The seafaring, colonial British past ensures that the British present is characterized by an abundant cultural variety: in the museums as well as in day-to-day life. Nowhere is this more evident than in London, and with summer tourism peaking during the coming months, we survey its Top 5 Cultural Attractions for your amusement and bemusement here. Good British citizens that we are, we've taken a lead from the Prime Minister and his proclamations of an oncoming "age of austerity", and all the top tourists stops you read about here are, wait for it, absolutely free!

The British Museum: constantly posts the greatest visitor numbers year on year, and with good reason. The rich cultural life of the capital is displayed in all its grandeur, with the BM showcasing everything from Egyptian mummies to Parthenon sculptures. Admission is free aside from special exhibitions which require advance ticketing or forking over some cash up front.

The Tate Modern: for those of us with slightly more progressive tastes, a visit to the old Bankside Power Station offers a sense of history without all that stuffiness. Check out the Picassos, Dalis, Francis Bacons and contemporary exhibits, as well as some stunning art installations if you'd like to brush the oh-so-old dust of the British Museum or the Natural History Museum off your 21st century epaulettes. It's free too!

The National Gallery: not quite the Louvre, but splendidly British and suitably cultural nonetheless. The Gallery houses masterworks of European painting dating from 1250 up until 1900. Look here for you Rembrandts, Van Goghs and Caravaggios, and save some dosh while you're at it.

The Natural History Museum: for the kid in all of us, go check out the dinosaur exhibition and perfectly preserved, built to scale sea-life models. Again, you can do it for free, aside from tube fare and special exhibitions.

The V&A: showcasing artefacts from the past three thousand years, the cultural motherload really, all linked together with a curator's eye for art and design. You'll find everything from furniture and textiles to centuries old knick-knacks and cutlery. Once again, entry is free aside from special exhibitions.

Not sure what you're looking for? Almost all hotels in London offer concierge services that'll keep you up to date on all the latest cultural attractions during your visit. If you're lucky enough to have access to their expertise, you'd be foolish not to use it. Happy touring!