London
British megalopolis London is situated on the River Thames in south-eastern England. It has over 8 million residents, and it is the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. London is energetic, highly-vibrant and an important economy center.
The first major settlement on the site was founded by the Romans after the invasion of 43 AD
Areas
London consists of 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
Some notable areas:
District around Leicester Square is commonly known as West End. Here is National Gallery, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.
Vivid market place, carnival, multicultural atmosphere.
South side of the river Thames with several theatres and the London Eye.
Recreation
The West End is known for its theatre performances, including music theatre.
Open House London Weekend offers a chance to explore many of the city’s most interesting buildings. Weekend is usually held on the third weekend of September.
Discover Walks offers city walking tours guided by ordinary locals. Hidden gems of the city will be exposed with the good company.
Soho has a big concentration pubs, clubs and jazz bars. Here is also vivid LGBT life.
Shopping
Portobello Market in Notting Hill offers antiques, vintage clothing and something peculiar for every taste.
Old Spitalfields Market in Horner Square offers e.g. second-hand clothing, records and food.
Harrods in Knightsbrige is the largest department store in Europe as well as an ideal itself. It offers everything – perfumes, top fashion clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, household items….
Bond Street runs from Oxford Street to Piccadilly, and here is many luxurious designer stores such as Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Versace.
Something to explore
Tower
Built between 1078 and 1399 on the north bank of the Thames River, this castle complex and one of the most popular tourist attractions of London has served as a prison and royal residence. Currently it is housing Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and it is also the place, which is still guarded by the famous Yeoman Warders. Also the famous White Tower is a must-see for an history aficionado.
Camden Passage
This comfy pedestrian passage in Islington is famous for its antique shops and it hosts an antique market on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. Passage also has famous Camden Head pub, which holds comedy nights and concerts.
London Eye
This enormous Ferris wheel is completed in 2000 and is now a remarkable landmark on the South Bank of the Thames river. It is 135 meters tall and diameter of the wheel is 120 meters, being currently Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel.
Soho
This district is part of the West End, and it is known as the fashionable and ”hip” place. Here is many, many top-scale restaurants and pubs, as well as sex shops and many jazz venues. One of the higlights is the gay village on Old Compton Street.
Westminster Abbey
This Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster is one of the most important heritage sites of England and it has been the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and British monarchs. Allegedly the first church on the site was founded in the 7th century, but construction of the present church began in 1245, by order of King Henry III. Specially churches chapter house is a must-see. it was built concurrently with the east parts of the abbey under Henry III, between about 1245 and 1253, being restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1872. There is also a tomb of Isaac Newton in the church.
How to get around in London
City has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world, operated by the Transport for London (TfL). There is 11 colour-coded metro lines covering the city, as well as the many bus lines and ”Overground”. The journey planner assists well, it is visible here. Maps and ticket prices are visible at the homesite of the Tfl.
How to get in London
London is served by a total of six airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted, Luton, and Southend.
Heathrow is London’s largest airport, being the main hub of the British Airways.
London has one international high speed rail route from Paris (2h 15min) and Brussels (1h 50 min). It is operated by the Eurostar. National Rail operates the domestic lines, timetables and ticket prices are here.
Most international and domestic long distance bus services arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road in Westminster, close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Eurolines serve Victoria Coach Station. Services by other operators may use this station, or the Green Line Coach Station across Buckingham Palace Road.
Top 5 in London
- Having a good time in Soho
- Shopping at Harrods
- Exploring Notting Hill
- Tower
- Camden Passage
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: With the CC licence / CryptoDerk~commonswiki, Tarquin Binary~commonswiki, Mike Peel, Ewan Munro, DrKay, Bernard Gagnon
