to go to the St John Soane museum just off Holborn it's a hidden gem and free, you can always go to the british museum for 30 mins and see one room the anglo-saxon gallery has just reopened .
as to pubs the sam smiths ones north of oxford st are good and cheap.
One really hidden gem is the wallace colection in manchester square you could pop in and see the laughing cavalier which must a good thing to see after you've had your lunch.

I mean, you could spend 3 months in London and still not see everything you should.

Presumably if you're posting here you like music? Well, you will be in arguably the greatest city in the world for live music. Buy a copy of Time Out when you arrive, or visit their web site in advance.

Cinemas, galleries, shops, parks, history ...

and cry "Mrs Hudson!" at the top of your voice upon entering.

Thanks Chris. Johan I will be working 12 hour days and therefore have limited time to explore,so anywhere that is close to where Im working would be great

try the Embankment - Royal Festival Hall, NFT, secondhand booksellers, National Theatre, Gabriel's Wharf, Millenium Eye, Tate Britain.

Plenty to keep you amused there.

Don't forget to look for the site of the Apple shop (that's as in Beatles rather than Steve Jobs). Number 94. I think there's a blue plaque.

Also close by is Madame Tussauds - avoid at all costs (which are considerable for a ticket).

A much better bet is a stroll down Marylebone High St. Don't miss Daunts bookshop, everything a bookshop should be.

well, you're really near Mme Tussaud's and the Planetarium and London Zoo for touristy type things. Regent St/Oxford St/Bond St - are nearby for any retail led excursions.

You'll be round the corner from Marylebone High St which has some quirky shops in and around - particularly Daunt's bookshop which specializes in travel and is housed in a wonderful building with a stained glass cupola. Pretty good selection of restaurants/bars nearby too.

If you've got time to check out gigs, Camden Jazz Cafe is not far away. For movies - arthouse mainly - Screen on Baker St is on your doorstep and is a great little place.

Or if it's nice weather and you just want to hang out - Regent's Park and Regent's Canal are near you - with Hampstead Heath not too far away

Or there might be a game of cricket on at Lords. Or you could visit that ped. crossing at Abbey Road.

And this is all within a one/two mile radius of where you're likely to be. And I'm sure I'm missing stuff out

Hope you find some time to do some work. Have a good trip

There is an open air theatre in Regents Park which is very close to where you will be. It is a lovely way to spend an evening in the summer. But as Johan said you really haven't got much time with the sound of it. The Southbank by the London eye is a good place to wander around take in some of the sites by the Thames. Maybe just walk over Waterloo bridge with your Ipod set up and with a twelve hour work shift you might just make the sunset this time of year!
Make sure you come back with some more time.....

In the basement of Phonica records, 51 Poland Street, off Oxford Street. And it's free!

My favourite place on earth (apart from Anfield). A free marvel.
The Natural History Museum and Science Museum can easily kill a day if you are of that bent.
I never took to London until last year when I spent a lot of time there - actually a quite marvellous place. (I know, not exactly a controversial point of view). It can be great fun just walking round.

I've never been to the British Museum, for example. Or Columbia Road market.

There's so much to do here. As someone above said, buy a Time Out if you want to know what's new this week otherwise you could do one of about 400,000 different things.

The Museum of London is good, as is a walk around some interesting parts like Hampstead, Barbican and The City. The West End if you want to do some shopping, Shepherd's Market for outdoor pubs, St James' Park if you want to lie in the sun, Spitalfields Market is pretty good now as is Borough Market if you're a foodie. You could do Portobello Road, Covent Garden and Camden all in one day if you've got the energy.

I could go on.

Agree with comments above, if you're near Baker Street and time is limited then this is a nice street. A lot of character, some nice shops and Daunt, the best bookshop in London.

There's a lot of pubs but my favourite is hidden away on Marylebone Lane called the Golden Eagle, a real pub, not like some of the souless yuppie places you will find on the High Street and they serve a great pint of Tribute ale.

It's just found the corner from the excellent fish & chip place the Golden Hind.

OK, my recommendations are not as cultural as some but for me haddock & chips at the Golden Hind followed by a few pints of tribute is Art!

Catch the Fabulous Thunderbirds at the world famous and wonderful 100 Club

http://www.the100club.co.uk/

or some rootsy grooves at the Borderline

http://www.mamagroup.co.uk/borderline/index.html

Both a short hop from where you'll be.

The Photographers Gallery is always worth a visit. Free admission, cafe and shop.

http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php

It's situated in Ramillies Street which is close to Oxford Circus tube station and not too far from where you're based. Avoid Oxford street by taking a parallel option such as Wigmore St - Less people, less hassle and good collection of boozers and eateries away from the tourists.

Have fun.

It's behind the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and is 'doable' in a couple of hours. It's laid out chronologically so you start on the top floor with lots of oldies and arrive at portraits from modern day figures on the ground floor.

can go and play in the traffic like these ne'r do wells.
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/podcast-100-recorded-live-abbey-ro...

About 4 years ago I realised that I was missing out on a great deal on my (relatively frequent) trips to London by using the Tube. So my tip would be to get hold of a reasonable map of the city* and walk as much as possible. Quite apart from anything else, the heat on the Tube in the summer is unbearable; and, of course, walking is free!

* or use this site: http://www.walkit.com/cities/london/

Following on from the very sensible use-your-legs advice, the public transport experience in London is unique.

I love the tube even though I used it daily for years. I particularly enjoyed the Waterloo & City Line because it has its own little personality. Like Andorra or the Vatican.

Also, a trip by boat on the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich is well worth it - particularly if there is a commentary. In the olden days, there were so many barges on the Thames that you could easily cross the river by foot from Waterloo to the Strand by barge-deck to barge-deck. The river made London into what it is and there is still evidence of its glory days.

As someone who used to live there but doesn't any more, my biggest regret is not going to the theatre as much as I could have.