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With a population of just under eight million, London is Europe's largest city, spreading across an area of more than 620 square miles from its core on the River Thames. Ethnically it's also Europe's most diverse metropolis: around two hundred languages are spoken within its confines, and more than thirty percent of the population is made up of first, second- and third-generation immigrants. Despite Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, London still dominates the national horizon, too: this is where the country's news and money are made, it's where the central government resides and, as far as its inhabitants are concerned, provincial life begins beyond the circuit of the city's orbital motorway. Londoners' sense of superiority causes enormous resentment in the regions, yet it's undeniable that the capital has a unique aura of excitement and success - in most walks of British life, if you want to get on you've got to do it in London.
For the visitor, too, London is a thrilling place - and since the beginning of the new millennium, the city has also been overtaken by an exceptionally buoyant mood. Thanks to the lottery and millennium-oriented funding frenzy of the last few years, virtually every one of London's world-class museums, galleries and institutions has been reinvented, from the Royal Opera House to the British Museum. With the completion of the Tate Modern and the London Eye, the city can now boast the world's largest modern art gallery and Ferris wheel; there's also a new tube extension and the first new bridge to cross the Thames for over a hundred years. And after sixteen years of being the only major city in the world not to have its own governing body, London finally has its own elected mayor and assembly. In the meantime, London's traditional sights - Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London - continue to draw in millions of tourists every year. Monuments from the capital's more glorious past are everywhere to be seen, from medieval banqueting halls and the great churches of Sir Christopher Wren to the eclectic Victorian architecture of the triumphalist British Empire. There is also much enjoyment to be had from the city's quiet Georgian squares, the narrow alleyways of the City of London, the riverside walks, and the quirks of what is still identifiably a collection of villages. And even London's traffic pollution - one of its worst problems - is offset by surprisingly large expanses of greenery: Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park are all within a few minutes' walk of the West End, while, further afield, you can enjoy the more expansive parklands of Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park. You could spend days just shopping in London, too, hobnobbing with the upper classes in Harrods, or sampling the offbeat weekend markets of Portobello Road and Camden. The music, clubbing and gay/lesbian scenes are second to none, and mainstream arts are no less exciting, with regular opportunities to catch brilliant theatre companies, dance troupes, exhibitions and opera. Restaurants, these days, are an attraction, too. London has caught up with its European rivals, and offers a range from three-star Michelin establishments to low-cost, high-quality Indian curry houses. Meanwhile, the city's pubs have heaps of atmosphere, especially away from the centre - and an exploration of the farther-flung communities is essential to get the complete picture of this dynamic metropolis On your London sightseeing trip, the top-ten major attractions are a must. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and on Horse Guards Parade are free displays of colourful Royal pageantry. In August and September Buckingham Palace itself is open to visitors. Take a look at the Houses of Parliament and the famous clocktower that houses 'Big Ben'. Other unmissable sights include the Tower of London with its colourful 'Beefeaters' (yeoman warders), Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's elegantly-domed masterpiece. One of the best ways to see London's famous landmarks is to take a guided bus tour, or one of the many other tours including boat and horse-drawn omnibuses. Abbey Road Studios 3 Abbey Road, St Johns Wood, London NW8 9AY Tel: This Abbey Road Studios was made famous by the 1969 Beatles Album of the same name. Albert Memorial Kensington Gardens, London SW7 Tel: 020 7495 0916 This elaborated memorial to the Prince Consort was completed in 1876, 15 years after Albert's death. Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum St MAary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY Tel: 020 7886 6528 The laboratory where Fleming discovered penicillin has been restored to its cramped condition of 1928 and incorporated into a museum about the discovery and his life and work. It is open to the public on from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and can be visited by appointment outside of these times. Alexandra Palace Alexandra Palace way, Wood Green, London N22 7AY Tel: 020 8365 2121 Alexandra Palace is situated in North London between Muswell Hill and Wood Green. It is well served by all forms of public transport and is easy to reach by underground, road, rail and air. A free shuttle bus service is available on most show days connecting you to the Palace grounds. Ascot Race Course Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7JX Tel: There is a wide range of