Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
year. Things change fast, though, and the regular emergence of new attractions ensures that
there's plenty to do even for those who've visited before. In the last decade or so, all of Lon-
don's world-class museums, galleries and institutions have been reinvented, from the Royal
Opera House to the British Museum, and the tourist and transport infrastructure had a major
overhaul for the city's hugely successful 2012 Olympics games.
Monuments from the capital's glorious past are everywhere, from medieval banqueting
halls and the great churches of Christopher Wren to the eclectic Victorian architecture of the
triumphalist British Empire. There's 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
assorted quirks of what is still identifiably a collection of villages. And urban London is off-
set 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, mixing with the upper classes in the
“tiara triangle” around Harrods, or sampling the offbeat weekend markets of Portobello
Road, Camden and Spitalfields. The music, clubbing and gay/lesbian scenes are second to
none, and mainstream arts are no less exciting, with regular opportunities to catch first-rate
theatre companies, dance troupes, exhibitions and opera. The city's pubs have always had
heaps of atmosphere, but food is a major attraction too, with over fifty Michelin-starred res-
taurants and the widest choice of cuisines on the planet.
