been like for immigrants travelling to Australia by sea.

The museum holds regular temporary exhibitions, and also houses a library, a shop and a cafe. You can also visit the Tribute Garden, which is located within the museum’s northern garden and features the names of immigrants from more than 90 countries.

The Immigration Museum is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. It’s closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Admission fees apply.

Image: NouvelleAuteur

A number of airlines operate flights to Australia from the U.K., and you’ll find many hotels and guest houses to choose from. Many of Melbourne’s museums are in the centre of the city, so they are easy to get to by public transport, taxi or hire car.

1. Robben Island Museum (Robben Island, Cape Town).

Cape Town’s most famous museum, Robben Island Museum, is situated on Robben Island, which lies about 10km off the coast of Cape Town, in Table Bay. Although Robben Island has been used as a military training station and a hospital in the past, it is best known as the site of the maximum security prison in which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated between 1964 and 1982.

The island was transformed into a museum in 1997 and became a World Heritage Site in 1999. You can get to Robben Island by ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, and take a tour of the prison complex, where you can see the cell in which Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Image: Kaihsu Tai.

2. The Iziko Maritime Centre (Union-Castle House, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town).

The Iziko Maritime Centre is Cape Town’s maritime museum and contains a range of exhibits relating to the history of shipping in Cape Town and Table Bay. Items on display within the Iziko Maritime Museum include the oldest existing model of Table Bay’s harbour and a number of models of ships.

The museum also includes the John H. Marsh Maritime Research Centre, which includes nearly 20,ooo photographs of ships.

3. The District 6 Museum (25a Buitenkant Street, Cape Town).

The District 6 Museum includes a range of exhibits relating to the history of the District 6 area of Cape Town. District 6 was one of the city’s most densely populated areas and a tight-knit community until the 1970s, when the apartheid government declared that it would now be a “whites-only” area and forcibly removed more than 60,000 black residents from their homes.

You can either explore the museum on your own or take a guided tour with one of District 6′s ex-residents. Exhibits within the District 6 Museum include photos, documents, video recordings and street signs, as well as a small collection of works by local artists.

4. The Gold of Africa Museum (Martin Melck House, 96 Strand Street, Cape Town)

Cape Town’s Gold of Africa Museum is housed in the beautiful Martin Melck House, a historic townhouse, which has now been restored to its former glory. The museum’s collection was begun by Josef Mueller, a Swiss art lover, and was housed in Geneva until 2001, when it was bought by a gold mining company and transported to Cape Town.

The permanent collection includes more than 350 artefacts created in Western Africa and a number of gold items crafted in Southern Africa. The museum also holds regular temporary exhibitions, and has a goldsmiths’ studio, a restaurant and a shop. There are a range of tours to choose from, including a torchlit night tour. You will need to book your tour in advance, and charges apply.

5. The South African Museum (25 Queen Victoria Street Gardens, Cape Town).

Founded in 1825, Cape Town’s South African Museum is the oldest museum in sub-Saharan Africa. It moved to its current location in 1897 and is now one of Cape Town’s most popular attractions.

It has two main types of permanent collection, the natural history collections and the social history collections. The natural history collections include a wide range of objects, including fossils,rocks, minerals and insects, whilst the social history collections include ceramics, textiles, toys, weapons and archaeological exhibits. 

Many travel operators provide flights from the U.K. to Cape Town and you’ll find a wide range of hotels and guest houses to choose from within the city. Most of the main museums in Cape Town are easy to reach by public transport, taxi or hire car.

1. The Nehru Centre (Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai)

Mumbai’s Nehru Centre was constructed in the 1970s and includes Nehru Planetarium, the Nehru Centre Art Gallery, a Culture Wing, and the Discovery of India Exposition.

The Nehru Planetarium is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday, (although it is closed on some public holidays). There are usually four shows each day: two in Hindi, one in Marathi and one in English – check the Nehru Centre website for further details. There are also a number of telescopes outside of the planetarium, through which you can watch the skies during major astronomical events.

Regular exhibitions of works by young artists are held at the Nehru Art Gallery, whilst the Culture Wing is used as a venue for dance, music and drama performances.

