London

Table of Contents: Districts / Culture and History / History / Summer Olympics 2012 / Getting in Flights to London, airtickets / London Heathrow / London Gatwick / London Stansted / London Luton / London City Airport / London Southend Airport / Other airports near London By train Buses to London / Get around / Oyster Card By foot By skates By Tube .2F Underground By bus 2 By Tram By DLR / Travelcard and Oyster By cycle By Motorbike .2F Powered Scooter By taxi By road By Boat / London attractions and sightseeing / Landmarks / Central London / South Bank / City / Southwark / Highgate / South Kensington / Notting Hill / Greenwich / Museums and Galleries / Central London 2 / Bloomsbury / North West London / South Bank 2 / South Kensington 2 / Southwark 2 / Greenwich 2 / Other Neighbourhoods / Parks and Gardens / City tours / Explore / Experience / Skate / Sporting Events / Shopping, London souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Pricing / Restaurants / Chains reviews / Vegetarian / Religious / Speciality shops / Shopping / London nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Pubs.2FBars / Nightclubs / Gay and lesbian / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Stay safe / Get out More from England: Chelmsford (England), East Anglia, East Midlands, Jurassic Coast, London, Midlands, North East (England), North West (England), Peak District, South East (England), West Country, West Midlands (region), Yorkshire More from United Kingdom: England, Isle of Man, Lundy, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales More from Western Europe: Benelux, Channel Islands (United Kingdom), France, Ireland, Ireland (disambiguation), Pyrenees, United Kingdom More from Europe: Alps, Central Europe, Danube, Eastern Europe, European Union, Mediterranean Europe, Rhine, Western Europe

London [1] is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and the largest city in western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, Greater London has an official population of roughly 7.5 million people—although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance. London is historically one of the great "world cities" and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance.

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Districts

The name "London" originally referred only to the once-walled "Square Mile" of the original Roman (and later medieval) city (now confusingly called the City of London, or just "The City"). "London", however, has taken on a much larger meaning, to include all of the vast central part of the modern metropolis, the city having absorbed numerous surrounding towns and villages over the centuries. Reflecting the massive size of the metropolis, therefore, the term "Greater London" embraces central London, together with all the outlying suburbs that lie in one continuous urban sprawl within the lower Thames valley. Though densely populated by New World standards, London retains large swathes of green parkland and open space, even within the city centre.

Greater London consists of 32 London boroughs and the City of London that, together with the relatively new London mayorality, form the basis for London's local government. The names of several boroughs, such as 'Westminster' or 'Camden', are well-known and self-explanatory, others less so, such as 'Hackney', or 'Tower Hamlets'. A traveller's London, however, is better defined not by strangely-shaped and often fairly arbitrary administrative divisions, but rather by recognised functional, cultural, and social districts of varying types and sizes:

• Central London
  • The City of London - the historical, and financial, core of the city
  • Westminster - a city in its own right, and home of the British government and royal family
    • West End - theatres and shops
    • Soho - nightclubs and restaurants, the heart of Gay London
    • Covent Garden - designer and alternative shopping, as well as a famous opera house
    • Oxford Street - long (over a mile) shopping street
    • Leicester Square - one of the mainstream entertainment hubs, lots of cinemas
    • Chinatown - the Chinese district
    • Trafalgar Square - churches, galleries, monuments
  • Holborn
  • South Bank - a vibrant, artsy district fronting the river Thames
  • Southwark
  • Bloomsbury - academic and intellectual area, many of the University of London's constituent colleges are based here
  • Mayfair
  • Marylebone
  • Paddington - centred around Paddington Station, includes Bayswater and Queensway
• East London - a mixture of galleries and bustling nightlife, as well as the some of the most deprived areas in the country. Now the focus of redevelopment for the 2012 Olympic Games. covers Bethnal Green, Bow, Brick Lane, Clerkenwell, Docklands, Hackney, Mile End, Poplar, Shoreditch, Stepney, Stratford, Walthamstow and Whitechapel
• West London - major centres include Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, Shepherd's Bush, Chiswick, Acton and Ealing
• South West London - covers Battersea, Brixton, Clapham, Kingston, Putney, Richmond, Twickenham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Streatham and Tooting.
• South East London - covers Greenwich, Dulwich, Croydon, Lewisham, Bromley, Deptford and Penge.
• North East London
• North London
• North West London - the upscale areas of St. John's Wood, Maida Vale, and Hampstead; but also includes immigrant and working class Wembley and Kilburn.

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Culture and History

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History

Settlement has existed on the site of London since well before Roman times, with evidence of Bronze Age and Celtic peoples. The Roman city of Londinium, however, established just after the Roman conquest of Britannia in 43 AD, formed the basis for the modern city (some isolated Roman period remains are still to be seen within the city). After a short-lived decline that followed the end of Roman rule in 410 AD, London experienced a gradual revival under the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the Norsemen, emerging as a great medieval trading city, and eventually replacing Winchester as the English royal capital. This paramount status for London was confirmed by the Norman, William the Conqueror, who built the Tower of London after the Conquest in 1066, and was crowned King of England in nearby Westminster.

London went from strength to strength and, with the rise of England to first European, then global prominence, the city became a great centre of government, industry and culture. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English Renaissance (witness the Rose Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe) and great playwrights, like Shakespeare, who made London their home.

With the rise of Britain to supreme maritime power in the 18th and 19th centuries, the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital, drawing people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world. Despite the inevitable decline of the Empire, and considerable suffering during the Second World War (when London was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe in "the Blitz"), the city remains a top-ranked world city, a global centre of finance, learning, and culture.

The Museum of London, located near the Barbican to the north of the City of London, makes an ideal destination (free admission) for the traveller who wants to understand the history and ongoing legacy of this great city.

London is easily the largest city in the United Kingdom, eight times larger than its second largest city, Birmingham, and ten times larger than the third, Glasgow, and dominates the economic, political, and social life of the United Kingdom (much to the annoyance of people in "the provinces" - i.e. everywhere except London). The city is full of excellent bars, theatres, museums, art galleries, and parks. It is also the most culturally and ethnically diverse part of the country, and, for a visitor, a nice side-effect of this is the wide range of cuisines available. Samuel Johnson said "When one is tired of London, one is tired of life." Whether you are interested in ancient history or modern art, opera or underground raves, London has it all.

England's royal families have, over the centuries, added much to the London scene for today's traveller: the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, the Royal Albert Hall, and Westminster Abbey being prominent examples.

London possesses one of the best collections of museums and galleries anywhere in the world. World cultures throughout history are well represented, for example, at the British Museum.

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Summer Olympics 2012

The International Olympic Committee decided in July 2005 that London will serve as the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad, the Summer Olympic Games of 2012 [2]. This will make London the first city to hold the Olympic Games three times, having hosted the games previously in 1908 and 1948. The vast majority of events will be held in a regenerated area in East London. For more information, see London 2012.

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Getting in

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Flights to London, airtickets

London (all airports code: LON) is served by a total of six airports. Traveling between the city and the airports is made relatively easy by the large number of public transport links that have been put in place over recent years. However, if transiting through London, be sure to check the arrival and departure airports carefully as transfers across the city may be quite time-consuming.

In addition to London's six official airports (of which only two are located in London) there are a number of other regional UK airports conveniently accessible from London. Since they offer a growing number of budget flights, choosing those airports can be cheaper (or even faster, depending on where in London your destination is).

For transfers directly between London's airports, the fastest way (short of a taxi) is the direct inter-airport service by National Express [3]. Buses between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports run at least once per hour, with Heathrow-Gatwick services taking 65 minutes (£18) and Heathrow-Stansted services 90 minutes (£20.50). (Note that services between Stansted and Luton Airports run only once every 2 hours.) However, it's essential to allow leeway, as London's expressways, especially the orbital M25 and the M1 motorway, are often congested to the point of gridlock. Buses have toilets on board.

