Enter the Thames River Path. Stretching for nearly 200 miles through England’s countryside, the path starts in Gloucestershire, winds its way through various towns and villages, and finally ends on the outskirts of London. I know what you must be thinking... but no, we most certainly did not do the entire trek (though it might be fun to do it one day). We picked up the path near the Tower of London Bridge, and slowly made our way down to the Tate British Museum, which we were pleasantly surprised to find open late in the afternoon. By Trixie’s rough calculations, we walked nearly 8 miles over the course of a few hours, which not only gave us a good bit of exercise the day before we’d be sitting on an airplane for 9 hours, but also emphatically whetted our whistles for a few pints of ale later that evening.

One of only 13 National Trails in the entire country, the Thames River Path can be walked by just about anyone. All you’ll need is a comfortable pair of shoes and a trusty camera to snap photos of all the great views and sights you’ll see along the way: Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower of London, the Millennium Bridge, and Big Ben, to name but a few. You might also pack some snacks and water for the walk.

The signs lining the Thames River do a great job of steering you in the right direction, and there are a few historical landmarks to check out, too. We were especially intrigued by the monument to the World Wars, which pointed out that the clearly evident marks and holes in the statues and along the concrete walkway were caused by bullets, mortar shells, and flying debris.

Get out and burn off all those calories from last night’s pub crawl!

I like to begin by getting out of the Mansion House or Black Friar tube stations, then following the signs to the Millenium Bridge. The Millenium Bridge is one of the nicest bridges in London, mainly because it's bus, black cab, and noisy car free. It's a pedestrian bridge that links the two sides of the Thames together. When you walk across, you'll come upon the Tate Modern. Take a peak into the museum - it's completely free, and they always have a wonderful selection of modern art to enjoy. When I went in February of 2004, their featured exhibit at the time, which was displayed in their main great hall, was a replication of the glowing sun. It was quite fantastic! Londoners who haven't seen much of the sun came and laid on the floor to say that they laid out in the middle of February!

After the Tate, follow the signs towards Waterloo Bridge. Along the way, you'll find much more. Under the Black Friar’s Bridge, you'll find second-hand book vendors with tables and tables full of classics like Austen and Hemingway, or newer novels and how-to books. One Saturday, I spent 10 quid on four books, and it was a good deal. Along with the book fairs, there are tons of shops and boutiques along the Thames--just take the time to walk into each store and browse. It's far from what you'd find on Bond or Oxford Street. After the Black Friar’s Bridge, you'll get a good view of the Parliament building on the other side of the Thames. Not too far from the Waterloo bridge is the London Eye. There are many things to do around this area. There's the Saatchi Gallery, Dali Universe, and if you're hungry, there are tons of little cafes, pubs, and even a McDonald’s in one of the buildings nearby. Take a ride on the Eye, get a wonderful full view of the Thames, St. James Park, the Palace, Downing Street, and of course, Big Ben and the Parliament Building. The Eye is certainly worth the 9 or 11 quid you pay. I got some excellent pictures from my view in the Eye. There are tons of things to do on this side of the Thames, if you take time to explore the full length of it. You never know what you'll discover!

The River Thames was the artery for much of the country’s commerce from Roman times until the 1950’s. Today the river is one of London’s foremost leisure amenities, with wharves and warehouses converted into riverside marinas, bars, and restaurants. One of the most enjoyable ways to see the capital is by boat and the most popular river trips travel downstream from the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge.

The most popular boat trips run through central London round the year, with reduced schedules in winter. During the summer, sailing times are frequent between Westminster and Greenwich, with a boat arriving every half hour to an hour. Often accompanied by witty commentary, a cruise along this fascinating stretch of the Thames should not be missed.

Trips can also be taken further afield, with launched heading downstream from Greenwich to the Thames Barrier, and awesome inspiring work o modern engineering. The cruise takes 30 minutes one-way and sails past industrial sites. Heading upstream to picturesque Kew from Westminster leaves the city behind, after sailing through Hammersmith and passing some of the city’s most startling landmarks, including Battersea Power Station and the MI6 building, headquarters of the internal security service. It’s possible to head even further upstream to Richmond and Hampton Court, but be forewarned that tidal conditions can hamper the journey.