London is not just a big city; it’s a really big city. It has over 8 times more people than Birmingham, 16 times that of Liverpool and a massive 35 times the population of Cardiff. The London metropolitan area is thought to have between 12 and 14 million people, that is over 20% of the population of the UK
It covers over 609 square miles and is one of the largest cities in the world. On your first visit to London it can seem quite daunting but don’t worry we’ll give you some pointers to help you out this summer.
London is split into 6 main areas and in the article below we’ll try to give you an idea of what the features of each one are, what there is to do there and how to get there.
North London.
Famous parts of North London include Camden, Islington, Hampstead and Primrose Hill. These areas tend to attract many of London celebrities and are very popular places to go out in. Primrose Hill is thought by many to be the best picnic site in London. There are direct trains from Luton Airport to North London and it also is home to a large Jewish community. Arsenal and Liverpool call North London home as well as well known attractions such as London Zoo, The Roundhouse and the Regents Canal. The main airport serving it tends to be Luton and there are great train connections from Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston.
Best Pub in North London: Monkey Chews, Chalk Farm
Best Park in North London: Regents Park, Mornington Crescent
East London.
East London has been undergoing a spectacular renaissance in recent years, with many of London’s coolest and up and coming bars to be found here. Its home to Canary Wharf, Victoria Park, Shoreditch and the royal docks. St Katherine’s dock has one of the country’s oldest pubs, while Brick lane has almost a 1\2 a mile of curry houses. Try the pubs around Victoria Park for summer drinking while Shoreditch is great for a night visit. The main railway stations for East London are Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street. Liverpool St offers direct train connections to Stansted Airport.
Best Pub in East London : The Vibe Bar, Brick Lane
Best Park in East London Victoria Park, Bethnal Green
West London
West London is home to of the largest houses in London and is popular with backpackers and new visitors to London. Many of the most popular areas including Putney, Richmond Twickenham and Chiswick are adjacent to the river Thames. Kensington is great for shopping, while Notting Hill’s Portobello road still attracts thousands of visitors a week. It’s home to Kew Gardens, Twickenham rugby ground and the University boat race. The main train station serving West London is Waterloo, which is based on the south bank of the Thames by the London Eye. The pick of the night spots are Putney and Richmond, both of have plenty of riverside bars. The closest airport is Heathrow.
Best Pub in West London : The Jolly Gardeners, Putney
Best Park in West London: Richmond Park
South London.
The great night-life South London can be found easily in Clapham, Wimbledon and Brixton. Lordship lane in East Dulwich has also become more popular in recent years. Popular with both families and city workers, South London has large numbers of international communities so finding great restaurants is always easy. Try Tooting for South Indian food or Dulwich for Turkish cuisine. Borough Market is home to one of the UK’s most famous food markets, while Wimbledon village boasts cool bars and designer shops to temp the fans of the famous tennis tournaments. The main train stations
Best Pub in South London: The Goat, Battersea Rise
Best Park in South London: Clapham Common
The West End
London’s party and tourist centre is bustling 24 hours a day. Here is where you will find the musicals, the plays and the tourist attractions. It is home to the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Oxford St and Covent Garden. The hotels in this area can be the most expensive but may be the most convenient for a short break. Try staying around Victoria to find the best hotels and visit either side of Oxford St for the best bars. Booking your restaurant in advance is a good idea, as is booking specific times for your attractions. Madame Tussauds can have long queues unless you book in advance. The main train stations are London Victoria and Charing Cross. Remember that London’s museums are all free so combining a visit to one with an attraction ticket is a great way to save money and time. You must book your theatre ticket in advance in order to get good seats, especially for shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Dirty Dancing. There are direct trains from London Gatwick which take around 30 minutes to the centre.
Best Pub in the West End: The Endurance, Berwick St
Best Park in the West End: Kensington Gardens
The City
London’s financial heartland is also the oldest part of the city. Home to the Bank of England, Monument, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the city can be very busy on weekdays but deserted at weekends. Try the new development at Spitalfields for good food or take a picnic basket to Finsbury Square. Formerly home to public executions, Tower Hill is now the main tube stop for the Tower. Go and see the crown jewels as soon as you enter the castle itself and then take a tour with a yeoman warder (more commonly known as Beefeaters). Don’t forget about Tower Bridge as in recent years it has become possible to go inside this as well. On the opposite bank you will find the More London amphitheatre which showcases free music, theatre and film screenings throughout the summer. The main train stations are Fenchurch St and London Bridge. The nearest airports are London Stansted and London Gatwick.
Best Pub in The City: The Water Poet
Best Park in The City: Finsbury Circus
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