The Discovery of India Exposition includes more than 50,000 exhibits, which are displayed within 14 galleries. The exposition tells the story of the history of Indian achievements and its exhibits include works of art, photographs and audio-visual displays.

Image: Art Poskanzer

2. The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (91 A, Rani Baug, Veer Mata Jijbai Bhonsle Udyan, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Marg, Byculla East, Mumbai)

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum was originally known as the Victoria & Albert Museum, and opened to the public in 1872, making it Mumbai’s oldest museum. Its name was changed in 1975 in order to honour one of its founders.

The museum’s collection consists of examples of Indian fine and decorative arts, and is displayed within the following themed galleries: the Industrial Arts Gallery; the 19th Century Paintings Gallery; the Origins of Mumbai Gallery; the Founders’ Gallery; the Kamalnayan Bajaj Special Exhibitions Gallery; and the Kamalnayan Bajaj Mumbai Gallery.

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is open between 10 a.m and 5.30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed on Wednesdays and on public holidays.

3. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya (19 Laburnum Road, Gamdevi, Mumbai).

Mani Bhavan, in Mumbai’s Laburnum Road, was the headquarters of Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1934. This 2-storey building, which was owned by Gandhi’s friend, Shri Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, has now been turned into a museum and research centre.

You can see the second floor room in which Gandhi lived and worked during his time in Bombay, together with a number of other exhibits, including a series of tableaux depicting scenes from Gandhi’s life, and photographs and documents relating to Gandhi. There is also a library which contains more than 50,000 books and periodicals, and an auditorium.

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya is open daily between 9.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

4. The National Gallery of Modern Art (Sir Cowasji Jahangir Public Hall, M G Road, Fort Mumbai).

Mumbai’s National Gallery of Modern Art opened to the public in 1996. Its permanent collection includes works by Indian artists, such as F. N. Souza, Akbar Padamsee and K. K. Hebbar, as well as a number of works by Picasso. It also holds regular temporary exhibitions.

The National Gallery of Modern Art (Mumbai) is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m, Tuesday to Sunday. It’s closed on Mondays and on public holidays. Admission fees apply.

5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Previously known as the Prince of Wales Museum, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is Mumbai’s largest museum. It’s situated in South Mumbai and the beautiful building in which it’s housed was designed by George Wittet, who also designed the nearby Gateway of India.

The museum contains more than 50,000 exhibits, including works of art, old coins and other archaeological finds. There is also a natural history section and a new textile gallery.

Image: Elroy Serrao

A number of  airlines operate flights to Mumbai, and there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses within the city.

1. Taronga Zoo (Bradley’s Head Road, Mosman, Sydney)

Taronga Zoo is only a 12-minute ferry ride from Sydney’s Circular Quay, and is a great place to visit for a day. It’s home to animals native to Australia, Antartica, Africa, Asia, South America and North America, and there are many exhibits to see. The zoo’s residents include Tasmanian Devils, koalas, penguins, seals, lions, chimpanzees, meerkats, elephants, leopards and bears.

There are two excellent shows that you can watch: the Energy Australia Seal Show and the QBE Free Flight Bird Show. There are also talks by zoo keepers and opportunities to have your photo taken with various animals throughout the day. There are a number of food outlets within the zoo, and you can buy souvenirs in the five zoo shops.

Image: Brian Gieson

2. Sydney Wildlife World (Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, Sydney)

Sydney Wildlife World is situated in Darling Harbour, in the centre of the city, and is only about 5 minutes’ walk away from Sydney’s Central Business District. It’s home to more than 130 species of Australian animal and is divided into a number of exhibits representing different habitats.

In Kakadu Gorge, for example, you’ll find Rex, a 5 metre long saltwater crocodile, and you can even watch him being fed. You can also see Red Kangaroos in the Semi-Arid Habitat, wombats and wallabies in the Wallaby Cliffs Habitat, and possums, ghost bats and bilbies in the Nocturnal Habitat. You can even pay a little extra and have your photo taken with a koala at Koala Rooftop.

You can stop off for a meal or snack at the Lizard Lounge bar and cafe, and buy souvenirs at the Wildlife Gift Shop.

