London attracts 30 million tourists each year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The capital city is also a great place for British people to learn about their own heritage with fantastic historic monuments and a rich cultural history. With loads of great deals on London hotels, it makes a great place for a weekend away. Here are five of the best reasons to book into one of the many cheap hotel rooms in London and spend a weekend exploring the capital:

The London Eye

What better way to see London than to actually see the whole of London? On a clear day the world's largest observation wheel offers views as far as Windsor Castle, an impressive 25 miles away! With a number of flight options to choose from, including private capsules, champagne flights, river cruise combos and even an Afternoon Tea Capsule, tickets sell quickly, so it's advisable to book beforehand.

St Paul's Cathedral

There's no better time to see St Paul's Cathedral than now. Over the last decade, a £40 million restoration project has restored the magnificent building back to its original glory, meaning Christopher Wren's masterpiece and London's most famous cathedral can now be appreciated as it would have looked in 1708 when it was first built.

Madame Tussauds

At the moment, highlights of the popular waxwork museum include a new figure of The Queen in honour of her Diamond Jubilee. It took four months to create and cost £150,000. There's also an impressive line up of A-list film stars including Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Marilyn Monroe, sports stars such as David Beckham, Muhammad Ali and Olympic hopeful Tom Daley and music megastars like Rihanna, Justin Beiber, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

Buckingham Palace

For a brief period each summer, while the Windsors' are on holiday, their home is opened up to the public. On show are the State Rooms which are still used to entertain dignitaries and guests of state, a large number of the Queen's personal jewels and a special diamond exhibition to mark the Queen's 60<sup>th year on the throne.

The Houses of Parliament

Providing an impressive view across the river from South Bank, The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are formed from a wonderful mish-mash of styles. Dominated by neo-Gothic buttresses, towers and arches, it looks much older than its 150 years. For a close-up look, UK residents can arrange a tour of the Clock Tower through their local MP or member of the House of Lords.

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