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London Heathrow

Heathrow (ICAO: EGLL, IATA: LHR) [4] is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services from most available major airports world-wide. There are four terminals, with a fifth opening in 2008. Flights landing in Heathrow often are delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots.

A quick summary of transport options:

• Fastest: Heathrow Express to Paddington Station, 15 min journey time at 15 min intervals, £15.50
• Cheapest: Piccadilly Line to central London (London Underground), 50 min, Ask for an 'Oyster Card' for cheapest travel. Single journeys are around £2 with oyster (Requires deposit of £3, returned at the end of your stay) and £4 for a paper ticket. Zone 6 Travelcards valid £6-7 for a day. See 'Getting Around' below for all transport ticketing options.
• Most convenient: Combination of Heathrow Express to Paddington followed by a Taxi to your final destination. A Taxi from Heathrow to Central London will take around one hour and is highly dependent on traffic, £45-60

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London Gatwick

(IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) [5] London's second airport, also serving a large spectrum of places world-wide. To get to the centre of the city, the following options exist:

Another option is the First Capital Connect line that runs through Kings Cross, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Bridge to Gatwick. Have a look at national rail (above) for options.

There is a cycle path into Central London see sustrans for information; but as it involves going through South London and over the North Downs, it will likely be quite a ride

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London Stansted

(ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN)[8] Currently London's third airport, the base for a large number of budget carriers and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights.

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London Luton

(ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN)[13] Has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. As per Stansted, and for the same reasons, many choose to spend the night here before flying. To get to central London, the following options exist:

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London City Airport

(ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY)[18] A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specialising in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. To get to the city centre, the following options exist:

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London Southend Airport

(IATA: SEN, ICAO: EGMC) Currently undergoing redevelopment and is set to become London's sixth international airport once the new rail link is completed. At present it serves destinations in the British isles only.

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Other airports near London

• Southampton Airport [19] (ICAO: EGHI, IATA: SOU) is not officially a London airport, though accessible enough to conveniently serve the capital, especially South West London. A couple of budget carriers serving an increasing number of European destinations are based here.

• Birmingham International Airport [20] (ICAO: EGBB, IATA: BHX) is another non-London airport worth considering as a less congested and hectic alternative to Heathrow, being just over an hour away from London. As a major airport serving the UK's second largest city, there is a good choice of long distance and European destinations.

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By train

London is served by one international rail link, currently operating out of Waterloo International. High-speed trains travel under the sea for 22 miles (35 km) through the Channel Tunnel from Paris (2h35) and Brussels (2h15) and are operated by Eurostar. Book well in advance to secure the best ticket deals. For onward travel Waterloo International is part of the Waterloo station complex (see below) and well served by tube lines, buses and taxis. As of 14 November 2007, all Eurostar services will be transferred to St Pancras station upon completion of the new high-speed line, dubbed "High-Speed One".

London is also well served by trains to and from other parts of the UK. There are no fewer than 12 main line terminal stations, forming a ring around Central London and each serving various parts of the country. Apart from Fenchurch Street (nearest Tube Tower Gateway), all are served by their own stations on the tube network, and most (but not all) can be reached by the Circle Line -- which may be the easiest, if not fastest, way to transfer between stations by Tube. All are served by buses and taxis.

For a detailed profile of each station, visit the Network Rail Stations website and select the appropriate station from the list at left.

In clockwise order the mainline (National Rail) train stations are:

• London Paddington, serving the area to the west of London including Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth. Paddington is also the downtown terminus of the Heathrow Airport Express service (see above) and also serves commuters from Ealing Broadway, Acton Main Line, Slough, Maidenhead and points west.
• London Marylebone, serving an area to the north-west of London. One branch serves suburban stations including Wembley Stadium then towns like High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham. The other takes a more northerly route along the Metropolitan line via Harrow-on-the-Hill to Amersham and then on to Aylesbury. It is usually much cheaper (but slightly slower) to take a Chiltern Railways train from London Marylebone to Birmingham instead of Virgin Trains from London Euston.
• London Euston, serving central and north-west England and western Scotland, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle, Chester and Glasgow, and rail and ferry services to/from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from Holyhead. Euston is also the London terminus for the sleeper train to Scotland.
• London St Pancras, serving the East Midlands, including Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Eurostar trains will be moving here from Waterloo, possibly some time in 2007.
• London King's Cross, serving north-eastern England and eastern Scotland, Doncaster, Leeds, Kingston Upon Hull, York, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Regional services including Cambridge, Stevenage, Hitchin and Peterborough also operate from King's Cross. Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter books is marked with a special sign -- although Platform 9 itself is actually in the fairly unpleasant metallic extension used by Cambridge trains. Kings Cross Thameslink station is a short walk away and provides services on the cross London Thameslink line to St Albans, Luton Airport Luton and Bedford to the north and Gatwick Airport and Brighton to the south.
• London Moorgate, serving regional commuter stations along the King’s Cross line north east of London, duplicating many of the services out of King’s Cross.
• London Liverpool Street, serving East Anglia, including Ipswich and Norwich. Liverpool Street is also the downtown terminus of the Stansted Airport Express service (see above).
• London Fenchurch Street, serving largely commuter towns on the north side of the Thames estuary, including Southend.
• London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, all serving the area south and south east of London, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate. Famously known as the "Pit of Despair" by London commuters.
• London Blackfriars A small intermediate station serving the cross London Brighton- Bedford line with some commuter services from the south eastern parts of London terminating here.
• London Waterloo, serving the area south-west of London, including Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter. South-west London is also most quickly reached from Waterloo, although some areas like Richmond and Wimbledon are also served by the western reaches of the District Line. This station is currently the terminus for direct trains to mainland Europe (see above).
• London Victoria, serving the area south and south-east of London, including Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate, and serves some of south London's commuter belt. Victoria is also the downtown terminus of the Gatwick Airport Express service (see above).
• Kensington Olympia, a small station just to the west of the centre, and the only London stop for several Virgin long distance cross country services between the Midlands to the south coast.

There is also one cross-London rail service commonly known as Thameslink but officially called First Capital Connect, from Bedford to Brighton and calling in central London at London King's Cross Thameslink, Farringdon, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars. It notably connects Gatwick and Luton airports with each other and Central London.

Train times (to and from any location) can be found on the National Rail Planner [21] or by calling 08457 48 49 50 (local call charges apply) from anywhere in the UK.

The last train sometimes doesn't come because of changes to the schedule, variations in the weather, or for some other reason.

Many parts of London itself are best accessible by train (sometimes called National Rail or Overground trains to distinguish from the Tube) -- Many areas, particularly in South/South-West London, are only reachable via overground services as with Clapham Junction or Kingston. Also, South-east London is served principally by trains from London Bridge, Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street stations and increasingly by the Docklands Light Railway from Bank/Tower Gateway to Lewisham and Woolwich Arsenal.

Travellers should note that London's bizarre lack of integration of National Rail train services with Transport for London means that pre-pay Oyster cards are not (NOT!) universally valid on the overground. Travelcards, Oyster or otherwise, are valid, but it is not possible, for example, to use pre-pay to extend a Zone 1 Travelcard to a Zone 5 station. Some of the overground lines in North London are Oyster compliant, but most south of the Thames are not.

