Like New York, London has a vibrant theater community – and there are dramas, comedies, classics and musicals running year-round. The majority of theaters are located in the West End, in and around Soho and Covent Garden.

The majority of tourists flock to the most popular shows: the musicals. Some have been running for years and should present no problem as far as booking when you arrive in London (like The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, and We Will Rock You). Other musicals are much more popular and tickets need to be purchased in advance if you want a specific date and time (i.e. The Lion King, Mamma Mia).

The new trend is for Hollywood celebrities to work on the London stage, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see American actors like Christian Slater in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or Juliette Lewis in Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love. Kevin Spacey is now the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre, and he often appears in its productions. Many British actors familiar to American tourists (like Jeremy Irons and Judi Dench) can also be seen regularly on the stage.

Theater tickets are expensive, made more so because of the current exchange rate. The Society of London Theatre, which is made up of theater managers and owners, has set up a permanent discount ticket booth in the center of Leicester Square called tkts. While you wait in line, notice boards show you which matinee and evening performances are available for same-day discounted seating. When you get to the window, simply purchase your tickets with cash or a credit card and you’re set. (If you’ve been to Times Square in Manhattan, it works the same way.) There is a second outlet now in the Docklands area, at Canary Wharf Docklands Light Railway Station. This is primarily for the large number of professionals and office workers who are now employed in the Docklands high-rise buildings, but may be more central to you depending on where you’re staying. A warning: tkts Canary Wharf only takes credit/debit cards; no cash.

If you have computer access from your hotel or flat, you can visit the Society’s website www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/ to see what tickets are available that day only. There is also great information on theater locations and performance times, casts, and an online ticket agent courtesy of Ticketmaster.

If you want to see a particular show that is not on sale at the tkts booth, phone or visit the theater’s box office. Expect the tickets to be full-priced, but occasionally there are specials available.

A final warning: many ticket agents call themselves the “official London half-priced ticket agency” or some other similar language. This is meant to confuse tourists. Although the vast majority of these outlets are legitimate ticket agencies, the discounts they are offering are not always 25% - 50% off like the ones at the tkts booth. They may also charge booking fees far greater than the £2.50 per seat fee that the Society charges. If you do decide to purchase seats from these agencies, ensure that they members of The Society of Ticket Agents & Retailers (STAR). Avoid purchasing any tickets from individuals on the street or in front of the theaters. While you may indeed receive a good bargain for a show that you want, you may also be a victim of fraud with very little recourse in retrieving your money – and you’ve missed out on a wonderful evening at the theater.

Tea was first imported to England in the 1600s, and “tea” became its own mid-afternoon meal in the 1800s. In the 21st century, tea has become a mandatory experience for every tourist who visits London.

This wonderful British tradition of having tea between lunch and dinner takes a variety of forms. To many, it’s simply a break towards the end of the working day for a cup of tea and a biscuit. For some, it’s a “fourth daily meal” consisting of sandwiches and pastries. There is much confusion for Americans, who often use the phrase “high tea” to actually describe “afternoon tea.” High tea is a complete meal, unlike the cake and finger sandwiches most visitors expect. Also, a “champagne tea” is, quite simply, an afternoon tea served with a glass of champagne.

Afternoon tea food is often served on a three-tiered tray, with sandwiches on the bottom (including the traditional cucumber, but also ham, salmon, egg salad and other selections). The middle tier contains fresh scones, to be eaten with cream, jam or both. The top tier holds delicate pastries and desserts to finish off the meal. Choosing a tea can be as difficult as selecting an outfit. It all depends on what mood you’re in, and what taste is most appealing. Going for the usual Earl Gray or Darjeeling may not be a bad idea if it’s your first experience.

There are several different types locations to choose from when deciding where to take tea, but please know that the most popular restaurants and hotels book well in advance. You should always call first to avoid disappointment.

Hotels seem to be the most popular places for tourists to indulge in a fancy afternoon tea. Please remember that dress codes are taken seriously, and tourists in jeans and shorts will need to change before going. In fact, jackets and ties are still expected for the men. The Ritz, the Savoy, the Dorcester, and Claridge’s are all very popular choices for their elegance, quality and history.

Department stores, including Harrod’s and Fortnum and Mason’s, also offer a very pleasant afternoon tea. This is an excellent way to take a break from shopping and relax for an hour before heading back to the sales.

