GENERAL INFORMATION
There is nowhere else on earth quite like it. All at once big and brash and bustling, yet traditional, historical yet modern, it is the quintessential international metropolis- a world city by all accounts. The world comes to London and what happens here affects every corner of the world. A global centre of commerce, retail, finance, entertainment, fashion, transit and trends, London can very often feel like the capital of the Earth.
London is also one of the world’s most identifiable and emblematic cities – the city of Big Ben, double-decker buses, the Queen and the Tube, it quite rightly asserts itself in global consciousness as one of the greatest cities on earth. It has a plethora of every conceivable activity, and contains something for everyone.
With so much going on, across such a massive city- the biggest in Europe- nobody can expect to be able to do it all. Even life-long Londoners constantly find new surprises in this city. A week should be long enough to give you a taste of what this great city has to offer.
On the first day, one could enjoy his/her love for fine arts in some of the world’s finest museums, such as the British Museum, the National gallery or the Tate Modern.
The second and third days could be for fun and entertainment. There are streets filled with world-class bars, pubs, restaurants and theatres. And contrary to popular belief, not all bars close at 11.00pm. There are plenty outside the West End that stay open until 2.00 am weekdays.
One can shop on day four, and not just at Harrods. From the more fashionable alternative of Selfridges, London offers such a variety of shops and street markets.
Day five can be spent visiting historic buildings, such as the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. You might even want to throw a boat trip in between.
Day six is for visiting the different palaces of London, the most famous ones being Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.
The seventh day one can relax. There are many big parks, where you can linger and sit on the grass, one of the most famous being Hyde Park.
During your stay in London you can also enjoy many diverse culinary pleasures. Although native British food does not have a great international reputation, there is plenty of great food from pretty much every country in the world.
Whatever you want, you will find it in London, and like so many people will keep on coming back.
LONDON SIGHTS
Since the 18th century England has become one of the main cultural centres of Europe. The London museums have gathered an enormous wealth of artefacts both from their own history and of the shared history of the entire western civilization, plus a load of oriental treasures from their colonies.
Next to its museums, London has quite a collection of buildings that have played an important role in the history of architecture. Not just classical buildings like St Paul’s Cathedral or the Bank of England, but also the neogothic Houses of Parliament, and numerous other public and private buildings, houses and palaces, which have influenced architects around the world.
Amongst the places to see are:
National Gallery
The gallery has over 2000 paintings dating from the 13th century to the present. It has a large collection of Rembrandts, as well as many works from Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet, and Van Gogh.
Westminster Abbey
One of Britain’s finest Gothic buildings. Scene of the coronation, marriage and burial of British monarchs.
Leicester Square
The heart of the West End district with many cinemas, bars, and clubs.
Design Museum
The design museum is a must for anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary design. The permanent exhibition follows the change in British homes from the 20th century until present day, which is constantly updated to include new design classics.
National Portrait Gallery
The gallery gives a fascinating trawl through British History by the people who shaped it. Starting from medieval kings and arriving at today’s actors, musicians and sporting heroes. The “ Portrait restaurant “ has great views over London.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Christopher Wren’s famous cathedral church of the diocese of London.
Spencer House
The only nearly intact surviving palace of the 18th century, belonging to the ancestor of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Hampstead Heath
Popular open space in London with ponds, various types of habitats and recreational activities. Every summer there are outdoor concerts and other special events.
Imperial War Museum
An interesting museum, which houses The Holocaust Museum.
British Museum
Founded in 1753, the museum contains world famous collections of antiquities from Egypt, Western Asia, Greece and Rome, as well as Prehistoric and Romano-British, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern and Oriental collections. Prints and Drawings: Coins, Medals and Banknotes.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park together with Kensington Gardens to the west is the largest of the three royal parks. On the northeast side is Speakers Corner, where people are free to speak their mind except to debase the Queen. Hyde is also the home to a famous lake called The Serpentine.
The Royal Botanic Gardens At Kew
300 square metres of public gardens with over 60,000 species of plants.
Tower of London
Take a yeoman tour, and marvel at the Crown Jewels. The Tower of London has seen over 900 years of British history.
London Eye
This is a great way to see a lot of London at one time. It is the now familiar Ferris wheel across the Thames River from Westminster Abbey and Parliament. It is a half an hour ride from beginning to end.
Tower Bridge
Completed in 1894, the Tower Bridge has become a London icon. The Tower Bridge Exhibition allows you to walk the top level of the bridge, view the engine rooms, and see the history of the construction and engineering.
Parliament and Big Ben
These sights are one of the most famous in London.
LONDON EATING OUT
Traditionally, England may not be famous for its food. But in the past decade this has really turned around, and London can now rightly turned around, and London can now rightly consider itself one of the culinary capitals of the world, with a huge range of very good restaurants catering for every appetite and budget. In a recent survey of chefs for restaurant magazine, 11 out of the top 50 best restaurants in the world were in London. London, the quintessential world city, evidently contains cuisine drawn from every corner of the world. The highest concentrations of restaurants are around the city centre, with Soho containing many good eateries. It really does cater for all needs, from cheap jellied eels in Bow market up to Haute Cuisine at Claridges or the Ritz.. One thing is for sure, you won’t go hungry here. However London is rather expensive, but there are enough reasonably priced restaurants to choose from
