Buckingham Palace: On this Day...

The administrative centre of the Monarchy was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on this day, 9 July, in 1982. Michael Fagan managed to evade security measures, climb up a drain pipe and enter the Queen's bedroom.

The Queen talked with Mr Fagan for ten minutes or so, before she was able to call a footman - when Mr Fagan went for a cigarette break. The footman then detained the barefooted trespasser until Police arrived.

The Queen should have happier memories of 9 July, too, as it was on this day in 1947 that Princess Elizabeth, as she then was, and Lt Philip Mountbatten became engaged to be married.

Breaches of royal security, although rare, understandably grab attention. Many of you may remember when the self styled Comedy Terrorist (surely a contradiction in terms) managed to breach security at Windsor Castle and gatecrash Prince William's 21st birthday party.

Visitors to London often want to see the pageantry associated with the Royal Family. Independent travellers can undertake the coronation procession in reverse, from Westminster Abbey up Whitehall - via the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and Horseguards - then under Admiralty Arch and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace with the Palace Trail audio downloadable walking tour. The Palace Trail guides listeners through St James's Park (rather than straight down the full length of the Mall).

The route is steeped in history. At Westminster Abbey hear about the origins of the term robbing Peter to pay Paul. Hear why the Houses of Parliament's official name is the New Palace of Westminster. In Parliament Square see where two giant statesmen of the modern era are commemorated. To hear an audio sample from the Palace Trail, featuring an extract about Sir Winston Churchill, please click here.

The Mall was filled with over one million people crowed onto the Mall in June 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Visitors to London can still enjoy regal London at its best at Horseguards and outside Buckingham Palace. Mounting the Guard takes place at Horseguards and Changing the Guard takes place at Buckingham Palace. Check out our Where & When pages to find out when the ceremonies are due to occur.

There are five Walk Talk Tours of London. Each of the London iPod travel guides is available in English, French, German and Spanish.

Each Walk Talk Tour is divided into commentary points. Listeners receive instructions explaining how to get from one commentary point to the next. In addition, each Walk Talk Tour, London city guide comes complete with a downloadable map - for you to print off - so you won't miss a thing. Each commentary point is numbered on the map, so, for example, on the Palace Trail, Westminster Abbey is labelled 1.

With a Walk Talk Tour you're in charge. No need to feel too overtly like a tourist with a guidebook in your hands or struggle to follow - let alone hear - the tour guide with an umbrella.

Each Walk Talk of London costs £5.95. Customers purchasing two tours simultaneously will receive a twenty per cent discount. Buy three at the same time and receive thirty per cent off. Walk Talk Tours represent excellent value for people travelling in groups and parties, too.

All of the tours with the exception of the longer City & South Bank Circular mp3 guided tour can be completed in two hours, but you're free to take as little or as long exploring the attractions en route.