well since youre there for history, go to hampton court palace! its pretty cool, ( im a history major) as for shops i guess it depends on what youre looking for for london: Covent garden, Camden Locks or kensington high street, and if youre at hampton court palace go to bridge street (you'll see it from the hampton court station) and theres a really cool junk/antique shop called hampton court emporium, check that out, youll never know what youll find.