If you want to combine sightseeing and tea, here are two excellent suggestions. After touring Kensington Palace and Gardens, visit the Orangery. It was built in 1705 by Queen Anne as a greenhouse and entertainment venue, but now it serves lunch and tea. You may not see a three-tiered tray in sight, but the food is simply wonderful. If you’re planning a visit to Kew Gardens in Richmond, you can stop for tea and one of the famous homemade tarts at the The Original Maids of Honour tea room.

If you’re traveling to London this summer, the BBC Proms is a British musical tradition you simply cannot miss. The Proms, which began in 1895, has now blossomed into the biggest classical music festival in the world. The series of 70 concerts over an eight-week period is held mainly in the elegant Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington. Various chamber music concerts, pre-show talks, and educational and children’s events also take place.

All concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3, with the “last night” being a huge traditional event broadcast on television.

“Prom” is short for “promenade.” A hundred years ago, audience members strolled (or promenaded) throughout certain areas of the concert hall during the performance of the music. The tradition now continues with areas of the Albert Hall being reserved for patrons who wish to stand. This is also a very economical way to see the show, and tickets for so-called Prommers can only be purchased on the day of the performance. The true purpose of the proms is to eliminate class distinctions and have music available to all members of the British public for less than the cost of a movie ticket. Given the Proms’ popularity, some of the reserved seats may exceed that amount today, but there are still a large number of seats and standing areas that are amazingly affordable. And, unlike your high school prom, there is no dress code for these events. If you’re in jeans and a t-shirt and happen to be in the area, go on in!

The 112th annual BBC Proms season takes place between July 14 and September 9, 2006. This year’s highlights include two birthday celebrations (Mozart’s 250th and Shostakovich’s 100th) and a collaborative choral piece developed by Orlando Gough to be performed twice on July 29. This amazing and unique performance, called “The Voice”, will feature two BBC Orchestras, The Shout choir, and over 800 professional and amateur singers.

Also, “Proms in the Park” takes place on Saturday, September 9, in five different UK cities – including London, in Hyde Park. This additional “last night” event is due to the fact that the final night of the Proms is so intensely popular – climaxing with an enormous outburst of British pride, boisterous singing, and Union Jack waving — that the Royal Albert Hall could be filled six times over with all the requests made by the public for tickets. If you think the odds are against you for the grand finale, book tickets for the outdoor show for £23 each through the official BBC website — then go back to your hotel or flat watch the Albert Hall show for free.

If you have the stamina and funds for an eight week vacation this year, earn “full house” honors and attend every one of the concerts. You’ll be in a quirky but very elite group of fans who do so every year.

Visit www.bbc.com/proms for more information, a full schedule, and online booking details.

While most of us would like to be able to take the famous black cabs around London on our vacations, it’s definitely not the most economical way to get around town. With the traffic, it’s not always the fastest way either. While the occasional cab ride works for most families or couples on vacation, there is a terrific alternative to hop around town.

London Travel Cards are by far the most cost effective way to get around London – and you can purchase these in advance from here in the States.

The passes are good for unlimited travel in Central London for a variety of different modes of transportation. Use your passes for the London Underground subway system (known as the Tube) and Dockland Light Railway (DLR), all buses with the London Buses logo, Tramlink, and National Rail trains except the Heathrow Express. Passholders are also entitled to a 33% discount on all scheduled Riverboat services.

To purchase 1, 3 or 7 day Travel Cards online with US dollars, visit Rail Europe here: BritRail & More.

It’s tough to quote fares here, because they are always subject to change, but it will cost you under $100 for a full week of unlimited travel. To put it in perspective, that’s about the same amount you’d spend for a single roundtrip tube ticket each day of the week. It’s a great value.

Prices are based on adult and child (a child is aged 5-15; be prepared to carry proof), peak and off-peak travel times, and on how many of the six Underground “zones” you will need. Most tourist attractions are within Zone 1 and 2 on the Tube’s system, so chances are good that you won’t need to buy the most expensive pass. If you plan to use the Tube to and from Heathrow, you can purchase separate tickets for either the regular service or Heathrow Express.

You can buy Travel Card tickets up to three months in advance. If you’re making last-minute vacation plans, you can purchase a Tube pass (known as an Oystercard) upon arrival. Of course, you can always purchase individual journey tickets for any of London’s means of public transportation.

Train travel outside of Central London can be also be planned and bought online in advance of your vacation. Both consecutive and flexible passes can be purchased, depending upon your schedule and what trips you’re planning outside of London. Click here to buy: BritRail & More.