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London
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| About London |
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The birth of London began when the Romans camped along the River Thames.
Over the next 2, 000 years, the river became a significant importance
to the city of London . Through plagues, a near fatal fire and the
bombings during World War II, London became the epicentre of the world's
largest ever maritime empire, and later changing into the economic
nucleus for the United Kingdom. London is a high-tech financial city
with it's skyscrapers and very much a major player in the world's
economic playground.
London, including it's suburbs covers a vast area of 580 sq miles,
with a population of around seven million inhabitants. If you try
to generalise and categorise its people, it's an impossible as is
the city itself. The city of London is undoubitly a cosmopolitan city
with it's population in 37 distinct immigrant groups each of more
than 10,000 people.
Dynamic is a word that sums up London. Every year offering something
new for it's visitors to see and do. With the opening of big name
attractions including Tate Modern, the British Airways London Eye,
Somerset House, the British Museum Great Court and the Science Museum's
Wellcome Wing. The changes don't stop there, winter in London sees
an amazing range of high calibre new events and attractions, places
to stay and fantastic accommodation offers.
London offers new hotels, including The Chamberlain, in the City and
the New York style, K West hotel in west London's Shepherd's Bush.
For something extra special indulge in one of London's new accommodation
offers.
Festive activities throughout London in December, including entertainment
at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace or Christmas songs
sung by stars of the West End at Barbican Hall. Or, if the art scene
is your scene don't miss the new Royal Academy show, Paris: Capital
of the Arts 1900-1968 in the new year.
Even in winter, London has so much to offer. With the new displays
and galleries at Tate Britain's Centenary development or the newly-opened
British Galleries at the Victoria & Albert Museum, to name a few.
If you can brave the winter chill, test your ice-skating skills in
festive surroundings on the outdoor ice-rink in Somerset House courtyard.
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| Walks and Tours in London |
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The Original London Sightseeing Tour
'The Original Tour' will take you to the best sights of London.
'The City Sightseeing Tour' has an informative taped commentary in
various languages.
Capital Connectors
This includes a tour of London's museums, palaces and shopping areas. It's main departure points are Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus, Victoria Street, near Victoria station, Baker Street, near Madame Tussaud's, Haymarket, Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square and Embankment Pier.
Mystery Walks
You can take a Jack the Ripper tour that starts at Aldgate Underground station at 8pm on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Guided Walks in London
The most popular walks offered by this company are Beautiful Belgravia, Saucy Southwark, Holland Park, London's Burning and Hidden Hampstead. There are also another fifteen themed walks including Mayfair, Highgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb and The City to choose from, all with small groups which are led by professionally qualified guides.
Clerkenwell & Islington Walks
Discover Clerkenwell and Islington's history from the 12th to the 20th centuries, their connections with Shakespeare, Hogarth, Dickens, Levin, religion, radicalism and literature.
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| Shopping in London |
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London must be the most exiting place to shop in the world. with it's
diversity, the style and presentation makes it such an entertaining
experience. The city has thousands of shops to enjoy. Know which area
is best suited to your personal needs.
London boasts some of the finest and best-known department stores
in the world. Fashion, cosmetics and accessories are a fixture in
every store. In Harrods, the food halls alone are simply breathtaking,
but then so is every one of the Knightsbridge store's 329 departments.
Liberty in Regent Street is a great place to visit, which houses a
blend of antiques and cutting-edge design, in a truly unique style.
In Selfridges, you'll find pure, undiluted style with some seriously
fabulous fashions, cosmetics and homewares - it's a must-see, must-have
palace for the label-conscious.
Oxford Street has a host of department stores , like House of Fraser,
John Lewis and Debenhams. There is also Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly
, which is perhaps the quaintest department store in London and worth
a visit for the atmosphere alone. It's a treasure trove of luxury
goods, the celebrated food hall is fantastic and its hampers justifiably
world-famous.
For designer fashion, London offers not only the best of the established
international names, but also the hottest in new labels. It's boutiques,
such as Browns and Whistles, where the most exciting labels can be
found. And where better than London to see the work of the sharpest
British designers such as Alexander McQueen or Clements Ribeiro? If
you are looking for shoes then look out for Jimmy Choo and Johnny
Moke or explore the accessory offer from designers like Lulu Guinness,
Bill Amberg and Georgina von Etzdorf.
Explore more established British names such as Burberry, Aquascutum,
Alfred Dunhill, Austin Reed and Jaeger for superb quality classics,
the ultimate in British good taste.
Areas to Shop in London
- Oxford Street
- New Bond Street
- Regent Street
- Piccadilly and Old Bond Street
- Covent Garden
- Knightsbridge
- Chelsea
- Kensington High Street
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| London Markets |
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Camden Market
Camden offers one huge market with a wide array of goods from antiques to clothes, both vintage and new, crafts, accessories and furnishings, indeed anything you could conceivably want. It tends to be very busy on Sundays, but this is the place to go if you want to experience the variety of London life.
Camden Passage
Camden Passage is the place to visit for antiques of all descriptions, books and vintage clothing. It is a pleasure palace for the treasure hunter. Saturday is the best day for the market, but there are plenty of shops open throughout the week.
Alfie's Antique Market
Alfie's Antique Market is another treasure trove of goodies with over 200 dealers offering a wide range of goods - from old advertising posters to decorative French furniture. Also on offer are costume jewellery, antique textiles, toys and dolls and 18th century ceramics.
Petticoat Lane Market
Visit here for clothes and general items.
Brick Lane
Brick Lane market is worth a visit for all sorts of bric a brac
Columbia Road Market
You will find flowers, plants and all sorts of garden sundries overflow from stalls and boutiques lining this charming street.
