Tilbury is near central London and just down the river from the iconic Tower Bridge; it is also the gateway to Kent and the charming towns of south east of England. Between touring the Tate and standing before the gates of Buckingham Palace, go for a stroll through Hyde Park’s vast greenery toward Serpentine Lake, where you take a dip, go boating or enjoy a picnic. Among the lesser-known highlights of London is the British Library, where you may see a scribbled page of Beatles songwriting or a Leonardo da Vinci notebook. There are some stunning illuminated scripts and landmark-scientific items too, including very early photographs.