London

The city’s history is inscribed in its streets, buildings and museums, from its foundation by the Romans, to  medieval times and the Great Fire of London in 1666, through  the rebuilding of the city led by Sir Christopher Wren and the contributions of subsequent generations of Georgians and  Victorians,  to modern times. All these historical resonances co-exist with a vibrant modern culture in which millions of Londoners and visitors enjoy the city.

One of the great capital cities of the world, London is the home of the British Royal Family, the seat of Parliament, the centre of Britain’s financial and cultural life, and  host to the 2012 Olympics.  The city’s history is inscribed in its streets, buildings and museums, from its foundation by the Romans, to  medieval times and the Great Fire of London in 1666, through  the rebuilding of the city led by Sir Christopher Wren and the contributions of subsequent generations of Georgians and  Victorians,  to modern times. All these historical resonances co-exist with a vibrant modern culture in which millions of Londoners and visitors enjoy the city.

Most visitors will want to see  historic and Royal attractions such as  the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, and also a selection of London’s world-class museums, such as the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum or the more recent Tate Modern and Tate Britain galleries. Good places to have a break and watch people passing by in the city centre are Trafalgar Square and nearby Covent Garden. From this central area you can  take a red double-decker London bus East down the Strand and Fleet Street and find yourself immersed in the London of Dickens’s novels. This area with its crisscrossed narrow streets named after the various medieval trades,  is the old City of London, now the nation’s financial centre. Nearby is  St Paul’s Cathedral,  Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, with a stunning modern  installation by Britain’s leading sculptor, Anthony Gormley. 

London’s South Bank is a very lively area with riverside cafes, many cultural events including film festivals, and the acclaimed Tate Modern art gallery. A trip on the London Eye gives visitors a superb overview of the city and the majestic River Thames with its series of beautiful bridges. Although visitors are naturally attracted to the centre of London, this enormous city actually consists of many areas which are almost like villages, each with their own identity, and extending  from the central boroughs out into the suburbs. There are many places well worth visiting in all parts of the city, such as World Heritage Sites Kew Gardens to the West, and Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time, with its elegant architecture, sailing ships and maritime heritage to the East.

The shopping in London is second to none with high street bargains in Oxford Street, top designer wear in  more exclusive corners, and everything from original art, antiques, jewellery, vintage clothes and food from all parts of the world to be found in famous London markets such as Camden Lock, Brick Lane or Portobello Road.
Despite the city’s enormous size, visitors are never too far from nature  because of the many glorious parks, such as Hyde Park, Regents Park, St James’s Park  and Holland Park which provide beautiful green spaces within  the busy  metropolis.

In terms of entertainment, London cannot be beaten. Take your pick from a classical concert at one of the great music venues such as the Royal Albert Hall or the Royal Opera House, visit the Royal Ballet or Sadler’s Wells if you love dance, see a play or a musical in the West End, theatre capital of the world, watch a film premiere in one of the huge cinemas in Leicester Square or go to one of the hundreds of smaller arts cinemas, or just enjoy the city’s fantastic nightlife of restaurants, pubs and clubs.
Where you go and what you do will depend on your tastes and interests but you can be sure that you will not be disappointed. In the words of Samuel Johnson, 1777: ‘ When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life!’