London

City Factsheet

Location: South East England

Population size: 12 million

The best way to get around: By foot, bus or on the London underground

How to get there: Major national rail routes and roads connect with London. International airports Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted also serve the city.

New this year: There is always something new to see and do on a visit to London. This winter the grounds at Hampton Court Palace will be turned into a Winter Wonderland with the addition of a temporary ice rink (open between 6 December and 18 January).

Attractions: Worldclass theatres, museums and galleries, including the Tate Modern on the newly developed South Bank. A wealth of heritage and pageantry including Royal palaces and state buildings.

Restaurants:Visitors can choose from a huge selection of excellent restaurants and cafes. Some famous examples include:

Claridge’s (Gordon Ramsay) Rules (London’s oldest restaurant)
Brook Street, Mayfair Maiden Lane, Covent Garden

Nobu (Japanese cuisine) Hard Rock Café (American cuisine)
Metropolitan hotel on Park Lane Piccadilly

Bars: Visitors can choose from a wide selection of pubs and bars, in a choice of areas, from Notting Hill to Shoreditch. Why not check out the following:

Rockwell Drapers Arms
The Trafalgar Square Hilton Islington

The Cow Shoreditch Electricity Showrooms
Westbourne ShoHo (Hoxton and Shoreditch)

Shops: Head to Oxford Circus for high street stores, Convent Garden for craft stalls, Knightsbridge for Harvey Nichols and Harrods, Carnaby Street for affordable fashion and Camden Market for bohemian atmosphere.

Architecture: Historical buildings include St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and The Houses of Parliament. Interesting new projects and examples of regeneration include the British Airways London Eye, City Hall, The Gherkin and the Millennium Bridge.

Parks: There are many Royal parks in London (e.g. Hyde Park, Regents Park and St James Park) which offer ideal places to relax and watch the world go by.