Britain's capital is one of the world's truly great cities, offering its millions of visitors an astonishing array of activities. First class tourist facilities and the ever-polite, ultra-organised English make it worth visiting this exhausting and lively city.
The heart of London is busker-filled Leicester Square and nearby neon-clad Piccadilly Circus. From here you can wander the lanes of Soho, seeking out theatres and international cuisine. The area is also attractive to shoppers, with Oxford and Regent Streets nearby.
Central London is very walkable and a two-hour stroll from Piccadilly can take in the magnificent Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace (where the Queen usually resides), the enormous Gothic Parliament buildings and adjacent Westminster Abbey (site of many coronations), as well the sweeping expanse of Trafalgar Square.
From the banks of the Thames, you can't miss the London Eye (the world's largest Ferris wheel), and a mile downstream is the much feared Tower of London and superb Tower Bridge. From here the enormous St Paul's Cathedral is a stone's throw away.
Other popular attractions include: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, the Planetarium and zoo. Among the many museums and galleries, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, Museum of London, War Cabinet rooms, Transport Museum, Tate Galleries and National Gallery are the most highly recommended.
The Covent Garden area is lively by night, but clubs, bars and restaurants are found all over the city. By day, many prefer to escape to the quietness of Greenwich, Regent's Park, Richmond and the world-class Kew Gardens.
By car or train you can also visit Windsor Castle, one of the Royal family's current residences, and the palatial 17th century interiors of Hampton Court Palace, one-time home of Henry VIII.
London is one of the world's travel hubs, serviced by five international airports, an international rail terminal and four inter-regional train stations. Heathrow and Gatwick airports receive flights from all over the world and are well connected to the city. Arriving from Paris by Eurostar train is also popular.
More information on Oxford, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Scotland.
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