The 2012 Olympics host is aka “the world in a city”, and a lot here's instantly recognised all over the globe: London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc. The weather's as lousy as you've been told, but no self-respecting culture buff could go past the Tate Modern, National Gallery or the West End theatre. Getting about is too easy, with 24-hour buses, Tramlink and The Tube. Heathrow Airport's 22 km west of the CBD.