What's new in London and beyond for 2009

While updating my guidebooks for 2009, I found plenty of changes, starting with London's museums. Fortunately, one of my favorite offbeat sights — the Bramah Tea and Coffee Museum — will reopen later this year. It had closed following the death of its founder, Edward Bramah. He believed that the tea bag, invented in the 1950s to let Brits brew tea during a TV commercial, spelled the death of a good "cuppa." Aficionados of tea or coffee will find this small, quirky museum fascinating.

The Monument, central London's 202-foot column designed by Sir Christopher Wren to mark the spot where the Great Fire of 1666 began, should reopen this spring after a complete makeover. Its 311 steps lead to a city view.

Somerset House, near Covent Garden, used to house three fine arts museums, but the Hermitage Rooms and Gilbert Collection have closed, and only the Courtauld Gallery of European paintings remains open. And this year marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Samuel Johnson, who produced the first Dictionary of the English Language. You can expect frenzied mobs of editors, proofreaders, and lexicographers descending upon Dr. Johnson's House throughout 2009.

A delight for kids and parents, Pollock's Toy Museum — a funky old house in north London — is filled with toys that predate batteries and computer chips. And also great for kids, Kew Gardens' new Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway puts you high in the tree canopy — 60 feet above the ground on a scenic steel walkway.

Many of London's ostensibly "free" sights ask for donations. Rather than donate, my conscience is cool with "giving" money other ways (such as renting an audio guide — generally around $5 — or buying a book in their shop).

At Westminster Abbey, the excellent, new audio guide (narrated by Jeremy Irons) helps take the sting out of a steep $18 admission price, which includes the device. Church entry is still free for legitimate worshippers, but you won't see the tombs, and officials are wise to camera-toting tourists who try to get in as "worshippers."

With the fast-moving, irreverent, and entertaining New London Free Walking Tours, you always at least get your money's worth. Students give three-hour London tours (Old City and Royal London) for free, but they push for tips at the end and cross-promote their evening pub crawl, (www.neweuropetours.eu). To see more, but hear less, consider Fat Tire Bike Tours, which now offers four-hour tours by bike in London (www.fattirebiketourslondon.com).

The Docklands, London's rising Manhattan of skyscrapers, has sprung up east of the city center. It's bustling with businesses migrating here from downtown London and energized by being near the site of the 2012 Olympics. The pedestrian-friendly, high-rise office park hosts trendy restaurants, stimulating art, underground malls, peaceful parks, awe-inspiring subway stations, and the Museum in Docklands, telling the story of the area when it was the world's leading port in the 19th century.

In Bath, a town west of London, the long-awaited Thermae Bath Spa is in its second full year of operation. But if you've been to the great spas on the Continent, it's an overpriced disappointment. In Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company's home theater is under renovation until 2010, but in the meantime, you can see productions in their temporary Courtyard Theatre.

"Save the pasty" is the cry in Cornwall. The British government is currently seeking EU protection for the traditional Cornish meat pie. This means that only those pies made in Cornwall using traditional techniques and recipes can be called a "Cornish pasty" (www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk).

In Scotland, Edinburgh will host special events this year as Scotland celebrates the 250th birthday of its favorite bard, Robert Burns. Expect Edinburgh's streets to be dug up; a skeptical public seems to regret the huge investment it's made in a new tram system even before the 2011 opening.

The Culloden Battlefield north of Edinburgh has a new, $10 million visitors center. Its 360-degree movie screen surrounds viewers with attacking soldiers, taking you back to 1746 to relive the stirring battle won by the English over the Scottish clans.

A new seaplane service connects downtown Glasgow and Oban, gateway to the Hebrides Islands. While pricey — about $120 one way — the trip takes only 30 minutes and provides a stunning view of the Highlands. If you're in Oban on a weekend, drop by the Skipinnish Ceilidh House for Highland storytelling, music and dancing.

Whether flying low over Highlands, strolling through treetops over Kew Gardens, or toasting the birthday of Robert Burns in his hometown, you'll discover there's no end to the offerings.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. His syndicated column runs weekly at www.seattletimes.com/travel