Item 33: Hampton Court Palace... and my friend Henry

Location: Hampton Court, UK

Limited hours of sunlight are looming over London. So while you can, follow the tourist map down to Hampton Court Palace.

A good find beforehand was a two-for-one entrance deal on http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk . A small win against the impeding recession!

Although the fresco's in the rooms of King Henry VIII do not compete with those of Vactican City, walking around the palace, getting lost in the maze and rolling down the hills of the well manicured gardens provide a pleasant day of fresh air within a short train ride out of the bustling city.

Item 33: Hampton Court Palace? CHECK!

Item 32: Thames Festival.. and One, Two, Free

Location: Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, London

The sun came out for the Mayor's Thames Festival this year, held during the middle weekend of September. An array of activities from river races, food and market stalls, buskers, musicians and dancers lined the banks for the Thames river, encouraging the people of London to get involved!

I bypassed the chance to watch the finals of the Pumpkin Growing Competition and Deep Soup Ceremony, 'handmade from locally grown pumpkins, onions and garlic cooked slowly in a cauldron' on the Saturday in favor of the River Tango Workshop on Sunday.

Approaching the tower of the Tate Modern, we saw the dance floor with enthusiastic partners taking their first steps in time with the beat and joined right in. Although I should have been concentrating on the steps, (one, two, three), I found it more interesting watching the people around me in their newly formed partnerships.

"Really, is this your first time? You're great," one stranger would say to another. Dance classes - more success than your online dating service!

A few bumps here and there on our way around the circle, it was a good introduction to the art of tango and how much more practice, and concentration, I would need.

There were plenty of other things on show for the day. With the sunlight and London's cooling breeze my day could have been marked off as perfect had I had a nice warm mug of homemade pumpkin soup.

Item 32: Thames Festival? CHECK!