3. Sydney Aquarium (Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, Sydney).

Sydney Aquarium is situated next to Sydney Wildlife World, in the Darling Harbour area of the city. Its exhibits are divided into six sections: Shark HQ; Southern Rivers; Northern Rivers; Southern Oceans; Northern Oceans; and Mermaid Lagoon.

Shark HQ is the aquarium’s most recent exhibit and its highlights include a shark hatchery, talks by shark experts, shark tunnels and the largest animatronic Great White Shark in the world. In the Southern Rivers section of the aquarium, you can see freshwater fish, water dragons, yabbies and platypus, whilst the Northern Rivers section is home to barramundi, lungfish and saratoga.

The Southern Oceans section of the aquarium is home to fairy penguins, sea dragons and pineapple fish, and also contains an open aquarium, where you can see sharks, stingrays and fish.

The Northern Oceans area of the aquarium contains the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, in which you’ll find angelfish, anemones, triggerfish and many other species, whilst Mermaid Lagoon is home to Pig and Wuru, the aquarium’s dugongs (or sea cows).

You can listen also listen to talks by experts, take a trip on a glass-bottomed boat, stop off for a bite to eat at the aquarium’s cafe and buy souvenirs in its two gift shops.

4. Koala Park Sanctuary (84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills, NSW)

The Koala Park Sanctuary was established during the 1920s in order to provide a safe place for koalas to live at a time when they were being hunted for their fur. It’s situated about 30 minutes’ drive from Sydney’s Central Business District.

The Koala Park Sanctuary covers 10 acres of rainforest and eucalyptus groves and is home to a range of animals and birds, including emus, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, echidnas and lorikeets, as well as koalas.

You can cuddle a koala and have your photo taken with it, watch the koalas being fed, and see presentations about the different animals. There is also a cafe and gift shop.

5. Featherdale Wildlife Park (217 – 229 Kildare Road, Doonside, NSW)

Featherdale Wildlife Park is situated in Doonside, about 45 minutes’ drive from the centre of Sydney, and claims to be home to the largest collection of Australian native animals in the world. The park attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Highlights include Ngukurr, the park’s 4.5 metre long saltwater crocodile; opportunities to have your photo taken with a koala; and the chance to watch pelicans, flying foxes and Tasmanian Devils being fed.

Many different airlines operate flights to Sydney from London and other major international airports, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels within the city.

1. Bangkok National Museum (Na Phrthat Rdm Phra Borommaharachawang Sub-district, Phra Nakorn District, Bangkok 10200).

The Bangkok National Museum is situated near to the Grand Palace and has three permanent exhibition galleries: the Thai History Gallery; the Decorative Arts and Ethnological Collection; and the Archaeological and Art History Collections. These galleries include a range of exhibits, including sculture, art works, ceramics, weapons, musical instruments, costumes and funeral chariots.

English descriptions of the items on display are provided and you can also take a tour with an English-speaking guide (on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9.30 a.m.). The Bangkok National Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission fees apply.

2. The Royal Barges Museum (Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700).

Opened during the 1970s, this museum houses eight beautiful and ornate Royal Barges. The barges were used by the Royal Family on state occasions and in the Royal Barge Procession, which is believed to date back as far as the 13th century. Highlights of the museum include the Suphannahong Royal Barge, used by the King, which has a golden swan figurehead.

The Royal Barges Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily (although it’s closed on the 31st of December, the 1st of January, and the 12th, 13th and 14th of April). Admission fees apply.

3. The National Gallery (4 Chao-Fa Rd., Pra Nakorn, Bangkok 10200).

The National Gallery was opened during the 1970s and houses both a permanent exhibition and regular temporary exhibitions. The permanent collection includes examples of traditional Thai art and works by major Thai artists such as Misiem Yipinsoi, Fua Haribitak and Chakabhan Posayakrit.

The National Gallery is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and public holidays. Admission fees apply.

4. The Royal Thai Air Force Museum (Paholyothin Rd, Bangkok).

Situated close to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum contains a range of exhibits, including a number of military aircraft. The museum opened in 1952 and highlights of its collection include the only Tachikawa trainer still in existence and the last Curtiss Model 68 Hawk III naval biplane.

