29. Indulgent And Virtuous: A London Spa Day

Like millions of people in this city I work at a computer all day, hump heavy bags all over London and successfully store all angst and worry in my shoulders and back.  And, like most, I need a way to decompress from time to time, a way to get rid of all that frustration and tension. No, I’m not talking about THAT! Honestly!

28. A Rich and Poignant Past: Wartime London

Showing the Imperial War Museum to a newcomer to London recently, I was reminded of how little attention most of us pay to the heritage of wartime London all around us.

With the richness of the 21st century city on offer and our ever-busy lives, it’s easy to understand why. Yet the spirit and the shape of this great city are so inseparable from its times at war, and there are so many opportunities to see and find out more, it can be really rewarding to spend a little time learning about the experiences of the city during wartime.

27. Celebrating British: THE London Tour for Visitors to Blighty

Last week London was named the world’s best destination by TripAdvisor, having already taken Lonely Planet’s ‘best city to visit’ title in October of last year. With the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics still to come, 2012 is likely to be a bumper year for foreign visitors to the city, if they can get out of Heathrow.

It’s more than likely that someone you know will be visiting London from outside the UK this year as a result. Yet I’ve always struggled when faced with that inevitable demand to “show me around London for a day.” My reaction is usually somewhere between unproductive cynicism (“how about experiencing some record-breaking April rainfall?”) and a distinct lack of imagination (“London Eye it is then”).

So, here are some ideas for impressing your visitors on their trip to London with a truly British experience.

26. The Best Seats in London: Eating on the Bar

They may be the only seats left in the restaurant when you try to call up for a last minute reservation, but I think counter top seats are the best in the house. Whether it is at Riding House Cafe, my personal favourite, Bocca di Lupo or Mishkins, counter-top seating offers the same menu but with that little bit of added atmosphere and entertainment. What’s more, you’re more likely to get the waiter’s attention faster and therefore have your second (third, fourth....) cocktail in hand in next no time.

24. London's 'Ripping' Yarn: Jack the Ripper Tour

I know it sounds naff, touristy, and outright geeky, but the Jack the Ripper tour by London Walks deserves a place as one of the 100 Great Things About London. Please keep reading. I’ll explain; if you love London, which you do, and you don't mind a bit of history then it will interest you. Parts of London which you walk past every day suddenly come alive with meaning and significance; if that pushes your buttons then it’s a must. If you're not that into history, then please it you may even enjoy it more.

The Maguiver-esk tour guide thunders through his pre-rehearsed lines, gory detail after gory detail with as much empathy as the shipping forecast. As a hardened veteran of Victorian London he is no stranger to the blood stained cobbles of the East End and spares no expense in recounting each of the ripper’s murders to a mob of blood thirsty tourists. This is hilarious.

23. Lights, Stars, Music: A Date at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

For an atmospheric night of theatre, entertainment and romance you cannot beat the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park. Because of the glorious British weather, the Open Air Theatre only runs during the “summer” months (May to September) but it is a must for anyone who hasn’t been. Last year’s Crazy for You was an all-singing-all-dancing extravaganza and I loved every minute of it. The show wasn't something I usually would jump at to go see, if it was showing in the usual West End theatres, but at Regent’s Park it was an absolute treat!

22. No Timid Thames: An Amazing Slice of London's River

That big blue (sometimes dank) streak of water which runs through London: where the boats float by, modern high rise apartments fill the banks, and tourists climb on top of one another to get the best photo of Big Ben! Yes, we all 'know' the Thames. But do the majority of people know what lies beyond East of Tower Bridge and West of Vauxhall Bridge?

Having spoken to many...it seems not. And there is one slice that deserves a closer look. A part of the Thames that is untamed, naturally protected and provides ample opportunity for various daytime and nighttime activities. A part you wouldn't know unless you reside in close proximity to it.

21. The Magnificent Seven: London's Beautiful Crypts

“You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.”

No, not spaghetti westerns: London historian Hugh Meller used the phrase ‘the magnificent seven’ for the first time in 1981 to refer to the group of large Victorian cemeteries established between 1832 and 1841 to deal with the problem of overflowing graveyards in inner London.

20. A Great Saturday AM Ritual: Pottering about Borough Market

Here's my $.02 (£.01?...) on one of most obvious-but oft overlooked places in London that makes London such an incredible place: Borough Market....

I have a confession:  I get up earlier on Saturday morning than I ever do during the week for work.  Crazy, I know-but this is what you do when want to be at Borough Market before 8.30am on a Saturday!  This is what you do to get the best pick of the fruit and veg, guarantee that the queue at Monmouth Coffee won’t be around the block, and ensure that the crowds are quiet enough to where you can actually have a chat with the traders without feeling like you're bothering them.

19. Oasis of Calm in London’s heart: Picnic in Phoenix Gardens

When you are stuck in town on a sunny day with hot pavement beneath your feet and air full of exhaust fumes, it all can get a bit too much.  Luckily tucked behind the Odeon on Shaftesbury Avenue, close to the hustle and bustle of Soho and the exhausting entertainments of Covent Garden is a little oasis of calm. Phoenix Gardens are the ideal place to take a picnic (or just a coffee or book) and relax for a while.