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Buses to London

Most international and domestic long distance bus services (UK English:coach services) arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Eurolines (see below) serve Victoria Coach Station, which actually has separate arrival and departure buildings. Services by other operators may use this station, or the Green Line Coach Station across Buckingham Palace Road. The following are amongst the main coach operators:

• National Express [22] is by far the largest domestic coach operator and operates services to / from London from throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Advance ticketing is usually required and recommended practice in any case
• Eurolines [23] is an associate company of National Express, and runs coach services to / from London with various cities in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. Advance ticketing is required.
• MegaBus [24] operates budget coach services from/to London (Green Line Coach Station) to/from several major regional cities, it is even possible to get to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Tickets must be booked online and fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance).

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Get around

London has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite Londoners' constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliablity, public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere in London for visitors and residents alike and is far more reliable than locals would have you believe. Indeed, nearly a third of London households do not feel the need to own a car. Transport for London (TfL) [25] is the body responsible for London's transport network, predominantly made up of the Underground, buses, rail and trams. London has recently been awarded the city with the best public transport in the world.

You can use Transport for London's useful Journeyplanner [26] to help you plan your journeys around London on public transport. They also offer a 24-hour travel information line, charged at local rate: tel +44-20-72221234 for suggestions on getting from A to B, and for up to the minute information on how services are running.

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Oyster Card

Transport for London runs a contactless smartcard called Oyster. It can have travelcards added, which allow various passes for London's transport system to be added. It also allows cash to be added for pay-as-you-go. In both cases, you press the card against a yellow disc, prominently displayed on buses and trams and on the entry and exit gates for the Tube.

The Oyster Card can be obtained from any Tube station for a deposit of £3. This is fully refundable if you hand it in at the end of the trip. If you have any pay-as-you-go credit left, this will also be refunded. However, there is no expiry date on the Oyster Card or any pay-as-you-go credit on the card.

If you're going to be doing a lot of travelling by public transport, Travelcards have to be on an Oyster. Pay-as-you-go on Oyster is much cheaper than paying in cash for each journey - for instance, a cash bus fare is £2, while with Oyster it is £1. It also saves time getting onto buses - in the central area, tickets have to be bought at a machine by the bus stop if you don't have an Oyster and outside the zone from the driver. If you use pay-as-you-go and spend enough in a day to qualify for a Travelcard, it will be automatically put on your Oystercard, saving you from paying any more money. Using an Oyster will also make you look more like a Londonder!

Having an Oystercard also saves you money at some attractions - see 2 for 1 Oyster deals [27]

Full details are at Oystercard [28]

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By foot

For travelling shorter distances in London there is no better way. Walking forces you to slow down and look around, and in a city like London there's always something interesting to look at if you take the time. Walking can also be the quickest way to get somewhere: check your map, central London is surprisingly compact.

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By skates

Inline skating is legal in London, both on the roads and the pavement, with the exception of within the City of London (The Square Mile). Roads are not the greatest, but easily skatable. In the centre cars and taxis are more used to seeing skaters than on the outskirts of the city.

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By Tube / Underground

The London Underground [29] - also known popularly as "The Tube" - has trains that criss-cross London in the largest underground rail network anywhere in the world (it was also the first, the first section of the Metropolitan Line dates back to 1863). This mode of transport is usually the fastest way to get from one part of London to the another, the only problem being the relative expense (go for a Travelcard, if you can), and the fact that it can get extremely crowded during "rush hours" (7:30AM-9:30AM and 4:30PM-7PM). Take a bottle of water with you on warm days. Trains run from around 5:30AM to about 1am at night. Tube maps are freely available from any station, most tourist offices and are prominently displayed throughout stations - and, for some obscure reason, in the back of most diaries.

The Tube is made up of twelve lines, each bearing a traditional name and a standard colour on the Tube Map [30]. To plan your trip on The Tube, work out first which station is closest to your starting point and which closest to your destination. Use the Tube Map to determine which line(s) you will take. You are able to change freely between lines at interchange stations (providing you stay within the zones shown on your ticket, or via any reasonable route for single-destination tickets). Since the Tube Map is well designed it is very easy to work out how to get between any two stations, and since each station is clearly signed and announced it is easy to work out when to get off your train. The Tube is therefore an easy method of transport even for new visitors to London.

Visitors should be aware, however, that the Tube map is actually a diagram and not a scaled map, making it misleading for determining the relative distance between stations as it makes central stations appear further apart and somewhat out of place. The Tube map also gives no information on London's extensive overground bus network and its orbital rail network. An integrated map of London's Tube, Train and Bus Map can be purchased online at mapvendor or alternatively you can view the map online.

Travel on The Tube has become extremely erratic as of late, especially on the weekends. Many sections of The Tube are shut down on the weekends due to "planned engineering" work. Transport for London's website (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/) has constant updates about these disruptions of service.

The Tube system is divided up into several Zones in concentric circles from Zone 1 (central London, containing most of the primary tourist attractions) all the way out to Zone 6 (outer suburbs and Heathrow Airport). Fares depend on which zone you start in and how many zones you cross. Single cash fares for an adult are £4 for most trips, including anything within Zones 1 thru 4, or £3 for any that stays outside Zone 1 (January 2007). Travelcards offer much better value if you will be making several journeys - an off-peak Day Travelcard for Zones 1-2 is available after 9.30am each day, for example, at £5.10. Detailed fare information is available at any Tube station or from the TfL website [31]. Using a pre-pay Oyster card [32] reduces fare prices significantly with a Zone 1 single fare costing £1.50 whilst a journey between Zones 1 and 6 costs £2 evening and weekends or £3.50 during the daytime. Oyster cards are available at every Underground station but require payment of a deposit of £3; this is refunded when the card is returned. Another advantage of using an Oyster card is that it is automatically capped to a relevant daily Travelcard price - see below.

If you buy a weekly ticket, you do not have to wait until after 9:30AM and the average price per day will be even cheaper. Oyster cards can again be used for such tickets, along with other seasonal tickets.

There is a general "underground etiquette" amongst Londoners on the Tube, and it's a good idea to learn it quickly so you don't get trampled on by stampeding commuters, and it will also help prevent you being identified as a tourist by pickpockets and touts which still frequent the large central stations.

• Always stand on the RIGHT when using the escalators and passageways to allow people on in a hurry to pass. Londoners can be pretty bad at doing this, but it is very important. People will occasionally shove you out the way if you are standing on the left.
• Have your ticket or Oyster card ready for when you get to the top of the escalators so not to obstruct the barriers.
• Move down the platforms whilst waiting on a train to allow for others coming down the escalators behind you.
• Don't carry excessive amounts of luggage, especially at peak times.
• Move clear of ticket halls, station entrances and at the foot of escalators.
• If a train arrives and is badly overcrowded, look at the information display on the platform to see when the next train is due. If it's only a couple of minutes behind, you would be as well to wait, as it could be less crowded.
• Ticket touts are common at the large interchange stations, and try to collect unwanted Travelcards so they can sell on at a profit - the money is often used for drugs and other illicit activities. It is illegal to buy a ticket from a tout.
• Beware of pickpockets. They often prey on disorientated tourists at the stations which connect with major rail terminuses (Euston, Waterloo etc.) and tourist attractions. Always keep your belongings in an inside pocket.
• ALWAYS allow passengers to get off the train before boarding yourself. Also, DO NOT stand directly in front of the doors while passengers are trying to get off. Always stand either to the right or to the left of the opening train doors, and allow all passengers to disembark before attempting to get on the train yourself. Adhering to this simple 'train-iquette' will make life a lot easier.

Special London tube cards for North Americans can also be purchased at Britain On Track

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Buses to London

London's iconic red buses are recognised the world over, even if the traditional open-platform Routemaster buses have been largely phased out. Over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus in London.

Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short trips (less than a couple of stops on the Tube), and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station. Bus lines running parallel to London Underground (The Tube) lines shut down on the weekends for "planned engineering work" can be extremely crowded. The difficulty with buses over the tube is knowing when to get off; while tube stations are clearly marked it is sometimes more difficult to work out where to get off a bus. Your best bet is to ask fellow passengers and/or to trace your route on a map. Bus drivers are sometimes helpful and sometimes not, but they're usually too busy to be able to tell you when you've reached your destination.

Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Seven Sisters and Victoria. Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side, and rear of the bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing the routes that will stop there. Standard bus services run from around 6am in the morning to 12:30AM at night. Around midnight the bus network changes to the Night Bus network. Bus routes, numbers and timetable all change with most of the buses radiating out from around the Trafalgar Square area to most outlying parts of Greater London. Night buses are identified by an 'N' at the start of the route number, for example the N73 runs between Walthamstow Central and Victoria. The night bus service is a reliable and often interesting way to get home at night.

Bus journeys are cheaper than taking the Tube, at cash fare £2 per trip (January 2007). Children under 14 travels free without identification, under 16 travels free on production of a Child Oyster card. However, unlike The Tube single tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses. Consider purchasing a One Day Bus Pass (adult, one day, £3.50) or an Oyster card if you will be making several trips a day, or a Bus Saver booklet of six tickets for £6.00 (£1.00 each), available at rail stations, tube stations and news agents. Fares are the same for night buses as for regular services.

A One Day Bus Pass can be purchased from bus ticket machines, local rail and tube stations, and also selected newsagents for the bargain price of £3.50 (children travel free), allowing unlimited bus journeys for an entire day (and night - up till 4:30AM the next day on the night bus network) across the whole of Greater London. Travelcards and Oyster also work on bus services.

An Oyster card requires a £3 refundable deposit - however, when using Oyster Pre-Pay, a bus journey is £1 per trip (January 2007), a considerable saving. This also applies to night buses. Another option is to charge an Oyster card with a One Day Bus Pass - it tends to be more difficult to lose or damage the Oyster card than it does a slip of paper or card.

Yellow route signs indicate you must purchase your ticket before you board. This means you must either have a Travelcard, a Bus Pass, a Bus Saver ticket, a Pre-Pay Oyster card, or have bought single ticket from a machine at the bus stop. Note that these machines don't provide change (all the more reason to use one of the other options).

The 29 bus is the most popular bus (day or night) in London. During the Friday/Saturday late nights between Central London & Wood Green, the N29 runs every 6 mins. Old-fashioned Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and on-board conductor to collect fares, run on Heritage Routes 9 and 15 every 15 minutes, every day between about 09:30 and 18:30.

Many of the most popular buses, including the 29 bus tend to be of the double-length articulated variety, known as bendy buses. This could be related to the relative ease of hopping on and off these without paying (at stops, doors open along the length of the bus and there is no on-board conductor). This is, however, illegal and can be very risky - large teams of inspectors frequently descend on these buses accompanied by police, and it's entirely possible to be arrested and prosecuted. Care should be taken as it is possible for those unfamiliar with this type of bus to get on board and then have no way of paying. Routes served by this type of bus always carry a yellow route sign as detailed above.

• Central London Bus Map and Tourist attractions
• Zone 1-3 integrated bus, train and tube map walking map with tourist attractions

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By Tram

There's an electric tram network running between South-West and South-East of outer London (Wimbledon to Beckenham). The tram fares are the same as bus fares; Travelcards covering zones 3,4,5 or any combination thereof, and/or bus passes, are acceptable on all tram routes.

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By DLR

Docklands Light Rail (DLR) is a dedicated light rail network operating in east London, connecting with the Underground network at Bank and Tower Gateway. Apart from the trains looking slightly different and running slightly less frequently than the Tube, visitors may as well treat the two systems as the same. The DLR uses the same system of Zones as the Tube, and travelcards are valid on DLR services. As the trains often operate without a driver, it can be quite exciting - especially for children - to sit in front and look at through the window, whilst feeling as though one is driving the train oneself.

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Travelcard and Oyster

A Travelcard is an all-in-one ticket that allows you travel on the Underground (the Tube), buses, DLR, trams and rail services within set zones. Many travellers, for example, would choose to buy a one day Travelcard that allows unlimited travel throughout zones 1-4 (all of central London, plus many outer suburbs like Richmond, Greenwich and Wimbledon) for £5.70 off-peak travel only or £9.00 for any time travel (January 2007). Other period travelcards such as three-day, weekly, monthly and yearly are also available.

In addition to standard paper tickets, tickets may also be purchased in the form of Oyster. This is a credit-card sized wireless smartcard that stores your ticket information instead of the cardboard ticket. Rather than inserting a ticket at the gates you simply pass your Oyster card near the yellow readers, meaning you don't need to remove it from your wallet or bag. You can put a weekly, monthly, or annual travelcard ticket onto Oyster. If you do not purchase a travelcard on Oyster, you can buy a card for a £3 deposit, then add a Pre-Pay balance to it. Swiping your Oyster card for journeys around London will automatically deduct the appropriate value from your card. This provides a level of convenience over buying ticket individually, and also gives you a discount on each fare. Single trips in Zone 1, for example cost £4 for cash and £1.50 on Oyster Pre-Pay. The amount of Pre-Pay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate day travelcard for the zones you have travelled through, less 50 pence. This means you don't need to decide at the start of the day whether to get a travelcard or just purchase single rides - using Oyster Pre-Pay will ensure you are charged the minimum fare. The major caveat though is that Oyster Pre-Pay cannot be used on most National Rail services; for these you'll need to purchase a standard cardboard ticket. If you are only using the tube, bus and tram, Oyster Pre-Pay makes a lot of sense. Detailed fare information is available at any tube station or from the TFL website.

• Tickets and Oyster at TfL

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By cycle

Due to the expense of other forms of transport and the compactness of central London, cycling is a tempting option. Many improvements have been made for cyclists in the city over the last few years, even if they remain no more than gestures in most places. Noticeably, there are many new signposted cycle routes and some new cycle lanes, not to mention more cyclists since the July 2005 public transport attacks. Excellent free cycle maps detailing these routes can be obtained from your local tube stations, bike shop, or ordered online. However, London remains a relatively hostile environment for cyclists, generally speaking. A contiguous skeletal cycle lane network does not exist. The safest option is to stick to minor residential roads where traffic can be surprisingly calm outside rush hours.

The towpaths along the Grand Union and Regent's Canals in North London are the closest thing to a truly traffic-free cycle path in the capital. In summer they are crowded with pedestrians and not suitable for cycling, but in winter or late in the evening they offer a very fast and safe way to travel from east to west in North London. The Grand Union canal connects Paddington to Camden and the Regent's Canal connects Camden to Islington, Mile End and Limehouse in East London. It takes about 30-40 min to cycle from Paddington station to Islington along the towpaths.

Helmets are not compulsory for cyclists in the UK, and opinions differ on their value. In London, many cyclists, especially those seen in rush hour, also wear filter masks, but their efficacy is even more argued over. London motorists seem reluctant to acknowledge the existence of cyclists, especially at busy junctions.

Non-folding bikes can only be taken on limited sections of The Tube network, mostly only on the above-ground sections outside peak hours. There is a map showing this on the TFL website. Most rail operators allow bicycles outside peak hours also. For this reason, folding bicycles are becoming increasingly popular.

Care should be taken as to where you choose to park your bike. Many areas, some surprisingly busy, attract cycle thieves, while chaining a bicycle to a railing which appears to be private property can occasionally lead to said bike being removed.

The London Cycle Campaign [33] is an advocacy group for London cyclists and organises regular group rides and events. Critical Mass London [34] meets for regular rides through central London at 6pm on the last Friday of each month. Rides start from the southern end of Waterloo Bridge.

