We purchased an on and off ticket on Big Bus Tours.  The buses cover three routes and you can jump on and off as much as you want.  Also included is a boat trip on the Thames.  We got to see everything from the open top deck of a double decker bus.  Had a running commentary on tape.  One bus had a live commentary and the boat had live commentary.  By custom, the buses can't go by Buckingham Palace, so we didn't see that.  We could have gotten off the bus and waled to it.  After the bus ride we went to Oxford Street and looked at shops and several large department stores, including Selfridges, the second largest department store in London Tours.  Walked back to the hotel along side Hyde Park.  At about 9:00 PM we went across the street and had dinner at an Italian restaurant called the Concordia Notte.  It was good, but none of could finish what was served, which made the waiter feel bad.