The Best Historic Experiences in London

Walking in the Footsteps of Sir Christopher Wren: The architect who rebuilt so much of London after the Great Fire of 1666 is best known for his churches. Walk from St. Bride's, on Fleet Street, past his icon, St. Paul's Cathedral, to St. Mary-le-Bow and beyond to appreciate his genius.

Shopping in the Grandest Department Store of Them All: And, no, it isn't Harrods. Liberty of London, 210-220 Regent St., W1 (tel. 020/7734-1234), was founded in 1875 and moved to its current half-timbered, mock-Tudor home in 1924. London's rediscovered hunger for classic fabrics and vintage style has seen Liberty catapulted right back to the forefront of cool. It's the West End's best shopping spot, but you'll need to pack the credit card.

Imagining Domestic Life Through the Ages: At the Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Rd., E2 (tel. 020/7739-9893; www.geffrye-museum.org.uk), period re-creations of interiors from the spartan 1630s to the flashy 1990s allow visitors to understand how home life has changed. Travel 500 years in an hour on an absorbing visual and personal retelling of the history of middle-class London.

Staying at a Classic Mayfair Hotel: From the Art Deco interiors of Claridge's, Brook St., W1 (tel. 020/7629-8860; www.claridges.co.uk), to the liveried door attendants of the Connaught, Carlos Place, W1 (tel. 020/7499-7070; www.the-connaught.co.uk), nothing screams historic London quite like the city's most upscale hotel area. Comfort has never gone out of style here, so start saving right away.

The Best Local Experiences

North London on a Lazy Sunday: Head for Hampstead Heath off Well Walk and take the right fork, which leads to an open field with a panoramic view across London. Backtrack for lunch at Wells, 30 Well Walk, NW3 (tel. 020/7794-3785), before a visit to Hampstead's Freud Museum or Keats House, both of which are open on Sunday until 5pm. Cap it all off with a pint in the Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount, NW3 (tel. 020/7435-2892).

A Bargain at London's Best Street Market: A jumble of open-air stalls and warrens of indoor arcades combine to make Portobello Road the quintessential West London market. Haggle hard and you'll likely get 10% to 15% off the asking price. Saturday's the best day to come, when even the crowds won't ruin your fun.

A Night on the Tiles South of the River: Young revelers pour into buzzing Brixton after dark, despite the area's historical rep for edginess. Try Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 (tel. 020/7733-7515), for everything from house DJs to cabaret, or the O2 Academy Brixton, 211 Stockwell Rd., SW9 (tel. 020/7771-3000;