Arts
A cultural potpourri of colossal proportions, London boasts a range of architectural styles, several world-class museums, and a thriving theater and music scene. There's a bedazzling collection of bling-bling at the British Museum, where astounding ancient treasures include gold cups and chalices, and busts of Greek gods and goddesses. Get lost in the art-lined halls of the Tate, or see a Broadway show in the West End. Listen to a concert by the London Gay Symphony Orchestra, hear a performance by the Pink Singers, or bliss out to the sweet sounds of the London Gay Men's Chorus.

Royalty
Make like a queen and head to Buckingham Palace. As Head of State and as a unifying figure for the country, Queen Elizabeth's work is never done, and her influence is felt not just across the city of London, but across the entire Western world. Revel in this monarchic stronghold of female power. Out in front of the palace, the changing of the guard is a great chance to check out men in uniform.

Shopping
London's also a great town for anyone who likes to shop. Get your gay gear at Prowler Soho, or find your best accessories at The Boot Club and Expectations. At Piccadilly Circus, a sexy statue of Eros adds to the fun of window-shopping at a hodge-podge collection of boutiques. Head into department-store heaven at Harrods, or spring for some designer duds at Harvey Nichols. Saville Row is where to go for smart suits hand-tailored to perfection. If you're looking for Versace or Channel, head no further than Bond Street, where you can also participate in an auction at the revered Southby's.

Cross-Dressing
London's certainly got its share of good old-fashioned gender bending. Check out judges and lawyers proudly flaunting their powdered wigs at Old Bailey in Holborn, Charles Dickens' old stomping ground. Cross-dressing is as much fixture in The Bard's plays as is farce and tragedy, so be sure to pay a visit to the original location of the Globe Theatre, or take in a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. For more modern adventures, you can watch Convent Garden's campy face-painted street performers, or catch a drag show at various locales sprinkled across the metropolis.

Libations
Of course, no London outing is complete without a cuppa. In the afternoon, take part in the tradition of high tea with cucumber and watercress sandwiches. After dark, sample gin, vermouth, and olives in the country that invented the martini. If beer is your thing, then slide into one of the many lively pubs and order a pint (strongly recommended with fish and chips). And lest we forget the wine enthusiasts, there's an entire venue dedicated to Bacchus called Vinopolis.

Bookstores
Bibliophiles rejoice in a city that's inspired countless poems, novels, and treatises. With its frequent bouts of fog and rain, London's a great place for sitting in a café with a book while sipping tea or coffee. The Silver Moon Women's Bookstore sells mostly books by women writers, while Gay's The Word has self-help books, travelogues, erotica, and works of fiction that address the full spectrum of gender issues.