London
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, London is the centre of the UK’s tourist trade, and home to the majority of the country’s greatest landmarks. There are many sides to the city, and whether your interests lie in sight-seeing, dining, shopping, theatre, or partying, this city will more than cater for your every need.
Most of London’s major sights need little introduction. The gothic architecture of the Houses of Parliament, the gleaming dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and the imposing edifice of Tower Bridge all remain as popular today as ever, though they are now rivalled by more modern attractions like the London Eye Ferris wheel in Waterloo.
The centre of the city is actually relatively small, and as such all of these major landmarks are within a reasonable distance of one another. Although busy during peak commuter hours, London’s Underground train network is perfect for ferrying tourists between the popular destinations, and is not too expensive when using a pre-pay Oyster card. However, if you want a good background history to the sights you’re seeing, simply hop aboard one of the many open-top bus services, or the amphibious London Duck tours.
If shopping is your thing, then you’re in the right place. Oxford Street and Regent Street both feature the flagship stores of the world’s most famous brand names. For fine jewellery head to Hatton Gardens or Bond Street, the latter also being home to a number of upmarket boutiques. For the discerning gentleman, Saville Row features a number of expensive tailors offering the best suits money can buy.
If you’re into the more alternative side of life, there’s no better destination than Camden Town. Featuring the famous market, the area is full world class tattoo and piercing studios and shops selling everything from studded leather boots and jackets to trendy slogan t-shirts. For something a little bit more upmarket, a trip west to Notting Hill and the well-known Portobello market is perfect for a spot of antique shopping and a browse through stalls selling clothing from quirky, independent fashion designers.
As night falls, a different part of London comes to life. The West End is the place to be for theatre and musical lovers, in particular Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road and the Covent Garden area. More energetic tourists will head to Shoreditch, which is jam packed with trendy bars and clubs. That said, the two most famous clubs in the city are Fabric, located in Farringdon, and Ministry of Sound, which is south of the River Thames in Elephant and Castle. The city is also full of restaurants specialising in a wide variety of cuisines, the more expensive of which are based in Mayfair, Kensington and Sloane Square.
Whatever your tastes, there’s always somewhere in London to accommodate them. If you think you’ve seen all the city has to offer, you probably haven’t been looking hard enough!