SEKAI Explorer Guide London (2011)

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Table of Content:

• Districts

Bloomsbury

City of London

Covent Garden

Holborn-Clerkenwell

Leicester Square

Mayfair-Marylebone

Notting Hill-North Kensington

Paddington-Maida Vale

Soho

South Bank

South Kensington-Chelsea

Westminster

Camden

East End

Greenwich

Hackney

Hammersmith and Fulham

Hampstead

Islington

Lambeth

Southwark-Lewisham

Wandsworth

West

North

East

South

Richmond-Kew

Wimbledon

Central London

Inner boroughs

Outer boroughs

• Understand

History

The City and Westminster

Climate

London 2012 Olympic Games

Tourist Information Centres

• Get in

By plane

London Heathrow

London Gatwick

London Stansted

London Luton

London City Airport

Other airports near London

By train

By bus

By car

• Get around

Oyster Card

Pay-as-you-go (PrePay)

Travelcards

Travelcard season tickets

Tips

Validity

By foot

By tube or underground

By bus

Night bus

By DLR

By train

By Overground

By tram (Tramlink)

By cycle

By taxi

By car

By boat

By skate

• See

Landmarks

Museums and Galleries

Parks

Blue Plaques

• Do

• Learn

Learn English

Work

• Buy

Markets

Airports

• Eat

Restaurant streets

Restaurants

Chains

Vegetarian

Religious

Convenience stores and supermarkets

• Drink

Pubs & bars

Nightclubs

Gay and lesbian

• Sleep

Hotels

Hostels

Apartments

• Contact

Wi-Fi access

• Stay safe

Crime

Transport

Stay healthy

• Cope

Embassies and High Commissions

• Get out

Districts

The name London originally referred only to the once-walled "Square Mile" of the original Roman (and later medieval) city (confusingly called the "City of London" or just "The City"). Today, London has taken on a much larger meaning to include all of the vast central parts of the modern metropolis, with the city having absorbed numerous surrounding towns and villages over the centuries, including large portions of the surrounding "home counties", one of which - Middlesex - being completely consumed by the growing metropolis. 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 office of the Mayor of London, form the basis for London's local government. The Mayor of London is elected by London residents and should not be confused with the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The names of several boroughs, such as Westminster or Camden, are well-known, others less so, such as Wandsworth or Lewisham. This traveller's guide to London recognises cultural, functional and social districts of varying type and size:

Central London

Bloomsbury
Vibrant historic district made famous by a group of turn-of-the-century writers and for being the location of the British Museum and numerous historic homes, parks, and buildings. Part of the Borough of Camden.

City of London
The City is the area of London that originally lay within the ancient city walls and is now a major world financial centre.

Covent Garden
One of the main shopping and entertainment districts. Incorporates some of London's theatreland. Part of the City of Westminster and Borough of Camden.

Holborn-Clerkenwell
Buffer zone between London's West End and the City of London financial district, home to the Inns of Court

Leicester Square
West End district comprising Leicester Square, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus and the centre of London's cinema and theatre land

Mayfair-Marylebone
Some extremely well-heeled districts of west central London and most of the city's premier shopping street

Notting Hill-North Kensington
Lively market, interesting history, the world famous carnival and diverse population

Paddington-Maida Vale
Largely residential district of northwest central London with lots of mid-range accommodation

Soho
Dense concentration of highly fashionable restaurants, cafés, clubs and bars, as well as London's gay village

South Bank
South side of the river Thames with good views of the city, several theatres and the London Eye

South Kensington-Chelsea
An extremely well-heeled inner London district with famous department stores, Hyde Park, many museums and the King's Road

Westminster
A city in its own right, the seat of government and an almost endless list of historical and cultural sights, such as Buckingham Palace, The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

Inner boroughs

Camden
a diverse area of inner north London which includes eclectic Camden Town

East End
a traditional working class heartland of inner London to the east of The City made famous by countless movies and TV shows, and home to trendy bars, art galleries and parks, especially in the Shoreditch, Hoxton, Old Street area.

Greenwich
on the southern banks of the Thames, home of the Greenwich Meridien and the National Maritime Museum

Hackney
formerly an inner city area with a reputation for high crime rates and little else, Hackney has become fashionable in recent decades and is home to a thriving arts scene as well as many trendy, cafés bars and pubs.

Hammersmith and Fulham
Borough in west London with a diverse population and the home of the BBC

Hampstead
Bohemian and literary north London and the wonderful open spaces of Hampstead Heath

Islington
Area to the north of Clerkenwell which has undergone huge gentrification since 1990

Lambeth
a diverse multi-cultural district to the south of the Thames which includes Brixton

Southwark-Lewisham
inner southern districts of London, traditionally residential

Wandsworth
grand Thames-side areas and open green parks in the north and dense housing in south

Outer boroughs

West
Taking in much of the ancient English county of Middlesex (which many residents still identify with rather than "London", and former parts of Buckinghamshire. Heathrow Airport is located in this part of the city.

North
Largely made up from middle-class commuter suburbs, many of which were formerly part of the counties of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire before being absorbed into Greater London.

East
Mostly originally part of the county of Essex, taking in former industrial areas on the upper Thames Estuary such as Beckton, Dagenham and Barking. To the North East lies the gateway to the affluent Epping Forest area

South
containing many middle class commuter suburbs as well as densely packed housing, as well as the well known urban centres of Kingston-upon-Thames and Croydon

Richmond-Kew
leafy Thames-side scenery, Hampton Court Palace, the botanical gardens and some major parklands

Wimbledon
the annual tennis championships

Understand

History

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

London went from strength to strength and with the rise of England to first European then global prominence and the city became a great centre of culture, government and industry. London's long association with the theatre, for example, can be traced back to the English renaissance (witness the Rose Theatre [3] 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 and the possessor of the largest global empire, London became an imperial capital and drew people and influences from around the world to become, for many years, the largest city in the world.

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

Despite the inevitable decline of the British Empire, and considerable suffering during World War II (when London was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe in the Blitz), the city is still a top-ranked world city: a global centre of culture, finance, and learning. Today London is easily the largest city in the United Kingdom, eight times larger than the second largest, Birmingham, and ten times larger than the third, Glasgow, and dominates the economic, political and social life of the nation. It is full of excellent bars, galleries, museums, parks and theatres. It is also the most culturally and ethnically diverse part of the country, making it a great multicultural city to visit. Samuel Johnson famously said, "when one is tired of London, one is tired of life." Whether you are interested in ancient history, modern art, opera or underground raves, London has it all.

The City and Westminster

If you ask a Londoner where the centre of London is, you are likely to get a wry smile. This is because historically London was two cities: a commercial city and a separate government capital.

The commercial capital was the City of London. This had a dense population and all the other pre-requisites of a medieval city: walls, a castle (The Tower of London), a cathedral (St Pauls), a semi-independent City government, a port and a bridge across which all trade was routed so Londoners could make money (London Bridge).

About an hour upstream (on foot or by boat) around a bend in the river was the government capital (Westminster). This had a church for crowning the monarch (Westminster Abbey) and palaces. As each palace was replaced by a larger one, the previous one was used for government, first the Palace of Westminster (better known as the Houses of Parliament), then Whitehall, then Buckingham Palace. The two were linked by a road called The "Strand", old English for riverbank.

London grew both west and east. The land to the west of the City (part of the parish of Westminster) was prime farming land (Covent Garden and Soho for example) and made good building land. The land to the east was flat, marshy and cheap, good for cheap housing and industry, and later for docks. Also the wind blows 3 days out of 4 from west to east, and the Thames (into which the sewage went) flows from west to east. So the West End was up-wind and up-market, the East End was where people worked for a living.

Modern-day London in these terms is a two-centre city, with the area in between known confusingly as the West End.

Climate

Climate

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Daily highs (°C)

8

8

11

13

17

20

23

23

19

15

11

9

Nightly lows (°C)

2

2

4

5

8

11

14

13

11

8

5

3

Precipitation (cm)

5.2

3.4

4.2

4.5

4.7

5.3

3.8

4.7

5.7

6.2

5.2

5.4

See the 5 day forecast for London at the Met Office

Despite a perhaps unfair reputation for being unsettled, London enjoys a dry and mild climate on average. Only one in three days on average will bring rain and often only for a short period. In some years such as 2010 there is no rain for several weeks.

Winter in London is mild compared to nearby continental European cities, due to both the presence of the Gulf Stream and urban heat effect. Average daily maximum is 8°C (46°F) in December and January. Snow does occur, usually a few times a years but rarely heavy (a few years being exceptions such as the winters of 2010 and 2009, with temperatures dipping down to sub-zeros regularly). Snow in London can be crippling, as seen at the end of 2010. Just 7cm of snow will cause trains to stop running, airports to see significant delays, and mail service will halt. London is a city which does not cope well with snow; walkways, stairs, and streets will not be cleared by shovels or plows. The streets will be salted/gritted, but will remain slick and snow/slush covered until the sun melts it away. Daylight hours are short with darkness filling up the sky by 4pm in December.

Summer is perhaps the best season for tourists as it has long daylight hours as well as mild temperatures. The average daily high temperatures in July and August are around 24°C (75°F) The highest temperature since 2000 was recorded once in August at 38°C (100°F). This means London can feel hot and humid for several days in the summer months. Also, because of urban heat effect, during night time it could feel muggy.

Regardless of which time of the year, the weather in London could change quickly from sunny to rain and from hot to cold.

London 2012 Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee decided in 2005 that London will serve as the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad [4], the Summer Olympic Games of 2012. 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.

Tourist Information Centres

Details of London's primary Tourist Information Centre are given below. There are other more minor centres and those are listed in the relevant district articles.

- Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC), 1 Regent St, SW1Y 4XT (nearest tube station Piccadilly Circus), +44 8701 566 366, [5]. M 9:30AM-6PM (Oct-Mar), M 9:30AM-6:30PM (Apr-Sep), Tu-F 9AM-6PM (Oct-Mar), Tu-F 9AM-6:30PM (Apr-Sep), Sa 10AM-4PM (Oct-May), Sa 9AM-5PM (Jun-Sep), Su 10AM-4PM, Public holidays: 10AM-4PM. Closed on 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan. Visit London is the official visitor organisation for the capital and has a lot of free information for visitors in several different languages. It also acts commercially and can have some astoundingly good last minute deals on accommodation.

Get in

By plane

Due to London's huge global city status it is the most served destination in the world when it comes to flights.

London (all airports code: LON) is served by a total of five airports. Travelling 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 five official airports (of which only two are located within Greater 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 bus service by National Express [6]. Buses between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton run at least hourly, with Heathrow-Gatwick services taking 65 min (£18) and Heathrow-Stansted services 90 min (£20.50) (note that services between Stansted and Luton run only every two 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. Some buses have toilets on board.

London Heathrow

Main article: Heathrow Airport

Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL) [7] is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services available from most major airports world-wide. Currently, four of the five terminals are operational - T2 is closed until 2014 for redevelopment. Flights landing at Heathrow are often delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots. To complicate the matter, airlines that fly into Heathrow are currently playing a system-wide game of musical chairs as gate assignments are cycled through the new terminal, making it even more necessary for travelers to check their terminal and gate assignment in advance. Do plan your itinerary to allocate some time needed to get through Heathrow Airport T3, it can be long if you are not holding an UK / EU passport. A quick summary of transport options (also see Heathrow Airport):

- Fastest: by Heathrow Express rail, (Paddington Station - Heathrow 1, 2, 3 & 5), +44 0845 600 1515, [8]. Every 15 min, journey time 15 min. Travelcard & Oyster card not valid. These train lines terminate at London Paddington which for most people will require a tube, bus, or cab ride to their final destination. Despite the Heathrow Express & Connect's speed, they are often not the fastest way to a final destination in London. One way £16.50, return trip £32 (+ £3 surcharge if bought onboard).

- Second fastest: by Heathrow Connect rail, (Paddington Station - Heathrow 1, 2, 3 & 4), +44 0845 678 6975, [9]. Travelcard & Oyster card not valid to Heathrow. Does not serve Terminal 5. Follows same route as Heathrow Express but stops at several intermediate stations to London Paddington so journey is 25 minutes and trains less frequent. One way £7.90, round trip £15.80.

- Cheapest: by London Underground (Piccadilly line), +44 0845 330 9880, [10]. Every few minutes, journey time approximately 1 hour, however this depends on your destination. For the cheapest single fare ask for an Oyster card (£3 refundable deposit). Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. If using this method to return to Heathrow during the morning/evening peak, leave plenty of time in departing from central London as trains often get rerouted down the Rayners Lane branch or terminate short at Acton Town or Northfields - even if they were originally designated as Heathrow-bound. Be aware that weekend engineering works can result in replacement buses being run in place of the trains - check with the TFL website beforehand. With Oyster one way £2.00-3.50.

- Bus N9 [11] operates service from midnight to 5:00AM between Heathrow and Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, roughly following the Piccadilly Line into Central London

- Taxi. A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost £45-60. You may wish to consider taking a taxi if you have a lot of baggage or small children. Alternatively catch public transport into the city centre and then catch a taxi. There are two types of taxis: Black cabs (these can be hailed on a street or at a taxi rank) and licensed mini cabs (these are typically cheaper - but must be booked in advance over the phone or on the web). There are over 1000 minicab companies in London.

- Also: to South London, +44 0845 748 4950, [12]. Bus 285 (or taxi) to Feltham railway station (20 minutes) then a train to London Waterloo on the South Bank or Clapham Junction in South West London. Furthermore, bus X26 (limited stop) is an express route stopping in three of South London's district centres: Kingston, Sutton and Croydon. Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid on all London buses and trains. £2 single.

- Airport Parking [13]. Heathrow Terminal 5 Parking.

London Gatwick

(IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) [14] 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:

- By rail: Gatwick Express, +44 0845 850 1530, [15]. Every 15 min, journey time 30-35 min. To London Victoria. Travelcard not valid. One way £16.90, round trip £28.80, for the cheapest fare visit their website.

- By rail: Southern Railway, +44 0845 127 2920, [16]. Every 15 min, journey time 35-40 min. To London Victoria via Clapham Junction. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - £11.90 (£3.75 if booked in advance).

- By rail: First Capital Connect, +44 0871 200 2233, [17]. To London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - about £10 (they occasionally have advance tickets priced at half that).

- By bus: easyBus, [18]. Every 15-20 min, journey time 60-90 min. To Earl's Court/West Brompton. One way prices start from £2. Book online..

- By bus: National Express, [19]. Every 30 min, journey time 75-110 min. To London Victoria. One way prices start from £7. Book online.

- By car. 47 km (29 mi).

- By cycle, [20]. There is a long-distance cycle path into Central London, but as it involves an indirect route, going over the North Downs and through South-East London, it will likely be quite a ride. For adventurous people.

When departing, note that after passing through security you will find no drinking fountains in the South Terminal departure lounge.

London Stansted

Getting to Stansted for an early morning flight is fairly straight forward, coaches run through the night, provided by Terravision [21] and National Express from London Victoria and London Liverpool Street. Terravision costs £9 one way and run roughly every hour throughout the night, check their site [22] for up to date timetable information.

Sleeping at Stansted Airport

A large number of budget flights depart from Stansted as early as 6AM (when the lowest fares are available). However, this presents travellers with a problem, as the airport's location is a long way outside London, and transport to the airport is sporadic before 5:30AM. Due to the high price of accommodation in the city and near the airport, and the fact that many budget airlines don't pay for accommodation in the event of cancellation, an increasing number of travellers choose to spend the night in the airport prior to their flight. A crowd of around 100 travellers (up to 400 in summer) camp in the main departure/arrivals hall every night, effectively turning it into a giant dormitory. Tips for sleeping at Stansted Airport:

- Arrive early, preferably around 10PM, and stake your territory immediately. Benches without armrests are in limited supply and fill up quickly.

- If you arrive later, take a floor mat and sleeping bag. Sleeping on the floor is tolerated by the staff, but avoid pitching your bed in front of shops and counters.

- A sleeping bag is generally recommended as the automatic doors constantly open and close as passengers arrive, and it can get chilly in winter.

- Safety is not a problem. The airport is miles away from any settlement and security guards overlook the open-plan building 24/7.

- Ear plugs and eye covers are a must, as the cleaning staff are noisy and shop assistants start arriving at 4AM to open shutters.

- At least one cafe is open all night, offering snacks and hot drinks. Boots the chemist is also open 24/7

- Toilets remain open and are normally in good condition. There is a drinking fountain to the left of the Accessorize storefront and the security entrance "Door 1", where you can fill water bottles for the night.

(ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN) [23] Currently London's third airport, the base for a large number of budget carriers (for example EasyJet [24], RyanAir [25] and AirAsia [26]) and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights. There are several commercial wi-fi hotspots covering most of the airport, but they charge extortionate rates. A free wi-fi hotspot is in the arrivals gate area, next to the phone booths offering fixed internet. Transport options into central London:

- By rail: Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, +44 0845 600 7245, [27]. Every 15 min, journey time 45-60 min. One way £20, round trip £27. Travelcard not valid. Most budget carriers' websites offer reduced price deals for the Stansted Express, allowing you to save a few pounds.

- By rail then London Underground: Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then London Underground (Victoria line), +44 0845 600 7245, [28]. Every 15 min. If you are going to South London, the West End or West London then take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then the London Underground (Victoria line). At Tottenham Hale ask for an Oyster card

- By coach: National Express, +44 0870 580 8080, [29]. Every 15-30 min. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour. To Victoria: 90 min. To Stratford (tube: Stratford) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). Folding bicycles only. To Stratford: £8 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £10, £16. Travelcard not valid.

- By coach: Terravision, +44 (0)1279 68 0028, [30]. Every 30 min. To Liverpool St Station (tube: Liverpool St) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). To Liverpool St Station: £9 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £9, £14. Travelcard not valid.

- By minibus: EasyBus, [31]. To Baker St (tube: Baker St) From £2 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way. Travelcard not valid.

- By taxi. Journey time 90-120 min. The airport is actually quite a long way from London. It's normally a better idea to take a train to London Liverpool St and continue by taxi from there. approx £70.

London Luton

(ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN)[33] Is smaller than Stansted, but still a major hub for many Low Cost airlines, and over 10 million passenger fly through the airport each year. It boasts the same facilities of the other major airports and also like Stansted, it is common place for some passengers on early morning flight, to sleepover in the terminal before their flights.

The airport is a major hub for easyJet, Ryanair, Wizzair, Thomson Airways and Monarch Airlines, with other airlines also serving the airport like Aer Arann, FlyBE and El Al, to cities primarily in Scotland, Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin.

- By rail, [34]. Journey time: 20-55 min. £12.50 one way. Travelcard not valid.

- By coach: Green Line number 757, +44 0844 801 7261, [35]. Every 20 min, journey time 90 min. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Brent Cross, Finchley Rd tube station, Baker St, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. £14 one way if bought from the driver, tickets can be purchased in-advance online from £2. Service is run by Greenline and in conjuction with easyBus (but can be used by all travellers regardless of airline you travel with). Travelcard not valid.

- By coach: National Express, +44 0870 580 8080, [36]. Every 20 min, journey time 90 min. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Golders Green and Marble Arch. From £1 (advance web purchase) one way. Travelcard not valid.

- By car. Locate 60km or 34 miles north of London, just off the M1 motorway which connects London with the Midlands and the North of England. Depending on where you are travelling from in London and time of day, journey times take 45-90 mins. Road users should plan their journey and check traffic conditions, as if an incident occurs on London's busy roads, journey times can dramatically increase.

London City Airport

(ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY)[37] A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specializing in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. Not as expensive to fly into than it used to be, and you may indeed find that from some origins, this may be your cheapest London airport to fly to, without even considering the cost savings of NOT coming from the distant larger London airports with £10+ transfer costs. Then there is the added bonus is that it is close to central London.

To get to the city centre the following options exist:

- By Docklands Light Railway (DLR). See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.

- By taxi. Journey time approximately 30 min. £20-35.

- By car. 10 km (6 mi).

- By bus, [38]. Take the 474 bus to Canning Town station and then the 115 or N15 into central London. See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.

Other airports near London

- London Southend Airport, +44 (0) 1702 608100, [39]. (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.

- Southampton Airport, +44 (0)870 040 0009, [40]. Every 30 min, journey time 1 hour. (IATA: SOU, ICAO: EGHI) 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. Direct trains connect Southampton airport to London Waterloo station. £30-35 round trip.

- Birmingham International Airport, +44 (0)8707 335511, [41]. (IATA: BHX, ICAO: EGBB) 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. Direct trains connect Birmingham International to London Euston and Watford. From £10 (advance web purchase) one way, £35-100 round trip.

- Other small airports, such as Biggin Hill, Lydd Airport & Oxford Airport

By train

The British railway system is known as National Rail (although some older signs still refer to it as "British Rail"). London's suburban rail services are operated by a large number of independent private companies and mostly run in the south of the city, away from the main tourist sights. Only one line (Thameslink) runs through central London - on a north-south axis between London Bridge or Blackfriars stations, and the underground level of St Pancras main line station. There is no one central station - instead, there are twelve mainline stations dotted around the edge of the central area, and most are connected by the Circle line (except Euston, Fenchurch St and those South of the river like London Waterloo and London Bridge). Most visitors will not need to use National Rail services except for a few specific destinations such as Hampton Court, Kew Gardens (Kew Bridge station), Windsor Castle, Greenwich or the airports, or indeed if they are intending to visit other cities in the UK. Since 2 January 2010, pay-as-you-go Oystercards are accepted on all routes within London travel zones 1-6.

Visitors are well advised to remember that the quickest route between two stations might be a combination of the Tube as well as the National Rail network. (For example: getting to Wimbledon from central London by Tube using the District Line takes significantly longer (around 45 minutes) than taking the National Rail service from Waterloo to Wimbledon (around 15 minutes).)

Airport Express Rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports - tickets are generally sold at a premium and Oystercards not valid.

By bus

London's iconic red buses are recognized the world over, even if the traditional Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and on-board conductor to collect fares, have been phased out. These still run on Heritage Route 9 and 15 daily between about 9:30AM and 6:30PM, every 15 minutes. Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station. On some busy routes, extra-long buses known as "bendy buses" are used. Routes served by these buses always carry a yellow route sign as detailed below. Care should be taken as it is possible for those unfamiliar with them to get on then have no way of paying. This could be related to the relative ease of hopping on and off without paying (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 possible to be arrested and prosecuted. Normally, however, those who get on the bus via the doors in the middle will be asked (or rather yelled) to come to the front and pay.

Over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing routes that stop there. Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Victoria and Seven Sisters. Yellow signs indicate you must purchase your ticket before you board. You must either have a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card, travelcard season ticket, bus saver ticket, bus pass, or have bought a one way ticket from a machine at the bus stop. These machines don't provide change (all the more reason to use one of the other options). From age 11 and up you must show an Oyster card on buses, yet journeys are free. Student Oysters (only available to students studying in London) go up to age 18 and journeys are still free, failure to show an Oyster means a £2 fare.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear. All bus stops have their location and the direction of travel on them.

The iBus system has now been rolled out the iBus on every bus and garage in London. This new system provides bus times and destination information on a audio-visual display.

Unlike The Tube one way tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses.

Bus route map

By car

Londoners who drive will normally take public transport in the centre; follow their example. There is no good reason whatsoever to drive a car in central London.

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 [64] M-F 7AM-6PM (excluding public holidays) attracts a fee of £8 if paid the same day, or £10 if paid on the next charging day. Numerous payment options exist: by phone, online, at convenience stores displaying the red 'C' logo in the window and by voucher. Failure to pay the charge by midnight the next charging day (take note!) incurs a hefty automatic fine of £80 (£40 if paid within 2 weeks).

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. Driving in Central London is a slow, frustrating, expensive and often unnecessary activity. Traffic is slow and heavy, there are many sorts of automatic enforcement cameras, and it is difficult and expensive to park. 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. Find and read the parking restrictions carefully! Parking during weekdays and on Saturday 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.

For the disabled driving can be much more convenient than using public transport. If disabled and a resident of a member state of the EU then two cars can be permanently registered, for free, for the congestion charge.

Motorcycles and scooters are fairly common in London as they can pass stationary cars, can usually be parked for free and are exempt from congestion-charging. Scooters and bikes with automatic transmission are much more preferable - a manually-geared racing bike is completely impractical unless you have excellent clutch-control! Likewise to bicycles, car-drivers have a disregard to anyone on two wheels and larger vehicles have an unwritten priority so take care when crossing junctions. A fully-enclosed crash-helmet is mandatory. Parking for bikes is usually free - there are designated motorcycle-parking areas on some side-streets and some multi-level parking lots will have bike parking on the ground level.

Get around

Transport maps

London is the home of the famous tube map, and TfL produce some excellent maps to help you get around:

- Tube map

- Tube and trains with Oyster card information

- Bus maps - if you know which borough you're in, these maps are very useful

- River buses - great if you're near the Thames

Engineering work

In the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, Transport for London are undertaking a massive redevelopment programme on the 19th- and 20th-Century Tube network. As a result, many Tube lines are closed on most weekends, and some lines close for several weeks at a time. Alternative bus services may be provided, but these can be slowed down by traffic congestion. It is very important to check the TfL website for travel updates, especially at weekends, to avoid disappointment. A number of mobile phone apps are also available to download which show line closures on real-time Tube maps.

The city has one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in the world. Despite residents' constant, and sometimes justified, grumbling about unreliability, public transport is often the best option for getting anywhere for visitors and residents alike and is far more reliable than locals would have you believe. Indeed, nearly a third of households do not feel the need to own a car.

In central London use a combination of the transport options listed below - and check your map! In many cases you can easily walk from one place to another or use the busses. Be a Londoner and only use the tube as a way of travelling longer distances - you're here to see London - you can't see it underground!

Transport for London (TfL) [51] is a government organisation responsible for all public transport. Their website contains maps plus an excellent journey planner [52]. They also offer a 24-hour travel information line, charged at premium rate: tel +44-843-2221234 (or text 60835) for suggestions on getting from A to B, and for up to the minute information on how services are running. Fortunately for visitors (and indeed residents) there is a single ticketing system, Oyster, which enables travellers to switch between modes of transport on one ticket.

The main travel options in summary are:

Central London

By tube / underground 11 colour-coded lines cover the central area and suburbs mostly north of the River Thames, run by TfL.

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Runs only in the east of the city, privately run but part of TfL's network.

By boat Commuter boats and pleasure cruises along the River Thames, privately run but part of TfL's network.

Airport Express Express rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports (tickets are generally sold at a premium), privately run and not part of the TfL network.

Suburban London

By tram (Tramlink) A tram service that operates only in southern suburbs around Wimbledon and Croydon.

By Overground 3 orange-coloured lines circling the northern suburbs (including the former East London line) , part of TfL's network.

By National Rail A complex network of suburban rail services, mostly running in the southern suburbs, privately run and not part of the TfL network, although many do accept Oyster payments.

