National Portrait Gallery

The museum is full of several floors of all kinds of paintings and art and is most interesting, as well as a respite when you're tired of walking in the hot outdoors. The cafe at the top of the museum I cannot comment on, because we sat there for 30 minutes before finally leaving while nobody came to take our order.

I actually liked this better than the adjacent National Gallery. It's essentially an art museum for history buffs. You get to see thousands of portraits of all those famous Brits, from kings to poets to physicists throughout Britain's glorious and fascinating history. In a nutshell, it's a who's who of Britain, wrapped up in one museum.

There was also a bizarre but memorable temporary exhibition of various athletes (possibly gearing up for London 2012) during my visit. Inside, you'll find a bunch of athletes and olympians posing nude for AIDS awareness, including French footballer Thierry Henry, one of the Williams tennis sisters, and of course...wait for it.....Buffalo Bills wideout TERRELL "T.O." OWENS! There was also a downright creepy "portrait," which was a continuous loop of a video of David Beckham asleep.

Very much different from the National Gallery. I'd say the National Portrait Gallery is well worth a visit in its own right.

This free gallery is well set-out and is a wonderful way to spend a relaxed few hours in the busy capital.

You can travel through the ages, viewing royalty, politicians or Damon from Blur.

Simply my favourite gallery of a wide and excellent choice in London, not to be missed.