Albert Memorial Kensington Gardens SW7 Underground: High St. Kensington or Gloucester Rd.
This memorial was erected in 1872 in memory of Prince Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria, following his death in 1861. Queen Victoria was Britain's longest reigning monarch, notching up a total of 64 years, between 1837-1901. After a ten year complete restoration, the 53 metre high monument was unveiled in late 1999. Definitely worth a visit. FREE

Brompton Cemetery Finborough Road SW10 Underground: West Brompton or Earl's Court
Fascinating to explore. Resting place of the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and some other notable people. FREE

Holland Park W8 Underground: High Street Kensington, Holland Park
Located on the other side of High Street Kensington to Kensington Gardens, this park is my favourite. There is a beautiful Japanese garden, the Kyoto Garden, which is very serene and peaceful. Don't tell anyone, but this is probably the only park in central London where there are more local people than foreign visitors! FREE

Kensington Palace & Gardens W8 Underground: High Street Kensington, Bayswater, Queensway Website: Historic Royal Palaces website
The palace has been a home at one time or another to various royals including Queen Victoria, who was born here in 1819, Princess Margaret, and perhaps most famously, the late Princess Diana. You can visit the Palace all year round - see here for opening times. On view are the State Apartments; the room where Queen Victoria was baptised; some of the royal art collection and the royal dress collection, which includes dresses worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. Kensington Gardens includes the pretty Sunken Gardens and the Orangery where (slightly pricey) afternoon tea is served. Kensington Gardens also provides a nice walk between High Street Kensington and Bayswater, and vice versa. The Broadwalk is also officially designed for rollerblading, so oil your blades and bring them too.

Natural History Museum Cromwell Road SW7 Tel: 0171-938 9123 Underground: South Kensington Website: www.nhm.ac.uk
Opened in 1881 to display the British Museum's natural history collection, this huge museum has had several high-tech refits since. Perhaps best to go in summer to avoid the school groups (which have in the past included me!), highlights are the Creepy-Crawly, Human Biology, Ecology and Earth galleries. Open 10am-5.50pm Monday to Saturday, 11am-5.50pm Sunday. FREE

Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 Tel: 0171-589 3203 Box Office: 0171-589 8212 Underground: Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Knightsbridge
Best known for the annual prom concerts, this is a venue for all kinds of one-off specials, including rock, pop or classical concerts, award ceremonies, and even tennis tournaments (the December 2003 Honda Tennis Challenge, featuring Boris Becker and John McEnroe)! The only way to see inside, as there are no tours, is to attend a event, so check local concert and events listings.

Science Museum Exhibition Road SW7 Tel: 0171-938 8000 Underground: South Kensington Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
An endearing memory of the Science Museum for me is the countless school trips to the Launch Pad, a hands-on and fun experience of science, especially for kids. However, as you would expect, this museum is crammed full of science and technology exhibits, past, present and future. Open 10am-6pm daily. FREE

Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road SW7 Tel: 0171-938 8441 Underground: South Kensington Website: www.vam.ac.uk
The museum contains the world's greatest collection of decorative arts as well as the national sculpture collection. Check the website for the latest new exhibitions, and those that are to open soon. The museum is open 10am-5.45pm daily, 10am-10pm Wednesdays and the last Friday of every month. FREE

Something that may also be worth a visit is the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in Fulham Road. This futuristic hospital is one of the newest. Just walk in and take a look around the art display in the foyer and have a snack in the cafeteria. (Also one of the most efficient accident and emergency departments - EU citizens and countries with reciprocal arrangement get free treatment.)