Maps
of London
London
Sights
Hotels
in London
Museums
in London
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London
London is a cosmopolitan mixture of the Third and First worlds, of chauffeurs and beggars, of the establishment, the avowedly working class and the avant-garde. Unlike comparable European cities, much of London looks unplanned and grubby, but that is part of its appeal. Visiting London is like being let loose on a giant-sized Monopoly board clogged with traffic. Even though you probably won't know where the hell you are, at least the names will look reassuringly familiar. The city is so enormous, visitors will need to make maximum use of the underground train system: unfortunately, this dislocates the city's geography and makes it hard to get your bearings.
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Facts
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Country: United Kingdom
Population: The population of London is 7 million.
Size: The area of London is 120 square kilometres.
Currency: "The currency unit used in London is the pound sterling, the symbol used is £."
Language: English is the official language of London.
Climate: The weather is slightly unpredictable in London. Winters are mild with some outbreaks of very cold weather and the summers are warm and sunny but can get quite chilly.
Customs: People shake hands when introduced.
Telephone Code: The code for the UK is 00 44 and London is 171/181.
Nightlife: "London has a large variety of night-spots from the theatre to the late night clubs. When in London, pick up a copy of the weekly magazine 'Time Out' for the latest schedule in entertainment and night spots - it is available at most news-stands."
Dining: "Most restaurants and cafes are reasonably priced with a casual atmosphere. London is also famous for its excellent cuisine and up market restaurants, where a more formal dress code is necessary."
Shopping: "Famous for its role in the fashion world, London is packed with places to shop. It also has a huge reputation for its street markets and bizarre marketplaces which are definitely worth a visit."
Tipping: "Service charges are included in most restaurants, if not a tip of 10% is more than sufficient. Taxi drivers and hair dressers may also expect a tip but you're under no obligation to do so. Bartenders, cinema ushers and elevator operators will not expect a tip."
Holidays: "January 1; April 10 (Good Friday); April 13 (Easter Monday); May 4 (Early May Bank Holiday); May 25(Spring Bank Holiday); August 31(Summer Bank Holiday); December 25-26, 28."
Opening Closing Times: "Banks are open from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. during the week and some may be open on Saturday mornings.
Shops generally open from 9.00 am to 5.30 p.m. weekly and may stay open late once a week. Some shops may be open on Sundays.
Museum opening hours may vary, it is better to check with the individual museums for their timetable."
Short History: London is so full of history that the past is almost overwhelming. Walk through a busy commercial quarter and tablets commemorate varnished City churches; or stroll along tree-lined avenues and blue plaques on houses recall where the famous lived or died. Peer down a concentrate stairwell near the Tower of London and the defensive Roman wall is laid bare.
Sports: "Football (soccer) is probably the most popular sport in England with 5 teams competing in the Premier League coming from London. Rugby, Cricket, Rowing and Tennis are other popular sports with the prestigious Wimbledon Tennis Championship being held here."
Tourist Offices: "Information on London can be obtained online at the following URL's - http://www.LondonTown.com and http://www.uktravel.com/index.html. Tourist offices in London can be contacted and information can be sent to you by post for a very reasonable price if not for free. You will get the tourist offices addresses by entering the following URL -http://www.tourist-offices.org.uk/United_Kingdom/index.html. These tourist offices will be more than happy to send you on information about all there is to see and do in London. The above websites are kept up to date and the information is perfect for the potential traveller, well worth a look at before travelling to this popular and exciting city."
Time Zone: Greenwich mean time.
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Anyone who spends any extended period of time in England will sympathise with the locals' obsession with the weather, although in relative terms the climate is mild and the rainfall is not spectacular. The least hospitable months for visitors are November through February - it's cold and the days are short. March and October are marginal - there's more daylight but it can still be very cold. April to September are undoubtedly the best months, and this is, unsurprisingly, when most sights are open, and when most people visit. July and August are the busiest months, and best avoided if at all possible. The crowds at London's top attractions have to be seen to be believed.
The main geographical feature of the city is the River Thames, which meanders through central London, dividing it into northern and southern halves. The central area and the most important sights, theatres and restaurants are within the underground's Circle line on the north bank of the river. The trendy and tourist-ridden West End lies within the western portion of the loop, and includes Soho, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Regent St. The East End, so beloved of Ealing comedies, lies east of the circle line; it used to be the exclusive preserve of the Cockney but is now a cultural melting pot. There are interesting inner-city suburbs in North London, including Notting Hill and Camden Town. South London includes a mess of poor, dirty, graffiti-ridden suburbs, like Brixton, which have vibrant, tribal subcultures of their own.Accommodation is ridiculously expensive and in short supply in July and August. There's the usual mix of hostels, university colleges, B&Bs and hotels. Earl's Court is a major centre for cheap hostels and hotels, but there are other good centres in Bloomsbury and Notting Hill. Less-cheap alternatives are Paddington, Bayswater and Pimlico. Eating out is also expensive, though Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants are less of a threat to your wallet. Culinary hunting grounds are Covent Garden, Soho and north of Leicester Square.
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