London Calling
With the nuptials of Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle, London has been the focus of the world’s attention recently, but there are still plenty of good reasons to head to the British capital this summer.
Vroom, vroom! The London Motorcycle Museum, located in Greenford (West London), has more than 170 machines and dozens of other exhibits on permanent display, including a 1902 Ormonde; an Austin 7 engine housed in a Norton frame; countless racers and road bikes from makers such as ABC and Zenith; and the Crosby collection, which includes 50 Triumphs. The museum is typically open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, but private tours can be arranged. Head over to london-motorcycle-museum.org for more information.
If you’ve ever dreamed of cracking seemingly unsolvable crimes (who doesn’t have an inner sleuth?), check out the Sherlock Holmes Museum, located at (you guessed it) 221B Baker Street. No, you won’t actually be asked “whodunnit”—instead, this jam-packed townhouse is full of Victorian-era artifacts and furniture (many of which were mentioned in the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle), mannequins dressed as some of Doyle’s most famous characters, period-era photographs and paintings, and a remarkable selection of letters that have been sent over to the years to this timeless fictional hero. It’s the case of the Irresistible Tourist Attraction. Uncover more at sherlock-holmes.co.uk.
The beautiful Southbank Centre ranks among the world’s finest state-of-the-art venues to hear classical music or watch dance. But right now, fans of the world’s most famous Swedish pop group should flock there for “ABBA: Super Troupers,” a truly remarkable immersive exhibition devoted to the unforgettable foursome. A personal tour guide will take you and your group through nine different rooms, ranging from a recording studio to the cabin of a private airplane, where you can view the quartet’s actual costumes, look at lyric sheets, learn more about ABBA’s fascinating personal and professional history—and of course, sing along to such megahits as “Dancing Queen” if the spirit moves you. Get the full details at southbankcentre.co.uk.