Oyster Card

Oyster [53] is a contactless electronic smartcard run by Transport for London. In general, Oyster is the more cost effective option than paper tickets if you plan to be in London for any more than a couple of days, or if you intend to make return visits to the city - the savings quickly recover the initial purchase cost. You can buy an Oyster Card from any Tube station for a deposit of £5. You can also get a Visitor Oyster card [54] for a deposit of £3, although these cards can be used only to pay as you go and cannot be loaded with 7 Day Travelcards. You can "charge up" an Oyster card with electronic funds. This cash is then deducted according to where you travel. The cost of a single trip using the Oyster card is considerably less than buying a single paper ticket with cash. Prices vary depending on distance travelled, whether by bus or tube, and on the time of day. You can also add various electronic 1 week, 1 month and longer-period tickets onto the card, and the card is simply validated each time you use it. The deposit is fully refundable if you hand it in at the end of the trip. However, there is no expiry date on the Oyster Card or any pay-as-you-go credit on the card. If you have any pay-as-you-go credit left this will also be refunded. You will get refunds in cash only if you paid in cash. Be prepared to give your signature on receipts or even show ID for refunds over a few pounds.

Pay-as-you-go (PrePay)

You can charge up your Oyster card with electronic cash at any tube station ticket machine or ticket desk (you can even use a credit card to do this if your credit card has a PIN number) with Oyster pay-as-you-go, also known as PrePay. This money is then deducted from your card each time you get on a service. The fare is calculated based on your start and end points. Pay-as-you-go is much cheaper than paying in cash for each journey. For instance, a cash tube one way in Zone 1 is £4, while with an Oyster Card it costs £1.90. Furthermore, a cash bus fare is £2.20 while with Oyster it is £1.30.

The amount of PrePay deducted from your Oyster card in one day is capped at the cost of the appropriate paper day ticket (day Travelcard) for the zones you have travelled through. For zone 1-2 (central London including everywhere inside the Circle line and some places outside) this is £6.60 (£8 M-F before 9:30AM).

On the tube, be sure to touch in and touch out again at the end of your journey. If you forget to touch your Oyster card at the start and finish you will be charged extra!

Oyster also saves time getting onto buses. If you don't have an Oyster, tickets have to be bought at a machine by the bus stop in the central area, and from the driver outside the zone.

Travelcards

A Travelcard may be loaded onto an Oyster card or may be purchased as a paper ticket.

- Day Travelcard - Zones 1-2 - Anytime: £8.00, Off-Peak £6.60

- 7 Day Travelcard Zones 1-2 - £27.60

- Monthly Travelcard Zones 1-2 - £106.00

- Annual Travelcard Zones 1-2 - £1,104.00

The above prices are Adult prices and only for Zones 1 & 2. For a more comprehensive list of the prices visit the TFL website:

1 Day Travelcards [55]

7 Day, Monthly & Annual Travelcards [56]

Travelcard season tickets

Weekly, monthly and longer-period Travelcard season tickets can be purchased at all tube station ticket offices. These can be used on any tube, DLR, bus, London Overground, National Rail or tram service. You have to select a range of zones when you buy it, numbered 1-9. If you happen to travel outside the zone, you can use PrePay (see above) to make up the difference. Note that they can not be used on any Airport Express trains (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express). However, a Zone 1-6 Travelcard can be used on the London Underground (Piccadilly line) to/from Heathrow Airport.

Tips

- Touch the card against a yellow disc, prominently displayed on the entry and exit gates for the Tube (do not try to insert it into the slot!) and on buses and trams.

- On the Docklands Light Railway, and on the Overground railway stations in the outlying parts of the city there are no entry or exit gates (except at interchanges with the Tube like Bank or Stratford), so you have to be sure to touch your Oyster card on the readers (which are clearly signposted) as you enter and leave. Failure to do this when you begin a journey is regarded as fare dodging (carrying a penalty fare or even a fine if you are caught). Equally, failing to touch out when you leave a station will result in you being overcharged for your journey, as the system will make a default deduction of £6.50 since it doesn't know which station you left at.

- Theoretically you don't need to remove your Oystercard from your wallet or bag to do touch in/out - the card reader can work through a bag, but in reality you may need to take the card out to get it to work - watch out for this especially if you have another smartcard in your wallet/purse (e.g. an an employers' identity badge or a contactless bank card) as this can confuse the barriers or ticket machines.

- Be careful standing near the readers on some bendy buses, they are often quite sensitive and may read your card from several centimetres away, even if you did not intend this.

- If you keep your Oystercard in your wallet try not to sit on it as sometimes they will crack and stop working.

Validity

The following table summarises the validity of the different tickets you can use on Oyster. For most tourists, tubes and buses are the only transport you will use, but be aware that these tickets are not valid on Airport Express trains.

Bus

London Underground

London Overground

National Rail

DLR

Tram

Airport Express trains

Pay-as-you-go

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

no

Travelcard

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

no

Bus pass

yes

no

no

no

no

yes

no

- Bus (and Tram) Passes are only available for periods of 7 days and longer.

- Travelcards are valid only within the zones you buy.

- Piccadilly line to Heathrow is a London Underground train, so PrePay and Travelcards are valid.

- Airport Express trains are Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Express.

- Travelcards are valid on Thameslink but if you are heading all the way to Luton airport, you will need a ticket between the edge of your travelcard zone and the airport.

By foot

London is a surprisingly compact city, making it a walker's delight and often being the quickest method of transport.

Because Britain drives on the left hand side of the road, for most foreign visitors it can be all too easy to forget that traffic will come at you from the opposite direction than you are used to when crossing a street - for this reason remember to look right when you cross the road.

Particularly on Central London's busiest streets, it is easy to spot native Londoners as they are able to weave in and out of the large crowds at fast speed. Refrain from walking slowly in tight spaces to avoid annoying any fast walking people that may be trying to pass.

By tube or underground

Tube etiquette

- Beware of pickpockets.

- Drinking alcohol or smoking anywhere on the underground is illegal.

- When using the escalators, always stand on the right to allow people in a hurry to pass. If you are standing on the left people will occasionally ask grumpily for you to get out the way, especially during rush hour when commuters are far less forgiving.

- Allow passengers to get off the train before boarding yourself by standing to the right or to the left of the train doors.

- Move down the carriages if standing during busy periods

- Have your Oyster card or ticket ready for the top of the escalators so not to obstruct barriers.

- Be careful at the ticket barrier of people coming up close behind you in an attempt to get through the barrier on your ticket. This isn't a huge problem, but it does happen.

- Some platforms in Zone 1 have the words "Mind the Gap" written on the platform edge. When the train stops, the carriage doors will usually line up with this warning.

- Give up your seat to the elderly and those less able to stand, especially if the seat is reserved for such a purpose.

- Never try to board or leave a train when the door warning (a rapidly-repeating high pitch beep) is sounding. Many older trains are not fitted with sensors to detect if the doors are blocked and it's all too easy to become stuck in the doors, although the train cannot start if the doors are still open.

The London Underground [57] - 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). The Tube is an easy method of transport even for new visitors to London.

Tube maps [58] are freely available from any station, most tourist offices and are prominently displayed throughout stations and in the back of most diaries. The Tube is made up of 11 lines each bearing a traditional name and a standard colour on the Tube map. To plan your trip on The Tube work out first which station is closest to your starting point and which closest to your destination. You are able to change freely between lines at interchange stations (providing you stay within the zones shown on your ticket). Use the Tube Map to determine which line(s) you will take. 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. 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 most distant reaches of the Metropolitan Line for example are almost 40 miles from the centre of the city. In central London, taking The Tube for just one stop can be a waste of time; Londoners joke about the tourists who use the Tube to travel between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations. This is especially true since the walk from a tube station entrance to the platform at some central stations can be extensive. The Tube map also gives no information on London's extensive overground bus network and its orbital rail network.

Trains run from around 5:30AM to about 1AM. 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, and the fact that it can get extremely crowded during rush hours (7:30AM-10:00AM and 4:30PM-7PM). On warm days take a bottle of water with you. Also note that engineering works usually take place during weekends or in the evening. Contact TfL or visit their web site [59] especially if you plan to travel on a Saturday or a Sunday when entire lines may be shut down.

All lines are identified by their name (e.g. Circle Line, Central Line, Piccadilly Line). Some line names are misnomers that originated from when the Tube was originally operated by multiple private railways e.g. the Northern Line does not serve the most northern parts of the network, although it is one of the main routes serving South London. Also, many lines have multiple branches rather than running point-to-point so it's always advisable to check the train's destination (which will be shown on the front of the train, the platform indicator screens and will be broadcast on the train's PA). Some branch lines (such as the Chesham branch of the Metropolitan Line or the Kensington Olympia branch of the District Line) run as shuttles and require a transfer onto the 'main line'. Note that the Northern Line has two separate routes through the city centre which split at Euston and rejoin at Kennington - one (officially called the Charing Cross Branch but known by locals as the West End branch) runs through the West End serving Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Waterloo, while the other route runs via the City of London (officially called the Bank branch but also referred to as the City branch) with major stops at Kings Cross and Bank. Despite the confusing layout of the line, it's fairly easy to work out which way your train is going - for example a northbound Northern Line train to Edgware along the Charing Cross branch will be displayed on the indicator as 'Edgware via ChX' and the on-board PA will announce 'This train terminates at Edgware via Charing Cross'. Finally, note that direction signs for the platforms indicate the geographical direction of the line, NOT the last stop of the line e.g. 'Central Line Westbound Platform 1, Central Line Eastbound Platform 2'. It's always advisable to carry a pocket Tube map (available for free at most stations) to help you with this.

Almost all stations have automatic ticket barriers. If paying by Oyster Card, just tap your card against the yellow pad to open the barriers (both upon entrance and exit). If you have a paper ticket, insert it face-up into the slot on the front of the machine, and remove it from the top to enter the station. If you have a single-ticket it will be retained at the exit gate. If you have luggage or if your ticket is rejected there is normally a staffed gate as well. Paper tickets can be purchased from vending machines in the station lobby. There are two types of machine - the older machines have buttons for different fare levels and only accept coins, while the new touch-screen machines have instructions in multiple languages, offer a greater choice of ticket and accept bills and credit/debit cards (note that if your card doesn't have an embedded microchip you cannot use these machines - instead you should pay at the ticket counter). Single tickets are charged at a premium (often costing only a little less than a 1-day travelcard) of £4.00 flat fare for journeys within or beyond Zone 1 or £3.00 for journeys outside of Zone 1. Single Oyster fares are charged by the number of zones crossed, starting at £1.60 for 1 zone up to £3.60 for 6 zones. Paper travel cards valid for 1-, 3- or 7 days are also available and can also be used on buses, National Rail trains, the DLR and Croydon Tramlink. They are priced by zones - a 1-day travelcard for Zones 1-2 costs £5.50.

By bus

London's iconic red buses are recognized the world over, even if the traditional Routemaster buses, with an open rear platform and on-board conductor to collect fares, have been phased out. These still run on Heritage Route 9 and 15 daily between about 9:30AM and 6:30PM, every 15 minutes. Buses are generally quicker than taking the Tube for short (less than a couple of stops on the Tube) trips, and out of central London you're likely to be closer to a bus stop than a tube station. On some busy routes, extra-long buses known as "bendy buses" are used. Routes served by these buses always carry a yellow route sign as detailed below. Care should be taken as it is possible for those unfamiliar with them to get on then have no way of paying. This could be related to the relative ease of hopping on and off without paying (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 possible to be arrested and prosecuted. Normally, however, those who get on the bus via the doors in the middle will be asked (or rather yelled) to come to the front and pay.

Over 5 million bus trips are made each weekday; with over 700 different bus routes you are never far from a bus. Each bus stop has a sign listing routes that stop there. Bus routes are identified by numbers and sometimes letters, for example the 73 runs between Victoria and Seven Sisters. Yellow signs indicate you must purchase your ticket before you board. You must either have a Pay-as-you-go Oyster card, travelcard season ticket, bus saver ticket, bus pass, or have bought a one way ticket from a machine at the bus stop. These machines don't provide change (all the more reason to use one of the other options). From age 11 and up you must show an Oyster card on buses, yet journeys are free. Student Oysters (only available to students studying in London) go up to age 18 and journeys are still free, failure to show an Oyster means a £2 fare.

Buses display their route number in large digits at the front, side and rear. All bus stops have their location and the direction of travel on them.

The iBus system has now been rolled out the iBus on every bus and garage in London. This new system provides bus times and destination information on a audio-visual display.

Unlike The Tube one way tickets do not allow you to transfer to different buses.

Bus route map

Night bus

Standard bus services run from around 6AM-12:30AM. Around half past midnight the network changes to the vast night bus network of well over 100 routes stretching all over the city. There are two types of night buses: 24 hour routes and N-prefixed routes.

24 hour services keep the same number as during the day and will run the exact same route, such as the nr. 88 bus for example. N-prefixed routes are generally very similar to their day-route, but may take a slightly different route or are extended to serve areas that are further out. For example, the 29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green during the day; however, the N29 bus goes from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green and on to Enfield.

Nightbuses run at a 30 minute frequency at minimum, with many routes at much higher frequencies up to every 5 minutes.

Prices stay the same, and daily travelcards are valid until 4 am the day after they were issued, so can be used on night buses. Most bus stops will have night bus maps with all the buses to and from that local area on it, although it is good to check on the TfL website beforehand, which also has all those maps easily available.

By DLR

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a dedicated light rail network operating in East London, connecting with the tube network at Bank, Tower Gateway (close to Tower Hill tube station), Canning Town, Heron Quays (close to Canary Wharf tube station) and Stratford. 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. The DLR also runs above ground on much of its route, and travels through many picturesque parts of London, including the docklands area where most of London's skyscrapers are located. 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.

Unlike the tube, the DLR uses the honor-system at all stations apart from Bank and Stratford. Tickets are available from the machines at stations (most stations are unstaffed so make sure you are armed with a handful of coins or low-denomination notes) and are distance-based. Travelcards are also accepted, as are Oyster cards, which must be validated when entering the platform, and then validated again when exiting the station.

The DLR can be a little confusing as the routes are not easily distinguished - generally trains run between Bank - Lewisham, Stratford - Lewisham, Bank - Woolwich Arsenal, Stratford - Woolwich Arsenal and Tower Gateway - Beckton. Displays on the platform will tell you the destination and approximate wait for the next 3 trains, and the destination is also displayed on the front and side of the train.

By train

The British railway system is known as National Rail (although some older signs still refer to it as "British Rail"). London's suburban rail services are operated by a large number of independent private companies and mostly run in the south of the city, away from the main tourist sights. Only one line (Thameslink) runs through central London - on a north-south axis between London Bridge or Blackfriars stations, and the underground level of St Pancras main line station. There is no one central station - instead, there are twelve mainline stations dotted around the edge of the central area, and most are connected by the Circle line (except Euston, Fenchurch St and those South of the river like London Waterloo and London Bridge). Most visitors will not need to use National Rail services except for a few specific destinations such as Hampton Court, Kew Gardens (Kew Bridge station), Windsor Castle, Greenwich or the airports, or indeed if they are intending to visit other cities in the UK. Since 2 January 2010, pay-as-you-go Oystercards are accepted on all routes within London travel zones 1-6.

Visitors are well advised to remember that the quickest route between two stations might be a combination of the Tube as well as the National Rail network. (For example: getting to Wimbledon from central London by Tube using the District Line takes significantly longer (around 45 minutes) than taking the National Rail service from Waterloo to Wimbledon (around 15 minutes).)

Airport Express Rail services run to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports - tickets are generally sold at a premium and Oystercards not valid.

By Overground

In common parlance, Londoners may refer to travelling by "overground" (or "overland"), meaning going by National Rail (as opposed to going by Underground). However, only one service is officially called Overground - London Overground is a Transport for London rail service. It is operated and promoted just like the Underground, with the logo like the Tube (except orange) on stations and full acceptance of Oystercards. London Overground appears on the Tube map as an orange line, and services run across North London suburbs from east to west. Overground services can be a useful shortcut for crossing the city, bypassing the centre, for example from Kew Gardens to Camden. London Overground services also connect busy Clapham Junction railway station in the Southwest to West London (Shepherds Bush and Kensington) and Willesden Junction in the Northwest.

By tram (Tramlink)

Tramlink, opened in 2000, is the first modern tram system to operate in London. South London is poorly served by the Tube and lacks east-west National Rail services so the network connects Wimbledon in South West London to Beckenham in South East London and New Addington, a large housing estate in South Croydon. The network is centred on Croydon, where it runs on street-level tracks around the Croydon Loop.

Route 3 (Wimbledon to New Addington - green on the Tramlink map) is the most frequent service, running every 7 1/2 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 15 minutes at all other times. Beckenham is served by Routes 1 and 2 (yellow and red on the Tramlink map), which terminate at Elmers End and Beckenham Junction respectively. Both services travel around the Loop via West Croydon and run every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes at all other times. Between Arena and Sandilands, these two services serve the same stops.

By cycle

Cycling in the United Kingdom

- Cycling on the pavement (sidewalk) is illegal, except where a cycle route has been designated by signs or painted lines.

- When cycling on roads, you must ride on the left with other vehicles.

- You must have working front and rear lights during hours of darkness. Flashing LED lights are legal. Reflective clothing is always a good idea even during the day.

- Helmets are not compulsory for cyclists in the United Kingdom, and their effectiveness is as much a matter of debate here as anywhere else. In London, many cyclists, especially those seen in rush hour, also wear filter masks, but their efficacy is even more disputed.

- It is illegal to jump through a red light for cyclists as well as motorists. Advance stop lines at traffic lights allow cyclists to wait ahead of other traffic at red lights. In practice, most car drivers ignore this and occupy the cycle space when waiting at lights.

The rules for cyclists are available in the British Government publication The Highway Code

Due to the expense of other forms of transport and the compactness of central London, cycling is a tempting option. Excellent free cycle maps [60] can be obtained from your local tube stations, bike shop, or ordered online.

London now offers a city-wide cycle hire scheme, operated by Transport for London. For an hourly charge, bicycles may be hired from automated hire stations around the city. The bikes, all coloured a distinctive bright blue, can be unlocked and ridden around the city with a credit card, and must be returned to another hire station by locking the bike into the rack.

Despite recent improvements, London remains a relatively hostile environment for cyclists. London motorists seem reluctant to acknowledge the existence of cyclists, especially at busy junctions. The kind of contiguous cycle lane network found in many other European cities does not exist. The safest option is to stick to minor residential roads where traffic can be surprisingly calm outside rush hours.

Most major roads in London will have a red-route (indicated by red-painted tarmac) which is restricted to buses, taxis and bicycles. There are many bus stops on red routes, which can present a problem cycling around buses.

Cycle-lanes exist in London but they are often sporadic at best - usually a 3-foot wide section of tarmac barely wide enough for one cyclist typically indicated by green-painted tarmac. 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 2005 public transport attacks. A new network of "Cycle super-highways" has recently been launched: these are indicated by bright blue-painted tarmac. Motor vehicles often park on cycle lanes, rendering them unusable.

The towpaths in North London along the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal are the closest thing to a truly traffic-free cycle path in the capital. 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 30-40min to cycle from Paddington station to Islington along the towpaths. 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.

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.

Taking bikes on trains is very limited in London due to overcrowding. Non-folding bikes can be taken only on limited sections of The Tube network, mostly only on the above-ground sections outside peak hours. For this reason, folding bicycles are becoming increasingly popular. There is a map showing this on the Transport for London website. Most National Rail operators allow bicycles outside peak hours also.

Critical Mass London is a cycling advocacy group which 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.

The London Cycling Campaign [61] is an advocacy group for London cyclists. With active local groups in most of the city's boroughs, it is recognised by local and regional government as the leading voice for cycling in the capital.

By taxi

London has two types of taxis: the famous black cab, and so-called minicabs. Black cabs are the only ones licensed to 'ply for hire' (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 cab of London (not always black!) can be hailed from the curb or found at one of the many designated taxi ranks. 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. Their amber TAXI light will be on if they are available. Drivers must take an extensive exam in central 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. 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. Black cabs charge by distance and by the minute, are non-smoking, and have a minimum charge of £2.20. Tipping is not mandatory in either taxis or minicabs, despite some drivers' expectations..... Use your discretion, if you like the service you may tip otherwise don't. Londoners will often just round up to the nearest pound.

Taxis are required by law to take you wherever you choose (within Greater London) if their TAXI light is on when you hail them. However some, especially older drivers, dislike leaving the centre of town, or going south of the River Thames. A good way to combat being left at the side of the curb is to open the back door, or even get into the cab, before stating your destination.

Minicabs are normal cars which 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. 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". A list of licenced minicab operators can be found at TfL Findaride: [62]. 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 minicabs operating - just opportunistic people, with a car, looking to make some fast money. Some of these operators can be fairly aggressive in their attempts to find customers, 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 minicab by telephone, or take a night bus. These illegal drivers are unlicensed and sadly they are often unsafe: a number of women are assaulted every week by illegal minicab operators (11 per month).

- Cabwise, Liverpool Station, 60835, [63]. 1.30. A free service provided by TFL which texts you local licensed minicab numbers. Text CAB to 60835. Costs the price of a text message.

By car

Londoners who drive will normally take public transport in the centre; follow their example. There is no good reason whatsoever to drive a car in central London.

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 [64] M-F 7AM-6PM (excluding public holidays) attracts a fee of £8 if paid the same day, or £10 if paid on the next charging day. Numerous payment options exist: by phone, online, at convenience stores displaying the red 'C' logo in the window and by voucher. Failure to pay the charge by midnight the next charging day (take note!) incurs a hefty automatic fine of £80 (£40 if paid within 2 weeks).

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. Driving in Central London is a slow, frustrating, expensive and often unnecessary activity. Traffic is slow and heavy, there are many sorts of automatic enforcement cameras, and it is difficult and expensive to park. 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. Find and read the parking restrictions carefully! Parking during weekdays and on Saturday 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.

For the disabled driving can be much more convenient than using public transport. If disabled and a resident of a member state of the EU then two cars can be permanently registered, for free, for the congestion charge.

Motorcycles and scooters are fairly common in London as they can pass stationary cars, can usually be parked for free and are exempt from congestion-charging. Scooters and bikes with automatic transmission are much more preferable - a manually-geared racing bike is completely impractical unless you have excellent clutch-control! Likewise to bicycles, car-drivers have a disregard to anyone on two wheels and larger vehicles have an unwritten priority so take care when crossing junctions. A fully-enclosed crash-helmet is mandatory. Parking for bikes is usually free - there are designated motorcycle-parking areas on some side-streets and some multi-level parking lots will have bike parking on the ground level.

By boat

London is now starting to follow the example of cities such as Sydney and Bangkok by promoting a network of river bus and pleasure cruise services along the River Thames. London River Services [65] (part of Transport for London) manages regular commuter boats and a network of piers all along the river and publishes timetables and river maps similar to the famous tube map. While boat travel may be slower and a little more expensive than tube travel, it offers an extremely pleasant way to cross the city with unrivalled views of the London skyline - Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, etc. Sailing under Tower Bridge is an unforgettable experience.

Boats are operated by private companies and they have a separate ticketing system from the rest of London transport; however if you have a Travelcard you get a 33% discount on most boat tickets. Many boat operators offer their own one-day ticket - ask at the pier kiosks. Generally, tickets from one boat comapny are not valid on other operators' services. Oyster cards can be used as payment for the 'Clipper'-styled commuter services but not for tour boats.

Boats run on the following routes:

- Bankside - Millbank

- Barrier Gardens - Greenwich - St. Katharine's - Westminster

- Blackfriars - Embankment - Cadogan - Chelsea Harbour - Wandsworth (RQ) - Putney

- Canary Wharf - Hilton Docklands

- Canary Wharf - London Bridge City

- Embankment - Blackfriars - Chelsea Harbour - Cadogan

- Embankment - London Eye - Bankside - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal

- Embankment - London Eye - Blackfriars - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal

- Embankment - London Eye - Blackfriars - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal

- Embankment - London Eye - London Bridge City - Tower - Canary Wharf - Greenland - Masthouse Terrace - Greenwich - QEII for the O2 - Woolwich Arsenal

- Greenwich - Tilbury - Gravesend

- Greenwich - Tower - Westminster - London Eye

- Hampton Court - Kingston (Town End Pier) - Kingston (Turk's Pier) - Richmond (St Helena)

- Hampton Court - Richmond - Kew - Westminster

- Hilton Docklands - Canary Wharf

- London Bridge City - Canary Wharf

- Millbank - Bankside

- Putney - Wandsworth (RQ) - Chelsea Harbour - Cadogan - Embankment - Blackfriars

- Richmond (St Helena) - Kingston (Turk's Pier) - Kingston (Town End Pier) - Hampton Court

- Tilbury - Gravesend - Greenwich

- Westminster - Embankment - Festival - Bankside - London Bridge City - St. Katharine's - Westminster

- Westminster - Embankment - St. Katharine's - Westminster

- Westminster - Kew - Richmond - Hampton Court

- Westminster - London Eye - Tower - Greenwich

- Westminster - St. Katharine's - Greenwich - Barrier Gardens

- Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Bankside - Embankment - London Eye

- Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Blackfriars - Embankment - London Eye

- Woolwich Arsenal - QEII for the O2 - Greenwich - Masthouse Terrace - Greenland - Canary Wharf - Tower - London Bridge City - Embankment - London Eye

Some key tourist attractions that are easily accessible by boat include:

- Hampton Court Palace

- Greenwich

- Shakespeare’s Globe

- Tate Galleries

- London Dungeon

- Tower of London

- Tower Bridge

- St. Katharine Docks

- Millennium Dome/The O2

- Ham House

- Kew Gardens

- HMS Belfast

plus all the central London sights in Westminster and the South Bank

As well as the Thames, consider a trip along an old Victorian canal through the leafy suburbs of North London. 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 (pick up only). The 45-minute trip along Regent's Canal is a delightful way to travel.

By skate

Inline skating on roads and sidewalks (pavements) is completely legal, except in the City of London (a district). Roads are not the greatest but easily skatable. In the centre drivers are more used to skaters than in the outskirts.

See

London with children

London can be stressful with kids - check London with children for slightly less stressful sightseeing

London is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles and only an overview is presented here.

Landmarks

- Buckingham Palace - The official London residence of the Queen, also in Westminster. Open for tours during the summer months only, but a must-see sight even if you don't go in.

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

- Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument designed by John Nash. It is located in the middle of a huge traffic island at one of the busiest intersections in central London where Oxford St meets Park Lane in Mayfair.

- Piccadilly Circus is one of the most photographed sights in London. The status of Eros stands proudly in the middle while the north eastern side is dominated by a huge, iconic neon hoarding.

- St Paul's Cathedral, also 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".

- 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.

- 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, guarded by Beefeaters, and is a World Heritage site. It is also considered by many to be the most haunted building in the world. If you are interested in that sort of thing its definitely somewhere worth visiting. Sometimes there are guided ghost walks of the building.

