London
London City Guide
Introduction
London doesn’t need much of an introduction: it’s the largest city in Europe and one of the most lively and exciting cities in the world. There are scores of famous sights and excellent museums, many of which are free of charge. It’s a great place to visit time and time again for a marvellous city break.
Attractions
Palace of Westminster
Let’s start with some of the most iconic British landmarks. The Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament, is a magnificent neo-Gothic building, constructed in the mid 19th century after its predecessor burnt down. It epitomises the pride and strength of Victorian Britain. The elaborate clock tower known famously as Big Ben stands proudly at the side of the palace and is named after the enormous 12-ton bell that it holds.
Westminster Abbey
Just along the road from the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey, where almost every English and British monarch has been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066. Many of Britain’s most important figures are buried here, from kings and queens to poets and writers such as Chaucer and Dickens.
Tower of London
This fortress and former prison has a horribly gruesome and infamous history and it’s a fascinating place to visit. It’s a huge complex dating from the 13th century and there are lots of notorious sights inside such as the Tower Green, where Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey were beheaded, and the Bloody Tower, where the two boy princes were murdered. There are also some fascinating museums, such as the Royal Armouries and the Crown Jewels.
Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge, with its trademark twin towers, is one of the most famous sights in the city. It’s a magnificent Victorian construction with beautifully ornate towers and rising platforms to allow the passage of tall ships. It’s possible to see how this impressive feat of engineering works by taking a guided tour of the hydraulic engine rooms.
Buckingham Palace
It would be rude to visit London without popping in to see the Queen! Since the 1990s the State Rooms have been open to the public in the summer months. Although the imposing Victorian exterior looks rather imposing and austere, the interior is lavish and elegant, containing many national treasures. The Changing of the Guard is a popular tourist attraction. It takes place daily in the summer at 11.30 in the forecourt of the Palace and on alternate days throughout the rest of the year.
Other sights
The domed roof of St Paul’s Cathedral dominates the skyline of the city and is a beautifully designed building. The Whispering Gallery at the top of the dome inside the church is so called because of its wonderful acoustics. Trafalgar Square is another sight not to be missed, with its towering Nelson’s Column. A good panoramic view of the city can be had from the London Eye, an enormous big wheel built to celebrate the new millennium. To escape the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s busiest cities, there are some great green spaces that offer wonderful opportunities for rest and relaxation, such as Hyde Park and St James’ Park.
Museums
Many of London’s museums are free. Their collections are among the best in the world and the buildings in which many of them are housed are equally impressive. The Victoria and Albert Museum is the largest collection of applied and decorative arts in the world. The Science Museum explores the history of science and industry in the UK, while the Natural History Museum traces the evolution of the planet and its flora and fauna. The London Transport Museum contains some wonderful exhibits of different forms of public transport throughout the ages, including the famous red London buses. Probably the best museum of all is the British Museum, which could take several days to explore in full. It’s full of treasures from all over the world, from ancient times to the present day.
Art Galleries
One of the best art collections in the world is housed in the National Gallery, which contains works by just about every famous artist imaginable. To see the best of British art from the 16th century onwards, the best place to visit is the Tate Britain gallery. All the traditional and modern greats are represented here – Constable, Gainsborough, Hogarth, Blake and Hockney, and there’s a whole wing of Turner masterpieces. The Tate Modern, on the other hand, is Britain’s premier collection of modern art, representing some of the early modern greats such as Matisse, Picasso, Dali and Monet, as well as incredibly cutting-edge and daring paintings and installations from the mid 20th century to the present. Also of interest is the National Portrait Gallery, whose collection of images of important and well known figures ranges from medieval portraits of monarchs to photographs of film stars and musicians.
Eating Out
London is an incredibly cosmopolitan city – listen to the voices around you and you’ll hear accents from all over the world. There’s a huge immigrant population, so it’s never difficult to find something exotic or unusual to eat. British cuisine is also making a comeback, with top chefs reinventing old classics with a modern, sophisticated twist. Covent Garden has lots of great restaurants, and there are some wonderful Cantonese eateries in the Chinatown area. Here are just a few of the best places to go.
In the Piccadilly/Soho/Chinatown area, Imperial China on Lisle Street has delicious dim sum, while Kulu Kulu on Brewer Street is an excellent sushi restaurant. Busaba Eathai on Warder Street serves excellent Thai dishes at large, communal wooden tables. It’s no frills, but the food and service are excellent.
In the Covent Garden area you’ll find the oldest restaurant in London, Rules, established in 1798 on Maiden Lane. The food is far from old-fashioned though – traditional British dishes such as steak pie and kedgeree are cooked with contemporary style and sophistication. One of London’s most exclusive restaurants, The Ivy (on West Street) is a favourite haunt of celebrities and pop stars and anyone who wants to be noticed. It’s glamorous and expensive and worth it for a treat if you can get a table.
Islington has a good range of restaurants, such as the Almeida on Almeida Street, with a French and Spanish influenced menu and stylish Terence Conran décor. The Afghan Kitchen on Islington Green has tasty vegetarian options as well as excellent meat and fish dishes.
Nightlife
Drinking
The 19th century was a great pub-building era in London, so there are plenty of traditional Victorian inns and taverns all over the city. London is an amazingly vibrant and modern place too, with lots of trendy contemporary bars where the young and hip hang out.
Some of the best traditional pubs are the Blackfriar on Queen Victoria Street, the George Inn on Borough High Street, the Salisbury on St Martin’s Lane and the Coach and Horses on Greek Street.
Great modern bars include The Social on Little Portland Street, the Ruby Lounge on Portland Road, Loungelover on Whitby Street and Two Floors on Kingly Street.
Two of London’s best clubs are Cherry Jam on Porchester Street and Fabric on Charterhouse Street.
For a really lively night out, head up to the Camden area where the choice of pubs, bars and clubs is overwhelming and you’ll never be stuck for somewhere to go.
Theatre
London is renowned for its theatres and shows and there’s always something on in the West End to suit all tastes. Musicals are a particular speciality, and many of the world’s favourite stage shows have been running here for years.
Shakespeare’s Globe is a marvellous recreation of the Tudor theatre where the Bard himself worked and it shows great performances daily. It really takes you back in time and it’s an amazing and unusual experience.
Buy the listings guide Time Out to find out what’s going on while you’re there.
Cinema
The cinemas in London are great and you can see just about any type of film, whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or an independent art house movie. The big, glitzy cinemas showing all the major releases are on Leicester Square. For more specialist tastes, there’s the National Film Theatre and the Curzon Soho.
