London Travel Guide
Travel guide to London, England with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major London sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
London Overview
New York may like to think that it is the most important city in the world, Mexico City is definitely the largest, and Shanghai the fastest growing, but the London is without a doubt, the daddy of them all. A place where the imperial grandeur of the past is mixed with modern minimalism; a city that is so diverse and cosmopolitan that members of practically every race on earth lives there; London is the unopposed entertainment capital of Europe, and is one of the most top financial centres in the world.
London has everything, many fine hotels; the best museums anywhere in the world; several breathtaking cathedrals that quietly outshine those in Rome; and opulent palaces that have served as homes for kings and queens.
London has an abundance of pomp and ceremony, but is a place where people are never afraid to let their hair down and party. London's nightlife boasts, bars and clubs where new trends are forged, and fashions made, and there are hundreds of excellent restaurants taking the best bits of everywhere else and mix it up to make something truly special.
Whether you're visiting London on a city break, or want to see a new side of this grand city, there will always be something new for you to uncover, and something incredible to see.
From shopping on Oxford Street to cinemas on Leicester Square, London is a city that proudly does almost everything better than anywhere else, and is a place that visitors will remember for a long time.
Top London Attractions
The best way to get a feel for London is to take an open air bus tour of the city, and see the main attractions on your way round - Trafalgar Square, Cleopatra's Needle, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace will all be included on a round trip, as well as dozens of other treasures, which you can then revisit in more detail later.
Nowhere does culture better than London, and with several top orchestras, a choice of ballet troupes, and the chance to see top musicals and big name actors in the West End, a weekend visit to London should always include a visit to at least one show. There are a number of world-class museums to visit, including the spectacular Natural History Museum and the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are two of the most beautiful churches in the whole world, and both are must see attractions in the city, but there are countless other stunning places of worship including the incredible Hindu Temple in Neasden, North London.
Shopping in London
There are several popular shopping areas in London, and you can explore the city's many stores and boutiques for days without even scratching the surface of what is available.
London's most famous store, Harrod's can be found in the upmarket area of Knightsbridge, where there are also a selection of top designer's boutiques including Gucci and Prada. Close by, Fortnum and Mason offer the finest foods from around the world. Of the other really big names, Hamley's on Regent Street is probably the best toyshop in the world, and a favourite with children of all ages.
The most famous shopping street in London is undoubtedly Oxford Street, and this is where you will find the flagship stores of all the big high street names including a vast Selfridges, and Swatch. Around the corner, in Tottenham Court Road, you are able to get the latest electronic goodies as soon as they can be imported from Japan, and the prices are generally very competitive.
Of London's many markets, Camden Lock is probably the best known, and is very popular with shoppers who want to capture a bit of boho chic or buy "genuine hand made" dream catchers and the like.
London Sporting Events
London's reputation as a top sporting city was cemented with the news that it will host the Olympic games in summer 2012. The facilities being built for the games will ensure that Londoners will continue to be provided with top class sporting spectacles for generations.
Of London's top football teams, Arsenal, Charlton, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, and Fulham are all currently competing in the English premiership, so throughout the season there are regular top-flight matches to go and see. The new Wembley Stadium will host international matches and also major cup finals.
Other sports include Hockey, both kinds of Rugby (the Twickenham ground is just outside the city), and athletics. There are golf courses outside London, and in the capitals many parks, you can jog and roller blade to your heart's content.