- 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.

- Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. The seat of the United Kingdom parliament and World Heritage site, as well as setting for royal coronations since 1066, most recently that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Palace of Westminster is open to the public only for viewing parliamentary debates, tours of the building are available during July-August when Parliament is away on summer recess.

Museums and Galleries

London hosts an outstanding collection of world-class museums. Even better, it is the only one of the traditional "alpha world cities" (London, Tokyo, 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 London can be expensive, many of the best museums and galleries are free including:

- British Museum

- National Gallery

- National Portrait Gallery

- Victoria and Albert Museum

- Natural History Museum

- Tate Modern

- Tate Britain

and most museums in Greenwich. Note that admission to many temporary exhibitions is not free.

Aside from these world famous establishments, there is an almost unbelievable number of minor museums in London covering a very diverse range of subjects. The British government lists over 240 genuine museums in the city.

Parks

The 'green lungs' of London are the many parks, great and small, scattered throughout the city including Hyde Park, St James Park and Regent's Park. 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.

- Hyde Park and adjoining Kensington Gardens make up a huge open space in central London and are very popular for picnics.

- Regent's Park is wonderful open park in the northern part of central London.

- St James's Park has charming and romantic gardens ideal for picnics and for strolling around. St. James's Park is situated between Buckingham Palace on the west and Horse Guards Parade on the east.

- Hampstead Heath is a huge open green space in north central London. Not a tended park a such and is remarkably wild for a metropolitan city location. The views from the Parliament Hill area of the heath south over the city are quite stunning.

- Richmond Park also is a huge green space, but has a thriving deer population that is culled in the spring. Excellent place for cycling.

Blue Plaques

English Heritage runs the Blue Plaques [66] programme in London. Blue Plaques celebrate great figures of the past and the buildings that they inhabited. These are among the most familiar features of the capital’s streetscape and adorn the façades of buildings across the city. Since the first plaque was erected in 1867, the number has grown steadily and there are now more than 800. Recipients are as diverse as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud, Charles de Gaulle, Jimi Hendrix and Karl Marx. Look out for these around the city.

Do

London is a huge city, so all individual listings are in the appropriate district articles. To make the most of the city's tremendous cultural offerings (performing arts, museums, exhibitions, clubs, eateries and numerous others), visitors will do well to pick up a copy of a cultural magazine like Time Out London (available at most corner shops and newsagents) which gives detailed information and critiques on what's around town including show times and current attractions. The website (http://www.timeout.com/london/) also has major shows listed and there is also an iPhone/iPod app available though these tend to not be as detailed as the print version.

- Take a walk through London's Royal Parks. A good walk would start at Paddington station, and head through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park (passing Buckingham Palace) and St James Park before crossing Trafalgar Square and the River Thames to the South Bank and Waterloo Station. At a strolling pace this walk would take half a day, with plenty of places to stop, sit, drink, eat en-route. A good pictorial description of this walk can be found online at Trips By Trains Royal Parks Walk [67].

- Live Music. London is one of the best cities in the world for concerts, spanning from new musical trends to well known bands. Between huge concert facilities and small pubs, there are hundreds of venues that organise and promote live music every week. Many concerts, especially in smaller or less known places are free, so there is plenty of choice even for tourists on a budget. London has long been a launchpad for alternative movements, from the mods of the 60s, punks of the 70s, new romantics of the 80s, the britpop scene of the 90s and in recent years the indie rock movement spearheaded by The Libertines and their ilk. It has one of the world's most lively live music scenes: any band heading a British, European or World tour will play London, not to mention the local talent. London's Music Scene is incredibly diverse, covering all genres of music from electro-jazz to death-metal, and all sizes of bands, from the U2s and Rolling Stones of the world to one man bands who disband after their first gig. This diversity is reflected in prices. As a rough guide: £20+ for 'top 40' bands in arena sized venues, £10+ for established bands in mid sized venues, £6+ for up and coming bands and clubnights in smaller venues, £5- for upstarting bands in bars and pubs. London has hundreds of venues spread out over the city and the best way to know what's going on where is to browse online ticket agencies[68], music magazine's gig directories [69] and bands' myspaces[70]. However, there are a few areas which have higher concentrations of pubs and venues than others. Kilburn is situated in North West London. It's long been known as an Irish area, and though their numbers have somewhat declined any visit to a local pub will show their influence remains today. The center point of Kilburn's music scene is The Luminaire[71]. The Luminaire is a fairly new establishment that started as a venue for unsigned bands but now mainly puts on alternative bands on the edge of a big break, or older bands that never hit the mainstream. It has a wonderful energy, a well designed interior and very good DJs. Kilburn's second venue is The Good Ship.[72] Due to its inclusive policies and fair payment system, The Good Ship is a favorite place for young aspiring bands to try to get a foot off the ground. Good for those who would like to see bands "before they were big", who appreciate £5 entrance fees, good beer and friendly staff.

- Theatre. The West End, especially the areas concentrated around Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Shaftesbury Avenue and Haymarket, is one of the world's premier destinations for theatre, including musical theatre. Covent Garden has the only Actor sponsored school in the city called the Actors Centre [73] which also gave way to the London Acting Network [74], a London acting community support group. In the centre of Leicester Square there is an official half-price TKTS booth. For up-to-date listings see the weekly magazine Time Out [75] or check the official London theatreland site [76]. The South Bank is another area well-known for serious theatre, and is home to both the National Theatre and the Globe Theatre. London's theatre scene outside of these two main districts is known as "the Fringe".

- Watch a movie. As well as the world-famous blockbuster cinemas in the West End, London has a large number of superb art house cinemas. In the summer months, there are often outdoor screenings at various venues, such as Somerset House and in some of the large parks.

- Watch football, [77]. Take in a home match of one of the city's 15+ professional football clubs for a true experience of a lifetime as you see the passion of the "World's Game" in its mother country. London will have five clubs in the top Premier League in the upcoming 2011–12 season—Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Tottenham Hotspur. A level down, in the Football League Championship, finds Crystal Palace, Millwall and West Ham United. Six other clubs are in lower levels of the professional league system—Brentford, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient in Football League One; and AFC Wimbledon, Barnet and Dagenham & Redbridge in Football League Two. Many of the bigger clubs will require booking in advance, sometimes many months ahead, but smaller clubs allow you to simply turn up on match day and pay at the gate. You will be able to find a ticket to a quality football match on any Saturday during the season.

- Wimbledon, [78]. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered the most prestigious. Naturally it is a regular feature on the Tennis calendar. London goes "tennis crazy" for two weeks when the competition commences in late June and early July.

- Open House London Weekend, [79]. Explore many of the city's most interesting buildings during the London Open House Weekend - usually held on the third weekend of September. During this single 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 - some buildings have to be pre-booked in advance - book early for the popular ones!

- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road (tube: South Kensington), [80]. One of the first of its kind in the world. The museum houses many permanent and temporary exhibitions covering plants, animals and geology from the worlds natural history. Of interest to most would be the permanent dinosaur exhibition. Although many displays feel dated this is an excellent museum and is always, deservedly, crowded. Free.

- Winter Skating. 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. See the district articles for the City of London, East End and Leicester Square.

- Summer Skating. 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). See the district articles for Mayfair-Marylebone and South West London.

- Shopping.. If it's available, it can be bought in London. Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, all in the West End, are some of the most famous shopping destinations in the world, but they are also just the tip of the iceberg, and many London districts and town centres have unique shopping attractions of their own.

Tours. If you don't feel like splashing out on one of the commercial bus tours, you can make your own bus tour by buying an Oyster card 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 a commercial tour.

- Tally Ho! Cycle Tours (Waterloo, nearest tube: Lambeth North), +44 (0) 7969 230 828, [81]. 10:30 and 2:30. Guided tours of London's famous landmarks atop a classic 1920's style handmade British bicycle. Stops include Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, meandering through backstreet's and cycle paths. An extended tour to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for those who are wanting a longer tour. Bicycle hire and private tours also available.

Learn

London attracts more students from overseas than any other city in the world, and is home to a huge variety of academic institutions. Its universities include some of the oldest and most prestigious in the world.

Many of the city's most prestigious colleges fall under the auspices of the University of London [82] including:

- University College London (UCL), [83]. The first university established in London, offering a wide range of courses. UCL academic research is cited more than any other university in the UK, and its courses are regarded as amongst the best

- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), [84]. The only college in the UK focused exclusively on social sciences, whose courses are regarded as amongst the very best in the world. Often associated with neo-liberal political economic theory.

- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), [85]. Offers highly regarded courses in law, languages, social sciences and humanities, with a unique focus on Asia and Africa. Its glittering list of alumni include many foreign leaders.

- London Business School, [86]. Postgraduate business school offering one of the world's leading MBA programmes

- King's College London, [87]. Situated in the heart of London over 3 main campuses. Offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses for a range of subjects at a high academic level.

- Queen Mary, University of London, [88]. Queen Mary was formed from the merger of four historic colleges and since joining the University of London in 1915 has grown to become one of its largest colleges.

- Other institutions include Imperial College London [89], the UK's leading university specialising in sciences

Learn English

London is a natural place to learn and improve spoken and written English. There are a huge range of options, from informal language exchange services to evening classes and formal language schools. There are a number of unaccredited schools charging hefty fees and offering qualifications that are viewed as worthless. If choosing a course from a privately-run school or college, it is important to ensure the institution is accredited by the British Council.

Work

London is one of the world's leading financial centres and so professional services is the main area of employment, although this sector has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. As of Mid 2010, the job market in London has recovered somewhat, it is best to check with recruiters and staffing agencies.

London is hugely popular as a working holiday destination - work in bars and the hospitality industry is relatively easy to find and well paid.

Wages are generally higher in London than the rest of the UK, although the cost of living is higher still.

Buy

London is also one of the world's most fashion conscious cities, which explains the abundance of clothing shops from the flagship shops of Oxford Street to the tiny boutiques of Brick Lane.

Though not particularly known for bargain shopping, nearly anything you could possibly want to buy is available in London. In Central London, the main shopping district is the West End (Bond St, Covent Garden, Oxford St and Regent St). On Thursdays many West End stores close later than normal (7PM-8PM).

- Oxford Street. Main shopping street home to flagship branches of all the major British high street retailers in one go including Selfridges [90], John Lewis [91] (includes a food hall), Marks & Spencer [92] and other department stores. Really overcrowded and has pretty ordinary shops actually.

- Regent Street (between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus). Includes such gems as Hamleys, considered to be London's flagship toy store, on seven levels, and the London Apple Store.

- Bond Street. Some of the world's most luxurious designer stores such as Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Versace.

- Tottenham Court Road. Contains some of the world's most luxurious designer interior stores such as Heals, whilst the southern end is famous for its large concentration of hi-fi, computer and electronics stores.

- Covent Garden [93]. Fashionable area home to quaint outlets and relatively expensive designer stores. Around Seven Dials chains include Adidas Originals, All Saints, Carhartt, Fred Perry, G Star Raw and Stussy. For shoes head for Neal St. Also the London Transport Museum whose gift shop has some of the best souvenirs in the city (old maps, vintage Tube posters, etc). But the vendors are now not allowed to sell merchandise with Union Jacks on. Sad.

- Charing Cross Road (near Covent Garden). A book lovers haven! New, second-hand, antiquarian and specialist.

- Soho . Offers alternative music and clothes. Now home to Chappell of Bond St's historic music shop.

- Camden Town. Alternative clothing and other alternative shopping, popular with teenagers and young adults. Also nearby Camden Lock market. Has lots of really cool and affordable stuff but kind of gothish.

- Chelsea. The King's Road is noted for fashion, homeware and kids. On Wednesday many stores close late.

- Knightsbridge. Department stores include the world famous Harrods [94] (includes a food hall) and Harvey Nichols. On Wednesday many stores close late.

- Beauchamp Place.Shop where royalty and celebrities shop.One of the world's most unique and famous streets. Over the years it has developed its strong reputation as one of London’s most fashionable and distinctive streets, housing some of the best known names in London fashion, interspersed with trendy restaurants, jewellers and speciality shops including the world famous trademark Fortuny [95], .

- Westminster. Some of the world's most famous shirts are made on Jermyn St. Savile Row is home to some of the world's best men's bespoke tailors including Henry Poole, Gieves & Hawkes, H. Huntsman & Sons, Dege & Skinner and many other.

Westfields: In Shepards Bush. Hard to miss. Has designer shops in with the more affordable chain shops. It's the biggest shopping centre in Europe. Has lots of good places to eat. It can get very busy on weekends though. Has it's own train station. It's best not to leave westfields because of fights outside the centre.

Markets

Borough (tube: London Bridge) [96] is a great (if expensive) food market, offering fruit, veg, cheese, bread, meat, fish, and so on, much of it organic. It's open Th-Sa, and it's best to go in the morning, since it gets unpleasantly crowded by around 11AM.

Old Spitalfields Market [97] is an excellent market for clothes from up-and-coming designers, records, housewares, food, and all things trendy. Also Brick Lane, Greenwich and Portobello, [98].

Airports

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.

Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:

Budget

Below £15

Mid-range

£15-50

Splurge

£50+

Smoking Ban

Smoking is banned in all UK pubs and restaurants.

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, ranging from fast food joints, pubs, and mainstream chains all the way up to some of the most exclusive restaurants in the world which attract the kind of clientele that don't need to ask the price. Sorting the good from the bad isn't easy, but London has something to accommodate all budgets and tastes. Following is a rough guide to what you might get, should you fancy eating out:

- Up to £5 - you can get a good English pub or cafeteria breakfast with a rack of bacon, beans in tomato sauce, egg, sausage, orange juice and coffee or tea. Most pubs stop this offer at 11AM, but there are literally hundreds of backstreet cafes (collquially known as "greasy spoons") which will serve this sort of food all day.

- £7 - will buy you a couple of sandwiches and a soft drink, some takeaway fish and chips, 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. There are literally thousands of so called takeaways in London and a cheap alternative to a restaurant meal. Check with your hotel management if they allow food deliveries before ordering in. Most takeaways will offer some form of seating, but not all do.

- £6-10 - will get you a good pub meal and drink or a good Chinese/Indian/Italian/Thai/Vietnamese buffet. Be aware that many pubs have a buy-one-get-one-free offer, and you can either order two main dishes for yourself or bring a friend.

- £15 - some more expensive French, Mediterranean and international restaurants do cheaper two or three course lunch menus.

- £25 - offers you a lot more choice. You can have a good meal, half a bottle of wine and change for the tube home. There are plenty of modest restaurants that cater for this bracket.

- £50 (to almost any amount!) - with more money to spend you can pick some of the city's finer restaurants. It may be a famous chef (like Michel Roux, Jr or Gordon Ramsay) or simply a place that prides itself on using the finest ingredients. Worth the splurge to impress a special someone. Note that these establishments often need to be booked well in advance, and most will enforce a dress code of some sort.

Prices inevitably become inflated at venues closest to major tourist attractions - beware the so-called tourist traps. The worst tourist trap food is, in the opinion of many Londoners, is served at the various steak houses (Angus Steak House, Aberdeen Steak House etc - they are all dotted around the West End and near to the main train stations). Londoners wouldn't dream of eating here - you shouldn't either! Notorious areas for inflated menu prices trading on travellers' gullibility and lack of knowledge are the streets around the British Museum, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. Even the major fast food chains charge a premium in their West End outlets - so watch out.

Pubs within the touristy areas of London are usually a poor choice for food although there are some brilliant 'gastro-pubs' hidden away - use the internet or a good guide (such as Time Out) to find them. In general avoid all pubs that have graphic-designed and printed menus - it's peoples experiences in these kind of places that gives Britain a bad name for food! Look around you - see any locals tucking in? No? - then you shouldn't either. The other rule to follow when avoiding poor food is the same as in any other part of Europe - is the menu available in multiple languages? If yes then start running!!

In the suburbs, 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 chicken shops means that a deal for 2 pieces of chicken, chips (fries) and a drink shouldn't cost you more than £3, and will satisfy even the largest of appetites. Another good (and cheap) lunch option is a chicken or lamb doner (gyro) at many outlets throughout the city.

Tipping may also be different than what you're used to. All meals include the 20% VAT tax and some places include a service fee (10-12%). 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.

Restaurant streets

Whilst central London is full of restaurants and cafes it is useful for the visitor to be aware that there are some areas where the majority of diners are Londoners, rather than tourists, and in general you will get a much more pleasant, better value, and less crowded eating experience than you will find in the West End. These places are best visited in the evenings.

Upper Street Head to Highbury & Islington (Victoria line) or Angel (Northern line). Dozens of excellent restaurants, popular with young professionals.

Drummond Street in the Euston area has a fine mix of Indian restaurants - a short walk from Euston railway station.

Clapham Junction is not just a train station - but also home to many good restaurants and bars, in particular on Lavender Hill and Battersea Rise

Lordship Lane in the southern suburbs - head to East Dulwich station - a good selection of european restaurants and a few award winning gastropubs

High Street Croydon Croydon is derided by most Londoners as the end of the earth, however this suburban gem of a road has at least 30 decent restaurants, including three Argentinians, a South African curryhouse, a couple of fancy modern European brassieres, and just about every over type of cuisine you can think of. Sadly chain restaurants are moving in (Zizzi's, Pizza Express) but most of the places are still independent. Get a quick train to East Croydon station from Victoria or London Bridge.

Restaurants

As one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, you can find restaurants serving food cuisine from nearly every country, some of it as good as, if not better than in the countries of origin.

Indian food in London is especially famous and there is hardly a district without at least one notable Indian restaurant.

If you are looking for other particular regional foods these tend to be clustered in certain areas and some examples are:

- Brick Lane in the East End is famous for Bangladeshi curries.

- Brixton for African/Caribbean.

- Chinatown just off Leicester Square for Chinese.

- Edgware Road in Marylebone and Paddington is popular for Middle Eastern cuisine.

- Drummond Street (just behind Euston railway station in the London/Camden district) has lots of vegetarian restaurants - mostly Indian.

- Golders Green for Jewish fare.

- Kingsland Road for good cheap Vietnamese.

- Finsbury Park and nearby areas for Greek and Turkish.

- Tooting, East Ham, Wembley and Southall for authentic & cheap Indian eateries including authentic South Indian restaurants serving hot pongal, dosas, idlis and other South Indian "tiffin" items.

Other nationalities are equally represented and randomly dotted all over London. It is usually wisest to eat in restaurants on main thoroughfares rather than on quiet backstreets.

Chains

Like other capitals in the world, London has the usual array of fast food outlets. Sandwich shops are the most popular places to buy lunch, and there are a lot of places to choose from including Eat and Pret a Manger. Some Italian-style sandwich shops have a very good reputation and you can identify them easily by looking at the long queues at lunchtime. If all else fails, Central London has lots of mini-supermarkets operated by the big British supermarket chains (e.g. , Sainsbury's, Tesco) where you can pick up a pre-packed sandwich.

Fast food with an Asian flair is easy to find throughout the city, with lots of Busaba Eathai, Wagamama, and Yo! Sushi locations throughout the city. Nando's has spicy peri peri style grilled chicken.

Vegetarian

London has plenty of vegetarian-only restaurants many of them championing organic foodstuffs, and a quick search in Google will produce plenty of ideas, so you never have to see a piece of cooked meat all week.

If you are dining with carnivorous friends most restaurants will cater for vegetarians and will have at least a couple of dishes on the menu. Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants are generally fruitful, as they have plenty of traditional dishes (good Indian/Bangladeshi options can be found in East Ham, Tooting Broadway as well as Southall - these also tend to be very cheap eats with authentically prepared dishes with a true local ambience). There are also many vegetarian Thai buffet places where you can eat fake meat in tooth-achingly sweet sauces for under £5. These can be found on Greek and Old Compton Sts in Soho and Islington High Street.

Religious

Due to the mix of cultures and religions, many London restaurants cater well for religious dietary requirements. The most common signs are for Halal and Kosher meat, from burger joints to nice restaurants. There are lots of Halal restaurants [99] and shops all over London including Whitechapel Rd and Brick Lane in the East End, Bayswater, Edgware Rd and Paddington and in many parts of north London. There are plenty of Kosher restaurants in Golders Green, Edgware and Stamford Hill.

Convenience stores and supermarkets

Convenience stores such as Tesco Metro, Sainsbury Central/Local, Budgens, Costcutter, SPAR, Somerfield as well as privately-run 'corner shops' sell pre-made sandwiches, snacks, alcohol, cigarettes, drinks etc. Most are open from 5AM-11PM although some such as Tesco Metro or convenience stores located at petrol stations may open 24 hours although they will stop selling alcohol after 11PM. Be aware that Whistlestop convenience stores (located in or around train stations) are notoriously overpriced and should be avoided. If using a petrol-station convenience store late at night (i.e. after 11PM) the store will be locked and you should order and pay through the external service window.

Full-size superstores such as Tesco, Asda and Morrisons are rare in the city centre and usually require a 15-20 min tube ride to reach them. One of the closest is the ASDA store close to South Quay DLR Station on the Lewisham line - about 15-min ride from Bank Station. There is also a Tesco in the Surrey Quays shopping mall which is next to Canada Water station on the Jubilee line - again about 10-15 minutes from the centre of town. If you plan on buying lots of groceries it's worth the trip as prices are much lower than in any downtown supermarkets.

Drink

London is home to a great many pubs, bars and nightclubs. The online city guide View London [100] and the weekly magazine Time Out [101] can inform you of what's going in London's night life, as well as with cultural events in general.

Pubs & bars

London is an expensive place and your drink is likely to cost more than its equivalent elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Expect to pay around £4 for a pint of lager or Guinness (or around £3.50 for a pint of ale) in an average pub, but be aware that as with restuarants, pubs close to major tourist attractions cash in on travellers' gullibility so be on your guard for the tourist traps where higher prices are not unheard of. Despite this however it is still possible to find a sub-£3 pint in central London - it takes some determination - but many local pubs, especially those run by chains like Wetherspoons and Scream tend to be more reasonably priced with good drink promotions on weekday nights and during the day. As with the rest of the UK, chain pubs abound which Londoners tend to avoid like the plague. A good place to get cheap beer is at any one of the Sam Smith's run pubs that are dotted around Soho and north of Oxford Street. These pubs are good traditional boozers which are frequented by the local working population and odd celeb.

In the Bloomsbury area, check out The Court (near the north end of Tottenham Court Road) and The Rocket (Euston Road). Both are fairly cheap to drink at, given that they cater for students of the adjacent University College London. Directly opposite the British Library is The Euston Flyer, popular with locals and commuters alike given its close proximity to St Pancras International railway station.

Classier bars and pubs can be much more expensive. However, the cost of alcohol drops significantly the further away you go from the centre (though be aware that West London tends to be an exception, with prices pretty much the same as the centre).

Two important London breweries are Young's and and Fullers. Young's was founded in Wandsworth in 1831 and nowadays it boasts 123 pubs in central London alone. The Founder's Arms on the South Bank is one of the brewery's most well known establishments. Fullers was founded a bit later in 1845 and the jewel in its crown is probably the Grade I listed Old Bank Of England on Fleet Street, thanks to its breath-taking interiors.

It's hard to say which pub in London is truly the oldest but it's easy to find contenders for the title. Many pubs were destroyed in the Great Fire of London – indeed, Samuel Pepys supposedly watched the disaster from the comfort of the Anchor in Borough. Pubs were rebuilt on sites that claimed to have been working pubs since the 13th century. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street is on the site of an old monastery and its cellar dates back to the 13th century. Those interested in London's historic and literary connections can't miss The Spaniard's Inn in Hampstead. Dick Turpin is said to have been born here; John Keats and Charles Dickens both drank here; it's mentioned in Dickens' The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

For the best view in the city, try pubs on the banks of the Thames. The South Bank has lots of good bars with plenty of iconic bridges and buildings in sight the cocktail bar in the OXO tower is a secret that most tourists walk by everyday. Heading towards Bermondsey, pub crowds become a little less touristy.

If you're after gastropubs, you may like to visit London's first, The Eagle, in Clerkenwell, established in 1991. You can also try Time Out's favourite newcomer, The Princess Victoria on Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush.

Wine buffs can enjoy the famous Davys wine bars that dot the city. The company, established in 1870, import wines and own over thirty bars in the centre. Other big names in wine include the Michelin-starred Cellar Gascon and Vinoteca, both in Smithfield.

Big hotels, such as The Dorchester and The Ritz, and upmarket clubs around Leicester Square and Soho are reliable bets for a date at the bar. The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair-Marylebone boasts its house bar, plus the Time Out favourite, The Coburg. Still in Mayfair, The Polo Bar at The Westbury is very intimate.

You can rely on most up-and-running bars to offer a short cocktail menu and there are also bars that position themselves as cocktail specialists.

Nightclubs

Nightlife is an integral part of London life and there are countless nightclubs in and around Central London with music to suit even the most eclectic of tastes. Districts in London tend to specialize to different types of music.

The Farringdon/Hoxton/Shoreditch area has many clubs playing drum and bass, house and trance music and is home to the superclub Fabric (arguably the best nightclub in London). The clubs in this area are often home to the world's top DJ's and attracts a lively, hip and friendly crowd.

The area around Mayfair is home to the more upmarket clubs in London. This area attracts a rather more showy crowd who love to flaunt what they have and is a must go to celebrity spot. Beware that drinks are ridiculously expensive and many clubs operate a guestlist-only policy. Music played here is often of the commercial chart, funky house, hip hop and R&B genre. Notable clubs include China White, Luxx, Maddox, Jalouse, Funky Buddha, Whisky Mist, Mahiki, No 5 Cavendish Square, Embassy, Vendome and Maya.

Nightclubs around the Leicester Square area hold the same music policy, but are rather more accessible, with numerous club promoters scattered around the area on a Friday or Saturday night offering deals on entry. Notable clubs are Cafe De Paris, Number One Leicester Square, Sound, Tiger Tiger, Zoo, Ruby Blue.

The Camden area is home to lots of clubs which play Indie, metal and rock music and notably the Electric Ballroom, the world famous Koko and Underworld.

Gay and lesbian

London has a vibrant gay scene with countless bars, clubs and events in just about every district of the city.

The nucleus of London's gay scene is undoubtedly Old Compton St and the surrounding area in Soho but over the last couple of years Vauxhall has seen a boom in Gay venues. You will find that many areas, particularly in Camden Town and Shoreditch, that straight bars will have a mixed clientele. To find out what is going on during your visit, you can check:

- qmagazine.com [102] a weekly magazine that comprehensively covers the London gay scene with handy night by night listings available on-line and in print

- Boyz Magazine [103] which is published fortnightly and is freely available at most London gay venues, and contains listings of everything that is happening in all the major clubs in London and the South East.

Please note that the borough of Hackney is developing a reputation of being not gay friendly, having recently passed legislation that could lead to the closure of the boroughs sole LGBT bookshop and community resource. It is expected that the business 'Expectations' will close by the end of March 2011.