The Royal Thai Air Force Museum is open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m daily (although it’s closed on public holidays).

5. Bangkok Folk Museum (273 Charoenkrung Soi 43, Bangkok)

Now owned and operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Bangkok Folk Museum was initially set up by Waraporn Surawadee, whose family owned one of the three houses which make up the museum today. Waraporn Surwadee set up the museum to display the furnishings and other items handed down to her by her mother, with the aim of showing visitors what life was like for middle-class people living in the city during the Second World War. The museum also now incorporates a house previously belonging to a British-born doctor, the late Dr. Francis Christian, and you can also see some of his belongings on display.

The Bangkok Folk Museum is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Many different airlines operate flights to Bangkok and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to the museums by public transport or by hire car.

Image: Masgatotkaca

1. The Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam’s most famous museum, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, is currently undergoing major restoration work, so you can only see a few of its 7 million exhibits. However, it’s still worth visiting the museum to see its “Masterpieces” collection, which is housed in the Philips Wing, and includes Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” and Vermeer’s “The Love Letter”. The renovations are due to be completed in 2013.

2. Anne Frank House – More than 1 million people visit Ann Frank House each year to explore the Secret Annex in which Anne Frank and her family hid between 1942 and 1944, when Amsterdam was occupied by the Nazis. It was in the Secret Annex that Anne wrote her now famous diary, and the original is now housed within the museum.

3.  The Stedelijk Museum – The Stedelijk Museum is Amsterdam’s famous modern art gallery, but unfortunately it’s currently closed for renovations and isn’t due to reopen until 2011. However, a “Temporary Stedlijk Museum” is due to open on the 28th of August 2010, and will be used to house art exhibitions and special events.

4.  Amsterdam Tulip Museum – This small museum includes exhibits relating to the history of Amsterdam’s tulip industry. There is also a museum shop, where you can buy a range of tulip-themed items and, if you fancy growing tulips or other fresh flowers at home, you can choose from a range of bulbs, which you can take with you or arrange to be shipped to your home.

5. The Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s works. You can see famous works such as “Sunflowers” (1889), “Irises” (1890), The Yellow House (1888) and The Potato Eaters (1885), as well as many other paintings by Van Gogh. The museum also has a collection of works by other 19th century artists, such as Gaugin, Monet and Seurat.

Image: Beatriz Busaniche

1. Bondi Beach

Probably the most famous of Sydney’s beaches, Bondi Beach is best known for attracting surfers from around the world. The beach has been open to the public since 1882 and was placed on Australia’s National Heritage List in 2008.

If you want to swim or surf at Bondi Beach, avoid the far northern end of the beach, as it’s known for its strong rip current. Instead, head to the southern end of the beach and, if you want to swim, look out for the red and yellow safety flags as you can swim between these safely. You can hire surf boards and boogie boards from a rental shop on the beach, and sufing lessons are also available.

If swimming and surfing don’t appeal, you can still enjoy a stroll along the promenade or adjacent parkland. There are also shops, cafes and restaurants on Campbell Parade.

Image: Kitson

2. Manly Beach

The Sydney suburb of Manly is one of Australia’s most popular seaside resorts. It’s situated about 7 miles north-east of Sydney’s Central Business District, and attracts both tourists and residents of Sydney. It will take you about 30 minutes to get to Manly from Sydney by either road or ferry.

Manly is situated on a peninsula, so there are many beaches nearby. The main stretch of surfing beach is made up of three beaches: South Steyne Beach, North Steyne Beach and Queenscliff Beach.

You can sunbathe, swim, surf or take part in a range of other watersports, take a stroll along the beachfront promenade, or enjoy one of the longer walks which begin in Manly (such as the Cabbage Tree Bay Coastal Walk). There are also a number of other attractions within Manly, including the Oceanworld Manly aquarium, and the Manly Art Gallery and Museum.

3. Palm Beach

Palm Beach is slightly further away from central Sydney than Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, and it will take you about an hour to get there by car. It’s a surfing beach and is most famous for being used to represent Summer Bay in the Australian soap opera “Home and Away”. It’s also known for being a haunt of the rich and famous, and there are some beautiful homes in the Palm Beach area.

