TOURS

The Original London Walks 20/7624-9255, walks.com
Exhaustive, wide-ranging selection of historical tours on foot. The Jack the Ripper walk is arguably the best known, but it's worth exploring some of the more esoteric options: Shakespearean actor Edward Petherbridge still leads occasional theatrical jaunts, for example. Price: £5.50.

Original London Sightseeing Tour 20/8877-1722, theoriginaltour.com
Traditional tour by bus--in a double-decker, no less--which hits all the city's major sights in 90 minutes or so. You can hop on and off at any point on the route; tickets are available at most hotels or London Transport offices. Price: £15.

Silvercane Tours 772/071-5295, silvercanetours.com
Simon Rodway is a qualified Blue Badge guide, with unbeatable historical knowledge; what sets him apart is his wit and the offbeat topics of his tours, which range from Bridget's Big Knickers Walk to the forgotten bohemian enclave of Fitzrovia. Price: £100 for private individual or group tours

NUMBERS TO KNOW

All London phone numbers start with "7" (central) or "8" (outer neighborhoods). Add a "0" before numbers when dialing within the U.K.