With just 12 weeks until 2012, London & Partners, the official promotional company for London has suggested 12 great things to do in the capital before this momentous year begins. With many experiences only available until the end of the year – there has never been a better time to visit London.
For more ideas about what’s on in London over the next few months, go to www.visitlondon.com/limited-edition-london
Week 1
Discover your inner child and delve into the captivating world of witches, wizards, fairies, elves, dragons, magicians and illusionists at the V&A Museum of Childhood’s new exhibition Magic Worlds.
Week 2
Watch Roald Dahl’s much-loved classic Matilda come alive in this brand new musical from 18th October 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre.
Week 3
Keep the kids out of trouble during half term and join storyteller-in-residence Seema Anand for an alternative tour of the National Maritime Museum. She will take you and your family diving beneath the surface of the gallery and get you talking about the unexpected things you might find there on 24th, 26th & 28th October 2011.
Week 4
Visit The British Museum from the 6th October 2011 – 8th January 2012 and see Grayson Perry: The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman with an eclectic selection of objects from right across world cultures, from Polynesian fetishes to Buddhist votive offerings as well as Perry’s own artwork especially for the exhibition.
Week 5
Take in the largest collection of works by the great master Leonardo Da Vinci, at one of the most exciting exhibitions this year. Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan is at the National Gallery from 9th November 2011.
Week 6
On 12th November 2011, enjoy vibrant samba dancing, military marching bands and a host of entertainment as the legendary Lord Mayor’s Show winds its way through the heart of London. The finale will be a spectacular fireworks display on the Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.
Week 7
From 16th November 2011, head along the river to the Design Museum to see Terence Conran: The Way We Live Now. Coinciding with Sir Terence Conran’s 80th birthday, this major exhibition celebrates his contribution to, and influence on, the world of design.
Week 8
Indulge in a Thanksgiving Feast at JW Steakhouse on 24th November 2011. Guests can choose from a delicious 3 course menu including clam chowder, lump crab cakes, traditional turkey with all the trimmings, Loch Duart salmon, sweet potato mash and JW creamed spinach. Desserts include triple chocolate cake, pumpkin pie or Bettie’s bread pudding. Yum!
Week 9
‘Have a Bubble’ at the Museum of London Docklands on 24th November 2011 with some of the brightest new comics this side of the Bow Bells with Mock the Week’s Miles Jupp, Paul Sweeney, Jim Campbell and Suzi Ruffell.
Week 10
Get into the festive spirit with a mulled wine and mince pie experience on the EDF Energy London Eye. Individual Mulled Wine Experiences are also on offer, as well as the Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Private Capsule and Champagne tasting.
Week 11
On 10th & 11th December 2011 the world’s largest traffic-free shopping event returns to London’s West End for a Christmas celebration and shopping extravaganza. Oxford Street and Regent Street will be closed to traffic across the weekend to celebrate the American Express Shop West End VIP (Very Important Pedestrians) Weekend.
Week 12
Find your inner scrooge … at the Museum of London from 9th December 2011. This fascinating exhibit named, A Tale of One Man and his City is largest exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. It will reveal that Dickens was the first great novelist of the modern city and the age of mass culture. Original and rarely seen manuscripts of his most famous novels, including Bleak House and David Copperfield, will be on show.
Useful links:
Hotels in London
B&Bs in London
Self-catering in London
Tourist attractions in London
Our A to Z of the UK is an opportunity for us all to share our knowledge of the UK and hopefully discover one or two gems along the way. Today we’d like to hear what your favourite place in the UK is, that begins with the letter ‘F’. It can be a city, a town or a tiny village. Or it can be something more specific such as a particular tourist attraction. Whatever or wherever it is, please post a comment and tell us what makes it special…
Scooby Doo will be gracing 
Attention won’t only be on the UK next year because of the London 2012 Olympics, but also because of 
Thousands of people have lined the streets of Wootton Bassett today as the town takes on a new title: Royal Wootton Bassett. Its the first time in over a century (since Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1909) that a place has been granted such an honour. In Wootton Bassett’s case, it’s to honour its role in repatriating British military personnel killed in war. Signs have already been erected to mark the change.
Every weekend we bring you a semi-random selection of UK travel links to encourage our visitors to get to know some places in the UK that they might not otherwise be familiar with. Click on each link below to discover more. Or, if you’re a UK travel-related business and would like to be listed in a future UK travel links of the week blog post, then 
If you happen to be in Cornwall next month, you might like to look up the 