4. Coogee Beach

Situated about 5 miles to the east of Sydney’s Central Business District, Coogee Beach is the perfect place to go to for a day-trip if you want to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. It’s popular with both locals and tourists, and is often referred to as “Sydney’s Seaside Village”. If you stand on the beach and look out to sea, you’ll see a rocky outcrop known as Wedding Cake Island and, if you’re up early enough, it’s worth heading to the beach to watch the sun rise whilst the surf crashes over the island. You can swim, surf, kayak and snorkel in the waters off of Coogee Beach, or simply relax and sunbathe.

A number of annual events are held at Coogee Beach, including the Island Challenge (in November), a 2km swimming race in which participants swim from the beach to Wedding Cake Island and back in order to raise money for the Coogee Surf Club.

5. Bronte Beach

Bronte Beach is only about a mile away from Bondi Beach, but it’s far less touristy. It’s extremely popular with locals, however, as it’s family friendly and a good place to surf. It has a great picnic area, complete with electric barbecues and shaded huts. Head to the tidal pool to swim, fish at the north end of the beach, or enjoy one of the coastal walks in the area.

Image: Cookaa

Many different airlines operate return flights to Sydney and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to most of the beaches by car or by public transport.

1. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens (Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney) are open daily throughout the year and admission is free of charge. The site’s feature gardens include a herb garden, a begonia garden and an Australian native rockery, and you can also explore its Rainforest Walk and Mrs Macquaries Bushland Walk. The Domain is an area of parkland which surrounds the botanic gardens.

2. Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Although there is a charge to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can walk across it for free. Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and it was officially opened in 1932. It will take you about 20 minutes to walk across the bridge, which is nicknamed “the Coathanger”, and you’ll get fantastic views of the harbour.

3. Visit a Museum or Gallery. There are a number of museums and galleries that you can visit free of charge in Sydney. You can visit the Australian National Maritime Museum (2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney), which houses more than 40,000 exhibits, including a number of historic vessels. Other free museums and galleries in Sydney include the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney), the Museum of Contemporary Art (140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney) and the Nicholson Museum (University of Sydney, Sydney).

4. Take a Tour of Government House. Sydney’s Government House (Macquarie Street, Sydney) was home to 27 Governors of New South Wales between the years 1846 and 1996. It was constructed on the site of the first Governor’s Residence, and features Gothic Revival style architecture. Guided tours of the house are available between 10.30am and 3pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The grounds and gardens are open daily between 10am and 4pm.

5. Relax in Bicentennial Park. Opened during the 1980s, Bicentennial Park is part of the larger Sydney Olympic Park, and it’s the perfect place to go for a relaxing and free day out. There are more than 8km of cycleways and pathways in the park, so you can take a stroll or hire a bike. You can also go birdwatching, enjoy a picnic or even have a barbecue. The park’s attractions include Lake Belvedere, the Silent Hearts Memorial Garden and the Peace Monument. There are also two playgrounds for younger children to enjoy.

Sydney is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. Many different airlines operate flights to Sydney from London and other major international airports, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels and attractions within the city.

Image: Karen

1. Old Spitalfields Market – Old Spitalfields Market is situated in London’s East End and it has its origins in the 17th century, when a food market was established at the site. For many years, Spitalfields Market was home to a wide range of fruit, vegetable and flower stalls, but these were moved to a new site in Leyton, known as “New Spitalfields Market” during the early 1990s.

Old Spitalfields Market (which is still often referred to as just Spitalfields Market) is housed inside a large Victorian market hall. Today, it includes a range of permanent shops and restaurants as well as its temporary market stalls. It’s open every day of the week except Saturday, but its busiest days are: Thursdays (when it hosts an antiques and vintage market); Fridays (when it hosts a fashion and arts market); and Sundays (a general market day).

You can get to Old Spitalfields Market by tube or bus. The nearest tube station is Liverpool Street.

