Tourist guide of London, capital of England
London, a world power and the largest city in Europe, is one of the best destinations for city breaks. Whether you enjoy its fabulous art, history, and architecture, breathtaking views, world-class cultural events, fine dining, and vibrant nightlife or premium theater, ballet, and opera, this vibrant metropolis fits the bill. While the capital is often the center of attention thanks to a number of high-profile sporting events, such as cricket at the Oval and Lords, tennis at Wimbledon and this year’s Tour de France, there is even more buzz today. as it prepares to host the 2012 Olympics.
There is a wide range of accommodations, from inexpensive youth hostels to some of the most luxuriously expensive hotels on the planet. It is not cheap but certainly unforgettable.
How to get / move around London
London is easily accessible by road. From the major motorways, you can travel to London from the M1 in the north, the M4 and M40 in the west, the M3 and M23 in the south, and the M2 and M20 in the east. If traveling by air, choose from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and City airports. By bus, almost all domestic services arrive at Victoria Bus Station. Once you are in London, you can choose the bus, train or tube.
You’ll also spy on many of the capital’s iconic black cabs, but they tend to be expensive. Driving in London is quite an experience and not for the faint-hearted. If you drive or rent a car, remember that during the week you will have to pay the congestion charge (£ 8) between 7am and 6pm.
London tourism
It would take a few weeks to visit all the monuments, galleries, museums, parks, etc. famous London. Probably the best way to get your bearings and see as many famous sights as possible is on board an open-top bus. There are tourist bus stops throughout the city and a ticket allows you to hop on and off as you need to. Most of the routes pass through Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Piccadilly Circus. The London Eye is one of the most popular attractions in the city and offers fantastic views.
Major museums include Tate Britain, Tate Modern, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, and Natural History Museum. There are wonderfully relaxing parks like Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, St James’s Park, and Richmond Park, or you can explore some of the city’s interesting markets in Camden, Notting Hill, or Spitalfields.
London family attractions, day trips and shopping experiences
Family attractions in London
The Natural History Museum is great for children and there are many interactive exhibits. You can experience what an earthquake feels like, get up close and personal with dinosaurs like the terrifying T-Rex, and examine strange and wonderful specimens at the Darwin Center.
The London Zoo and the London Aquarium are popular destinations for animal lovers, and the Tower of London and the London Dungeons offer a few hours of entertainment. See your favorite celebrities (not quite in person) at Madame Tussauds or head east London to visit the Bethnal Green Children’s Museum.
Excursions from London
Windsor Castle is located on the River Thames about 20 miles west of London and a tour of the oldest occupied castle in the world is extremely popular. If you fancy heading to the coast, you can catch a train to Brighton from Victoria Station and be breathing in the sea air in about an hour. Hampton Court Palace in southwest London is probably one of the most spectacular palaces in the world and its famous labyrinth should keep you busy.
Visit it in winter and you can ice skate with the palace as a backdrop. Theme parks like Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park are located on the outskirts of the city and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is about 30 minutes north of the capital.
Shopping in London
A shopping splurge won’t come cheap, but there’s not much you can’t buy. You’ll find fashion on the streets of Oxford and Regent Streets and world-famous department stores like Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods in Knightsbridge. Around Covent Garden you will find exclusive boutiques and more high street names, and the markets are excellent for variety. Portobello Market is great for jewelry, and Camden draws a very diverse crowd in search of ethnic arts, crafts, jewelry, and second-hand clothing.
If you’re hungry, Borough Market is wonderful for all kinds of organic, regional, and international produce. Just don’t go on an empty stomach or you’ll end up spending a fortune.
London nightlife, restaurants, bars and clubs
London Restaurants
London is fast becoming a culinary capital of the world and a place where you can try almost any type of cuisine, including Iranian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, Argentine, Nepalese, Greek, Turkish, American. and Mexican. Many traditional English pubs in London serve excellent cuisine and you cannot visit them without trying a traditional Sunday roast.
If you really want to spend a little, dine at one of the restaurants run by the capital’s many “celebrity” chefs, like Gordon Ramsay’s Claridge’s Restaurant or Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen. There are also more than 30 Michelin-starred restaurants, including Hakkasan and Yauatcha (Chinese), Nobu and Umu (Japanese), and Aubergine and Chez Bruce (French).
Nightlife in London
Some of the best nightclubs, theater, dance and music in the world can be found in the capital. Plays in the West End can be very expensive, but the best actors in the UK (as well as some stars in the US) love to step on the boards. The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden has ballet and opera and there are live music venues all over the city where you can catch the most well-known groups on the planet.
London’s nightclubs attract top DJs from around the world and attractions include Fabric, China White (full of celebrities), and Funky Buddha.
London has a wide variety of accommodation, from simple and cheap guesthouses and hostels to internationally renowned five-star hotels like The Savoy and The Ritz.