Gay Pride [104] is held every year in June with parade and street parties. The choice of places to go sometimes seem to be unmanageable.

- London Gay and Lesbian Switchboard (LLGS), +44 20 7837 7324 (admin@llgs.org.uk), [105]. This voluntary service has been operating since 1974 and as well as providing counselling they offer an incredibly thorough information service about Gay events, accommodation and businesses in London.

Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:

Budget

Under £70

Mid-range

£70 to £140

Splurge

Over £140

London has hundreds of options for accommodation to suit all budgets from hostels through historic bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), mainstream chain hotels and apartments all the way to some of the most exclusive luxury hotels in the world such as The Savoy, The Ritz and Claridges where a stay in a top suite will cost upwards of £1,000 per night. The average cost of hotel accommodation in London is higher than in any other major British city. Prices invariably become inflated close to major sporting tournaments (such as the London Marathon, Wimbledon or major England football/rugby fixtures), or other important events taking place in the city - so it pays to plan your trip around such occasions or book your accommodation well in advance.

In general, most people tend to stay within "Zone 1" of the underground, however do your research carefully - sometimes being that extra five minutes away from a station can make the difference in cost and quality and local food and drinking options. In any case, you can always catch a bus anyway - by the far the best way to see the city and get about generally.

Hotels

Your budget will have a lot to do with what part of London you will want to stay in. Tourist-standard prices range from £20-200 per person per night. Expect smaller than average rooms especially at the low end of this range. As a general rule, expect to pay between £75-150 per night for a 2 or 3 star hotel in the central area of the city. Many of the big name chain hotels now offer substantial discounts (with rates often down as low as £30-£50 per room per night) if you book well in advance, but the drawback is that you have to pay the full amount upfront at the time of booking and there are no refunds if you cancel. The heart of the West End is the most expensive place to stay and most hotels are either 4 or 5 star and most will command a hefty price premium.

The City can also be very expensive during the week, as it relies heavily on the business market but prices often drop over the weekend and it can be a good way of getting into a higher standard of accommodation than you could otherwise afford. Bear in mind though that this part of central London becomes a ghost town over the weekend, and you will find that few (if any) bars and restaurants will be open.

A top tip however is to always check the likes of LondonTown.com, Expedia and LateRooms as well as the hotel's own website - since there are often deals to be had which can reduce the costs significantly.

The extra cost of getting around is probably not significant compared to savings made by staying in a hotel further out. With the excellent Tube system where you stay won't limit what you see. Always be sure though to check where the closest tube station is to your hotel. Staying further out will be cheaper but when travelling in allow 1-2 min per tube stop (near the centre), around 2-3 min per stop (further out) and 5-10 min per line change. This can easily total up to a 1 hour journey if there is a walk at each end.

A more imaginative alternative could be to stay in a nearby town with quick and easy train travel to London. For example, lively Brighton (otherwise known as 'London by Sea') is only an hour away, but your budget will go much further and there are excellent accommodation options.

Some of the better value options are to be found in the following central districts:

- Bloomsbury. Relatively quiet district with a wide range of accommodation, and has enjoyed a surge in popularity following Eurostar's move to St Pancras International station. Cartwright Gardens features a dozen small B&Bs in historic houses. Many budget options are located on Argyle Square (just off the Euston Road). Gets a little seedy towards and beyond King's Cross railway station.

- Earl's Court and West Kensington in west central London. Budget and modest accommodation as well as good 4-star hotels. Be careful with the cheapest accommodation in this area though as it will likely be very seedy indeed.

- Paddington and Bayswater in north west central London. Has undergone a lot of change recently largely resulting from the Heathrow Express train coming into Paddington station. Good hotels can be found in the immediate area of the station and in quieter spots a short walk away as well as in the traditional mid-range accommodation area further south in Bayswater.

- Westminster. Lots of small B&Bs around the back of Victoria railway station in the Pimlico area.

A slightly left-field option is to check the Landmark Trust [106], a building preservation charity who purchase notable old buildings in the UK, renovate and run them as holiday lettings. An interesting approach to saving old buildings for sure.

Hostels

Not necessarily as unpleasant as you may think, and as long as you don't mind sharing with others, they are the most cost-effective option and also offer breakfast as well as kitchens for self catering. The "official" Youth Hostel Association of England and Wales [107] (YHA) operates five hostels in Central London. Like everything else, you should book online well in advance - the hostels usually fill up on Friday and Saturday nights about 14 days before. A top tip is don't be put off if there is no availability left online, phone the hostel in question to see if there are still beds available or if there has been a cancellation. Some of the YHA's properties also offer a limited number of private family rooms - expect to pay around £60 per night.

Keep in mind that for foreign visitors, the YHA hostels will require to see a form of ID (a passport or national identity card) and a valid membership card from a local YHI (Youth Hostelling International)-recognised Youth Hostel association. For British visitors, a valid YHA (SYHA for Scotland) membership card is all that's required. For all non-YHI members, the YHA will levy a £3 welcome stamp per day.

There are a number of other, independent hostels throughout the city and these are listed in the relevant district articles.

In the summer season, many of the colleges and universities in Central London open up their student halls of residence as hotels during vacations, at usually much lower rates than proper hotels, but expect very basic facilities (e.g. communal bathrooms, no catering facilities), but you will get the personal privacy that you don't get in hostels for not very much more cost. London University vacation accommodation providers include; UCL Residences LSEVactions and TravelStay.com.

Apartments

Some apartment-hotels offer good value accommodation for those travelling in a group - often better quality than many hotels but at a cheaper individual rate per person.

Capsule-style crash spaces are just arriving, but currently these are only in central locations.

Short-term apartment or flat rentals are an attractive option for many travelers to London, and there are innumerable agencies offering them, almost all of them nowadays through the internet. A key consideration for renting a short term flat is if you are visiting in a large group or a family. In such cases a short stay in London can be more affordable compared to staying in a hotel. Your best protection is to deal only with London apartment rental agencies which have been recommended by independent sources you feel you can trust, and to deal only with those that accept confirmations via credit card.

Contact

Wi-Fi access

London is unfortunately not noted for free public wifi access - although the number of hotspots is continuing to grow. See [108] for a map containing free wifi locations.

- Online-4-Free.com, [109]. One of the most promising (it seems) for traveller-frequented areas, a service that provides blanket coverage along the banks of the River Thames (and some surrounding streets) from Millbank down to Greenwich Pier, and a small 'cloud' in Holborn - the free service asks only that you view a short advertisement every half hour in order to get 256 kbps (higher rates and ad-free come at a small charge). Free.

- Tate Modern, [110]. Offering for a trial period free wi-fi internet access.

- British Library, [111]. Offers free internet access throughout the library with registration.

- Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre, [112]. Offers free unencrypted wi-fi throughout the building without registration.

Another good place for free wi-fi would be McDonald's, where free 24-hour period wi-fi are offered to customers. Starbucks offers free wi-fi for customers registering their prepaid Starbucks Card. Furthermore, Pret-A-Manger franchises offer free internet without a login.

Stay safe

In an emergency, telephone "999" (or "112"). This number connects to Police, Ambulance and Fire/Rescue services. You will be asked which of these three services you require before being connected to the relevant operator.

Crime

Like many big cities, London has a variety of social problems, especially begging, drug abuse and theft (mobile phones are a favourite, often snatched by fast-moving cyclists).

London has the oldest police force in the world, The Metropolitan Police Service [113], and on the whole, London is a safe place to visit and explore. Alongside the regular Police, there are over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) that provide a highly visible presence on the streets and are able to deal with low-level crime. Normal precautions for the safe keeping of your personal possessions, as you would in any other city, are suggested.

Crime mapping has been launched in London allowing residents and visitors to see the level of recorded crime for different areas [114].

If you're planning to go out late at night and are worried about safety, frequent crowded areas such as the West End. There are always plenty of people on the street, even at 4AM. Generally, outside central London, the South, and East suburban areas are considered more dangerous, notably Brixton and Hackney, although some parts of North-West London such as Harlesden and northern Camden are also known trouble spots.

The main problem right throughout London to various degrees is drunken behaviour, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights and after football matches. Loud and rowdy behaviour is to be expected and fights and acts of aggression also occur. If you are harassed, it is best to simply ignore and walk away from those concerned. Trouble spots can be expected around popular drinking locations such as Soho and in various suburban centres.

Every night, Soho presents a particular danger: the "clip joint". The usual targets of these establishments are lone male tourists. Usually, an attractive woman will casually befriend the victim and recommend a local bar or even a club that has a "show". The establishment will be near-desolate, and, even if the victim has only a drink or two, the bill will run to hundreds of pounds. If payment is not immediately provided, the bouncers will lock the "patrons" inside and take it by force or take them to an ATM and stand over them while they extract the cash.

To be safe, if a woman you just met suggests you a place, try to recommend a different bar, and if she insits on hers walk away and do not listen to her suggestions. Sometimes this con trick takes place when someone is lured into a private club with the promise of something perhaps more than a drink (like a 'private show' or sex for a small amount of money). A 'hostess fee' will appear on the bill for several hundred pounds, even though there has been nothing more than polite conversation.

The Metropolitan Police have placed significant resources in combating street level crime. Working in conjunction with borough councils, they have been able to bring the level of theft and pickpocketing in major retail areas in London to a level that is manageable.

Street gang culture is a growing problem in London as with many other cities in England. While most groups of youngsters are not likely to present any danger to tourists, some people feel the need to be slightly more vigilant in certain areas, especially certain outer suburbs.

If anyone offers you a free "stress test", they are likely trying to recruit you into the Church of Scientology. The best option is to walk away, as people are commonly harassed into giving personal details.

Scams/Con Artists

London has a large number of con artists around, all trying to convince you to hand over your money one way or another. In a well-known scam, an older gentleman will ask you for directions, convincing you that he thought you were English. This scam has been used for over ten years.

Transport

Don't take illegal minicabs (see Get around for details).

Travelling on lower deck of a night bus is generally safer, as there are more passengers around, and you are visible by the bus driver.

If you have been the victim of crime on the railways or the London Underground, you should report the crime as soon as possible to the British Transport Police, who have an office in most major train and tube stations. Elsewhere, you should report your crime as normal to the Metropolitan Police.

Stay healthy

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) will provide emergency treatment for anyone in the UK, irrespective of whether they reside in the UK. In a medical emergency, dial 999 or 112. These numbers are free of charge from any telephone. For advice on non-emergency medical problems, you can ring the 24 hour NHS Direct service on 0845 4647.

Emergencies can be dealt with under the NHS system at any hospital with an A & E (Accident & Emergency) department. At A & E departments, be prepared to wait for up to 2-3 hours during busy periods before being given treatment if your medical complaint is not too serious.

Major A & E hospitals in London are:

- Central Middlesex Hospital, Acton Ln, Park Royal, NW10 7NS

- Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd, Hammersmith, W6 8RF

- Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, SW10 9TR

- Greenwich District Hospital, Vanbrugh Hill, SE10 9HE

- Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas St, Bankside, SE1 9RT

- Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, Homerton, E9 6SR

- King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS

- Lewisham Hospital, High St, SE13 6LH

- Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Ln, SW15 5PN

- Royal Free Hospital, 23 East Heath Rd, Hampstead, NW3 1DU

- The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, E1 1BB

- St. Marys NHS Trust, Praed St, Paddington, W2 1NY

- St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Rd, South Bank, SE1 7EH

- University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, 25 Grafton Way, Bloomsbury, WC1E 6DB

- Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, Archway, N19 5NF

For advice on minor ailments and non-prescription drugs, consult a high street pharmacist.

London is also home to some of the most renowned (and most expensive) private medical treatment facilities. Most notable of all are probably the host of private consultants and surgeons on Harley St in Marylebone.

Cope

Embassies and High Commissions

- Afghanistan, 31 Princes Gate SW7 1QQ, +44 20 7589-8891, [115].

- Albania, 33 St. George's Drive SW1V 4DG, +44 20 7828 8897, [116].

- Algeria, 54 Holland Park W11 3RS, +44 20 7221 7800, [117].

- Andorra, 63 Westover Road SW18 2RF, +44 020 8874 4806.

- Angola, 22 Dorset Street W1U 6QY, +44 20 7299 9850, [118].

- Antigua & Barbuda, 45 Crawford Place W1H 4LP, +44 20 7258 0070, [119].

- Argentina, 65 Brook Street W1K 4AH, +44 20 7318 1300, [120].

- Armenia, 25A Cheniston Gardens W8 6TG, +44 20 7938 5435, [121].

- Australia, Australia House Strand WC2B 4LA, +44 20 7379 4334, [122].

- Austria, 18 Belgrave Mews West, SW1X 8HU, +44 20 7344 3250, [123].

- Azerbaijan, 4 Kensington Court W8 5DL, +44 20 7938 3412, [124].

- Bahamas, 10 Chesterfield Street W1J 5JL, +44 20 7408 4488.

- Bahrain, 30 Belgrave Square SW1X 8QB, +44 20 7201 9170, [125].

- Bangladesh, 28 Queens Gate SW7 5JA, +44 20 7584 0081-4, [126].

- Barbados, 1 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3ND, +44 20 7631 4975, [127].

- Belarus, 6 Kensington Court W8 5DL, +44 20 7937 3288, [128].

- Belgium, 17 Grosvenor Crescent SW1X 7EE, +44 020 7470 3700, [129].

- Belize, Third Floor 45 Crawford Place W1H 4LP, +44 20 7723 3603, [130].

- Benin, 87 Avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris, +331 45 009882, [131].

- Bhutan, Windacres, Warren Road,Guildford GU1 3HG, +44 1483 538189.

- Bolivia, 106 Eaton Square SW1W 9AD, +44 20 7235 4255, [132].

- Bosnia & Herzegovina, 5-7 Lexham Gardens, W8 5JJ, +44 20 7373 0867, [133].

- Botswana, 6 Stratford Place W1C 1AY, +44 20 7499 0031, [134].

- Brazil, 32 Green Street WlK 7AT, +44 20 7499 0877, [135].

- Brunei, 19/20 Belgrave Square SW1X 8PG, +44 20 7581 0521, [136].

- Bulgaria, 186-188 Queen's Gate London SW7 5HL, +44 20 7584 9433, [137].

- Cambodia, 64 Brondesbury Park NW6 7AT, +44 20 8451 7850, [138].

- Cameroon, 84 Holland Park W11 3SB, +44 20 7727 0771, [139].

- Canada, 1 Grosvenor Square W1K 4AB, +44 20 7258 6600, [140].

- Chile, 37-41 Old Queen Street SW1H 9JA, +44 20 7222 2361, [141].

- China, 49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL, +44 220 7299 4049, [142].

- Colombia, 3 Hans Crescent SW1X 0LN, +44 20 7589 9177, [143].

- Congo (Democratic Rep), 281 Gray's Inn Road WC1X 8QF, +44 20 7278 9825.

- Costa Rica, 14 Lancaster Gate W2 3LH, +44 20 7706 8844, [144].

- Cote D'Ivoire, 2 Upper Belgrave Street SW1X 8BJ, +44 20 7235 6991, [145].

- Croatia, 21 Conway Street, W1T 6BN, +44 20 7387 202, [146].

- Cuba, 167 High Holborn WC1V 6PA, +44 20 7240 2488, [147].

- Cyprus, 13 St James's Square SW1Y 4LB, +44 20 7321 4100, [148].

- Czech Republic, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens W8 4QY, +44 20 7243 1115, [149].

- Denmark, 55 Sloane Street SW1X 9SR, +44 20 7333 0200, [150].

- Dominica, 1 Collingham Gardens SW5 0HW, +44 20 7370 5194, [151].

- Dominican Republic, 139 Inverness Terrace W2 6JF, +44 20 7727 7091, [152].

- Ecuador, 3 Hans Crescent SW1X 0LS, +44 20 7584 8084, [153].

- Egypt, 26 South Street, W1K 1DW, +55 20 7499 3304, [154].

- El Salvador, 8 Dorset Square NW1 6PU, +44 20 7224 9800, [155].

- Equatorial Guinea, 13 Park Place SW1A 1LP, +44 20 7499 6867, [156].

- Eritrea, 96 White Lion Street N1 9PF, +44 20 7713 0096, [157].

- Estonia, 16 Hyde Park Gate SW7 5DG, +44 20 7589 3428, [158].

- Ethiopia, 17 Princes Gate SW7 1PZ, +44 20 7589 7212, [159].

- Fiji, 34 Hyde Park Gate, SW7 5DN, +44 20 7584 3661, [160].

- Finland, 38 Chesham Pl SW1X 8HW, +44 20 7838 6200, [161].

- France, 58 Knightsbridge SW1X 7JT, +44 20 7073 1000, [162].

- Gabon, 27 Elvaston Pl SW7 5NL, +44 20 7823 9986, [163].

- Gambia (The), 57 Kensington Ct W8 5DG, +44 20 7937 6316, [164].

- Georgia, 4 Russell Gardens W14 8EZ, +44 20 7348 1941, [165].

- Germany, 23 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8PZ, +44 20 7824 1300, [166].

- Ghana, 13 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8PS, +44 20 7201 5900, [167].

- Greece, 1A Holland Park W11 3TP, +44 20 7229 3850, [168].

- Grenada, The Chapel, Archel Rd W14 9QH, +44 20 7385 4415.

- Guatemala, 13A Fawcett St SW10 9HN, +44 20 7351 3042, [169].

- Guinea, 258 Belsize Rd NW6 4BT, +44 20 7316 1861.

- Guyana, 3 Palace Court Bayswater Rd W2 4LP, +44 20 7229 7684, [170].

- Holy See (The), 54 Parkside SW19 5NE, +44 20 8944 7189, [171].

- Honduras, 115 Gloucester Pl W1U 6JT, +44 20 7486 4880, [172].

- Hungary, 35 Eaton Pl SW1X 8BY, +44 20 7201 3440, [173].

- Iceland, 2A Hans St SW1X 0JE, +44 20 7259 3999, [174].

- India, India House Aldwych WC2B 4NA, +44 20 7836 8484, [175].

- Indonesia, 38 Grosvenor Sq W1K 2HW, +44 20 7499 7661, [176].

- Iran, 16 Prince's Gate SW7 1PT, +44 20 7225 3000, [177].

- Iraq, 4 Elvaston Pl SW7 5QH, +44 20 7594 0180, [178].

- Ireland, 17 Grosvenor Pl SW1X 7HR, +44 20 7235 2171, [179].

- Israel, 2 Palace Green Kensington W8 4QB, +44 20 7957 9500, [180].

- Italy, 14 Three Kings Yard Davies St W1K 4EH, +44 20 7312 2200, [181].

- Jamaica, 1-2 Prince Consort Rd SW7 2BZ, +44 20 7823 9911, [182].

- Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly W1J 7JT, +44 20 7465 6500, [183].

- Jordan, 6 Upper Phillimore Gardens W8 7HA, +44 20 7937 3685, [184].

- Kazakhstan, 33 Thurloe Sq SW7 2SD, +44 20 7581 4646, [185].

- Kenya, 45 Portland Pl W1B 1AS, +44 20 7636 2371, [186].

- Kosovo, 100 Pall Mall SW1 5NQ, +44 20 7659 6140.

- Kuwait, 2 Albert Gate SW1X 7JU, +44 20 7590 3400, [187].

- Kyrgyzstan, +44 20 7935 1462, [188].

- Latvia, 45 Nottingham Place W1U 5LY, +44 20 7312 0040, [189].

- Lebanon, 21 Palace Gardens Mews W8 4RB, +44 20 7727 6696, [190].

- Lesotho, 7 Chesham Pl SW1X 8HN, +44 20 7235 5686, [191].

- Liberia, 23 Fitzroy Sq W1T 6EW, +44 20 7388 5489, [192].

- Libya, 15 Knightsbridge SW1X 7LY, +44 20 7201 8280, [193].

- Lithuania, 84 Gloucester Pl W1U 6AU, +44 20 7486 6401, [194].

- Luxembourg, 27 Wilton Crescent SW1X 8SD, +44 20 7235 6961, [195].

- Macedonia, 75-83 Buckingham Gate SW1E 6PE, +44 20 7976 0535, [196].

- Madagascar, 10 Hallam St W1W 6JE, +44 20 3008 4550, [197].

- Malawi, 70 Winnington Rd N2 0TX, +44 20 8455 5624.

- Malaysia, 45 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8QT, +44 20 7235 8033, [198].

- Maldives, 22 Nottingham Pl W1U 5NJ, +44 20 7224 2135, [199].

- Malta, 36-38 Piccadilly W1J OLE, +44 20 7292 4800, [200].

- Mauritius, 32/33 Elvaston Pl SW7 5NW, +44 20 7581 0294, [201].

- Mexico, 16 St. George St W1S 1FD, +44 20 7499 8586, [202].

- Moldova, 5 Dolphin Sq, Edensor Rd W4 2ST, +44 20 8995 6818, [203].

- Mongolia, 7 Kensington Ct W8 5DL, +44 20 7937 0150, [204].

- Montenegro, 11-12 Waterloo Pl SW1Y 4AU, +44 20 7863 8806, [205].

- Morocco, 97 Praed St W2 1NT, +44 20 7581 5001, [206].

- Mozambique, 21 Fitzroy Sq W1T 6EL, +44 20 7383 3800, [207].

- Myanmar, 19a Charles St W1J 5DX, +20 7499 4340, [208].

- Namibia, 6 Chandos St W1G 9LU, +44 20 7636 6244, [209].

- Nepal, 12a Kensington Palace Gardens W8 4QU, +44 20 7229 1594, [210].

- Netherlands, 38 Hyde Park Gate SW7 5DP, +44 20 7590 3200, [211].

- New Zealand, 80 Haymarket SW1Y 4TQ, +44 20 7930 8422, [212].

- Nicaragua, 58-60 Kensington Church St W8 4DP, +44 20 7938 2373, [213].

- Nigeria, 9 Northumberland Ave WC2N 5BX, +44 20 7839 1244, [214].

- Norway, 25 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8QD, +44 20 7591 5500, [215].

- Oman, 167 Queens Gate SW7 5HE, +44 20 7225 0001, [216].

- Pakistan, 35-36 Lowndes Square SW1X 9JN, +44 20 7664 9200, [217].

- Palestine, 5 Galena Road W6 0LT, +44 20 8563 0008, [218].

- Panama, 40 Hertford St W1J 7SH, +44 20 7493 4646, [219].

- Papua New Guinea, 14 Waterloo Pl SW1Y 4AR, +44 20 7930 0922, [220].

- Paraguay, 344 Kensington High St W14 8NS, +44 20 7610 4180, [221].

- Peru, 52 Sloane St SW1X 9SP, +44 20 7235 1917, [222].

- Philippines, 6-8 Suffolk St SW1Y 4HG, +44 20 7451 1800, [223].

- Poland, 47 Portland Pl W1B 1JH, +44 20 0870 7742 700.

- Portugal, 11 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8PP, +44 20 7235 5331, [224].

- Qatar, 1 South Audley St W1K 1NB, +44 20 7493 2200, [225].

- Romania, 4 Palace Green W8 4QD, +44 20 7937 9666, [226].

- Russia, 13 Kensington Palace Gardens W8 4QX, +44 20 7229 2666, [227].

- Rwanda, 20-122 Seymour Place W1H 1NR, +44 20 7224 9832, [228].

- Saint Kitts and Nevis, 10 Kensington Ct W8 5DL, +44 20 7937 9718.

- Saint Lucia, 1 Collingham Gardens SW5 0HW, +44 20 7370-7123.

- Saint Vincent/Grenadines, 10 Kensington Ct W8 5DL, +44 20 7460-1256.

- Saudi Arabia, 30 Charles St W1J 5DZ, +44 20 7917-3000, [229].

- Senegal, 39 Marloes Rd W8 6LA, +44 20 7938-4048, [230].

- Serbia, 28 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8QB, +44 20 7235 9049, [231].

- Seychelles, 111 Baker St W1U 6RR, +44 20 7935-7770, [232].

- Sierra Leone, 41 Eagle St WC1R 4TL, +44 20 7404-0140.

- Singapore, 9 Wilton Crescent SW1X 8SP, +44 20 7235-8315, [233].

- Slovakia, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, +44 20 7313-6470, [234].

- Slovenia, 10 Little College St SW1P 3SH, +44 20 7222 5700, [235].

- South Africa, Trafalgar Sq WC2N 5DP, +44 20 7451-7299, [236].

- Spain, 39 Chesham Pl SW1X 8SB, +44 20 7235-5555, [237].

- Sri Lanka, 13 Hyde Park Gardens W2 2LU, +44 20 7262-1841, [238].

- Sudan, 3 Cleveland Row SW1A 1DD, +44 20 783-8080, [239].

- Swaziland, 20 Buckingham Gate SW1E 6LB, +44 20 7630-6611.

- Sweden, 11 Montagu Pl W1H 2AL, +44 20 7917-6400.

- Switzerland, 16/18 Montagu Pl W1H 2BQ, +44 20 7616-6000, [240].

- Syria, 8 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8PH, +44 20 7245-9012, [241].

- Tajikistan, 27 Hammersmith Grove W6 ONE, +44 20 8600 2520, [242].

- Tanzania, 3 Stratford Pl W1C 1AS, +44 20 7569-1470, [243].

- Thailand, 29-30 Queen's Gate SW7 5JB, +44 20 7589 2944, [244].

- Tonga, 36 Molyneux Street W1H 5BQ, +44 20 7724 5828.

- Trinidad and Tobago, 42 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8NT, +44 20 7245-9351.

- Tunisia, 29 Prince's Gate SW7 1QG, +44 20 7584-8117.

- Turkey, 43 Belgrave Sq SW1X 8PA, +44 20 7393-0202, [245].

- Turkmenistan, 14-17 Wells St W1T 3PD, +44 20 7255-1071, [246].

- Uganda, 58-59 Trafalgar Sq WC2N 5DX, +44 20 7839-5783, [247].

- Ukraine, 60 Holland Park W11 3SJ, +44 20 7727-6312, [248].

- United Arab Emirates, 30 Princes Gate SW7 1PT, +44 20 7581-1281.

- United States, 24 Grosvenor Sq W1A 1AE, +44 20 7499-9000, [249].

- Uruguay, 125 Kensington High St W8 5SF, +44 20 7937-4170.

- Uzbekistan, 41 Holland Park W11 3RP, +44 20 7229-7679, [250].

- Venezuela, 1 Cromwell Rd SW7 2HW, +44 20 7584-4206, [251].

- Vietnam, 12-14 Victoria Rd W8 5RD, +44 20 7937-1912, [252].

- Yemen, 57 Cromwell Rd SW7 2ED, +44 20 7584-6607, [253].

- Zambia, 2 Palace Gate W8 5NG, +44 20 7589-6655, [254].

- Zimbabwe, 429 Strand WC2R 0JR, +44 20 7836-7755, [255].

Get out

- Bath. Roman relics, rich in Georgian architecture and makes an easy day trip from Paddington Station.

