

The London Olympics kick off in just 10 days now and as part of our focus on London (and indeed the UK as a whole) we have also blogged about the 10 must-see London attractions, 10 best shopping locations in London and 10 Cultural things to do in London. Enjoy!
Southbank Centre, SE1, South London The Southbank Center, so called because of its location on the South Bank of the Thames, is the biggest artistic center in Europe. Hundreds of paid performances, both musical and theatrical, take place here, and there is also an education program. The center was built only in 1951, and there is talk of linking two of the buildings. The centre regularly hosts free events, exhibitions and performances with live music on Friday evenings and lunchtimes. Current free events include an exhibition by Korean artist Kim Beom, music from the British cellist Natalie Clein and visitors are invited to sing and play along to Billy Bragg's Big Busk. Check the website for the latest events, times and details. The British Film Institute’s Mediatheque, W1T, South London This is another artistic venue. Hidden beneath the Waterloo Bridge (a major tourist attraction in its own right), the Mediatheque was created in 2007, giving the public access to many National Film & TV Archive treasures that had previously been inaccessible. The BFI are talking of opening similar places all over the country with the second Mediatheque already open in Derby. The Bank of England Museum, EC2R, City of London One of the most prominent banks in Europe for many years, the Bank of England operates a free museum where one may see displayed various historic banknotes and a coin issued in 1694, the year the bank was first founded; books and documents dating from the same period; decorative furniture (a globe, a set of chairs designed for the governor’s room, and the Great Iron Chest); artifacts made of silver; statues of people who played a role in the bank’s history; and miscellaneous objects, including an old typewriter. The museum is open Monday to Friday only from 10am to 5pm, except for special events. [caption id="attachment_3717" align="aligncenter" width="600"]