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By Motorbike / Powered Scooter

Arguably the fastest way around London, but also the most dangerous. Parking for motorbikes and scooters is free at many of the reserved areas. The congestion zone does not apply, and thus for anyone commuting it's usually the cheapest option (possibly excluding bus rides).

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By taxi

London has two types of taxis: the famous black cabs, and so-called mini-cabs. Black cabs are the only ones licensed to 'tout for business' (ie pick people up off the street), while minicabs are more accurately described as 'private hire vehicles' and need to be pre-booked.

The famous black cabs of London (not always black in these days of heavy advertising!) can be hailed from the curb or found at one of the many designated taxi ranks. Their yellow 'TAXI' light will be on if they are available. Black cabs charge by distance and by the minute, are non-smoking, and have a minimum charge of £2.20 They are a cheap transport option if there are five passengers as they do not charge extras, and many view them as an essential experience for any visitor to London. Drivers must take an extensive exam in London's streets to be licensed for a black cab, meaning they can supposedly navigate you to almost any London street without reference to a map. It is possible to book black cabs by phone, for a fee, but if you are in central London it will usually be quicker to hail one from the street.

A new convenient taxi-based service is Zingo [35] - call 08700 700 700 and you will be connected direct with the driver of the nearest available black cab anywhere in London to arrange pickup. Normal meter fares apply + £2 booking fee.

Minicabs are licenced hire vehicles that you need to book by phone or at a minicab office. They generally charge a fixed fare for a journey, best agreed before you get in the car. Minicabs are usually cheaper than black cabs, although this is not necessarily the case for short journeys.

Note that some areas in London are poorly serviced by black cabs, particularly late at night. This has led to a large number of illegal 'mini-cabs' operating - just opportunistic people, with a car, looking to make some fast money. These illegal drivers are unlicensed and sadly they are often unsafe: a number of women are assaulted every week by illegal minicab operators. Some of these operators can be fairly aggressive in their attempts to find custom, and it's now barely possible to walk late at night through any part of London with a modicum of nightlife without being approached. You should avoid "mini-cabs" touting for business off the street and either take a black cab, book a licensed mini-cab by telephone, or take a night bus. Licensed minicabs display a Transport For London (TFL) License Plate - usually in the front window. One of the features of the license plate is a blue version of the famous London Underground "roundel".

Tipping is not mandatory in either taxis or minicabs, despite some drivers' expectations..... Use your discretion - the fares are usually high enough....

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By road

Driving in Central London is a slow, frustrating, expensive and often unnecessary activity. Londoners who drive will normally take public transport in the centre; follow their example. Traffic is slow and heavy, there are many sorts of automatic enforcement cameras, and it is difficult and expensive to park.

Car drivers should be aware that driving into Central London on weekdays during daylight hours incurs a hefty charge, with very few exemptions (note that rental cars also attract the charge). Cameras and mobile units record and identify the number plates and registration details of all vehicles entering the charging zone with high accuracy.

The Central London Congestion Charge [36] attracts a fee of £8 Monday through Friday 7AM-6:00PM (excluding public holidays) if paid the same day before 10PM (after 10PM until midnight, a surcharge of £2 is added to encourage early payment, totalling £10). Failure to pay the charge by 12 midnight the same day (take note!) incurs a hefty automatic fine of £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 2 weeks). Numerous payment options exist: by phone, by voucher and online. Check the website for details.

Despite the Congestion Charge, London - like most major cities - continues to experience traffic snarls. These are, of course, worse on weekdays during peak commuting hours, i.e. between 7:30AM - 9:30AM and 4PM - 7PM At these times public transport (and especially the Tube) usually offers the best alternative for speed and reduced hassle. Parking during weekdays and Saturdays can also mean considerable expense in parking fees - fees and restrictions are ignored at your extreme financial peril - issuing fines, clamping and towing vehicles (without warning!) has become a veritable new industry for borough councils staffed by armies of traffic wardens. Find and read the parking restrictions carefully! A good tip is, that outside advertised restriction hours, parking on a single yellow line is permissible... Parking on a red line or a double yellow line is never permissible and heavily enforced...

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By Boat

The London Waterbus Company runs scheduled services (more in summer, less in winter) from Little Venice to Camden Lock with a stop at the London Zoo. The 45 minute trip along Regent's Canal is a delightful way to travel.

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London attractions and sightseeing

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveller. As a bonus, most attractions in London are free of charge! Following is a selection of some of the most popular and noteworthy (the rest to be found in the various district pages - get exploring!):

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Landmarks

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Central London

• Somerset House [37] - this magnificent 18th century building off the Strand, recently restored to the public, houses the collections of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Gilbert Collection and Hermitage Rooms. You'll also find shops, cafés, a restaurant and the spectacular Fountain Court, scene of public ice-skating in the winter.

• Trafalgar Square - home of Nelson's Column and the lions, and once a safe haven for London's pigeons until the recent introduction of hired birds of prey. It recently attracted controversy over the 'Fourth plinth', previously empty, being temporarily home to a Marc Quin sculpture, 'Alison Lapper Pregnant'. Overlooked by the National Gallery, it's the nearest London has to a 'centre', and has recently been pedestrianised. Previously, traffic used to circle the entire fountain and statuary area.

• Oxford Street - The largest shopping street in Europe

• Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. The seat of the British parliament and World Heritage site, as well as setting for royal coronations since 1066, most recently that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

• Buckingham Palace [38] - the official London residence of the Queen, one of several royal palaces in London. Open for tours during the summer months only, but a must-see sight even if you don't go in.

• Leicester Square - Possibly one of the busiest areas in London. It houses the largest cinemas (frequently hosting star-studded premieres), as well as cafes and restaurants. Due to the huge influx of tourists, everything from cinema tickets to bottles of water are very expensive.

• Piccadilly Circus - London's "Times Square".

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South Bank

• The London Eye is the world's largest observation wheel, situated on the South Bank of the Thames with magnificent views over London.

• Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, situated on the South Bank a fantastic modern reconstruction of the Tudor period Globe Theatre, scene of some fine Shakespearian moments

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City

• The Tower of London, situated just south east of the City, is London's original royal fortress by the Thames. It is over 900 years old, contains the Crown Jewels, is guarded by Beefeaters, and is a World Heritage site.

• Tower Bridge is the iconic 19th century bridge located by the Tower of London near the City. It is decorated with high towers and featuring a drawbridge and you can visit the engine rooms and a Tower Bridge exhibition.

• St Paul's Cathedral, in the City, is Sir Christopher Wren's great accomplishment, built after the 1666 Great Fire of London - the great dome is still seated in majesty over The City. A section of the dome has such good acoustics that it forms a "Whispering Gallery."

• Temple in the City, east of Somerset House, is a small realm of serenity in the midst of the typical turmoil. It used to be the court of the Templar Knights. You can still visit the beautiful Romanesque church, which is one of the oldest ones in London.

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Southwark

• Southwark Cathedral [39] - off the traditional tourist path, Southwark Cathedral has been the site of worship since 852 AD. Literally in the shadow of London Bridge, the Cathedral is a shelter from the noise of the city.

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Highgate

• Highgate Cemetery [40], Where you can go on a guided tour of the overgrown western cemetery which gives it a special beauty and charm, or self guided on the east side where you'll find the grave of Karl Marx. There are known to be at least 850 notable people buried at Highgate. It has been said that Highgate has the finest collection of Victorian funerary architecture in the country

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South Kensington

• Royal Albert Hall [41] - landmark location of many world-renowned concerts (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin), still plays host to top shelf entertainment. In summer, the BBC Proms are a varied classical music festival, and first-come first-served standing tickets can be had for £5 (2006 price). Doors open 30mins before the performance (which generally begins at 7.30pm) but a queue starts earlier, around 6pm for a 'normal' concert and considerably earlier if there are big-name performers. Seated tickets are also available for £20-£50; often there are some still available on the night. Special rules restrict entrance to the famous Last Night in September; you will not be able to get in without attending at least 6 other Proms!

