The president and his wife will arrive in London on Air Force One

London is bracing itself with the tightest security it has ever seen, for the first state visit of a US president since 1918.

But cushioning the speeches, press conferences and protesters will be a few "lighter" engagements in what will otherwise be a meticulous and punishing schedule.

Arriving in London on Tuesday evening, the president and first lady will receive a private welcome at Buckingham Palace, where they are due to stay.

Private art viewing

Some art will be on the agenda for the next day, with a private viewing of the Royal Collection.

The art collection, which many people say is among the best in the world, contains works reflecting the personal tastes of monarchs over the last 500 years.

The Royal Collection includes paintings, furniture and sculpture

It is made up of paintings, drawings, furniture, porcelain, silver, sculpture, jewellery, books, arms and armour, and textiles.

Items from the collection are normally on display to the public at principal royal residences, but a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace told BBC News Online that a special display is being prepared for the presidential visit.

Nigella's bite

Once the tour is finished, Wednesday's diary is filled with official appointments - including meetings with Michael Howard, the Conservative leader and Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader.

On Wednesday evening, he will return to the palace as guest of honour at a state banquet.

The president will be treated to a celebrity chef lunch on Thursday at Downing Street, with a meal specially prepared by Nigella Lawson.

PRESIDENT BUSH'S ITINERARY Tuesday 18 November - Arrives and receives private welcome at Buckingham Palace Wednesday 19 November - Meets Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, gives speech on transatlantic alliance and meets UK families of 11 Sept victims before attending royal banquet with Queen Thursday 20 November - Meets British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, holds meetings with Tony Blair at Downing Street and hosts dinner at US Ambassador's residence Friday 21 November - Travels to Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency to meet members of the public before returning to Washington Rough guide to Sedgefield

There is no word yet on a menu from Number 10, but odds are that neither broccoli, which George Bush senior famously showed his dislike for, nor pretzels, which caused his son some trouble, will feature.

Miss Lawson will also supervise a separate lunch for Laura Bush and Cherie Blair, who will have spent the morning watching children perform extracts from Shakespeare.

The Queen will bid farewell to Mr Bush at Buckingham Palace on Friday morning, before the president attends engagements and some "sightseeing" in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

The areas of County Durham where Mr Bush will likely visit should offer many camera-friendly scenes of the traditional English village.

The schedule will include lunch with a selected group of local voters and a brief tour of the Blair's four-bedroom Victorian home in nearby Trimdon.