If You Have 1 Day

No first-time visitor should leave London without a visit to Westminster Abbey, with its Poet's Corner (where Browning, Dickens, and Chaucer, among others, are buried) and royal tombs. Also see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace if it's on, and walk to 10 Downing Street, home of the prime minister. After lunch, see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Dine at one of the little restaurants in Covent Garden such as Porter's, owned by the Earl of Bradford . Try one of their classic English pies (maybe lamb and apricot). For a pre-theater drink, head over to the ultimate Victorian pub, the Red Lion in Mayfair; it's the kind of place Oscar Wilde might have chosen for a brandy. If you're so inclined, head for a play, musical, or drama in the West End. London has the best English-language theater in the world, and the offerings are even greater than those of New York.

If You Have 2 Days

Day 1 Spend Day 1 as above.

Day 2 Devote a good part of the day to exploring the British Museum, one of the world's best museums. In the afternoon, visit the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels (expect slow-moving lines). Later, go to a local place for dinner, such as Shepherd's in Westminster, where you can dine alongside MPs from the House of Commons. Perhaps you'll catch another play this evening or head for one of London's nightclubs to dance the night away.

If You Have 3 Days

Days 1-2 Spend Days 1 and 2 as above.

Day 3 In the morning, take in the masterworks at the National Gallery. For a change of pace in the afternoon, head to Madame Tussaud's waxworks if you have kids in tow. In the evening, take in a West End play or a performance at the National Theatre or at Queen Elizabeth Hall at South Bank Centre.

If You Have 4 or 5 Days

Days 1-3 Spend Days 1, 2, and 3 as above.

Day 4 In the morning, head for the City, London's financial district. Your major sightseeing here will be Sir Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral. In the afternoon, head for King's Road in Chelsea for boutique hopping and to dine at one of Chelsea's restaurants. Later, take in a show at a Soho nightclub, such as Ronnie Scott's, which features some of the city's best jazz.

Day 5 Explore the Victoria and Albert Museum in the morning. Then go to the Tate Britain Gallery for a look at some of its masterpieces, and have lunch at its restaurant, which offers some of the best values on wine in Britain. For a glimpse of the dark days of World War II, visit the Cabinet War Rooms at Clive Steps, where Churchill directed British operations in the war against the Nazis. Spend the evening at the theater, or take a themed walking tour.