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Notting Hill

• Portobello Road [42] - claimed to be the world's largest antiques market. For antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time. At night this is one of the best pick up areas in London, at least for women needing men anyway.

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Greenwich

• Maritime Greenwich [43] - home of Greenwich Mean Time, the Cutty Sark [44] and the Royal Observatory [45] - World Heritage site

• The o2 [46] - The former Millennium Dome has been transformed into a major entertainment complex consisting of a large arena which plays host to a number of world class acts; a cinema which includes the largest screen in the UK and numerous bars and restaurants.

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Museums and Galleries

London hosts an outstanding collection of world-class museums. Even better, it is the only one of the three traditional "alpha world cities" (along with New York City and Paris) in which the majority of the museums have no entrance charges, thus allowing visitors to make multiple visits with ease.

Although the rest of London may be expensive, many of its best museums and galleries are free including both Tates, the National and National Portrait Galleries, the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, and most things in Greenwich. Temporary exhibits do cost money, however. Audioguides are available at many of the major museums; many of these are free of charge, though there may be a suggested donation at the entrance.

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Central London

• National Gallery [47] - excellent art collection, the vast majority of which is free of charge to visit. The audioguides are very comprehensive, have comments on most of the paintings in the museum, and are free, though this fact is not advertised, and a donation is suggested.
• National Portrait Gallery [48] just around the corner from the National gallery; also admission free excepting some exhibitions

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Bloomsbury

• British Museum [49] - one of the world's great museums, founded in 1753 - a vast repository of the world's cultures and free entrance.
• Cartoon Museum [50] - A vast collection of cartoons and comics on display. Located near the British Museum, it has an admission fee of £3 for adults, and is free for students.
• Foundling Museum [51] - a museum and a gallery telling the story of the Foundling Hospital, an orphanage for abandoned children founded in the eighteenth century. Massive art donations by British artists and the involvement of George Frideric Handel as a patron made this child care organization an early center of art and music. Admission is £5.

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North West London

• the Sherlock Holmes Museum [52] is at 239 Baker Street (aka 221B Baker Street). A must see for Holmes fans but do remember that there is no 221B Baker Street!

• the RAF Museum [53] , in Hendon, is a longish Tube ride from Central London is a must for any war buffs. It has extensive galleries detailing the history of the RAF and its aircraft. A sound and light show inside the museum focuses on the Blitz.

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South Bank

• Museum of London [54] - a great place to visit to understand the history and development of the city, from prehistoric times to recent history, with plenty of detail on the Roman and Medieval cities - admission is free

• Tate Galleries [55] - Tate Britain [56] and Tate Modern [57] - showcases of some of the best of British and Modern Art respectively - mostly free entry
• Saatchi Gallery [58] - closed and moving to Chelsea, opens in early 2007
• London Dungeon [59] brings to life the gorier elements of London's past, with faithful recreations of disaster, disease, and torture. Younger children may be scared.

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South Kensington

• the Victoria and Albert Museum [60] - highlights the decorative arts such as fashion and furniture - admission free
• the Natural History Museum [61] - the dinosaur exhibit complete with life-sized roaring T-Rex is popular with kids (and adults), but the museum really excels with the galleries devoted to mammals, insects and the human body. There is also a new wing where groups can tour a research facility and the Museum's historic stocks of pickled specimens (well worth a visit, but not for the squeamish!) - free entry
• Science Museum [62] - packed with science and industry; there are galleries devotes to many subjects, including space, nuclear physics, genetics, and computing; the top floor is, appropriately, taken up with the history of flight and many historic aircraft, including a Spitfire and a Hurricane.

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Southwark

• the Imperial War Museum [63] - London site, with an afternoon's worth of British military history, is free except for some special exhibitions; the same institution owns the Central London Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast (a WWII cruiser, now a floating museum extensive enough to satisfy the most warlike son or husband), and Duxford Air Museum, an airbase a day trip from London with five hangars' worth of historic aircraft (you are unlikely to fit everything in in one visit).

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Greenwich

• National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory Greenwich [64] - home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. Highlights include the lovely walk up to the observatory (with a great view of the river) and the collection of old clocks and navigational instruments - admission free except for special exhibitions

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Other Neighbourhoods

• Sir John Soane's Museum [65] - free but groups must prebook and may need to make donation
• The Wallace Collection [66] - home to Old Master Paintings, Furniture, Porcelain, Arms and Armour and other Fine Art. Free tours, charges for special workshops
• Pollock's Toy Museum Trust [67] - no longer at Scala Street. Pollock's Toy Museum [68] charges an entrance fee.
• The Canal Museum [69]. Near King's Cross at 12/13 New Wharf Road, the museum is housed in a former ice wharehouse on Regent's Canal. £3 admission. Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays).

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Parks and Gardens

The 'green lungs' of London are the many parks, great and small, scattered throughout the city. Some of the best-known and most-popular are:

• Hyde Park [70] - the West End's back garden, Hyde Park is the largest central London park at 140 ha (350 acres) in size. Noted for the large number of recreational possibilities, for the Serpentine (the central large lake) its collection of public sculpture, and for being a venue of choice for world-class music and other events, such as the annual 'Party in the Park', a concert in aid of the Prince's Trust, and the record-breaking Live8 concert of 2005.
• Hampstead Heath [71] - One of the three main parks in Central London (Along with Hyde Park and Regent's Park). Most famous for its 360 degree panoramic sweeping views of Central London and Kenwood House, the stately home where scenes from the movie Notting Hill were filmed.
• Kensington Gardens [72] - blends into Hyde Park at its western end, features Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial, 111 ha (275 acres) in size
• Green Park [73] - 16 ha in size
• St James' Park [74]
• Regents Park and the London Zoo(ological Gardens) [75]
• Kew Gardens [76] - the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in south-west London are one of London's most popular attractions, easily accessed by public transport
• Richmond Park [77] - The largest Royal Park in London at 1000 ha (2500 acres) in size. On a clear day, views can stretch as far as central London.
• Battersea Park [78]. On the river next to the iconic Battersea Power Station.
• Brockwell Park [79]. Running from Brixton to Herne Hill, this houses the famous Brockwell Lido.
• Holland Park [80]. Located near Notting Hill, this is one of the best kept secrets in all of London. It features a traditional Japanese (Koi) water garden, sports facilities, children’s play areas, nature reserve, and even a nice cafeteria and restaurant right in the centre of the park.
• Clapham Common [81] The heart of South London's hippest district
• Wimbledon Common [82] The home of the Wombles

Most of the larger parks have their origins in royal estates and hunting grounds and are still owned by the Crown, despite their public access. These royal parks are now policed by a division of the Metropolitan Police Service for London. It takes over from the Royal Parks Constabulary which policed Royal Parks prior to the Metropolitan Police.

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City tours

If you're feeling really touristy visit Madame Tussaud's. Here you can see (and take photos of yourself with) a lot of very realistic waxfigures of celebrities, criminals, politicians and more. There is also the creepy chamber of horrors, although if that appeals you may prefer The London Dungeon.

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Explore

• Open top bus tours offer a good, albeit somewhat expensive, introduction to the sights of London. Two principal operators tend to dominate the market for this kind of tour: (The Original Tour and The Big Bus Company). Both provide hop-on/hop-off services where you can get off at any attraction and catch the next bus; both provide live commentaries in English and recorded commentaries in other languages (not necessarily on the same buses).
• Alternative to a bus tour -- use your feet. All the main sights you'll want to see can be reached in a long day of walking (12 hours or so). Sketch a copy of your guidebook map to stick in your pocket, have an early breakfast and be on your way. Magnificent on a sunny day, and even if the weather is awful, you're still in LONDON.
• London Eye [83], the sixth tallest structure in the city; see fantastic views across London.