- Birmingham. Trains can take as little as 85 min from Euston or Marylebone or a coach from Victoria takes 3 hours. Boasts many events, pubs and clubs and shopping opportunities.

- Bournemouth. Large beach resort on the edge of the New Forest, with seven miles of golden sand, a short ride on the train from London Waterloo. Some of the best night life outside of London in the UK.

- Brighton. Fashionable beach town about 90 km (55 mi) south, less than an hour by train from Victoria Station.

- Brussels (Belgium) and Paris (France). Both are easily reached via Eurostar from King's Cross St. Pancras Station.

- Canterbury. Site of the foremost cathedral in England, constructed during the 12th-15th centuries.

- Henley on Thames. About 55 km (35 mi) west of London, a quaint and typical English town, great for walks by the Thames.

- Manchester. If you have time it is worth visiting Britain's other great cities and Manchester has very much to offer. Manchester can be reached in around 2 hours by train and is about 320 km (200 mi) to the north. It is the 2nd most visited city in England (after London).

- Oxford and Cambridge. The university cities make for ideal days out of London.

- Portsmouth. Home of the British Navy and of real interest to nautical enthusiasts.

- Shrewsbury. A very traditional town full of medieval black and white timber-framed buildings along winding, steep, narrow streets set on the River Severn easily reached by using the train from London Marylebone station.

- Stonehenge. Among the most famous landmarks in England. The mysterious stone ring was built thousands of years ago, today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can get there by a guided bus tour or by train (1,5 h) to the nearby city Salisbury, where you also can visit the 13th-century cathedral with the highest spire in the country.

- Winchester. Former capital of England and attractive cathedral city with lots to see, about an hour away by train from Waterloo.

- Windsor. Nearby Thames-side town with magnificent castle and Royal residence.

District Bloomsbury Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• Get around

• See

Landmarks and parks

Museums and exhibitions

Other

• Do

• Buy

Bookshops

Other

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Hostels

Hotels

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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This is a vibrant historic district made most famous by a group of turn-of-the-century writers that included Virgina Woolf and EM Forster (the Bloomsbury Set), economist John Maynard Keynes and the artist Roger Fry.

It is also the location of the British Museum, the British Library, the campus of University College London and numerous historic homes, parks, and buildings.

Bloomsbury forms the southernmost part of the London Borough of Camden.

Get in
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By tube
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Bloomsbury can be easily accessed from several convenient tube stations as follows:

- Euston Square (Circle, Metropolitan and District lines)

- Goodge Street (Northern line)

- Holborn (Central line)

- Russell Square (Piccadilly line)

- Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern lines)

- Warren Street (Victoria and Northern lines)

By train
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Within walking distance of King's Cross, Euston and St Pancras mainline rail stations.

By bus
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Get around
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Most of the sites are reachable by foot or a single stop on the tube.

See
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Landmarks and parks
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- Bedford Square, WC1 (tube: Russell Square), [1]. This wonderful square was built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area takes its name from the the Dukes of Bedford, who were the main landlords in Bloomsbury. Distinguished residents have included Lord Eldon, one of Britain's longest serving and most celebrated Lord Chancellors. This is one of the best preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London and the majority of the buildings are grade I listed. The gardens are private and always remain locked.

- British Telecom Tower, Maple Street, W1T 4BG. Not open to the public. 540ft skyscraper can be seen from far away and is the second highest building in UK.

- Bloomsbury Square, Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2LS (tube: Holborn, Russell Square), +44 207974 1693 (fax: +44 20 7974 1543), [2]. Dusk-dawn. This garden square was established by Lord Southampton in 1665 and is the oldest square in London. It was opened to the public in the 1950s. The square is surrounded by a number of beautiful 18th and 19th century buildings and terraces. Free.

- Coram's Fields, 93 Guilford St WC1N 1DN (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7833 2393, [3]. A park which is run specifically as children's play area. Facilities include a pet's corner, lawns, sports pitches and a nursery. No adults are allowed to enter the park unless they are accompanying children. All visitors are welcome to join the local kids.

- Russell Square, WC1B (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7974 1693 (fax: +44 20 7974 1543), [4]. 7:30AM-10PM. The largest square in London. It was established in 1806 by the 5th Duke of Bedford and his statue can still be seen in the square. There is also a café.

- St George's Gardens, Heathcote St, WC1N 1AB (tube: Russell Square), (info@friendsofstgeorgesgardens.org.uk), [5]. Peaceful gardens and interesting monuments including the daughter of Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell.

Museums and exhibitions
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- British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (tube: Tottenham Court Rd), +44 20 7323 8000 (information@britishmuseum.org, fax: +44 20 7323 8616), [6]. Sa-W 10AM-5:30PM, Th-F 10AM-8:30PM; Central Great Court remains open Sa-W until 6PM, Th-F until 11PM. A vast repository of the world's cultures, with entire sections devoted to Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern artifacts, as well as the piece which united them all, the Rosetta Stone. It also includes the largest collection of mummies outside Egypt and the Elgin Marbles. A definite highlight of a trip to London. Temporary exhibitions are invariably excellent and meticulously researched, but can be expensive. Free.

- Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell St, WC1A 2HH (tube: Tottenham Court Rd), +44 20 7580 8155 (info@cartoonmuseum.org), [7]. Tu-Sa 10:30AM-5:30PM, Su noon-5:30PM. A vast collection of cartoons and comics on display. £5.50, concessions £4, students £3, under-18s free.

- Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty St, WC1N 2LX (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7405 2127 (info@dickensmuseum.com, fax: +44 20 7831 5175), [8]. M, W-Sa 10AM-5PM (last admission 4:30PM), Tu 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM-5PM (last admission 4:30PM). Museum at the former home of Dickens exhibiting writings, paintings, furniture and other items relating to the writer. £5, students and seniors £4, children £3, families £14 (two adults and up to five children), special group rates apply.

- Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Sq, WC1N 1AZ (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7841 3600 (enquiries@foundlingmuseum.org.uk, fax: +44 20 7841 3601), [9]. Tu-Su 10AM-5:30PM. 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 Friederic Handel as a patron made this child care organization an early center of art and music. £5, concessions £4, children free.

- Fitzroy House (L. Ron Hubbard House), 35/37 Fitzroy St, W1T 6DX (tube: Warren St), +44 20 7255 2422 (info@fitzroyhouse.org, fax: +44 20 7255 2422), [10]. A historic house formerly inhabited by playwright George Bernard Shaw, it is where writer L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, worked in the 1950s. The building is reminiscent of the time, complete with Adler typewriters, Grundig tape recorders, and Western Union telefax. Tours by appointment. Free.

- Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, Malet Pl, WC1E 6BT (tube: Euston Square. The museum can be hard to find. Whilst preparing for a move to new premises in 2012, it is housed inside the DMS Watson library down Malet Pl, a narrow lane. Find the large Blackwell's Bookstore on the corner of Malet St-Malet Pl continue over Torrington Pl. Venturing down the lane, the museum's banner should be prominent on the left hand side. Go through the doors and ask the porter for the museum), +44 20 7679 2884 (petrie.museum@ucl.ac.uk, fax: +44 20 7679 2886), [11]. Tu-F 1PM-5PM, Sa 11AM-2PM. Formerly the teaching collection of Sir Flinders Petrie, one of Britain's greatest archaeologists, now preserved by University College London and well worth a visit. Exhibits include beaded dresses, sculpture and wall reliefs, items of everyday use, papyri, cartonnage and pottery. Fascinating! Free.

- Pollock's Toy Museum, 1 Scala St W1T 2HL (tube:Goodge Street), +44 020 7636 3452 (info@pollockstoymuseum.com), [12]. M-Sa 10AM–5PM. A treasure trove of antique toys exhibited in a warren of 6 rooms above the toy shop of the same name. A very charming place indeed and well worth a visit

Other
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- Goodenough College, Mecklenburgh Square, WC1N 2AB (tube: Russell Square), [13]. Goodenough College offers accommodation for international postgraduate students. The College's student community of approx 650 represents over 90 countries, offering a unique experience through stimulating intellectual debate, fostering cross-cultural activity and providing an exceptional social environment. Tours around the College are offered every Friday at 1pm and every first Saturday of the month at 11am.

- University College London (UCL), Gower St, WC1E 6BT (tube: Euston Square, access from the northern end of Gower St), +44 20 7679 2000 (postmaster@ucl.ac.uk), [14]. Includes a small but beautiful quad and an interesting Neo-Classical facade. The core buildings of UCL were built after the university's foundation in 1826.

Do
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- Birkbeck Cinema, 43 Gordon Square, Birkbeck, University of London, WC1H 0PD, +44 872 148 2992 (cinemahire@bbk.ac.uk), [15].

- Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AH (tube: Euston Square), [16]. Theatre owned by University College London staging both student and professional productions. Broad range of performances.

- Cochrane Theatre Bar, 48 Southampton Row, WC1B 4AP (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7269 1606, [17]. Established by Jeannetta Cochrane, now owned by the University of the Arts. Has servings throughout the performances.

- Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 7AQ (tube: Tottenham Court Rd), [18]. A large London theatre that tends to show mainstream blockbuster-type musical productions

- Renoir, Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AW (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7837 8402, [19]. Cinema showing arthouse and foreign language films. £3.50-6.80.

- Walks, +44 20 7388 8822. Bloomsbury has a number of famous walks that cover the lives and works of the Bloomsbury Group.

Buy
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Tottenham Court Road is the centre for electronics retailers in London. If you are visting the city and need to buy or replace an electronic item, you will not find a better selction nor better prices than here. Explore both sides of the street to the north of Tottenham Court Road station.

With University College London being a dominant presence in Bloomsbury, it is no surprise that there are a lot of bookshops. The area around Marchmont St and The Brunswick Centre (north of Russell Square) has claims to be the bookshop capital of London.

Bookshops
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- Gay's the Word, 66 Marchmont St WC1N 1AB (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7278 7654 (sales@gaystheword.co.uk), [20]. The leading gay-related bookshop in Britain. Been around since 1979. Fiction and a large academic stock.

- Judd Books, 82 Marchmont St WC1N 1AG (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7387 5333 (info@juddbooks.com), [21]. M-Sa 11AM-7PM. Large stock of used, remaindered and academic books especially in the fields of architecture, history and philosophy.

- Marchmont Books, 39 Burton St WC1H 9AL (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7387 7989. Antiquarian bookshop

- Persephone Books, 59 Lamb's Conduit St WC1N 3NB (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7242 9292, [22]. Specialises in 20th century fiction by women writers.

- Photo Books International, 99 Judd St WC1H 9NE, (info@pbi-books.com), [23]. W-F 11AM-5:30PM, Sa noon-4PM. Specialists in new and used photographic books

- Skoob, 66 The Brunswick WC1N 1AE (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7278 8760 (skoobbooks@btconnect.com), [24]. Wide selection of secondhand academic books, philosophy, modern literature and classics. Very popular with students.

Other
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- Nomad Travel Store, 40 Bernard St WC1N 1LJ (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7833 4114 (russellsquare@nomadtravel.co.uk), [25]. Stock a huge range of travel related items from camping gear to medical kits. As well as stocking leading brands, have their own label range which is very reasonably priced. Also have a travel health sevice.

Eat
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Budget
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This area is teeming with students so there is a wealth of cheap eating options. Charlotte Street near Goodge Street underground station, parallel to Tottenham Court Road (where the Fitzroy Tavern is found) has a number of nice restaurants, some of them very reasonable. Look for the cheap Korean restaurants under Centre Point at Tottenham Court Road. They are great value and very close to the British Museum.

- Mary Ward Cafe, 42 Queen Square, WC1N 3AQ (tube: Holborn, Russell Square), +44 20 7269 6000, [26]. A selection of veggie and vegan dishes that changes daily. Cakes, pastries, and salad available as well. Busy, eat in or take away. Under £5 for a heap of food.

- Ravi Shankar, 133-5 Drummond Street, NW1 2HL (tube: Euston Square), +44 20 7388 6458. noon-10:45PM. Indian restaurant named after the famous Indian sitarist and composer. A superb vegetarian Thali can be had for under £10. Wash it down with a Kingfisher and you are set for the night.

- Salaam Namaste, 68 Millman Street, WC1N 3EF (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7405 3697 (info@salaam-namaste.co.uk), [27]. Mo-Sa 11:45AM-2:30PM, 5.30PM-11:30PM; Su 11:45AM-2:30PM, 5:30P-11PM. Indian restaurant with dishes from around the country. Mains from £5.95.

Mid-range
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- Back to Basics, 21A Foley St, W1W 6DS, +44 20 7436 2181 (fishisthedish@aol.com, fax: +44 20 7436 2180), [28]. M-Sa noon-3PM, 6PM-10:30PM. Seafood bistro serving some of the freshest seafood in town. Portions are large and tasty. Menus from £25.

- The Court Restaurant, The British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG (tube: Tottenham Court Rd), +44 20 7323 8990 (eat@britishmuseum.org), [29]. Sa-W noon-5:30PM, Th-F noon-9:30PM. Housed in the British Museum, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience. For history buffs, its the perfect setting to sit down and enjoy familiar favorites. Reservations recommended. Main courses from £16.25.

Splurge
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- Crazy Bear, 26-28 Whitfield Street, W1T 2RG (tube: Goodge St), +44 20 7631 0088 (enquiries@crazybear-london.co.uk), [30]. Su-W noon-midnight, Th-Sa noon-1AM. Stylish Thai restaurant, also dishes from other Asian countries. Small mains from £13, set menu from £39.50.

- Hakkasan, 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD (Tottenham Court Rd), +44 844 858 0682 (mail@hakkasan.com), [31]. M-W noon-3:15PM, 6PM-11:30PM; Th-Fr noon-3:15PM, 6PM-12:30PM; Sa noon-4:30PM, 6PM-12:30PM; Su noon-4:30PM. Michelin stared kitchen based on Cantonese tradition but also experimenting in other areas. Small mains from £14.

- Pied a Terre, 34 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NH (tube: Goodge St), +44 20 7636 1178 (info@pied-a-terre.co.uk), [32]. M-F 12:15PM-2:30PM, 6:15PM-10:30PM, Sa 6:15PM-10:30PM. French restaurant with two Michelins stars. Starter and main course £56.60.

Drink
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There are a number of pubs and winebars around the British Library and University College London campus.

- The College Arms, 18 Store St, WC1E 7DH (tube: Goodge St), +44 872 148 2469. Pub often frequented by students from nearby University College London and Birkbeck College.

- Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St, W1T 2NA (tube: Goodge St), +44 20 7580 3714. Owned by the Samuel Smith brewery, the Fitzroy Tavern offers good, cheap beer. The pub, which took its name from a local aristocrat, the Earl of Fitzroy, in turn inspired the name of the surrounding area of Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, and was a popular drinking place for BBC broadcasters (including George Orwell) following the Second World War. A very friendly pub, with nice outdoor seating in summer.

- The Jeremy Bentham, 31 University St, WC1E 6JL (tube: Warren St), +44 872 148 1528. Named after the prominant political philosopher and early supporter of University College London, and located very near the main entrance to the college, the pub tends to attract more senior academics than does the College Arms.

- The Lord John Russell, 91-93 Marchmont St, WC1N 1AL (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7388 0500. Authentic pub popular with University students.

- Match Bar, 37-38 Margaret St, W1G 0JF (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7499 3443 (bookings@matchbar.com), [33]. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 4PM-midnight. Lounge in style sipping on a cocktail as the resident dj plays soulful tunes in the background. Beers from £3.25.

- The Museum Tavern, 49 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3BA (tube: Tottenham Court Rd, opposite the British Museum), +44 20 7242 8987. M-Th 11AM-23PM, Fr-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-11:30PM. A very good pub, offering a wide range of real ales, and some excellent food. Can get busy in the summer months.

- The Pint Pot (formerly, and commonly still known as Ye Olde Surgeon), 183 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 7PE. A common drinking place for medical students from University College Hospital, who jostle alongside office workers. Gets exceptionally crowded after office hours.

Sleep
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Bloomsbury is a great choice of district to stay in as there is a large range of hostels, B&Bs, budget hotels and four star hotels in the area.

Budget
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Hostels
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- Astor Museum Inn Hostel, 27 Montague St WC1B 5BH (Tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7580 5360, [34]. For 18-35 year-olds.

- Generator, Compton Pl, (off 37 Tavistock Pl) WC1H 9SE (Tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7388 7666 (res@generatorhostels.com, fax: +44 20 7388 7644), [35]. Right in the heart of Bloomsbury. Communal showers and cold water, all-night parties and generally an architecture obviously designed exclusively with the easy clean-up of bodily fluids in mind. It is cheap, though, in London terms. Dormitory from £20, private single £60.

- London Central Youth Hostel, 104 Bolsover Street W1W 5NU (tube: Great Portland Street/Warren Street), +44 (0)845 371 9154 (londoncentral@yha.org.uk), [36]. The newest of the five London YHA hostels, with state of the art interiors, and a short walk from Regent's Park. Dormitory from £24.50 excluding breakfast.

- St Pancras International Youth Hostel, 79-81 Euston Road NW1 2QE (tube: Kings Cross St Pancras/Euston), +44 (0)870 7706044 (stpancras@yha.org.uk), [37]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10:30AM. The largest of the five London YHA hostels, minutes walk from St Pancras International railway station. £26.50 per night (dorm); Breakfast £4.50.

- University College London, Bloomsbury and King's Cross, [38]. Student halls of residence which are made available for rental during academic holiday periods.

Hotels
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Many of the budget hotels are located on Argyle St in the very northern part of the district, nearest tube station: King's Cross St Pancras.

- Alhambra Hotel, 17-19 Argyle St WC1H 8EJ, +44 20 7837 9575, [39]. Well known multi-lingual (Spanish, Portuguese, French) family hotel. Free wireless Internet. Single from £50, basic double £60, excellent English breakfast included.

- The Apollo Hotel, 60 Argyle St WC1H 8EP (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), [40]. Clean, but staff somewhat unhelpful. WiFi Internet. Single from £48, basic double £58, English breakfast included.

- Avalon Hotel, 46-47 Cartwright Gardens WC1H 9EL (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), [41]. Friendly staff, good rooms, and you get to take a spare key of both your room and the front door - of course very useful if you plan on staying out late. From £59, breakfast included.

- Excelsior Hotel, 42 Argyle Sq WC1H 8AL (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), +44 20 7837 0571 (booking@excelsiorhotel.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7713 5835), [42]. Budget hotel situated in a quiet, leafy square close to King's Cross Station. All rooms have high speed internet connection. From £59.

- Guilford House, 6 Guilford Street WC1N 1DR (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7430 2504 (guilford-hotel@lineone.net), [43]. A little shabby but well located and fair value. From £59.

- Jesmond Dene Hotel, 27 Argyle St WC1H 8EP (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), +44 20 7837 4654 (info@jesmonddenehotel.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7833 1633), [44]. checkin: 1PM; checkout: 11AM. A budget hotel run on a bed & breakfast basis. Free WiFi Internet access. Basic single £35, basic double/twin £40.

- Ridgemount, 65-67 Gower St WC1E 6HJ (tube: Goodge Street), +44 20 7636 1141, [45]. Basic double £50.

Mid-range
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- Euston Square Hotel, 152-156 North Gower Street NW1 2LU (tube: Euston), +44 20 7388 0099, [46]. Completely renovated in 2008. From £87.

- George Hotel, 58-60 Cartwright Gardens WC1H 9EL (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), +44 20 7387 8777, [47]. Historic building, full English breakfast. Double room, ensuite £75.

- Jenkins Hotel, 45 Cartwright Gardens WC1H 9EH (tube: Euston or Russell Square), +44 20 7387 2067 (reservations@jenkinshotel.demon.co.uk), [48]. A converted Victorian building. No lift. From £95.

Splurge
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- myhotel Bloomsbury, 11-13 Bayley St, Bedford Sq , WC1B 3HD (tube: Goodge St), [49]. Funky and fashionable hotel with interiors by Conran and no surprise that it is listed in Hip Hotels. Doubles from £206.

- The Russell Hotel, 1-8 Russell Square WC1B 5BE (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7837 6470, [50]. This gothic building is a real landmark and dominates the eastern side of Russell Square. Not a cheap hotel by any means but good value for the location and standard. Popular with families. See the magnificent ballroom which was designed by the same people who created interiors for RMS Titanic.

- Sanderson Hotel, 50 Berners St W1T 3NG (tube: Oxford Circus), [51]. Hotel features the Courtyard Garden, Jeffrey Chodorow’s Spoon restaurant, the Long Bar, the Purple Bar, Billiard Room, Agua Bathhouse, penthouse suites and multi-service meeting spaces.

Contact
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- Rex Lounge, 30 Woburn Place WC1H 0JR (tube: Russell Square), +44 20 7637 4545, [52]. M-Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM. Internet cafe also with full business services.

District City of London Table of Contents

• Understand

Tourist Information Centre

• Get in

From the airport

By tube

On foot

By train

By boat

• Get around

• See

Landmarks

Churches, graveyards and open spaces

Museums and Galleries

Others

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Get out

Understand
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Although London grew from this area, the official City did not change in size and the borders of the City of London have barely changed in centuries (they still follow the line of the old city walls to a great degree). The walls around the city, originally built by the Romans, have now largely disappeared (several vestiges still remain, one of the largest of which can be seen outside the Museum of London, another just near the Tower of London) but various place names and streets hint at their prior existence. Locations such as Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Ludgate and Moorgate mark where the main gates were in the city walls.

The City of London is not a London borough and has an ancient and unusual local governance, with rights and privileges greater than those of anywhere else in United Kingdom. The local authority is the City of London Corporation and the chief position is the Lord Mayor. Whilst the rest of London has the Metropolitan Police, the City of London has its own police force.

The City of London does not include Tower Bridge or the Tower of London, they are in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. A number of bridges over the River Thames do connect the City with Southwark and the two oldest of them, London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, are unusual in that the City of London's boundaries include the whole span of the bridge (the border otherwise runs along the middle of the Thames). Small statues of Dragons (sometimes described to be Griffins) mark the boundary of the City on most roads.

The City is the world's leading centre of international finance. In British parlance, The City often refers to the financial sector, just as Americans might refer to Wall Street. This area contains 255 foreign banks, which is more than any other financial centre. It also is home to the Bank of England and houses other institutions such as Lloyds and the London Stock Exchange. Every weekday approximately three hundred thousand workers come into the City to work in small and large business and financial institutions.

The City has a very small resident population which, despite a recent increase, is little more than 8,000 people. At weekends the area can resemble a ghost town, with empty streets, closed shops and cafes.

Visit during the week. Few shops and restaurants are open on the weekend, although this is changing - see the new shopping centre "One New Change". It is hard to believe how dead the area is on the weekend and it can barely be stressed enough that if you are in The City on a weekend, it will seem like the movie 28 Days Later (although this was actually filmed in Canary Wharf, which exhibits a similar ghost town quality at weekends). This though could be a blessing if you want an easily accessible respite from the chaos of the West End to wander around the place at your own pace, admiring the architecture and character of the streets and buildings! You may also come across the filming of a TV advert, TV programme or even a film at this time.

Tourist Information Centre
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- City Information Centre, St. Paul's Churchyard EC4M 8BX (tube: St Paul's), 020 7332 1456, [2].

Get in
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From the airport
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Underground services are connected to all major London airports, as well as Express train services that take you directly to some of the main stations in the centre of London. [3]

By tube
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- Bank (Central, Northern, Waterloo & City lines and the DLR) and Monument (Circle and District lines) stations - linked by an underground walkway. Bank, near the Bank of England, is perhaps the most central to access the City of London.

- Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines), Moorgate (Circle, Hammersmith and City, Northern and Metropolitan lines) and Liverpool Street (Central, Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines) - for the north and north east of The City.

- Old Street (Northern line) - for the north west of The City

- St Paul's (Central line) - for the west of The City

- Blackfriars, Mansion House, Cannon Street (closed Su), Tower Hill (for Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Fenchurch Street National Rail station) (all Circle and District lines) and Aldgate (Circle, District and Metropolitan lines) - for the south of The City.

On foot
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Once in the City, its small and compact nature means travelling on foot between attractions is possible and advised. You can quite easily get lost and miss out interesting features if new to the City. The street pattern is particularly chaotic in some parts (being medieval and unplanned) and there are many fun shortcuts and routes that take you away from main roads. Buy and bring a detailed map!

By train
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- Barbican, Blackfriars (to/from Gatwick and Luton airports), Cannon Street (closed Sa, Su and public holidays), City Thameslink (to/from Gatwick and Luton airports, no tube), Fenchurch Street (tube: Tower Hill), Liverpool Street (to/from Stansted Airport) and Moorgate. All also tube stations except City Thameslink and Fenchurch Street.

By boat
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An increasingly popular way of travelling through London, by both tourists and residents, is by boat on the Thames itself. The City can has two piers from which regular services operate to and from: Blackfriars Millennium Pier (in the west) or Tower Millennium Pier (in the east).

Get around
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See
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The City sustained a great deal of damage from German bombing during the 'Blitz' of World War II, so there are far fewer older buildings than one might expect from so ancient a settlement. The Great Fire of London in 1666 also fairly comprehensively destroyed the City's medieval building stock. Nonetheless, many interesting older buildings remain, including the domed St. Paul's Cathedral (heroically saved by firefighters when it was bombed during the Second World War), nineteenth-century buildings at Leadenhall, Smithfield, and Spitalfields, the Gothic-style Guildhall, many monuments (including one built to remember the Great Fire of London), and the Temple Inns of Court. Remarkably, the City also retains its medieval street pattern, which you do not find so clearly preserved in other large British city centres. You will find many narrow streets, passages, courtyards, etc between the main thoroughfares.

Landmarks
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- Bank of England (The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street), (tube: Bank), [4]. See also: Bank of England Museum.

- Mansion House, (tube: Mansion House), [5]. By appointment only for visits by organised groups (minimum 15 maximum 40). Official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, completed in 1753.

- Monument, (tube: Monument), +44 20 7626 2717 (enquiries@towerbridge.org.uk), [6]. 9:30AM-5:30PM daily (last admission 5PM). Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, this tall column (which can be ascended to get a great view) marks the alleged site where the Great Fire of London broke out in September 1666. £3/£1.

- Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court), (between Holborn Circus and St Paul's Cathedral, tube: St Paul's then follow signs), +44 20 7248 3277, [7]. M-F 10AM-1PM, 2PM-5PM. No bags, cameras, drink, food or mobile phones - no facilities for safekeeping. This is the probably the most famous criminal court in the world, and has been London's principal criminal court for centuries. It hears cases remitted to it from all over England and Wales as well as the Greater London area. The present building dates largely from 1907 (a new block was added from 1970 for more modern facilities) and stands on the site of the infamous medieval Newgate Gaol. The Central Criminal Court is of course best known today for its association with John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey character, novels and television series. Daily case listings are available at [8]. Children under 14 not admitted.

