Tuesday, 21 January 2014

The Best of London

By Peter Frank


Recent figures indicate that London welcomes over 15 million overseas visitors every year, making it the second most visited city in the world. Unsurprisingly, there are many good reasons why it enjoys such popularity.

It's an incredible looking city with an instantly recognisable skyline. There are various places where you can enjoy a bird's eye view, the London Eye, the Monument and the View from The Shard being three more obvious ones, but there are also several restaurants that serve a fine panorama as a side dish.

Although the distinctive skyline of London encompasses many much-loved buildings, we should not forget that it's also one of the greenest cities in the world with eight beautiful royal parks, two botanical gardens, and numerous heaths and commons.

Tours along the River Thames are great for exploring the city at a leisurely pace and giving you alternative views of London's many landmarks. Cruises can be themed, combined with a meal or just accompanied by informed commentary. There is also a regular river bus service throughout the day.

London is a shopper's paradise. There are more than 300 shops on Oxford Street alone (including Selfridges and John Lewis) plus a representative from most high street chains. Hamleys and Liberty are close by on Regent Street whilst Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co live in nearby Bond Street.

Britain is famous for its obsession with sport, so it comes as no surprise that London hosts a multitude of sporting competitions. For those who are more interested in the history of sport, there are guided tours available of most Premiership football clubs, as well as of Lords Cricket Ground and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club.

A visit to London is not complete until you have visited at least one of its many tourist attractions. There's the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, the London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace, London Zoo and the Churchill War Rooms - to name but a few!

Most museums, including the Museum of London and the British and Natural History Museums, are free to enter as are the major art galleries such as the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Also free is the ceremony of the Changing of the Guard, which takes place at Horse Guards Parade every morning.

For many, the words 'London's West End' are synonymous with the best and most cutting edge theatre in the world. Furthermore, many of London's theatres now offer backstage tours as well as onstage performances. For fans of opera there's the Royal Opera House or the London Coliseum, whilst Sadler's Wells and The Royal Ballet should keep dance enthusiasts happy.

After a busy day's sightseeing, you don't want to travel too far to your bed. Luckily, there's a huge choice of accommodation in London: from inexpensive hostels where you can share a dorm for as little as lb10 per night to luxury hotels where you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous!

London is a city that is constantly evolving, making it a very exciting place to visit. If you have been here before, then don't expect it to be the same as it was last time!




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