• If you don't feel like splashing out on one of the commercial bus tours, you can make your own bus tour by buying a Travelcard (see 'Get Around' section) and spending some time riding around London on the top deck of standard London Buses. Of course you don't get the open air or the commentary, but the views are very similar. You will likely get lost but that is half the fun; if it worries you go for the commercial tour. Alternatively make sure you are equipped with an integrated map of London's buses, trains and tube (available to purchase online prior to your visit) so that you can make the most of your travelcard by getting less unpleasantly lost and more pleasantly lost! Every day except December 25/26. £4.30 (offpeak adult); £5.30 (peak adult); £2.60 (children); peak means before 9:30AM.
• Go on a Walking Tour - London Walks offers excellent guided walks (£6 full) for 2-3 hours of guided walks on a variety of themes. But buyer beware, there are a lot of impostor walking guides masquerading under the same name—make certain that you are getting the real deal! Phone: +44 020 7624 3978.
• Take part in one of the free organised Street Skates (Wednesday/Friday/Sunday). Experienced marshals stop traffic while you roll along past the sights and sounds of London.
• Visit one or more of the great Royal Parks, London's "green lungs" - in the centre, Hyde Park (the largest) and Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James Park, Regents Park; further afield, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Greenwich Park and Brompton Cemetery.
• Explore many of London's most interesting buildings during the London Open House Weekend normally held in Autumn (2006: Sep 16-17). During this weekend several hundred buildings which are not normally open to the public are opened up. See website for details of buildings opening in any given year.
• If you are in the mood for a view of London by sea, take advantage of the London Ducktours. Your tour 'bus' is actually a D-Day landing water/land vehicle that has been refurbished complete with tour guide. Visit [84]
• See history come alive - go to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. This ceremony, the locking up of the Tower, has been performed every night at 10pm for 800 years. It has never been missed and was only delayed once - when the Luftwaffe bombed the Tower. Begun by Edward I to lock the soldiers in the tower so they didn't wreak havoc, these days it is ostensibly to lock people out. Tickets are free but MUST be prearranged. See the Tower website for details (http://www.hrp.org.uk)

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Experience

• London Theatre - go and see a musical, play or comedy in London's Theatreland. The weekly Time Out magazine http://www.timeout.com/london has listings for most plays, concerts, etc. London Theatre has a large variety of shows from fringe to Broadway-like musicals and productions. The West End district is where you'll find the last type, with famous imported Broadway shows and some very good local productions. You can find discounted tickets to these shows at the Half Price Ticket Booth (aka: TKTS) in the area, where reduced tickets are sold on a free seats basis. If you prefer to buy your tickets in advance you can still find discounts at sites like http://www.broadwaybox.com/london

• Walking on Green Grass - There are some parks - usually the ones that are considered "gardens" - on which walking on the grass is actively discouraged. The larger parks, however, are good places to enjoy the sun, play a game of football, or enjoy a romantic afternoon or evening.

• Christmas Holiday - Most museums and galleries (public and private) close early on December 24 and are closed through December 25. Many sites are also closed December 26 for Boxing Day (though the Tower of London and The British Museum are open). Most restaurants are closed on Christmas day - of those that remain open, many only offer a "Christmas Menu." These special menus include several courses but can cost about 50 GBP per person (splitting plates may not be allowed). The Tube is entirely closed on 25 December and runs a shortened schedule on the 26 December.

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Skate

London has a number of outdoor ice rinks that open in the winter months. Considered by some to be somewhat overpriced and overcrowded, they nonetheless have multiplied in recent years, easing congestion and increasing competition. Most charge from £10-12 (adults) for an hour on the ice, including skate hire.

• Somerset House [85], Strand, Tube: Temple, Charing Cross, Holborn, Covent Garden, Waterloo and Blackfriars - set in the courtyard of Somerset House, this has become a Londoner's favourite, although how it will compete with the newcomers remains to be seen. It's preferable to visit at night, when the Christmas tree is lit up. From 24 November 2005 - 29 January 2006.
• Kew Gardens [86], Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Tube: Kew Gardens - a relative newcomer to the scene, this draws in skaters despite the distance from central London. The ice rink is situated in front of the Temperate House (the large greenhouse containing the exotic plants), a combined entry ticket is available, allowing you to wander round the fascinating gardens as well. 26 November 2005 - 15 January 2006.
• Natural History Museum [87], Cromwell Road - this museum has decided to join in the rinks this year, and looks to be an interesting venue for a festive skate. If you've visited the museum before, you will appreciate the beautiful building that the museum occupies. There is also a Christmas fair (which is free), selling various gift ideas. From 16 November 2005 – 22 January 2006. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly Lines).
• Tower of London [88] - another debut this year, set in the tourist-hotspot of the famous Tower. The ice rink itself will be hosted in the dry moat beneath the North wall of the Tower of London. From 19th November 2005 for 7 weeks. Nearest tube: Tower Hill (Circle and District Lines)
• Canary Wharf [89] - opened for the first time in 2005, the Canary Wharf ice rink offers a café and bar, and the only genuine Central Park style skating in London, in the smart Canada Square park surrounding by glittering office tower blocks. Nearest tube: Canary Wharf (Jubilee line and Docklands Light Railway)

In summer (and also in winter, for the more dedicated) there is also a thriving roller skating (on inline and traditional "quad" skates) scene in London, catering to many disciplines including street hockey, freestyle slalom, dance, general recreational skating (including three weekly marshalled group street skates) and speed skating. This mostly centres around Hyde Park (on the Serpentine Road) and Kensington Gardens (by the Albert Memorial).

• Skate Patrol[90] runs free stopping and turning classes, and can advise you if you have the skills to join one of the street skates. They can also refer you to an ICP qualified instructor if you want to take things further. Serpentine Road near the lake, Hyde Park, Sundays 1pm-5pm. Look for the red t-shirts.
• Group street skates are the LondonSkate[91] on Wednesdays (8pm, Serpentine Road, April-September), the London Friday Night Skate[92] (8pm, Hyde Park Corner) and the Sunday Stroll[93] (2pm, Serpentine Road)
• The Easy Peasy Skate[94] for absolute beginners runs in Battersea Park: 10:30am Saturdays
• The SerpentineRoad.com[95] discussion forum is the best place to ask about any other kind of wheeled skating and to find like-minded people
• Easyskate provides qualified instructors (most of them teach in Hyde Park check out easyskate.co.uk[96] for details.

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Sporting Events

• Take in a home match of one of London's 20+ professional football clubs for a true experience of a lifetime as you see the passion of the "World's Game" in its mother country. The biggest clubs clubs include Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford, Queen's Park Rangers (West London); Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur (North London); West Ham United, Leyton Orient (East London); Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Crystal Palace (South London).

• the world-famous Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships [97] - part of the Grand Slam world tennis fixtures - are held each year in late June-early July in Wimbledon in South West London and attract all the top-seeded players for a fortnight of competition.

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Shopping, London souvenirs

One of the world's great metropolises, anything and everything you could possibly want to buy is available in London, if you know where to look, and if you can afford it (London is not particularly noted for bargain shopping, owing to high prices and high exchange rates - though it can be done with some determination!)