- St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill (tube: St Pauls), +44 20 7246 8357 (visits@stpaulscathedral.org.uk), [9]. M-Sa 8:30AM-4PM. The great domed cathedral of St Paul's, designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the Gothic medieval cathedral destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, was built between 1675 - 1710. It's a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars. The cathedral is also famous for its Whispering Wall, as well as its stunning view over the city. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Christopher Wren. For budget travelers it is possible to get in for free. The cathedral is open to the general public for free during midday service. Visitors who get in at this time won't be escorted out. To get to the top you must however hold a valid ticket. £9, £8 concession, £3.50 child (7-16), £21.50 family.

- Tower Bridge (technically not in the City), (tube: Tower Hill), +44 20 7403 3761 (enquiries@towerbridge.org.uk), [10]. Exhibition 10AM-5PM. Magnificent 19th century bridge, decorated with high towers and featuring a drawbridge. The bridge opens several times each day to permit ships to pass through - timings are dependent on demand, and are not regularly scheduled. When Tower Bridge was built, the area to the west of it was a bustling port - necessitating a bridge that could permit tall boats to pass. Now the South Bank area sits to its west, and the regenerated Butler's Wharf area of shops, reasonably priced riverside restaurants and the London Design Museum lie to its east. For a small charge you can get the lift to the top level of the bridge and admire the view: this includes a visit to a small museum dedicated to the bridge's history and engineering. Bridge free, exhibition £6.

- Tower of London (technically not in the City), (tube: Tower Hill), +44 8444 827777 (visitorservices_TOL@hrp.org.uk), [11]. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su M 10AM-5PM Mar-Oct; Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su-M 10AM-4PM Nov-Feb. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, the Tower is today one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house. In the winter you can skate on the dry moat. The Tower contains enough buildings and exhibits to keep a family busy for a full day, with plenty of both warlike and domestic contents. Beefeaters, who are all retired sergeant majors from the British Army, provide guided tours for free as well as ceremonial security. 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. Tickets are free but MUST be prearranged. £14.50, aged 5-16 £9.50, concession £11, family (2A+3C) £42.

Churches, graveyards and open spaces
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The City of London, considering its small size, has a huge number of churches in its area. Some, but by no means all, are listed below.

- All Hallows by the Tower, Byward St EC3R 5BJ (tube: Tower Hill), +44 20 7481 2928, [12]. The oldest church in The City founded by Saxon Abbotts in 675 AD.

- Bunhill Fields, Bunhill Rd (nearest tube: Old Street; bus: 55, 205, 243 (among others)), [13]. Dawn-dusk. This small graveyard is a rarity in central London, and seems oddly tranquil in comparison to the nearby bustling streets of the City. Some 120,000 bodies are believed to be buried here - mostly dissenters - notable among them are the graves of William Blake, Daniel Defoe and John Bunyan. The watchful eye will notice that the paved way across the field is actually made up of tombstones. Free.

- Christ Church, Fournier St (tube: Liverpool St), +44 20 7859 3035, [14]. The restoration of the nave was completed in September 2004, and this church is still a striking building designed by Sir Nicholas Hawksmoor with a particularly tall, pointed spire. Hawksmoor's design was significantly altered in the 19th century, and present continuing restoration is intended to restore it to Hawksmoor's original vision. Christ Church was built as part of the 50 Churches for London project

- Postman's Park, Little Britain, City of London (tube: St. Pauls), [15]. One of the largest parks in the City of London, Postman's Park contains the Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice; a memorial to ordinary people who died saving the lives of others and might otherwise have been forgotten. Free. (51.5168,-0.097643)

- St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames St EC3R 6DN (tube: Monument), +44 20 7626 4481, [16].

- St Margaret Pattens, Rood Ln and Eastcheap EC3 (tube: Monument), +44 20 7623 6630, [17].

- St Mary-at-Hill, St Mary at Hill EC3R 8EE (tube: Monument), +44 20 7626 4184, [18].

- St Mary le Bow, 1 Bow Lane EC4M 9EE (tube: Mansion House), +44 20 7248 5139, [19].

- St Stephen Walbrook, 39 Walbrook EC4N 8BN (tube: Bank), +44 20 7283 4444, [20].

- Temple, Inner Temple Ln, [21]. A small realm of serenity in the midst of the typical turmoil. It used to be the court of the Knights Templar. You can still visit the beautiful Romanesque church, which is one of the oldest ones in London.

Museums and Galleries
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- Bank of England Museum, Threadneedle St (tube: Bank), +44 20 7601 5545 (museum@bankofengland.co.uk), [22]. M-F 10AM-5PM. Free.

- Barbican Centre, Silk St (tube: Barbican), +44 20 7638 4141 (info@barbican.org.uk), [23]. The largest arts centre in Europe.

- Clockmaker's Museum, Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury EC2P 2EJ (tube St Paul's), +44 20 7332 1868 (printedbooks.guildhall@corpoflondon.gov.uk), [24]. M-Sa 9.30AM-5PM. Charts the history of clockmaking and houses a priceless collection of old timepieces. Free.

- Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard (off Gresham St) (tube: Bank or St Paul's), +44 20 7332 3700 (guildhall.artgallery@cityoflondon.gov.uk), [25]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM Su noon-4PM. £2.50 (F and after 3:30PM: free), child 0-16 free.

- Museum of London, London Wall (NB this is a street!) (tube: Barbican (walk S) or St Pauls (walk N)), +44 870 444 3852, [26]. M-Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su noon-5:30PM. Established in 1975, the Museum of London explores the various threads of London's archaeology, history and culture throughout its more than 2,000 year old existence. Free and, like the city, endlessly fascinating! (The Museum now also has an offshoot in East End. Cafe, gift shop and disabled access. Permanent and temporary exhibitions: free. Special exhibitions: £5, concession £3, child 0-15 free.

Others
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The City's business is not cathedrals or museums, but banking. The upside? The City offers some of the most fascinating modern architecture in London, and this alone makes a tour of London's financial institutions and markets worthwhile, even if you're not an investment banker. The bad news is that very few of the buildings are open to the public, although some do have "open weekends" at certain times of the year. The annual Open House Weekend - usually held on the third weekend in September, is when many London's most famous buildings (including many of those in the City) are open for public tours.

- Baltic Exchange, St. Mary Axe (next to the Swiss Re Tower), [27]. The world's main marketplace for ship broking.

- International Petroleum Exchange, St. Katherines Dock (tube: Tower Hill), [28]. One of the world's largest energy futures and options exchanges. The Brent Crude marker which represents an important benchmark for global oil prices is traded here. It also houses the European Climate Exchange, where emissions trading takes place.

- Lloyds of London, 1 Lime St, [29]. The headquarters of world's most famous insurance market, housed in a revolutionary (at the time) bizarre, Matrix-like glass-and-steel building designed by Richard Rogers, with all support services (lifts, ventilation, etc) suspended outside. Recognised as a masterpiece of exoskeleton architecture.

- London Stock Exchange, Paternoster Sq, [30]. After leaving its brutalist skyscraper on Old Broad St, the London Stock Exchange now resides on Paternoster Sq. Dating back to 1698, it is one of the world's oldest and largest stock markets.

- London Bullion Market Association, 13-14 Basinghall St, [31]. This is where the world gold price is 'fixed' twice a day.

- London Metal Exchange, 56 Leadenhall St, [32]. The LME is the leading centre for non-ferrous metals trading. It is also the last financial market in London which still retains open outcry trading.

- London Stone, Cannon St (tube: Cannon St). A little known and arguably little cared for yet intriguing item.

- St Bride Printing Library, Bride Ln, EC4Y 8EE, +44 20 7353 4660, [33]. Tu noon-5:30PM, W noon-9PM, Th noon-5:30PM. This specialist small library houses an impressive range of books on graphic design, typography, bookbinding and papermaking. The books cannot be borrowed but can be photocopied or photographed (with permission). An essential visit for any graphic design student.

- Swiss Re (the Gherkin), 30 St. Mary Axe, [34]. Designed by one of Britain's leading architects, Sir Norman Foster, and recipient in 2004 of the Stirling Architectural Prize for Best Building.

- Willis Building, 51 Lime St. The most recent addition to the City's skyline, and right opposite Lloyds of London.

Do
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- Climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral or The Monument to get excellent views over the financial heart of London.

- Gresham College, Barnard's Inn Hall, Holborn (tube: Chancery Lane. Between Fetter Ln and Furnival St), +44 0220 7831 0575, [35]. Founded in 1597 as London's alternative higher education institution to Oxford and Cambridge, Gresham College continues to provide free public lectures every week during term time. Most lectures require no booking, with wonderful speakers delivering lectures on wide range of interesting topics.

- Lord Mayor's Show, [36]. Annual, normally November. The ceremony celebrates the appointment of the new Lord Mayor of the City of London. It is one of the great annual processions held in all London.

- London Walks, [37]. Consider going along on one of the many excellent guided tours of the City, often with an evocative theme for example ghosts or Jack the Ripper.

- London Film Locations Bus Tour, [38]. The City of London is hugely popular with film makers so consider going on a bus tour of famous film locations.

- Tower of London Ice Rink, (tube: Tower Hill), [39].

Buy
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Although not noted for the best shopping opportunities in London (these are securely held by the West End), the City nonetheless retains an above average shopping offer, having a large, relatively affluent and captive crowd of City workers right on their doorstep. Avoid shopping during lunchtime hours, if you can, as this is the time when workers are looking to do the same, in their thousands. Again, at weekends many outlets will be closed. A number of retail venues stand out:

- One New Change, (off Cheapside, tube: St Paul's), [40]. 7 days a week. The City's only modern shopping centre, which opened in October 2010. Includes around 60 shops and restaurants. It is controversially situated right by St Paul's Cathedral and is in a small area of retailing, including Bow Lane.

- Leadenhall Market, (off Gracechurch St, tube: Monument), [41]. Worth visiting for its architecture and old-fashioned cobbled streets. It was used as a location in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

- Royal Exchange, (tube: Bank). Situated opposite the Bank of England, the Exchange houses a number of upmarket outlets. Part of the exterior was recently featured in the film Bridget Jones' Diary (at the end, when Bridget runs after Mark along a snowy street).

- Spitalfields Market (technically not in the City), (off Bishopsgate, tube: Liverpool Street), [42]. Once a large thriving market, it has slowly been shrunk to a third of its size by development in the area. But, it still features a good variety of clothing, crafts and food stalls/shops. Rather promisingly sellers have set up another market in a new space off Hanbury St nearby.

Eat
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There are a great many number of bars, coffee houses, cafes, restaurants and pub, mainly catering for the City workers during the week (and therefore most likely to be closed at the weekend). Sit down restaurants in this district tend to be expensive and aimed towards business lunches. The vast number of take away places though are reasonably priced. During the week (and during good weather) you can find some outdoor eating areas in places, such as on Walbrook.

- Boisdale of Bishopsgate, Swedeland Court, 202 Bishopsgate EC2M 4NR (tube: Liverpool Street), +44 20 7283 1763 (info@boisdale-city.co.uk). closed Sa and Su. A rather grand Scottish restaurant which has jazz evenings and offers a cigar bar.

- Club Gascon, 57 West Smithfield, EC1A 9DS (tube Barbican), +44 20 7796 0600, [43]. Fine French dining at this Michelin-starred restaurant.

- Gow's, 81 Old Broad Street EC2M 1PR, +44 20 7920 9645 (gows@ballsbrothers.co.uk), [44]. closed Sa and Su. An upmarket seafood restaurant and oyster bar.

- Polo Bar, 176 Bishopsgate EC2M 4NQ (tube: Liverpool Street), +44 20 7283 4889. 24H. An unpretentious cafe serving fried breakfasts and similar basic food 24h a day. Ideal for a late snack after you leave the Eat & Drink! Liverpool St is a safe area anyway but you cannot get safer than this for a late night meal, as at night you'll often see police from the nearby City of London police station. There are no toilets however, you need to use those at nearby Liverpool St Station.

- Simpson's Tavern, 38 Cornhill EC3V 9DR (tube: Bank), +62 020 7626 9985 (manager@simpsonstavern.co.uk), [45]. closed Sa and Su. A traditional old style English eatery which has been in business here since 1757. Most of the food is cooked on an open grill in the corner. A very City of London experience!

- The Wall, 45 Old Broad St EC2N 1HU (tube: Liverpool Street), +44 20 7588 4845 (reservations@thewallbar.co.uk). Restaurant and bar popular at lunchtime and in the early evenings. Closed Sa and Su.

Drink
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If you just want to see the sights, come to the City whenever it suits you (although check the opening hours for anything you particularly want to see). If you are spending more than a few days in London, visiting the area at night, especially around 10PM-11PM, can provide a decidedly un-touristy atmosphere. You will be seeing part of London life that few people who do not live or work in the City experience, and if you have the confidence to introduce yourself you may even get into conversation with local workers out for a late drink, the area is enough off the tourist route that you will be something of a novelty. Thursday and Friday are naturally busier but at the same time a bit less friendly, earlier in the week it may be dead but you have more chance of meeting locals just out for a drink.

- Dirty Dick's, 202 Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool St), +44 20 7283 5888, [46]. M-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-10:30PM. One of the better known pubs (although definitely no tourist trap) near Liverpool St, supposedly named after a Georgian dandy who let himself go on the death of his fiancée. £3.20 pint.

- Eat & Drink, 11 Artillery Passage (tube: Liverpool St), +44 20 7377 8964. M-F 'til 2AM. A small and fairly ordinary Chinese restaurant by day, this turns into a heaving karaoke bar in the evenings. One of the most reliable places near Liverpool St to get a drink after midnight! £3.40 small can lager.

- Lamb Tavern, 10-12 Leadenhall Market (tube: Bank/Liverpool St), +44 20 7626 2454, [47]. M-F 10AM-11PM. One of several pubs in Leadenhall Market where you can listen to insurance brokers from nearby Lloyds talk business. £3.60 pint.

- White Hart, 121 Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool St). An unpretentious City pub, slightly cheaper than most. Unusually for the area, has a few tables outside where you can watch the world go by in summer or cower under a heat lamp while smoking in winter. £2.80 pint.

- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BU (tube: Blackfriars, Temple or Chancery Lane). An old City pub establishment, rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666. All the monarchs who have reigned in England during the pub's time are written by the main door.

Sleep
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Budget
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- City YMCA, (nearest tube stations: Moorgate, Barbican and Old St), [48]. Fantastic value or money at the two YMCA properties located close to each other in The City - Barbican and Errol St. Nightly and weekly rates are available. You will be encouraged to learn about the work that the YMCA undertakes to give young Londoners a start in life. From £128 per week.

- The Hoxton Urban Lodge, 81 Great Eastern St (nearest tube station: tube: Old St), +44 20 7550 1000 (info@hoxtonhotels.com), [49]. From £30 web purchase.

- St Paul's Youth Hostel, 36 Carter Ln (tube: St Paul's), +44 08707 705764 (stpauls@yha.org.uk), [50]. Small hostel converted from one of the City's oldest buildings. Cheap for Central London accommodation, range of room sizes, basic facilities. Dorm from £18.95 including breakfast. 6 rooms for 2 people and 3 singles..

Mid-range
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- Andaz Liverpool Street London Hotel, 40 Liverpool St, (info.londonliv@andaz.com, fax: +44 20 7961 1235), [51]. A concept casual luxury hotel. No two bedrooms the same. Features iPod rentals and 5 restaurants From £120.

- SACO Apartments - Aldgate, 99 Leman St, +44 207 26 999 30 (london@sacoapartments.co.uk), [52]. A grade II listed Victorian building in perfect walking distance to the main city centre. A great alternative to hotels for those traveling on business. From £120.

- Travelodge London Liverpool St, 1 Harrow Pl (tube: Liverpool Street), 08719 846190, [53]. £80.

- SilverDoor Ltd, 3 Dukes Gate Chiswick London W4 5DX, +44(0)20 8630 7200 (email@silverdoor.co.uk), [54].

Splurge
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- Malmaison London, Charterhouse Sq (tube: Barbican, Farringdon), +44 20 7012 3700 (london@malmaison.com), [55]. Great location with attentive staff.

Get out
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Go south, crossing the River Thames via the Millennium Bridge, to access the central part of South Bank, home to the Tate Modern gallery and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Or head west down Fleet Street then Strand towards Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square or to Westminster, home of the British government and royal family.

District Covent Garden Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• See

Landmarks

Museums and Galleries

• Do

Theatres

Opera

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Pubs

Bars

Gay and Lesbian

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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This is one of the main shopping and entertainment districts of the English capital and is hugely popular with visitors, who swarm to its shops, bars and restaurants, especially at weekends. Covent Garden incorporates some of London's Theatreland and also forms a smaller extension to London's gay village that is centred on the neighbouring district of Soho.

Covent Garden takes its name from history; it used to be Convent Garden many years ago and over the years this has changed to Covent Garden.

This is an extensive area of high density building and narrow streets, officially bounded by High Holborn and New Oxford Street to the north, by Kingsway to the east, by The Strand to the south and by Charing Cross Road to the west. For all practical purposes, however, the district can also be seen to extend down to The Embankment along the Thames between Northumberland Avenue and Hungerford Bridge and to The Temple.

The main focus of the Covent Garden district for visitors is the Covent Garden Market Piazza. Further north, a secondary focus is Seven Dials, an intersection of seven streets, marked by a tall pillar with (you guessed it) seven (sun) dials. It is very easy for visitors to move on from here by foot to the attractions around Trafalgar and Leicester Squares, to Soho and to Bloomsbury.

Get in
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Owing to the London Congestion Charge and the general shortage of parking spaces (plus stringent parking restrictions and fines), it is generally recommended that visitors to the area consider public transport to access the district.

By tube
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This district is well served by the following tube stations:

- Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Exiting Covent Garden Tube Station, turn right (southwards, downhill) to walk to the Piazza, or turn left (northwards) to find the main shopping areas of Long Acre, Neal Street and also Seven Dials.

- Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines). The distance between Leicester Square and Covent Garden stations on the Piccadilly line is the shortest on the whole London tube network.

- Holborn (Piccadilly and Central lines).

- Tottenham Court Road (Northern and Central lines).

- Embankment (District, Circle and Northern lines).

- Charing Cross (Bakerloo, District, Circle and Northern lines).

By train
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- Charing Cross mainline station services the south-eastern region of England.

By bus
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See
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Landmarks
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- Charing Cross and Charing Cross Station. Old train station with an enormous office and shopping complex in glass and pale stone.

- Covent Garden Piazza and Central Market, (tube: Covent Garden). Covent Garden is a covered shopping mall with shops predominantly selling clothing, but also gifts and cosmetics. There is a popular pub, The Punch and Judy Tavern at the western end, with a large balcony overlooking a square where street entertainers perform. At the eastern end, the corresponding balcony is occupied by Chez Gerard, a restaurant selling relatively-expensive but good continental cuisine. In the central area of Covent Garden is The Apple Market, a small market of handicraft stalls (Tu-Su) or antiques stalls (Mo), 10:30AM-7:30PM. Most shops are open 10AM-7PM daily, but may close earlier on Su. Classical musicians will often busk in the lower level of Covent Garden, including extremely talented opera singers.

- Seven Dials, (tube: Covent Garden). An intersection of seven streets in the northern part of the Covent Garden district. Lots of of mid-range designer clothing and shoe stores

- St. Paul's Church, Bedford St WC2 (tube: Covent Garden. At the western end of the Piazza). Completed in 1633 to a design by Inigo Jones.

Museums and Galleries
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- Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St WC2N 5NF (tube: Charing Cross), +44 20 7839 2006, [1]. The only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin in the world. The founding father of the United States lived here from 1757 to 1775. Many exhibits charting his life and achievements as well as original artefacts. A special Historical Experience Show runs at noon, 1PM, 2PM, 3.15PM and 4.15PM We-Sunday all year round. £7, under 16s free..

- London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7565 7299, [2]. As the name suggests, dedicated to the history of transport in London, past, present and future, old buses and tubes feature in a big way. £5.95, concessions £4.50/2.50, accompanied children under 16 free.

- Photographers' Gallery, 5 & 8 Great Newport St (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7831 1772, [3]. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Th 11AM-8PM, Su noon-6PM. The gallery is actually split across two galleries, No. 8 houses the main exhibition and an interesting little bookshop (with a small stock of novelty lomo cameras), and No. 5 has a small cafe with more photos on the walls. The exhibitions are wide and varied, from documentary photographers to fine artists, some long gone, and some on their way up. With the crowds and chaos of Leicester Square on one side and Covent Garden on the other, this is a welcome retreat. Free.

Do
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Theatres
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Along with neighbouring London/Leicester Square, this is the capital of London's theatreland. For current programmes please check the relevant theatre website or the official London theatreland listings here [4]. Budget travellers should look for last minute bookings and off-peak performances.

Most of the booking office numbers given will only work from within the United Kingdom. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website.

- Adelphi Theatre, Strand, WC2E 7NA, +44 0844 412 4651, [5].

- Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, WC2B 4DF, [6].

- Ambassador's Theatre, West St, WC2H 9ND, +44 0844 8112 334, [7].

- Cambridge Theatre, Earlham St, WC2H 9HU, +44 0844 412 4652, [8].

- Donmar Warehouse, Earlham St, WC2H 9LX, +44 0844 871 7624, [9].

- Drury Lane Theatre Royal, Catherine St, WC2B 5JF, +44 0870 890 6002, [10].

- Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4BG, +44 0870 060 6623, [11].

- New London Theatre, Drury Ln, WC2B 5PW, +44 0844 412 4654, [12].

- Noel Coward Theatre (The Albery), St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4AA, +44 0870 950 0920, [13].

- Novello Theatre, Aldwych, WC2B 4LD, +44 0870 950 0935, [14].

- Savoy Theatre, Strand, WC2R 0ET, +44 0870 164 8787, [15].

- Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8DP, [16].

- Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF, [17].

- St Martin's Theatre, West St, WC2H 9NZ, +44 0844 499 1515, [18]. The theatre which has been showing The Mousetrap continuously for the past 58 years!

Opera
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- English National Opera, London Colliseum, St. Martin's Ln, WC2N 4ES (tube: Covent Garden), +44 871 911 0200 (box.office@eno.org), [19]. A little easier to get tickets here than it is at the Royal Opera House but still difficult for the most notable productions. Look for last minute availability and and off peak performances.

- Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7304 4000, [20]. One of the world's great Opera and Ballet venues. Peak time tickets are like gold dust and it is very unlikely that a casual visitor will be able to obtain one. However, at least 65 tickets per performance are held off for on-the-day in person sales from 10AM, and tickets are sometimes available for off peak (especially matinee) performances and can be surprisingly affordable. Check the website or at London ticket agencies.

Buy
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Shoes are a speciality of Covent Garden, particularly in Neal Street where virtually every shop sells shoes, from Birkenstocks to trainers, campers to Doc Martens.

Like its neighbour Soho, Covent Garden has a wide range of clothing shops. Head to Floral Street and Long Acre for a start, but explore the back-streets too as they often house more interesting stores. If you are on a budget, head to Earlham Street for occasional clothing stalls and Oxfam Originals.

- The Australia Shop, [21]. M-F 10:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 11AM-6:30PM, Su 11AM-5:30PM. Provides antipodean visitors with a taste of home, albeit at London prices.

- Ben's Cookies, 13a The Piazza (Inside the Covent Garden Market), +44 20 7240 6123, [22]. M-F 7:30AM-7PM, Sa 9:30AM-6:30PM, Su 10:30AM-6:30PM, bank holidays 10AM-6PM. Very nice cookies. Try their white chocolate with macadamia cookies. Price is about £1 per cookie, and the cookies here are almost twice as big as those at Millie's. They also have branches at 12 Kensington Arcade, Kensington High St; at 39 Leadenhall Market; and at 9 Pelham St, South Kensington.

- Monmouth Coffee, Monmouth St (Near Seven Dials). Arguably the best coffee in London. Primarily a venue for quality coffee roasters, the shop on Monmouth street has a tasting room, i.e. a café, where you can marvel at the fact that not everywhere in London sells poor chain-café coffee. A selection of goodies such as croissants, pastries, and brownies are also available. As you would expect of a roasters you can also purchase excellent coffee in bean form or ground, with various blends to suit your taste. Helpful and knowledgeable staff can help you make a selection.

- Neal's Yard Dairy, 11 Shorts Gardens WC2H 9AT (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7240 5700, [23]. M-Th 11AM-6:30PM, F Sa 10AM-6:30PM. A fabulous cheese shop specialising in British cheeses. The smell as you walk up the street can be enticing or repulsive, depending on your preference for fragrant cheese. But regardless, a trip to this shop is well worthwhile. Whether they are busy or not, the staff are always keen to have you taste a few cheeses to ensure you find what you are looking for. Everyone here is passionate about their cheese, and while the prices are higher than you will pay pretty much anywhere else in the world for cheese, the quality and taste are second to none.

- The New Zealand Shop, 27 Maiden Ln, [24]. M-F 10:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 11AM-6:30PM, Su 11AM-5:30PM. Provides antipodean visitors with a taste of home, albeit at London prices.

- Stanfords, 12-14 Long Acre WC2E 9LP (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7836 1321, [25]. M-F 9AM-7:30PM, Sa 10AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. This is the flagship store of the world's largest map retailer. They have been been selling maps and travel guidebooks of all descriptions from this location since 1901. With three floors of regional maps, walking maps, guidebooks, travel books, a digital mapping service and more this is a huge store that is interesting even if you do not intend to buy anything.

- Thomas Neal's, 29-41 Earlham St. A nice shopping plaza with clothes shops, design shops and cafes.

Eat
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Budget
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- The George, 213 The Strand, +44 20 7353 9638. Established in 1723, not much of the decor has changed in this traditional English pub, where you can order happily inexpensive, tasty food.

- Primrose Bakery, 42 Tavistock St, +44 20 7836 3638, [26]. You can get possibly the best cupcakes in London here. They have an impressive clientele that includes U2 and Kate Moss. They also supply Selfridges food hall, Fortnum & Mason and Libertys, where the prices are MUCH higher (£1 more in Fortnum & Mason). They have another branch at 69 Gloucester Ave, Primrose Hill. Try their chocolate on chocolate cupcake with cherry filling. Prices start from £1.75 for a regular cupcake.

Mid-range
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- Brown's, 82-84 St. Martin's Ln, +44 20 7497 5050. Always buzzing, this popular restaurant is frequented by hip (often single) clientele, who are served by attentive staff. Meals are good, the braised lamb shank is especially tasty.

- Cafe des Amis (Cafe des Amis du Vin), 11-15 Hanover Place WC2E 9JF (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7379 3444, [27]. Brasserie and wine bar wihch has been around for a long time in a highly competitive environment. Excellent, uncomplicated French food. The set menus are very good value for the quality of food served.

- Food For Thought, Neal St, WC2. Tasty range of choices for vegetarians and vegans.

- Maison Malinowski Brasserie, 63 Neal St. Serves really delicious crêpes among other things. Perfect for a break while shopping!

