David Beckham recommends royal visit for Olympics tourists

David Beckham suggests visitors to the London 2012 Olympics should make a tour of Buckingham Palace their top tourist destination.

The 37-year-old soccer star - who is an Olympic ambassador - had drawn up a list of 10 hotspots for visitors to England's capital city to check out during their stay this summer, including locations he loves going to with wife Victoria and their four children, Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, nine, Cruz, seven, and 11-month-old Harper.

David - who attended the nuptials of Prince William and Duchess Catherine with Victoria in April 2011 - said: "Buckingham Palace is in the heart of London and it's been the scene of so many great moments in British history - none of us will ever forget the amazing wedding last year.

"Best of all, it's open for visitors during the summer so you can have a look around the state apartments."

David - who grew up in Essex and has previously lived in east London - recommends indulging in some traditional London food, such as a meat pie and mash potato meal, as "an insider's tip for a real east London food experience".

In a smartphone app guide for national tourism agency VisitBritain he advises eating the traditional delicacy at Tony Lane's pie and mash shop in Waltham Abbey, Essex, which he singles out as his "favourite" and which he always visits when he returns to England from his Los Angeles home.

David also believes visitors should try out one of Britain's many theme parks, particularly if tourists are coming to the UK with their children.

He said: "Kids can't get enough of theme parks as I know being a father of four. You're never far away from one in Britain."

He also helpfully points out Thorpe Park is "just outside London" and that "Alton Towers is close to Stoke", as well as recommending visitors "get out in the fresh air at one of London's Royal Parks".

David Beckham's top 10 tourist hotspots:

1. Take a tour of Buckingham Palace

2. Experience some real east London food at Tony Lane's Pie & Mash shop

3. Go on a stadium tour of Old Trafford and the new Wembley

4. Grab some fresh air at one of the Royal Parks like Hyde, The Regent's or Richmond

5. Play a round of golf at St Andrews

6. Go shopping at Manchester's Northern Quarter, or markets like Camden, Portobello or Spitalfields

7. Take the kids to Thorpe Park or on the Harry Potter tour

8. Don't miss London's theatre scene and plays like War Horse or Jersey Boys

9. Eat at Ceconnis or NOPI in London

10. Go for a walk in the countryside and stop off at a pub along the way

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