Central London, and especially the West End, has a number of world-famous shopping areas and streets:

• Oxford Street: London's main shopping street home to flagship branches of all the major UK high street retailers in one go - including Selfridges [98] and other department stores
• Bond Street One of the intersections with Oxford Street and is home to some of the world's most luxurious designer labels such as D&G, Versace, Cartier, Louis Vuitton & Jimmy Choo
• Camden Town - alternative clothing and retail, popular with teenagers and young adults. Camden Lock market is always worth a visit.
• Soho - for alternative music, clothes
• Covent Garden - Fashionable district home to quaint outlets and relatively expensive designer retail. Neal Street in the heart of Covent Garden is considered a haven for shoe shopping. Chain stores around the Seven Dials area include G Star Raw, Adidas Originals, Fred Perry, All Saints, Stussy and Carhartt. The Market area is home to the London Transport Museum, whose gift shop has some of the best souvenirs in the city (vintage Tube posters, old maps, etc).
• Knightsbridge: including Harrods [99] the slightly more expensive retailer, and Harvey Nichols [100]
• Chelsea - the King's Road is noted for fashion, homewares and kids
• Regent Street: between Oxford and Piccadilly Circuses - includes such gems as Hamleys [101], considered to be London's flagship toy store, on seven levels, and the London Apple Store
• Tottenham Court Road: specialising in interior decorations and electronics
• Charing Cross Road - for book stores, new, specialised and antiquarian
• Markets - London has plenty, whether you're looking for bric-a-brac, clothes or fresh food, try Portobello, Brick Lane, Greenwich, and Borough for starters. Borough Market (London Bridge tube stop) is a great (if expensive) food market, offering fruit, veg, cheese, bread, meat, fish, and so on, much of it organic. It's open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and it's best to go in the morning, since it gets unpleasantly crowded by around 11am. Spitalfields is an excellent market for clothes from up-and-coming designers, records, housewares, food, and all things trendy.
• Leicester Square - London is a famous place for musicals, but it is quite hard to get a ticket for it. However, if you go to Leicester Square, there is this district where you can get many half-price tickets for all of the musicals showing in London - in the centre of the square you will find the "TKTS" booth which is operated in collaboration with all the major theatres, and is the best place to start when looking for cheap theatre tickets. As this is one of the more touristy areas of the city, if you're looking for a real London experience, avoid Leicester Square.

Central London shops are usually open late at least one night a week, until 7PM-8PM. West End shops (Oxford Street to Covent Garden) stay open until late on Thursdays, while Wednesday evening is late opening for Chelsea and Knightsbridge.

Tax-free shops in airports are not strong in variety, prices are equal to London, and they close rather early as well. Shop listings at airport web sites can help to plan your tax-free (vs traditional) shopping. In the evening allow extra half an hour as closing hours are not always strictly respected.

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Good restaurants and cheap meals

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Below £10
Mid-range	£10-40
Splurge	£40+

It is a huge task for a visitor to find the 'right place' to eat in London - with the 'right atmosphere', at the 'right price' - largely because, as in any big city, there are literally thousands of venues from which to choose. You can find restaurants serving food cuisine from nearly every country in the world.

Unfortunately, London is quite possibly the world's most expensive city to eat in. But this survey hides the fact that there are plenty of good value, even cheap places to eat - you just have to know where to look.

Of course, many travellers (especially those on a budget!) prefer to help themselves; picnicking and/or buying food for preparation in your room is a great way to enjoy good food at the lowest price possible.

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Pricing

Following is a (very!) rough guide to what you might get, should you fancy eating out:

• £3 - a good English Pub or Cafeteria breakfast with egg, sausage, a rack of bacon and beans in tomato sauce, coffee or tea and a glass of orange juice. Most pubs stop this offer at 11am.
• £5 - a couple of sandwiches and a soft drink, or some fish and chips (takeaway only), or a fast food 'meal'. There are also a number of (mostly) chinese restaurants which serve an 'all you can eat buffet' for around this price. These are dotted about the West End, and it is well worth asking a member of public or a shopkeeper where the nearest one is. These restaurants make much of their revenue on drinks, although these are usually still moderately priced. The food, whilst not being of the finest standard, is usually very tasty, and the range of dishes available is excellent.
• £6-8 - a decent meal and a drink of choice at an English pub. Be aware that many pubs have a 2 for one offer, and you can either order two main dishes for yourself or bring a friend. For £6 you can normally also get a good meal at Chinese or Italian restaurants offering a buffet.
• £10 - plenty of Chinese/Indian/Thai/Vietnamese restaurants will give you a meal and bottle of beer for this much. Some more expensive restaurants serving French, Mediterranean or International cuisine have cheaper "lunch offers" that include two or three courses.
• £20 - a lot more choice: you can have a good meal, half a bottle of wine and change for the bus home. There are plenty of modest restaurants that cater for this bracket.
• £40 - you are generally paying for nicer interior, or a better view. But if you are trying to impress a special someone it'll be worth it.
• £50 +: with more money to spend you can pick some of London's finer restaurants. It may be a famous chef (like Gordon Ramsay or Jamie Oliver) or simply a place that prides itself on using the finest ingredients. There is no maximum limit on what you can spend, as some restaurants seem intent on pushing this higher and higher....

Prices inevitably become inflated at venues closest to major tourist attractions - beware the so-called "tourist traps". Notorious areas for inflated menu prices trading on travellers' gullibility and lack of knowledge are the streets around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, the British Museum and the Palace of Westminster. The worst "tourist trap" food is, in the opinion of many Londoners, that served at the various "Steak Houses". Real Londoners wouldn't dream of eating here - you shouldn't either!

London has many fast food outlets. Sandwich shops are London's most popular places to buy lunch, and there are a lot of places to choose from. More upmarket chains such as Eat and Pret a Manger offer ready-made sandwiches made with quality ingredients--the latter of these, especially, is recommended. Other independent shops will make sandwiches to order, but depending on where you go the product may not be as large as you expect. Some Italian sandwich shops have a very good reputation and you can identify them easily by looking at the long queues at lunchtime. And if all else fails, there's likely to be a Subway nearby (often connected to an easyInternetCafe in case you need to check your email). Another good (and cheap) lunch option is a chicken or lamb doner (you might call it a gyro) at many outlets throughout the city. If all else fails, the central area has lots of mini-supermarkets operated by the big British supermarket chains (e.g. Tesco Metro, Sainsbury's Central etc.) where you can pick up a pre-packed sandwich.

It is worth bearing in mind that if for any reason you are visiting the suburbs of London, the cost of eating out is reduced drastically. Particularly in large ethnic communities, there is a competitive market which stands to benefit the consumer. In East London for example, the vast number of KFC-style chicken shops means that a deal for 2 pieces of chicken, chips (fries) and a drink shouldn't cost you more than £2, and will satisfy even the largest of appetites.

Tipping may also be different than what you're used to. Some places include a service fee (usually 10-12%), and all meals include the 17.5% VAT tax. The general rule is to leave a tip for table service, unless there's already a service charge added or unless the service has been notably poor. The amount tipped is generally in the region of 10%, but if there's a figure between 10 and 15% which would leave the bill at a conveniently round total, many would consider it polite to tip this amount. Tipping for counter service, or any other form of service, is unusual - but some choose to do so if a tips container is provided.

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Restaurants

If you are looking for particular nationalities these tend to be clustered in certain areas: Brick Lane is famously known for curries, but for a better quality meal (and cheaper) Tooting has a far better reputation. For a collection of good value Indian Vegetarian restaurants, go to Drummond Street (just behind Euston railway station). There's Chinatown (Soho) for Chinese, Kingsland Road (Shoreditch) for good cheap Vietnamese, Brixton for African/Caribbean, Golders Green for Jewish and Edgware Road (Marylebone) for Middle Eastern cuisine. Other nationalities are equally represented, but are randomly dotted all over London.

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Chains reviews

• Wagamama,