- Paul's Bakery, 29/30 Bedford St, +44 20 7836 3304. M-F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM. A French favourite, now in London, Paul's serves coffee and teas together fine French pastries, tarts, cakes and breads for savouring on or off the premises. Light snacks, lunches and dinners are also catered for, at prices a little higher than your average café (but reasonable for the touristy Covent Garden), somewhat less than a restaurant.

- Cafe Pacifico, 5 Langley St, +44 20 7379 7728. M-Sa noon-11:45PM, Su noon-10:45PM. London's original Mexican Cantina, serving all your typical Mexican food along with a good range of margaritas and tequila.

- La Perla, 28 Maiden Ln, +44 20 7240 7400. M-Sa noon-11:30PM, Su 4PM-10:30PM. Another of Cafe Pacifico's venues, this one is slightly smaller with more of a bar feeling.

- Scoop Fine Italian Gelato, 40 Shorts Gardens, +44 07944779693, [28]. This place is popular among the university students in London. Come here for some genuine Italian gelato or coffee and cake. Try their hazelnut gelato, which is simply amazing. For a large cup the price is around £3.60.

Splurge
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- The Ivy, 1 West St (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7836 4751. Wining and dining rooms of celebrities, the actual difficulty in getting a table these days gives the restaurant slightly more kudos as an eatery than it deserves. Cosy and intimate, serving traditional but diverse restaurant meals. Competent cooking and reasonably good service, but not worth waiting 6 months for. Unless you are an avid star-gazer, go at a time when celebs are unlikely to be around. Average price £40.

- Joe Allen, 13 Exeter Street, WC2E 7DT (tube: Covent Garden), +44 20 7836 0651 (info@joeallen.co.uk), [29]. Legendary informal bistro which is incredibly hard to find for the first time - look for the dark, discrete door with a simple plaque on it on the north side of Exeter St. Food is a take on American style grilled fare using the very highest quality ingredients. Steaks and chops are superb. Favoured by lots of celebs and booking essential, especially pre- and post theatre.

Drink
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Pubs
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- The Intrepid Fox, St Giles High St (Next to Centrepoint). The best rock and metal pub in London.

- Porterhouse, 21-22 Maiden Ln, +44 20 7379 7917, [30]. A modern pub split across multiple levels connected by narrow staircases and walkways, with a selection of over 100 bottled beers from around the world.

- The Salisbury, St. Martin's Ln. Beautifully preserved Victorian pub. Full of mirrors and lights, cut glass and mahogany, this place is nothing like the dark and dingy pubs that are all too common in London.

- Waxy's O'Connor's, 14-16 Rupert St, W1D 6DD. Irish themed pub with a fibreglass tree inside it. It is almost invariably unbearably crowded. The smaller Waxy's Little Sister opposite it, however, is generally quieter and more relaxed.

Bars
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- Box, 32-34 Monmouth St (At the Seven Dials), +44 20 7240 5828. A trendy gay bar.

- Rum Bar, 45 St. Martin's Ln, +44 20 7300 5588, [31]. Asia de Cuba, the trendy restaurant located inside the St. Martin's Lane Hotel, also houses the stylish Rum Bar. With tall, 'lean-on' tables designed by Phillipe Starck and a meticulously designed interior this is a great place to meet for a cocktails before or after heading out for an evening.

- Light, 45 St. Martin's Ln, +44 20 7300 5599, [32]. Stylish, ultra modern space inside the St. Martin’s Lane Hotel. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, many of London's most popular D.J.'s are featured.

- Freud, 198 Shaftesbury Ave, +44 20 7240 9933. If you blink, you'll miss this casual cellar bar that serves up a variety of cocktails you can't find anywhere else in London. Has good mojitos, and even an Apple Pie concoction that tastes like a drink version of the real thing! Always very crowded at night on the weekends despite the fact that you need to go down a rickety metal staircase to find it.

Gay and Lesbian
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- Kudos, 10 Adelaide St, WC2N 4HZ (off Trafalgar Sq), [33]. Bar popular with Asian guys and their admirers.

Sleep
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Budget
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Mid-range
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- Fielding Hotel, 4 Broad Ct W2B 5QZ, +44 20 7836 8305, [34]. No frills hotel located right opposite the Royal Opera House. From £90.

- Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Strand, WC2R 0JJ, +44 20 7379 4737, [35]. Good value hotel in a convenient location for Covent Garden theatres and shopping From £65.

- Travel Lodge Covent Garden, 10 Drury Ln, WC2B 5RE, +44 0871 984 6245, [36]. Popular hotel with visitors and decent value for the area. Convenient for Covent Garden theatres and shopping From £135.

Splurge
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- The Savoy, The Strand, +44 20 7836 4343, [37]. The famed Savoy is located on The Strand in the heart of the West End theatre district, offering magnificent views of the river Thames. The Savoy opened in 1889 and remains a popular destination in London. The hotel boasts 263 rooms and suites, a nifty blend of elegance and contemporary design. Inventive cuisine can be enjoyed in the Savoy Grill and the more informal Banquette. The theatres, opera, ballet and shopping of Covent Garden are located nearby.

- St Martins Lane, 45 St. Martin's Ln, +44 20 7300 5500, [38]. Ian Schrager (he of Studio 54 fame) is known worldwide for being an innovator in the ‘hip’ hotel business. His first foray into London, St Martins Lane, is a playful and urbane destination in the West End theater district off Trafalgar Square that combines urban cool and modern design (via design guru Philippe Starck). Unique features to this trendy-meets-luxury hotel include Asia de Cuba restaurant, the popular Light Bar and interactive light displays in every guest room that encourage guests to personalize their own individual space.

Contact
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District Holborn-Clerkenwell Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

• See

Landmarks

Museums

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Pubs and bars

Clubs

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Holborn and Clerkenwell is in many ways a buffer zone between London's West End and the City of London financial district.

Holborn has long been associated with the legal professions, notably in the Lincoln's Inn area and was also a major centre of the old British newspaper industry before the advent of new publishing technology.

Clerkenwell is full of architects and publishers, and as a result many new bars and restaurants have cropped up, and continues to be a target for more development. The bars vary from family orientated wine bars, to huge clubs and cool underground bars, and it compares well to its more artistic, trendier neighbour, Shoreditch (in the East End).

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following tube stations:

- Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines) is at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway.

- Chancery Lane (Central line) is the best station for accessing Lincoln's Inn and the other Inns of Court.

- Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines) is the best station for acessing most of Clerkenwell's nightlife.

By train
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- Farringdon station offers overland rail services to Brighton, Bedford, and direct connections to London Gatwick and London Luton airports.

See
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Landmarks
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- Buildings of High Holborn, High Holborn, WC2 (tube: Holborn). See the rare range of Tudor half-timbered buildings while opposite is a magnificent marble courtyard building which stands on the site of the former Staple Inn. One of Charles Dickens's homes was on the site.

- Gray's Inn of Court, Gray's Inn Rd, WC1 (tube: Chancery Lane), +44 20 7458 7800 (fax: +44 20 7458 7801), [1]. One of the four Inns of Court in London who hold the exclusive right to call qualified legal professionals to the bar, i.e to become barristers at law. The grand buildings housing the inns are arranged around lovely green gardens. There are records of Gray's Inns operating from this location since the 14th century.

- The Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn, Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3TL (tube: Holborn, Chancery Lane), +44 20 7405 1393 (mail@lincolnsinn.org.uk), [2]. Like Gray's Inn, one the of the four societies of the bar. The wonderful old buildings here are arranged around the open spaces of Lincoln's Inn Fields and a walk around this area will give any visitor a real sense of the history and grand traditions of the legal profession in London.

- Myddelton Square Park, Myddelton Square, EC1R (tube: Angel), +44 20 7278 6075. Nice shady park next to St Marks Church. Small children's playground.

- Royal Courts of Justice, Strand (tube: Holborn, Charing Cross), +44 845 4568770 (fax: +44 20 3334 4087), [3]. M-F 9AM-4:30PM (though only open 10AM-2:30PM in Aug-Sep). The building holds the High Court and the Court of Appeal, two of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, though only civil cases are heard here. Trials are open to the public, but tourists would probably be more interested in seeing the impressive entrance hall, and admiring the stunning Victorian Gothic exterior. Admission free.

- Temple Church, Inner Temple, Fleet Street, EC4Y 7HL (tube: Temple), +44 20 7353 3470 (verger@templechurch.com, fax: +44 20 7353 1736), [4]. Has a history dating back to the 12th century with connections to the order of Templars. The chancel of the church was build by Henry III. The church still serves the members of Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn and has frequent service open to the public.

Museums
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- Hunterian Museum, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7405 3474 (museums@rcseng.ac.uk, fax: +44 20 7869 6564), [5]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Inside the Royal College of Surgeons. Exhibitions on the history of surgery, including medicine, natural history and art. The museum was established by John Hunter (1728 - 1793), the founder of scientific surgery. Free.

- Islington Museum, 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB (tube: Angel), +44 20 7527 3235 (islington.museum@islington.gov.uk), [6]. M-Tu, Th-Sa 10AM-5PM. Local history museum.

- Sir John Soane's Museum, Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3BP (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7440 4263, [7]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. The former home of architect Sir John Soane, the building has been converted into a museum, displaying some of the objects he collected during his lifetime, including the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I, and paintings by artists including William Hogarth. There is a display of some of Soane's architectural plans on the upper floor. Be sure to wait in the picture room until the guides open the walls up to reveal further paintings behind. The museum is a little-known tourist attraction, but well worth a visit. Admission free (but you're encouraged to leave a donation).

- Somerset House, Somerset House, Strand WC2R 1LA (tube: Charing Cross), +44 20 7845 4600, [8]. 10AM-6PM. Somerset House is home to three art galleries: The Courtauld Institute displays a collection of 19th and 20th century art, including well-known works by Degas, Matisse and Kandinsky; The Gilbert Collection presents a collection of decorative art; and The Hermitage Rooms, the most recent addition to Somerset House, hosts temporary exhibitions of works on loan from the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. The central courtyard is filled with fountains in the Summer, but in the Winter, an ice rink is installed, it is very popular, so visitors should book in advance, or expect to wait a long time to skate. £5 (admission fee to each of the three galleries).

Do
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- Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7242 8032 (conwayhall@ethicalsoc.org.uk, fax: +44 20 7242 8036), [9]. Theatre and concert hall.

- Gresham College, [10]. Attend a free public lectures, in Barnard's Inn Hall, renowned historic Inn of Court featured in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

- The Lilian Baylis Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN (tube: Angel), +44 20 7863 8000. Attached to Sadler's Wells Theatre, primarily perfomances by students.

- Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, WC2A 2HT (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7492 1593, [11]. Booking M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM.

- Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, EC1R 4TN (tube: Angel), +44 20 7863 8000, [12]. Leading dance production theatre with an amazing history back to the 1690s. Everthing from classical ballet to hip hop. For ballet fans, you have often got a much better chance of securing a ticket here than in the Covent Garden venues.

- Somerset House Ice Rink, Somerset House, Strand WC2R 1LA (tube: Charing Cross), +44 20 7845 4600, [13]. In the courtyard of Somerset House, this has become a Londoner's favorite, although how it will compete with the newcomers remains to be seen. It is preferable to visit at night, when the Christmas tree is lit up.

Buy
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- A-Z Atlas Company Shop, 44 Gray's Inn Rd WC1 (In the lower half of the road, opposite the Inns. tube: Chancery Lane), +44 20 72429246, [14]. Retail showroom of the company that produce the world famous London A-Z Atlases.

- Exmouth Market, Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QA (tube: Farringdon, Angel), [15]. Area with lifestyle, fashion, health, book and interior shops.

- Hatton Garden, Hatton Garden EC1N (tube: Chancery Lane), [16]. The London jewellery trade centre and especially famous for diamonds. A lot of dealers and designers to chose from, both contemporary and traditional.

- Leather Lane Market, Leather Lane EC1N (tube: Chancery Lane), [17]. Not much leather sold here these days but worth a visit for some great cheap finds. Clothing, electrical goods, toileteries and food. Combines well with a visit Hatton Garden which is in the next street east.

- Magma Books, 117-119 Clerkenwell Rd, +44 20 7242 9503, [18]. M-Sa 10AM-7PM. A fine bookshop specialising in the graphic arts, as well as toys, for not-quite-grown-up boys. A good place to pick up foreign design titles, or simply waste an hour browsing through lots of pretty books. A valuable stop for graphic junkies.

- Smithfield Market, 225 Central Markets, EC1A 9LH (tube: Farringdon), +44 20 7248 3151, [19]. M-F 3AM-noon. Smithfield Market is London's largest wholesale meat market and hence a great source of fresh meat from Britain and around the world. Additionally, there are many good restaurants in the vicinity.

Eat
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Budget
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- Blue Lion, 133 Gray's Inn Rd, WC1X 8TZ (tube: Chancery Lane, Russell Square, opposite the ITN building). Offers good food in an easy pub atmosphere.

- Cantina Augusto, 91-95 Clerkenwell Rd, EC1R 5BX (tube: , near the turning into Leather Lane), +44 20 7242 3246 (fax: +44 20 7831 3962), [20]. M-W noon-10PM, Th-F noon-10:30PM. An attractive Italian restaurant. Pizzas and pastas from around £8.

- Exmouth Market, Exmouth Market, EC1 (tube: Farringdon, Angel). weekday lunchtime. A wide variety of street food stalls, including Ghanaian, Thai, Mexican, Turkish, Jewish, Vegetarian, Spanish and Bengali cuisine. More stalls open Th-F, but there's something open every weekday. Most dishes around £5.

- L'Osteria 57, 57 Gray's Inn Rd, WC1X 8PP (tube: Chancery Lane), +44 20 7430 1990, [21]. Italian bistro with large range of pasta dishes and a carne menu. Inside and casual sidewalk seating. Mains £6-14.

- Necco, 52-54 Exmouth Market, +44 20 7713 8575, [22]. M-Sa 12.00-21.30PM. Japanese cafe bar with home-made sushi and a range of bento-box combinations. Friendly staff. Lunch around £5.

Mid-range
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- The Green, 29 Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0DU (Tube: Farringdon), +44 20 7490 8010 (hello@thegreenec1.co.uk), [23]. Easygoing gastro-pub with good quality, reasonably priced lunch menu, and tapas in the evening. £10-15 mains.

- Lingotto Restaurant, 45 Red Lion Street, WC1R 4PF (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7405 6830 (info@lingottorestaurant.com, fax: +44 20 7405 1142), [24]. M-F noon–2:30, 6PM–10:30PM; Sa 6PM–10:30PM. Italian restaurant. Mains £15.50-21.50.

- Little Bay Farringdon, 171 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3AL (tube: Farringdon), +44 20 278 1234 (farringdon@littlebay.co.uk), [25]. M-Sa 12pm–midnight; Su 12PM–11PM. European restaurant. Three-course meal £11.00-16.00.

- Moro, 34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE (tube: Angel, Farringdon), +44 20 7833 8336 (info@moro.co.uk), [26]. M-Sa 12:30PM-10:20PM (2:30PM-7PM tapas only). Offering North African/Spanish cuisine and serving the best tapas in the city. While there are endless options for meat eaters, there are also some tasty delights for vegetarians. Mains £18.50.

- Sakun Thai, 71 Red Lion Street, WC1R 4NA (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7831 8488, [27]. Modern Thai restaurant. Set menus from £19.50.

Splurge
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- Pearl Restaurant, 252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN (tube: Holborn), +44 20 7829 7000 (info@pearl-restaurant.com), [28]. M-F noon-2:30PM, 6PM-10PM; Sa 6PM-10PM. Modern international. Two course menu £47.

Drink
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Pubs and bars
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- Ye Old White Horse, 2 St. Clements Lane, +44 20 7242 5618, [29]. 11AM-11PM Mon-Sat. Great little Victorian pub adjacent to the LSE campus. "The Horse" is one of the last remaining little boozers of it's kind; a true throwback. Warm, welcoming, well-preserved interior, well-kept real ales, and a low-priced selection of sandwiches and pub meals make this place worth a visit while passing through Holborn.

- Bar Kick, 43 Exmouth Market, +44 20 7837 8077, [30]. noon-11PM daily (Su 10:30PM). Hidden down a backstreet away from the busier parts of Clerkenwell, lies a cosy little bar crammed with several table football machines, and a good selection of cocktails. In the summer people spread out onto the pedestrianised street and chat in the sun. Happy hour every day 4PM-7PM.

- Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Rd, [31]. Live music in the cellar every Friday. Venue is like a very small dungeon, but they know what is good music.

- Fluid, 40 Charterhouse St, +44 20 7253 3444, [32]. Tu W 7PM-midnight, Th-Sa 9PM-2AM. A stylish loosely Japanese themed bar upstairs (they serve sushi), with a more spread out dance floor down a spiral metal staircase. Plenty of sofas everywhere, although on the weekends you will have to get down early to slump in a chair. Bottled beers £2.90+, cocktails £6+. Free entry, except F Sa 9PM-10PM £3, after £5.

- Hat On Wall Bar, 20 Hatton Wall, +44 20 7242 9939. W-F late. A secret little bar hidden in a block of studios/media offices. You ring a buzzer to enter (it is directly opposite Clerkenwell House) and wander upstairs to the small bar. There are good DJs and it has a private party feel, they also have upside down buckets as lamp shades. A worthy find. Free entry.

- Horseshoe, 24 Clerkenwell Close, +44 20 7253 6068. Irish pub where they play live Irish music every Thursday at 8PM (check it on the net!). But, be there in due time, else you risk house full!

- The Knights Templar, Chancery Lane. Part of the JD Wetherspoon chain. Cheap-moderate.

- Water Rats Pub, Gray's Inn Rd (Upper part near King's Cross). Has regular live bands.

Clubs
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- Fabric, 77a Charterhouse St, +44 20 7336 8898, [33]. Th-Sa times vary (check listings). A massive club (think cathedral scale) that provides a more underground version of Ministry of Sound and hosts some of the biggest names in dance music, from Goldie to David Holmes to the Scratch Perverts. There are always big queues, so get down early if you can. Entry £12-15, discount for NUS.

- SOSHO, 2 Tabernacle St, +44 20 7920 0701, [34]. Tu noon-midnight, W Th noon-1AM, F noon-3AM, Sa 7PM-4AM, Su 9PM-6AM. Sosho is a former photographic studio and warehouse space converted into a two floor restaurant, bar, lounge and club with a 24 hour licence, midway between the city and central Shoreditch. Sosho is light and airy during the day time, candle lit and loungey in the evening. Serve carefully sourced and proper food, with world class cocktails and great music on one of East London's best sound system. With a 24 hour licence it is a late night drinking and DJ bar during the week and a cutting edge clubbing venue at the weekend.

- Tabernacle, 55-61 Tabernacle St, +44 20 7253 5555, [35]. M-Th noon-midnight, F noon-1AM, Sa 6PM-1AM, Su 11:30AM-10:30PM. Nice, stylish lounge bar for the urban 20- to 30-something. Good atmoshpere. Good selection of drinks. For a nice, smoothing choice ask for Apple and Cranberry sling. There is dancing in the basement. Make sure to get there before doors close at midnight.

Sleep
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There are not too many hotel options in this district and visiotrs are better off looking in neighbouring Bloomsbury.

Budget
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- London School of Economics (during vacations), [36]. Single from £32, twin from £50, triple from £64.

- Swinton Hotel, 18-24 Swinton Street WC1X 9NX (tube: Kings Cross), 44 20 7837 1451 (swintonhotel@hotmail.com), [37]. Good value bed and breakfast in the north west of the district. From £55.

Mid-range
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- MiNC Eagle Court, Eagle Court 10-11 Britton Street, EC1M 5QD (tube: Farringdon), +44 20 7397 1325 (sales@mincapartments.com), [38]. Studio, one and two bedroom service apartments. Very modern and nicely appointed. From £99.

Splurge
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- Malmaison London, 18-21 Charterhouse Square, EC1M 6AH (tube: Barbican), +44 20 7012 3700 (london@malmaison.com), [39]. Doubles from around £200.

- Renaissance Chancery Court London, 252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN, +44 20 7829 9888, [40]. Try this Marriot hotel for a very upscale experience. It is in an older building that has been beautifully renovated(formerly HQ of Pearl Assurance). There is high-speed internet, but the charge is £15 per day. The hotel is air-conditioned. The staff is very helpful. A great experience, if you can pay the rates. Doubles from £204.

- The Rookery, Peter's Lane, Cowcross Street, EC1M 6DS (tube: Farringdon), +44 20 7336 0931 (reservations@rookery.co.uk). An atmosphere and decor that more recalls a private gentleman's club than a hotel. From £149.

Contact
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District Leicester Square Table of Contents

• Understand

Chinatown

Leicester Square

Trafalgar Square

• Get in

By tube

By train

• Get around

• See

• Do

Cinemas

Mainstream

Arthouse

Theatre

Other

• Buy

Books

• Eat

Chinatown

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Understand
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Chinatown
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Chinatown is centrally located in the West End, along and around Gerrard Street off Leicester Square. It spreads into Wardour Street at one end and Newport Place at the other. London's Chinatown may not be quite as large as those in San Francisco or Vancouver but it is still a great place to dine out in the evening, authentically Chinese and definitely different from anywhere else in London.

Leicester Square
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This smallish London square is the site of most British film premieres and the square itself is surrounded by terrifyingly-expensive cinemas - tickets for an evening screening will cost upwards of £17, 3D screenings will cost upwards of £15. At night, Leicester Square becomes exceptionally busy with tourists and locals, visiting the surrounding clubs and bars. In the north-west corner of the square is the Swiss Centre - unaccountably popular with tourists, the building is nowadays home to Sound nightclub, and boasts a carillion in the corner which depicts a Swiss mountain scene and plays tinny versions of Beatles hits on the hour throughout the day. The TKTS half price ticket booth is on the south side of Leicester Square for cheap tickets for theatre performances.

Trafalgar Square
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Trafalgar Square is a large public square commemorating Lord Horatio Nelson's victory against Napoleon's navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The central monument within the square is a single tall column on which the figure of Nelson stands gazing over London and is one of the great iconic images of London. His monument is surrounded by four colossal lions and a series of large fountains. Much more than just an open plaza, Trafalgar Square is famous as the location of a large number of important buildings and institutions that surround the square and fill the streets surrounding it. Trafalgar Square also marks the northern end of Whitehall, the centre of British government.

In 2003 and 2003 Trafalgar Square was renovated and expanded to link up directly with the National Gallery on the north side of the square - a great improvement to the traffic which once completely encircled this, the largest public square in the West End. The early 18th century church of St Martins in the Fields stands at the north-east corner of the square. Just by the church, Charing Cross Road gives access to the fabulous National Portrait Gallery, and leads on further to Leicester Square, Soho and the famous collection of bookstores on the road itself. To the south, Whitehall leads to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street.

Christmas time sees the erection of a large Christmas Tree within the square, the annual gift of the people of Oslo, capital of Norway, as a token of gratitude for Britain's help in WWII. Trafalgar Square is also traditionally the scene of lively celebrations for Londoners on New Years Eve, though an increasingly heavy police presence has meant that some antics (drunks leaping into the fountains) have all but disappeared. More recently, Trafalgar Square has served as an outdoor venue for concerts and VIP appearances, courtesy of the Mayor of London's Office, which is keen to see Londoners use their public spaces better. Visitors to the square on an ordinary day may also discover small-scale demonstrations and public speakers - the Square is a convenient gathering place near to, but not threatening, the seat of British Government down the road at Westminster.

Get in
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By tube
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Leicester Square is served by a tube station of the same name actually located just off the north east corner of the Square on Charing Cross Road. The station is on both the Northern and Piccadilly Lines and acts as a convenient place to start any exploration of London's West End.

Chinatown is a short walk from both Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines) — walk east along Shaftesbury Avenue, before turning right at Wardour Street, watch for the ornamental gates — and Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern Lines) stations.

The nearest tube station to Trafalgar Square is Charing Cross on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines.

Piccadilly Circus is served by a tube station of the same name.

By train
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Charing Cross mainline station serves the south-eastern region of England.

Get around
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Walk. This is a small district which lends itself perfectly to exploration on foot.

See
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- Chinese arches (Paifang), at each end of Gerrard Street and at the entrance to Macclesfield Street. The three ornamental Chinese arches are worth a look.

- Chinese culture. The main sights to see in London's Chinatown are the expressions of Chinese culture and Eastern ambience in Chinatown, and for a good Chinese meal. There are few souvenir shops for tourists and no museums or temples.

- Chinatown phone booths. Chinatown does incorporate some entertaining combinations of British and Chinese culture, such as the phone booths with pagoda-style sloping roofs.

- Edith Cavell Memorial, St Martin's Place WC2 (just off Trafalgar Square). Statue in honour of the World War I nursing heroine.

- Leicester Square Garden. Relax and unwind in the garden, and gaze at the activity going on all around, while listening to the buskers, street entertainers and preachers performing in the area.

- National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2 5DN, +44 )20 77472885, [1]. 10AM- 6PM daily, Fridays to 9PM. Houses the British national collection of western European art dating from the 13th to 19th centuries. A truly awe-inspiring collection, notable works include Hans Holbein's The Ambassadors, Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Constable's The Haywain. The vast majority of art is free of charge to visit. Temporary exhibitions are generally fairly costly, but invariably well researched and presented. The audioguides are very comprehensive, have comments on most of the paintings in the museum, and are free though this fact is not advertised. A donation is suggested. In addition to courses, workshops, lectures and other events, the National Gallery has free talks and tours every day. Free.

- National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE, +44 20 73060055, [2]. Daily 10AM-6PM, Thu and Fri until 9PM. The National Portrait Gallery is just around the corner from the National Gallery and is an entertaining way to learn about British history since the Tudors. Visitors walk around the gallery chronologically, viewing portraits of notable figures from British history - from Henry VII, painted by Hans Holbein, to Blur, painted by Julian Opie. Free except some non-permanent exhibitions.

- Piccadilly Circus, (tube: Piccadilly Circus). At the junction of five major roads, Piccadilly Circus is the home of the famous aluminum statue of Eros, which sits atop a fountain. The north side of Piccadilly Circus holds an enormous display board of electric advertisements, including Britain's biggest illuminated display (the widest in the world), advertising a popular soft drink.

- St Martins in the Fields, 8 St Martin's Pl, WC2, [3]. A classical church that stands opposite the National Gallery. Since WWI, the homeless have sought shelter at this church, a tradition that continues to this day.

- Trafalgar Square, (Nearest tube: Charing Cross). The main, central square of London, Trafalgar Square is associated with celebration and demonstration - it is the site of London's lacklustre New Year celebrations, and in 2003 was the site of the triumphant homecoming of the British Rugby team from the World Cup, and a centre for demonstration against Britain's involvement in the Iraq War. In recent years, the square has been associated with the many hundreds of pigeons that used to be found here, but London's Mayor Ken Livingstone passed a bylaw in 2003 making it illegal to feed them. Nelson's Column, surrounded by the four bronze lions can be found here, on the south side of the square. The north-west plinth in the square has been vacant since 1841, and controversial contemporary sculpture has been displayed here in recent years.

