London, England

Nearby areas in London, England

London is a city without an easily recognized center because it grew out of two separate cities. The City of London is the site of the Roman settlement, and the City of Westminster, to the west, makes up the rest. These two cities grew together and proceeded to annex the surrounding villages until the Green Belt Legislation of the 1950s halted expansion. Modern London includes 32 boroughs with the population and green spaces well-dispersed, so that the crowds and cement do not overwhelm. In fact, the city still features a great deal of open parks, commons, and even woods!.

Central London

This area, roughly bound by the Circle Line of the Underground (London's subway system, also known as "The Tube"), includes the West End, Westminster, and the City of London. The West End houses many of the principal theaters, cinemas, restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs, as well as some of the best-known shopping areas. Main sights here are Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. In Kensington and Chelsea are Albert Hall, and more famous shopping areas, including Harrod's, as well as the Victoria and Albert, Science, and Natural History museums. There are also 4 parks here, including Hyde (by far the largest), St James's, Green, and Regent's. The City of London's best-known building is St. Paul's Cathedral, completed in 1711. Nearby is the excellent Museum of London. Clearly visible, though beyond the city boundary, is the Tower of London, built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and, of course, the famous Tower Bridge.

East London

In many ways, this area, particularly the East End, is the "real" London. The architecture here suffered badly during WWII and urban planners did it no favor in the 1960s, yet there are many sources of pride for its residents. The Whitechapel Art Gallery, the Lea Valley Park, and Queen Elizabeth I's Hunting Lodge in Chingford, as well as the 11th-century Waltham Abbey, are highlights.

West London

This area contains several special interest museums, and many superb historic mansions. Several of these elegant riverside homes are open to the public, the greatest being Hampton Court Palace, built by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century and added to by Henry VIII, Charles I and II, and William III. Also here are Wembley Stadium and trendy Notting Hill, which celebrates the August Bank Holiday with a famous carnival.

North London

This is a fashionable residential area known for one of the largest expanses of parkland in any big city, and for the Highgate cemetery where Karl Marx and George Eliot are buried.

South London

This neighborhood is generally less visited by tourists than the others, but it has some notable sights. The reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in Southwark is cherished by the literati. The Southwark Cathedral near London Bridge is one of the finest Gothic churches in the city. The Florence Nightingale Museum is in Lambeth. The Botanical Gardens and Palace at Kew are inviting islands of serenity. The Greenwich National Maritime Museum displays the fastest pre-steam ship, the clipper Cutty Sark. The Royal Observatory is here, through which the Greenwich Meridien - zero degrees longitude. Lastly, tennis fans gather for the sport's ultimate championship at Wimbledon.

For more information about London, England

The London Tourist Board and Convention Bureau 6th Floor, Glen House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5LT, phone 0171-932-2000, fax 0171-932-0222, email enquiries@londontouristboard.co.uk.

New York

551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701, New York, NY 10176, phone 800-462-2748 or 212-986-2200, fax 212-986-188, email travelinfo@bta.org.uk.