carefully tailored packages designed to suit all tastes and budgets at Ascot. The Racecourse is synonymous with quality and excellence in providing both unparalleled racing and the highest quality catering services at any sporting venue in the world. Barbican Arts Centre Silk Street, London EC2 Tel: 020 7638 4141 The arts centre includes two theatres, a concert hall, two cinemas, one of London's largest art galleries for touring exhibitions, a convention and exhibition hall, a library and is home to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Brent Cross Shopping Centre Hendon, London NW4 3FP Tel: 020 8202 8095 Brent Cross in London is best known as the first shopping centre of its kind to be built in the UK. Situated on the North Circular between the southern terminus of the M1 motorway and the Brent Cross Flyover in the London Borough of Barnet and taking its name from the River Brent which runs through the site. British Airways London Eye South Bank, London SE1 Tel: 020 7654 0800 Standing 135 metres high on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. This amazing structure offers stunning views across the whole of London and beyond. Open: Monday to Thursday - 9:30 am to 9:00 pm Friday to Sunday - 9:30 am to 10:00 pm Rides every 30 minutes British Museum Great Russell Street, London WC1 Tel: 020 7636 1555 Founded in 1753, the six and a half million objects include collections from all over the world dating from pre-historic times. World-famous collections of prints, drawings, coins, medals and vast statues are among the exhibits. Buckingham Palace and Queen's Gallery Buckingham Palace, London SW1 Tel: 020 8334 9944 The Queen's official London residence. The State Rooms are only open to visitors during the annual summer opening in August and September and contain important works of art, Sevres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Visits to Buckingham Palace can be combined with visits to the Queen's Gallery, which is open throughout the year and houses the magnificent Royal Collection, and the nearby Royal Mews. Open: Queen's Gallery - 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Royal Mews - March to October Chelsea Flower Show Tel: 0871 560 9693 During May the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea come alive with the sights and smells of the finest collections of flowers in the world. Nothing compares to the show gardens, each one created with attention to detail by some of the world's leading garden designers. Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ Tel: 020 7930 6961 The Cabinet War Rooms have created the first ever museum dedicated to the complete life and times of Winston Churchill, the greatest Briton ever, according to a BBC poll. Open daily except 24, 25 and 26 December 9:30am - 6.00pm (last admission 5.00 pm) Cleopatra's Needle This obelisk is known as Cleopatra's Needle though it has very little to do with Cleopatra at all. Courtauld Institute of Art Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN Tel: 020 7848 2777 The Courtauld Institute of Art is one of the world's leading institutes for teaching and research in the history of art and conservation and was awarded a 5* grade in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. Uniquely it houses world famous collections of paintings, prints and drawings in its Gallery, and also manages the Hermitage Rooms. Cutty Sark 2 Greenwich Church St., Greenwich, London SE10 9BG Tel: 020 8858 3445 The Cutty Sark was, in 1869, one of the last sailing clippers to be built, and she is the only classic clipper still surviving. She is now preserved in dry dock at Greenwich in England. Dali Universe County Hall, London SE1 Tel: 020 7620 2720 Permanent exhibition of many extraordinary works by the Spanish surrealist, Dali. Open: Daily - 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Design Museum Tooley Street, London SE1 Tel: 020 7404 1584 The Design Museum is a museum in Shad Thames, near Tower Bridge in central London. It covers product, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and claims to have been the first museum of modern design. Dulwich Picture Gallery Gallery Road, Dulwich Village, London SE21 7AD Tel: 020 8693 5254 Dulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery in Dulwich, London. It was the world's first purpose-built art gallery (the Foundling Hospital, which contained a permanent art exhibition, being primarily for another purpose) and opened in 1817. Its basic architecture of a series of interlinked rooms lit by overhead skylights has been the primary influence on art gallery design ever since. Emirates Stadium Ashburton Grove, Holloway, London N7 Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court, Surrey KT8 9AU Hampton Court Palace is a former royal palace in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is about 12 miles (19 km) southwest and upstream of Central London and open to the public as a major tourist attraction. The palace gardens and nearby Bushy Park host the Hampton Court Flower Show annually tel: 0871 560 9461 Houses of Parliament Parliament Square, London SW1 Tel: 020 7219 4272 Officially the Palace of Westminster, the splendid riverside building, with its clock tower housing the bell, Big Ben, was built from 1837 to 1860 by Sir Charles Barry after the original palace was almost totally destroyed by fire. Not open to the public but spectacular scenery. Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road, London SE1 Tel: 020 7416 5439 The Imperial War Museum is not just a display of modern warfare, some its best displays show the social effects of 20th century wars on the people at home. Kensington Palace and Gardens Kensington Gardens, London W8 Tel: 020 7937 7079 Birthplace of Queen Victoria, now housing the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. Open: Dress exhibition and State Apartments open daily - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Kew Gardens Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, Greater London Tel: 020 8332 5000 9 Kew Gardens is situated on the south bank of the River Thames near Richmond, about 10km south-west of London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. London Aquarium County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 Tel: 020 7967 8000 The London Aquarium is housed in County Hall, the former headquarters of the Greater London Council (GLC) on the south bank of the Thames. London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2 Tel: 020 7565 7299 The award-winning London Transport Museum has been housed in Covent Garden's old Victorian Flower Market since 1980. London Zoo Regent's Park, London NW1 Tel: 020 7722 3333 Over 699 species of amazing animals in this delightful zoo, with a good children's section and 'Web of Life' biodiversity and conservation exhibition. Open: Daily - 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Madame Tussaud's Marylebone Road, London NW1 Tel: 0871 560 9503 Madame Tussaud's Waxworks Museum houses human effigies from the Queen to Kylie Minogue; Chamber of Horrors, and a ride through 400 years of history. Open: Daily - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm National Gallery Trafalgar Square, London WC2 Tel: 020 7747 2885 One of the world's finest galleries. Open: Daily - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm National Portrait Gallery St Martin's Place, London WC2H OHE Tel: 020 7306 0055 The National Portrait Gallery was established with the criteria that the Gallery was to be about history. Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, London SW7 Tel: 020 7942 5000 A vast collection of plants and animal exhibits with state-of-the-art IT and touchable specimens. Open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 am to 5:50 pm Sunday - 11:00 am to 5:50 pm Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, London SW7 BOX OFFICE: 020 7589 8212 St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4 Tel: 020 7236 4128 Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the 1666 Great Fire of London. You can climb up into the Whispering Gallery in the dome, where a whisper at one side carries right round the dome. Then up to the Stone Gallery, giving a view over London, and up to the Golden Gallery at the top of the dome. The crypt is equally impressive, with the tombs of both Nelson and Wellington. Open: Monday to Saturday - 8:30 am to 2:30 pm Tower of London Tower Hill, London SE1 Tel: 020 7709 0765 Impressive, historic former fortress, royal palace and prison, including the Crown Jewels, Yeoman warders and the Bloody Tower. Open: Tuesday to Saturday - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday to Monday - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tower Bridge Tower Hill, London SE1 Tel: 020 7940 3985 Built between 1886 and 1894, you see its story inside the North Tower. Great views from the lofty walkway. Open: Daily - 9:30 am to 6:00 pm The Tower Bridge Exhibition London, SE1 At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy the breathtaking views from the high-level walkways, learn about the history of the Bridge and how it was built tel: 020 7403 3761 Tate Modern Art Gallery Bankside, London SE1 Tel: 020 7887 8000 International modern art in the transformed Bankside Power Station. New installations of modern and contemporary art in four separate suites of galleries. Open: Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Last admission into exhibitions - 5:15 pm (Friday and Saturday - 9:15 pm) Closed: 24th, 25th and 26th December Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road, London SW7 Tel: 020 7942 2000 Fine and applied arts of Britain and the world. Highlights in this vast museum include the Silver and British Galleries, 1500 to 1900. Open: Daily - 10:00 am to 5:45 pm Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square, the main hub of Central London, was built in honour of Admiral Nelson after his victory in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, off the coast of Spain. John Nash designed it in the 1830's. The centre piece is Nelson's column, which supports a 18ft statue of Nelson on the top. Westminster Abbey Broad Sanctuary, London SW1 Tel: 020 7222 5152 Steeped in history, the abbey was the coronation and burial place of British monarchs. Special tour and museum display of Coronation treasures. Open: Monday to Friday - 9:30 am to 3:45 pm Saturday - 9:30 am to 1:45 pm Westminster Cathedral 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW Tel: 020 7798 9055 Westminster Cathedral is the mother-church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster. Windsor Castle Windsor Castle has been inhabited continuously and improved and restored by successive monarchs according to their taste and style. Some were great builders, strengthening the Castle against uprising and rebellion, others, living in more peaceful times, created a palace within the apartments of their ancestors. | |