2. Camden Market - The area of London often referred to as Camden Market is actually made up of a number of adjoining markets: Camden Lock Market, Camden Stables Market, Camden Canal Market, Buck Street Market, Inverness Street Market and the Electric Ballroom Market (the famous Electric Ballroom music venue hosts film and CD/record fairs on Saturdays and a clothing market on Sundays) . The markets are best-known for selling clothes, music, and arts & crafts, and for attracting goths, punks and other alternative music lovers. They are busiest at the weekends, particularly on Sundays.

The easiest way to get to the Camden Markets is by tube and the nearest tube station is Camden High Street. On Sundays, Camden High Street tube station is only open to arrivals, so you will need to walk to another tube station, such as Chalk Hill Farm, in order to leave Camden. You can also travel to Camden from other areas of London by bus or boat.

3. Columbia Road Flower Market – Situated in London’s East End, Columbia Road Flower Market features hundreds of stalls selling fresh flowers, plants, hanging baskets, shrubs and many other horticultural products. It’s open from 8am until 2pm every Sunday, so it’s the perfect place to go for a morning outing.

You can get to Columbia Road Flower Market by tube or bus. The nearest tube station is Old Street Station.

4. Portobello Road Market – One of London’s oldest and most famous markets, Portobello Road Market’s origins date back to the 1860s. However, it was in the 1950s that the market gained its reputation as a great place to find antiques. Since the 1960s, the market has also gained a reputation for selling fashionable clothes and accessories.

Portobello Road Market’s main trading day is Saturday (8 am until 6.30 pm) and you’ll find hundreds of stalls along the 2 mile stretch of street. It’s also open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 8am and 6.30pm, and on Thursdays, between 8am and 1pm. However, there are less stalls there on these days.

The easiest way to get to Portobello Road Market is by tube. The nearest tube station to the market is Notting Hill Gate, but Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park tube stations are also nearby.

5. Greenwich Market – Known for its fashionable arts & crafts stalls, Greenwich Market is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, between 10am and 5.30pm. It has more than 150 stalls and includes a food court area, where you can buy international cuisine, including Chinese and Caribbean dishes.

You can get to Greenwich Market by train (take the tube to Canary Wharf and then the Docklands Light Railway to Cutty Sark Gardens), by bus (the 177, 180, 188, 286 and 386 buses all go to Greenwich town centre) or by river boat (from Westminster, Waterloo, Embankment or Tower Piers).

Image: Adrian Pingstone

1. Visit a Museum. London is known for its world-class museums and many of them are free to visit. Museums that you can visit for free include: the Science Museum (Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD); the British Museum (Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG); the Natural History Museum (Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD); the Victoria and Albert Museum (Cromwell Road, London, SW& 2RL); and the National Maritime Museum (Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF).

2. Watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard ceremony, in which one set of the Queen’s guards hands over to another set, takes place every day from May to July and on alternate days during the rest of the year. The 45 minute ceremony takes place at 11.30 a.m., but it’s best to get there early to ensure that you get a good view.

3. Visit an Art Gallery. You can see world-famous works of art for free in many of London’s  galleries. Galleries that you can visit free of charge include: the Tate Britain (Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG); the Tate Modern (Bankside, London, SE1 9TG); the National Gallery (Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN); the Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4SQ); and the National Portrait Gallery (St. Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE).

4. Relax in London’s Royal Parks. London has eight Royal Parks, all of which are free to visit. Each of the parks has its own charm and attractions, and they are perfect places in which to take a relaxing stroll or enjoy a picnic. The Royal Parks are: Bushy Park; the Green Park; Greenwich Park; Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens; The Regent’s Park; Richmond Park; and St. James’s Park.

5. Visit the Houses of Parliament. If you’re a resident of the U.K., you can take a free tour of the Houses of Parliament, but you will need to book your place by contacting your M.P. at least 6 months prior to your visit. Both U.K. and overseas residents can take tours of the building during the summer recess, but you will need to queue up on the day and pay to do so.

However, both U.K. residents and visitors from overseas can watch debates taking place in the Houses of Parliament free of charge when Parliament is in session. Simply join the queue for tickets at the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. It’s best to avoid trying to watch Prime Minister’s Question Time, as tickets are limited and queues can be long.

Image: Adrian Pingstone