B&B in London

Forget the double-decker bus tours – the real London reveals itself when ducking into centuries-old pubs where Shakespeare might have scribbled sonnets over ale. The British Museum houses treasures from every civilisation, all available without spending a penny. Witness the ancient ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London, then compare crown jewels to the sparkling skyline from the London Eye's glass pods. Theater-lovers can score half-price West End tickets at Leicester Square's TKTS booth. Trafalgar Square's pigeons have been banished, but the people-watching remains superb. For a perfect afternoon, grab picnic supplies at Borough Market before sprawling on the grass in Hyde Park, watching locals pretend the fleeting sunshine is perfectly normal.