There is a magnificent clock in the 320-foot St. Stephen's Tower. Its face measures 23 feet across. The minute hand, which is 14 feet long, travels the height of an average man every five minutes. Old pennies are used as weights to control the accuracy of the clock that is recognized as a symbol of London around the world.

It just isn't Big Ben. Big Ben is actually a 13-ton bell - inside the clock - that was completed in 1859. The deep tones echo across Parliament Square.

Across the Thames stands a newer symbol of the city, built to commemorate the 2000 millennium. The London Eye is the world's tallest observation wheel. Standing 450 feet tall, it offers a view that can stretch to 25 miles on a clear day. The Eye carries 800 passengers on the 30-minute revolution in 32 room-sized pods.

Experiencing London is more than watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. You can make wax rubbings of the monuments from Westminster Abbey. You'll see the famous ravens on the lawn at the Tower of London, just below the Tower Bridge. The parks and gardens that weave through the city are perfect for an afternoon stroll - and don't miss the lights of Picadilly Circus at night. There is great theater and Indian cuisine. Shopping at Harrods and double-decker buses.

Young women might find the Florence Nightingale Museum inspiring. Located within St. Thomas Hospital where she worked during the Crimean War in the 1850s, its artifacts include the lantern she carried on rounds, earning her the moniker of "the Lady of the Lamp."

Local Jazz Fest revelers would enjoy a visit to London during the Notting Hill Carnival. The largest event of its kind in Europe, the carnival has a decidedly Caribbean flavor. Held during the last weekend in August, this typically trendy West London suburb is transformed into a loud swaying, swinging street party. The scent of island flavors like blackened corn on the cob and jerk chicken are everywhere. And the music: From the shrill of whistles in the street to reggae and steelpan, the air is filled with calypso sound and colorful troupes of costumed dancers. Sunday, August 24th is designated as children's day, but the party will heat up on Monday with the festival parade that defines the Notting Hill Carnival to most visitors. It's like Mardi Gras - in the Caribbean - turned up full blast!

London is a bustling treasure of sights and sensations. It is a cosmopolitan city that will touch your soul. Current inexpensive travel opportunities to London are so abundant that there's never been a better time to visit our old friends "across the pond." In fact, a family visit to London can cost less than a trip to Disneyworld. Instead of a Peter Pan ride over the London skyline, take your children to see the real thing!