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| Eating out in London |
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London can boast over 6000 restaurants and 5000 pubs, making it a paradise for lovers of good food and fine wine and ale . Try out cuisines from around the world, you will find the city has cuisine from over 60 different countries on offer. London pubs are renowned the world over for their great atmosphere and character, not to mention their beers - bitter, lager and stouts. |
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| Places to visit in London |
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Buckingham Palace
From August to September, Buckingham Palace is open to the public
You can take a tour the State Rooms, including the Throne Room, Picture
Gallery and State Dining Room. These principal rooms, which form the
backdrop to the pageantry of court ceremonial and official entertaining,
occupy the west front overlooking the garden and are all opulently
decorated with some of the finest pictures, tapestries and works of
art from the Royal Collection.
Hampton Court Palace
This is the oldest Tudor palace in England with many attractions including
the State Apartments, the famous maze, King's apartments, Tudor kitchens
and real tennis courts. There are a host of forthcoming events to
look out for.
Houses of Parliament
During August and September tou can take a guided tour of the Houses
of Parliament. You will be able to see The Queen's Robing Room, The
Royal Gallery, The Prince's Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Lord's,
the Central Lobby, House of Commons, Members Lobby, Division Lobby,
St Stephens Hall and Westminster Hall.
Kew Gardens
Here, at Kew Gardens, there are 300 acres containing living collections
of over 40,000 varieties of plants. There are also seven spectacular
glasshouses, two art galleries and Japanese and rock gardens.
The London Aquarium
Don't go without a visit to the London Aquarium which features hundreds
of varieties of fish and sealife from around the world. This is the
only place in London where visitors can come face to face with sharks,
gigantic conger eels and deadly stone fish. There are daily talks,
dives and feeds. Visitors can meet piranhas, stroke stingrays and
touch starfish and crabs.
The London Dungeon
The London Dungeon, buried beneath the paving stones of historic Southwark,
holds the world's most chillingly famous horror attraction that brings
more than 2,000 years of gruesomely authentic history vividly back
to life -and death. As you delve into the darkest chapters of our
grim and bloody past, recreated in all its dreadful detail, remember
that everything you experience really happened!
London Eye
, The London Eye is the world's highest observation wheel. At 135
metres high it provides a 30-minute, slow-moving 'flight' over London,
offering fantastic panoramic views.
London Zoo
London has one of the world's most famous zoos and home to over 600
species of rare and beautiful animals, including tigers, venomous
snakes, penguins and piranhas.
Madame Tussauds
Visit this world-renowned collection of wax figures at Madame Tussaud's
You can brush shoulders with the rich and famous in themed settings
which include The Garden Party, 200 years, Hollywood Legends and Superstars,
The Grand Hall, The Chamber of Horrors and Sporting Heroes. The Spirit
of London is a time-taxi ride to experience a unique taste of London's
history brought to life with audio-animatronics, from Shakespearean
England to the present day.
St Paul's Cathedral
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul's Cathedral is one of themost
famous cathedrals in the world. Climb into the Whispering Gallery
for its special audio effects and magnificent views of the interior.
The crypt houses memorials to famous figures, such as Lord Nelson.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Exhibition
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Exhibition is the fascinating story
of the re-creation of Shakespeare's Globe. You will be able to see
the reconstructed Elizabethan theatre, built with materials, techniques
and craftsmanship of 400 years ago.
The Tower Bridge Experience
Here, visitors can see one of the most famous bridges in the world
with spectacular views from the high level walkways 140ft above the
Thames. There's also an exhibition which explains the history of Tower
Bridge and an opportunity to see the engine rooms.
The Tower of London
Representing over 9 centuries of British history , the Tower of London
is well worth a visit. Take a guided tour by the Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters)
and can see Traitors' Gate, the priceless Crown Jewels, the Medieval
Palace, the Bloody Tower and the famous ravens.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of Britain's finest Gothic buildings, is
the scene of coronations, marriages and burials of British monarchs.
Visitors can see the coronation chair, royal tombs and the grave of
the unknown warrior |
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| Useful Contacts in London |
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Emergency
Police, Fire and Ambulance: 999 or 112
Lost Property
Charing Cross Station: 020 7922 6061
Euston Station: 020 7922 6477
Heathrow Airport: 020 8759 4321
King's Cross: 020 7922 90181
Police Lost Property Office: 020 7833 0996
Liverpool Street Station: 020 7922 9189
Paddington Station: 020 7922 6773
St Pancras Station: 020 7922 6478
Victoria Station: 020 7922 6216
Waterloo Station: 020 7922 6135
Other Useful Numbers
AIDS Helpline: 0800 567 123/4
Alcoholics Anonymous: 020 7352 3001
Capital Radio Help Line: 020 7388 7575 (Referral and advice service)
Childline: 0800 1111
Citizens Advice Bureaux 020 7372 6888
Rape Crisis Centre: 020 7837 1600
Release: 020 7734 2800
Salvation Army: 020 7383 2772
Samaritans: 0345 909090
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| Travelling in London |
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The London Underground
The underground in London is also known as 'the tube', and is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel around the city. The fares are charged according to the distance travelled. There are six Zones on the underground, Zone 1 being central London and increasing the further out from the centre you travel. Fares increase according to the number of Zones travelled.
Buses
London buses are a quick and convenient way to travel and you also get to see some sights on the way. There are many routes and over 17,000 bus stops in London.
Taxis
London's famous Black cab drivers have passed 'the knowledge', an intensive examination on navigating London's streets.
Black cabs can be hailed in the street, you will find an available cab will have its yellow light on. |
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