Do
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Cinemas
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Leicester Square square hosts most high-profile London cinema premieres, on which occasions it is fenced and crowded beyond comfort by people desperately trying to take a look at their celebrity of choice.

Mainstream
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- Empire, 5-6 Leicester Sq, WC2 (tube: Leicester Sq), +44 20 7437 1234. M-F until 5PM £5, M-F after 5PM £7.50, £8.00, £9.00, Sa Su - £7.50, £8.00, £9.00.

- Odeon Leicester Square, Leicester Sq, WC2 (tube: Leicester Sq), [4]. Also includes the Odeon Mezzanine and Odeon West End M-F until 5PM £5.00, £6.00, £6.50 M-F after 5PM £10.00, Sa Su £11.00.

- Warner Village West End, Leicester Sq, WC2, +44 20 7437 4347, [5]. F-S £10.00, M-F until 7PM £7.00, M-Su after 5PM £10.00, Sa Su until 5PM £10.00.

Arthouse
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- Curzon Soho Cinema, 99 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 5DY, [6]. Voted "London's Number 1 Cinema" by Time Out readers, great bar and a fantastic art-house program.

- Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Pl (Down a side street to the north, just up from the Häagen-Dazs), [7]. The cheapest and in some ways most interesting cinema in the area. They do not screen the latest films but usually have an interesting selection, including foreign and art house films and often have theme nights. Get hold of the program at the door or on the internet and consider buying the discount-granting yearly membership if you plan to come back a few times. M £1.99, Tu-F £2.50, Sa Su £3.50.

Theatre
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Along with neighbouring Covent Garden this is the capital of London's theatreland and the most famous London theatres are in this district. Check individual theatre websites of the official London theatreland website [8] for current programmes and never neglect the official half price ticket booth in Leicester Square itself:

- TKTS (half price ticket booth), Leicester Square (tube: Leicester Sq. Booth is on the south side of the square in the clock tower building), [9]. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Tickets can only be bought in person so do not try to contact by telephone. At times, there may well be long queues, so be prepared.

Please note that most of the booking office numbers given below will only work from within the United Kingdom. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website.

The Leicester Square Box Office, otherwise known as LSBO also offers a great selection of great deals on tickets to top London shows and musicals. Tickets can be booked online at www.lsbo.com, over the phone on 020 7087 2999, or in person!

- Adelphi Theatre, 409-412 Strand, London, WC2E 7NA, +44 0844 412 4651, [10].

- Apollo Theatre, 39-45 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EZ, +44 844 579 1971, [11].

- Comedy Theatre, 6 Panton St, SW1Y 4DN, +44 0870 060 6637, [12].

- The Criterion Theatre, 2 Jermyn St, SW1Y 4XA, +44 0844 847 1778, [13].

- Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0HH, +44 844 579 1974, [14].

- Gielgud Theatre, 39-45 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6AR, +44 0844 482 5130, [15].

- Her Majesty's Theatre, 57 Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL, +44 844 412 4653, [16].

- Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BX, +44 0844 847 2475, [17].

- The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7ES, +44 844 579 1972, [18].

- The Palace Theatre, 109-113 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 5AY, +44 0844 412 4656, [19].

- The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JP, +44 0870 060 6629, [20].

- Piccadilly Theatre, Denman St, W1D 7DY, +44 0844 412 6666, [21].

- Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5DE, +44 0870 060 6631, [22].

- Prince of Wales Theatre, (Coventry St, W1D 6AS), +44 0870 850 0393, [23].

- Queen's Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6BA, +44 0870 950 0930, [24].

- Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk St, SW1Y 4HT, +44 0845 481 1870, [25].

- Wyndham's Theatre, 32-36 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0DA, +44 0844 482 5120, [26].

Other
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- Chinese New Year Festival. Worth seeing, though Gerrard St can get unbelievably crowded, as the dragon dancers pass along the street to collect goodies hung from windows above the shops. In recent years, the festival has expanded south into Leicester Sq and Trafalgar Sq to try to alleviate the congestion.

Buy
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Books
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Charing Cross Road and the tiny Cecil Court which leads off it, have long been the centre of the specialist and antiquarian book trade in London. There are less outlets than previously as spiralling rents pushed out a lot of the traditional booksmiths but a lot still remain. Any booklover will be in heaven here.

- Any Amount of Books, 56 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0QA (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7836 3697, [27]. Rare and second-hand books. Specialise in scholarly academic works and art-related titles.

- David Drummond at Pleasures of Past Times, 11 Cecil Court WC2N 4EZ (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7836 1142. Specialises in books and other memorabilia related to the performing arts and old children's books.

- Goldsboro Books, 7 Cecil Court WC2N 4EZ (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7497 9230 (enquiries@goldsborobooks.co.uk), [28]. First editions and signed fiction

- Paul J Hilton, 12 Cecil Court WC2N 4HE (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7379 9825. Antiquarian and general books, especially first edition English literature.

- Henry Pordes Books Ltd, 58-60 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0BB (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7836 9031 (mailto:info@henrypordesbooks.com), [29]. Secondhand, antiquarian and all out-of print books.

- Quinto Bookshop & Francis Edwards, 72 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0BB, +44 20 7379 7669 (mailto:sales@quintobookshop.co.uk), [30]. Huge collection. Francis Edwards have been in business here since 1856.

Eat
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All sorts of food are available. While London's Chinatown boasts some of the city's best Chinese food, quality and value vary enormously between individual restaurants. While some consistently win awards, others seem to be regularly being refurbished following visits from the local Environmental Health department. Unless you're on an extreme budget, it is worth paying a little more for quality food and service. Be careful especially with the common all you can eat deals.

- Café in the Crypt, Trafalgar Sq, [31]. In the basement of St Martin-in-the-Fields church is the Café in the Crypt which offers reasonably-priced cafe food that you can eat amongst the brick-vaulted ceilings, pillars and gravestones.

- The Portrait Restaurant, at the National Portrait Gallery, +44 20 7312 2490. Offers spectacular food accompanied by spectacular food on the 5th floor of the National Portrait Gallery. A must do dining experience.

- Tokyo Diner, 2 Newport Place (At the eastern end of Lisle St, near the Prince Charles Cinema). noon-midnight. Offers excellent and well-priced Japanese food.

Chinatown
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- China China, 3 Gerrard St, +44 20 7439 7502. At the budget end of the scale, China China at the eastern end of the north side of Gerrard Street offers Hong Kong diner style meals of cold meat on hot rice. around £5 for a generous portion.

- Friendly Inn, 47 Gerrard St, +44 20 7437 4170, [32]. Offers cheap fare on the southern side of Gerrard Street. The restaurant lives up to its name with very enthusiastic serving staff, but unless you stick to the set menus, the cost of the meal can soon increase.

- Lee Ho Fook, 15-16 Gerrard St, +44 20 7492 1200. The best known restaurant in Chinatown, as immortalised in Warren Zevon's song Werewolves of London. The restaurant plays on this tiny crumb of fame, displaying a much-faded image of the singer in its window. Meals here are relatively costly by local standards, and generally not reported to be outstandingly good.

- Luxuriance Peking Cuisine, 40 Gerrard St, +44 20 7734 0262. This family-owned business that started up in 1980 is famous for its freshly cooked crispy aromatic duck, seafood banquet and pork spare ribs. The interior is comfortable, relaxed and modern.

- New World, 1 Gerrard Pl, +44 20 7734 0396. A well-decorated and plush-looking restaurant which serves excellent dim sum on trolleys from midday until around 6PM. Good quality evening food is available thereafter, and the service is very good overall.

- Wong Kei, 41-43 Wardour St, W1 (opposite the western end of Gerrard Street), +44 20 7437 3071. A Chinatown institution. Popular with Londoners and visitors alike and possibly the best value Chinese restaurant in the whole of London. Spread across four floors, this restaurant is infamous for its surly, abrupt service and this has become part of the experience of dining there. Depending on how drunk you look, the higher up the building you will be sent. Tea is complimentary, though somewhat bland. Set meals present excellent value for money, some being under £5. The sweet and sour pork is remarkably good.

Drink
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There are relatively few decent places to drink in this district and visitors would do better to head north into Soho or east in Covent Garden, for a better selection of bars and pubs. However, if your legs are weary, there are a number of convenient drinking places:

- 1997, 19 Wardour St. Cosy place to visit if you are not feeling in an alcoholic mood. They provide a good selection of iced and pearl tapioca teas which are often hard to come by outside of Hong Kong.

- Cork and Bottle Wine Bar, 44-46 Cranbourn St, +44 20 7734 7807. More of a wine bar than a restaurant, the extensive wine list featuring selections from Australia and California. They offer reasonable cuisine to wash down this full bodied wines.

- De Hems, 11 Macclesfield St, W1D 5BW (North from halfway along Gerrard Street). Dutch-themed pub with an excellent selection of beers. It is often crowded, but has a good atmosphere and a comedy club.

- Geisha Bar, 75 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0NE, [33]. A well-known wine bar that also features an extensive and imaginative cocktail menu.

- Trash Palace, 11 Wardour St W1D 6PG, +44 20 7734 0522. Fantastic small gay bar, mixed music and a laid back mixed crowd.

- Waxy's O'Connor's, 14-16 Rupert St, W1D 6DD. Irish themed pub with a fibreglass tree inside it. It is almost invariably unbearably crowded. The smaller Waxy's Little Sister opposite it, however, is generally quieter and more relaxed.

Sleep
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Very few visitors actually stay in this district and the options which are available are not particularly good value. This is a district to visit, not to stay in.

- Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square Hotel, 3 St. Martins St, WC2H 7HL, +44 20 7930 8641 (reshamp@radisson.com), [34]. Small hotel furnished in a sleek, contemporary design. From £148.

- Thistle Picadilly, Coventry St, W1D 6BZ, +44 845 3058330, [35]. Affordable and centrally located but a tired property. From £159.

- The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gardens, SW1A 2TS, +44 20 774 1500, [36]. Hilton's first boutique hotel in London. From £240.

Contact
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District Mayfair-Marylebone Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• See

Landmarks

Museums and Galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay Safe

• Contact

Understand
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This is a large area of central London with the south encompassing the whole of Mayfair and Piccadilly and the north the whole area from Oxford Street through Marylebone to Regent's Park and the border with St John's Wood.

Mayfair is named after the fortnight-long May Fair that took place there from 1686 until it was banned from that location in 1764. (Before 1686, the May Fair was held in the Haymarket; after 1764, it moved to Fair Field in Bow). The area was owned by the Grosvenor family and much of the land is still part of the Grosvenor Estate, having been originally developed for residences from the late seventeenth century. This is an extremely well-heeled district, as symbolised by its appearance as the most expensive property on the London Monopoly board, closely followed by one of its main thoroughfares, Park Lane. The district includes several major shopping streets, including Bond Street, Regent Street, Jermyn Street and much of Oxford Street.

Marylebone to the north of Oxford Street, is less grand than Mayfair but is still home to some very desirable housing, as well major tourist attraction such as Madame Tussaud's, The Planetarium, the fictional haunt of Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street and the wide open green space of Regent's Park.

Get in
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By tube
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There are a lot of tube stations in the area, making the district extremely easy to access, with all sites of interest a maximum of 10-15 minutes walk from any station:

- Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).

- Oxford Circus (Central and Bakerloo lines).

- Marble Arch (Central line).

- Baker Street (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines)

- Bond Street (Central line).

- Green Park (Piccadilly and Victoria lines).

- Edgware Road (Circle, District and Hammersmith lines).

- Regent's Park (Bakerloo line).

- Marylebone (Bakerloo line).

- Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line).

- Warren Street (Victoria and Northern lines)

The Tube is the best way to reach Oxford Street; although there are plenty of buses serving the area, the traffic congestion is pretty bad, and the wait can be lengthy. The Central Line runs pretty much directly beneath Oxford Street at this point, with four stations along its length: Marble Arch, Bond Street (also served by the Jubilee Line), Oxford Circus (also served by the Bakerloo and Victoria lines), and Tottenham Court Road (also served by the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line). If possible, avoid Oxford Circus Station, as its layout is confusing and it's also very busy; at times it can be difficult to get out of the station at all due to pedestrian congestion outside.

By train
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Marylebone Station is also a mainline rail station, this terminus for trains from Birmingham, Warwick, Banbury, Aylesbury and High Wycombe is one of the best preserved Victorian railway stations. With Oxford Street on its southern boundary, there are no shortage of buses.

By bus
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- 23 & 7 travel up Edgware Rd and on towards Bayswater & Notting Hill.

See
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Landmarks
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- Grosvenor Square. Nicknamed Little America, it is home to the American Embassy and a statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

- Marble Arch, (Where the north-eastern point of Hyde Park meets the south-western tip of Marylebone). This enormous arch was originally situated in front of Buckingham Palace. In 1851 the expansion of the palace meant the arch could no longer remain where it was, so it was moved to this point on Hyde Park. It now stands rather sadly on a large traffic island, but the subway beneath the roads mean you can stop off at the Marble Arch on your way from Oxford St to Hyde Park.

- Regent's Park, (tube: Baker St or Regent's Park), +44 20 7486 7905 (regents@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk), [3]. Large open space very popular with Londoners and less visited by tourists than the other great city parks. A number of lovely lakes, an open air theatre, regular puppet shows, various sporting activities and some splendid ancient trees. There is also a cafe and play area next to the boating pond.

- Regent's Park Mosque, 146 Park Rd NW1, (info@iccuk.org), [4]. Islamic Cultural Centre, much better known as Regent's Park Mosque. This the is main mosque in London. Visitors are welcome but must be suitably attired. The Mosque runs classes, prayers, talks and events.

- Speaker's Corner. Over the road from Marble Arch in Hyde Park itself is a traditional location for preachers and speakers of all types wanting to be heard. On Sunday morning some dozen or more orators turn up with a box or stepladder and talk loudly about whatever it is they feel strongly about, be it religion, capitalism, the government, or whether the aliens really are coming to get us. Yes it is a bit of a nuthouse but very amusing to behold and must be seen to be believed. You can not help thinking it is good there is somewhere for people like this to go.

- Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner (tube: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)). A grand neoclassical arch, designed by Decimus Burton and first erected in 1826 as a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace. From 1846 onwards, the arch was topped with a massive equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington - a major road widening of Piccadilly in 1882 was the opportunity to finally remove the over sized statue to Aldershot. The present magnificent statue Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War was placed on top of the Arch in 1912, and remains today the largest bronze sculpture in the United Kingdom, spectacularly lit at night. During the 1950s, the arch served as the smallest police station in the city, when it was occupied by ten constables, two sergeants and a cat! The arch was opened to the public for the first time in April 2001 after a £1.5 million restoration by English Heritage. (Wellington Arch is also available for corporate and private events - with dramatic views down Constitution Hill and across central London from the Arch's spacious balconies, Wellington Arch is a novel and unique place to impress your guests).

- ZSL London Zoo (London Zoo), Outer Circle Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, +44 20 7722 3333, [5]. 10AM-4PM daily, closed Christmas Day. London's main zoo in the northern part of Regent's Park. Takes a very conservation-driven approach these days and always has great exhibits aimed at children. £14.80, £11.80 under 15s, £13,30 adult students and other concessions.

Museums and Galleries
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- Apsley House (The Wellington Museum), Duke of Wellington Pl/169 Piccadilly (tube: Hyde Park Corner), +44 20 7499 5676, [6]. W-Su 11AM-5PM. The former home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, boasting an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture, medals and swords. £4.50. £5.

- Handel House Museum, 25 Brook Street W1K 4HB (tube: Bond Street), +44 20 7495 1685 (mail@handelhouse.org), [7]. Tu,W,F,Sa 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-8PM, Su noon-6PM. Home to the baroque composer George Frideric Handel from 1723 until his death in 1759. Some of the greatest classical music ever composed was done so at this address. The museum charts Handel's life and works and offers recitals of music in the magnificent setting of the period rooms. By means of contrast, next door was home to Jimi Hendrix when he lived in London in 1969! £2-5.

- Madame Tussauds and the London Planetarium, Marylebone Rd (tube: Baker St), +44 (0) 871 894 3000, [8]. M-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa Su 9:30AM-5:30PM. Madame Tussaud's is a world famous waxwork museum, best known for its Grand Hall, with a collection of international royalty, statesmen and world leaders. Visitors generally report that the entrance fee does not warrant the selection of waxworks on show, which rarely resemble the celebrities. Also, there is usually a long queue stretching down the road. The Planetarium offers a good mix of education and entertainment, however. £10-20 ('fee includes access to both attractions, but pricing depends on time of visit, price decreases as closing time approaches, and whether visitors wish to pass through the Chamber of Horrors').

- The Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly (Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus), +44 20 7300 8000, [9]. Su-Th 10AM-6PM, F 10AM-10PM. The Royal Academy no longer has a permanent exhibition space, instead hosting art exhibitions. Notable recent exhibitions have included the paintings of Monet, contemporary art associated with the theme of apocalypse, and Aztec art. Each Summer, the Royal Academy gives exhibition plays host to a Summer Exhibition, displaying 1,200 new works by established and new artists selected by the academy, most of which are available for visitors to buy. Each member has to donate a work of art, so over the years, the academy has built a sizable collection. Exhibitions are invariably excellent, and it is worth paying for audio guides, if they are not included. Visitors should book tickets in advance, as exhibitions are often very popular - particularly shortly after opening. £7 to £9 ('admission price varies between exhibitions).

- Sherlock Holmes Museum, 239 Baker St (Also known as 221B Baker St), +44 20 7935 8866, [10]. 9:30AM-6PM daily. Discover mementos of this famous fictional detective. £6.

- Wallace Collection, Manchester Sq (tube: Bond St), +44 20 7563 9527, [11]. 10AM-5PM daily. The Wallace Collection is one of the world's finest private art collections, the best known of which is Frans Hals's work The Laughing Cavalier. Other artists on display include Rembrandt, Titian, Poussin, and Reynolds. Well worth escaping to after the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. Free.

Do
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- Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon St, +44 20 7495 0500, [12]. Retro 70s decor, a relaxing bar area and comfortable seating combine with a great art-house billing, easily one of the best cinemas in London.

- London Friday Night Skate, (Hyde Park Corner), [13]. F 8PM. Group street skate every Friday night.

- Sunday Stroll, (Serpentine Road), [14]. Su 2PM. Group street skate.

Buy
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Oxford Street has been a shopping mecca and London's premier shopping street since 1908, will max out your credit card and will provide you with a store for anything you need. Virtually all of the major British retail chains have their flagship branches along Oxford Street. Selfridges is worth a visit for its food hall; it also has a great selection of bottled beers. John Lewis is good for fabrics, knitting supplies, other crafts, furniture, and homewares in general. Intersecting Oxford St proper is Regent St, which houses the famous Liberty department store, again worth a visit for fabrics and home furnishings. Also interesting is the Dickens and Jones department store.

The eastern boundary of the area is marked by Tottenham Court Road, which is London's famous area for specialist electronics, hi-fi and computer equipment shops - most of these are concentrated near the southern half of the road, whilst the northern half is famous for its furnishing stores.

If your taste is for mainstream designer label gooods, try Bond Street. Synonymous with international designers and luxury goods, it is a great way to experience London's finest at its best. The street is recognized as the premier location for shopping in London, and perhaps the world, featuring brands and designer labels recognized the world over.

Saville Row is synonymous with perhaps the highest quality men's suits in the world. There are many bespoke tailors to chose from, most of whom are behind quite discreet shop fronts. If you feel like really treating yourself, nothing could be more London than a suit from Saville Row and a shirt from Jermyn St.

- Aspreys, 167 New Bond St W1S 4AY (tube: Bond Street), +44 20 7493 6767, [15]. One of the most famous luxury jewellers anywhere in the world. At least have a look in the window

- Burberry, 21-23 New Bond St W1S 2RE, [16]. Until its recent and totally inexplicable adoption by the Hip Hop fashion industry, this was the most staid and traditional Britsh clothing label imaginable! visit the flagship store on Bond St and look at the famous check.

- Fortnum and Mason, 181 Piccadilly W1A 1ER, +44 20 7734 8040, [17]. World famous as grocers to the British Royal Family, Fortnum's original store has been here in Piccadilly since 1707.

- Grays Antique Markets, 58 Davies St & 1-7 Davies Mews W1K 5AB (tube: Bond Street), +44 20 7629 7034 (info@graysantiques.com), [18]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-5PM. A remarkably diverse collection of antique and collectibles dealers all under one roof adjoining Bond St station. Certainly the best option in central London for visitors interestd in collectibles in particular.

- Hamley's, 188-196 Regent St W1B 5BT (tube: Oxford Circus), 0800 280 2444, [19]. Unleash your inner child, and your children at Hamleys, the largest toy store in England. With over seven floors, you could spend hours here.

- Liberty, Great Marlborough St W1B 5AH (tube: Oxford Circus, the main frontage is on Regent St despite the address), +44 20 7734 1234 (info@liberty.co.uk), [20]. The flagship, original store of the world famous British brand. Lovely old building and great fun to browse in Liberty even if you are not going to buy something!

- Cad & the Dandy (Men's Suits Tailors & Shirtmakers), 12 Savile Row London W1S 3PR, 0207 283 1975, [21]. Remarkable bespoke & made to measure suit tailors for men. Fine English fabrics, affordable. Also offer men's wedding suit tailoring. Design your suit using their online designing tool. 450.

Eat
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Budget
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- Maroush, Edgware Rd. A chain of Middle Eastern food including

- Migen. Pan-asian food at budget prices. The owner has his supplies shipped in specifically from the far east, and declares his secret is always using chillies from the country of the dish. If you are stuck for choice, try the agedashi-dofu (deep-fried tofu with dipping sauce).

- Paul, Marylebone High St. French patisserie and bakery with some seating available.

- Seashell, 49-51 Lisson Grove NW1 6UH (tube: Marylebone), +44 20 7224 9000 (enquiry@seashellrestaurant.co.uk), [22]. M-F noon-2.30PM 5.00PM-10.30PM, Sa noon-10.30PM, Su noon-4PM. A premium fish and chip shop that has some seating as well as dishing up hundreds of take-away packages every day. Londoners travel miles to order here. The effort is well and truly worth it.

Mid-range
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- Carluccio's Caffè, St. Christopher’s Place, +44 20 7935 5927. M-F 8AM-11PM, Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM. Creative Italian cuisine, enjoy a bottle of pinot grigio at the bar while waiting for a table to free. Main £6-15.

- Giraffe. World food at great prices. Great for children

- Tapa Room, Marylebone High St. With the more formal Providores restaurant upstairs.

Splurge
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- Chez Gerard, 31 Dover Street W1S 4ND (at the northern end of Dover St, tube: Green Park,), +44 20 7499 8171, [23]. French brasserie of some repute. Two storey restaurant.

Drink
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- Coco Momo, 70 Marylebone High. Trendy and upbeat atmosphere with an extensive cocktail list.

- Jetlag, Under the iconic BT Tower, +44 20 3370 5838, [24]. M-Th 10AM-11PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight. International cocktail bar delivering cocktails from around the world with Japanese and global inspired food menu. Also a cinema screen showing high definition sport and can be hired out for special functions. Affordable luxury.

- Low Life, Marylebone. Basement bar with DJs.

- The Volunteer, 247 Baker St. A great pub for a relaxed evening. Great atmosphere and a minute walk from Baker Street Tube.

- Windsor Castle. A local pub popular with the London Business School crowd.

Sleep
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Budget
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- Oxford Street Youth Hostel, 14 Noel St, [25]. A busy, vibrant hostel, not a place for a quiet break. Self-catering kitchen. 2-4 bed rooms. Adults from £24.50.

Mid-range
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- 20 Hertford Street Apartments, 20 Hertford St W1J 7RX, 0845 226 9831 (info@citybaseapartments.com), [26]. From £69 per night to £400 per night.

- Holiday Inn Oxford Circus, 57-59 Welbeck St, [27]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Clean hotel.

- Lincoln House Hotel, 33 Gloucester Pl (Marble Arch), [28]. A three star accommodation a few minutes from Madame Tussauds, Sherlock Holmes museum, Hyde Park corner. On average £79.

- Langham London, 1C Portland Pl, Regent St. Opened in 1865 as Europe's grand hotel, the Langham still retains its elegance and charm with luxuriously furnished rooms and spectacular views.

- The Montcalm Hotel, Great Cumberland Pl, Marble Arch London, [29]. 120 bedrooms and suites with all marble bathrooms, a minute's walk from Hyde Park, Marble Arch and Oxford Street shopping.

Splurge
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- Claridge's, 49 Brook St, +44 20 7629 8860, [30]. A London institution for those in the know. On the corner of Brook street and Davies street. Famous for serving traditional afternoon tea and hosts Gordon Ramsay's restaurant.

- The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Pl, +44 20 7499 7070, [31]. . Individually designed suites and rooms by Guy Oliver. Recently opened Hélène Darroze's restaurant, a Michelin-starred French chef.

- Dorchester Hotel, Park Ln, [32]. One of the most prestigious five-star luxury hotels anywhere in the world owned by the Brunei royal family. If you have to ask the rates, you probably can not afford to stay here.

- Grand Residences by Marriott, 47 Park St, [33].

- Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, 30 Portman Sq, +44 20 7486 5800 (london.churchill@hyattintl.com), [34]. Five star hotel with 444 rooms and suites. The hotel is host to Locanda Locatelli Michelin star Italian restaurant.

- London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, [35]. Less expensive than some of the other hotels in the area. It is on a side street, so it is a little quieter. The rooms are reasonably sized, the beds have been upgraded. The hotel is in a district that has a lot of Middle Eastern shops and restaurants. People can be seen smoking hookahs in the cafes in the neighborhood. Very close to the shopping on Oxford St. Rooms have high speed internet at £15 per day.

- London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, [36]. In the heart of Mayfair, adjacent to Hyde Park and a stroll from Oxford ST and Bond St. Originally built as a large townhouse, the hotel has been newly refurbished.

- Park Lane Mews Hotel, Park Ln, [37]. A luxury four star hotel. Minutes walk to Knightsbridge, Oxford Street, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Regents Street and Hyde Park. Combines the charm of a traditional boutique hotel with modern facilities.

- The Mandeville Hotel, Mandeville Place, +44 207 935 5599, [38]. Modern amenities including LCD flat-screen TV, iPod docking stations, and WiFi access. £90-£185.

- The Ritz Hotel London (The Ritz), 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR, +44 20 7493 8181, [39]. One of the London's great hotels for more than a century. Located on Piccadilly over-looking Green Park. If you cannot afford to stay here (likely), then a splurge on afternoon tea is recommended. Dress appropriately though otherwise you will not get past the door.

Stay Safe
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Whilst Oxford Street is one of the most safe streets in central London, there are, however, a few things to be aware of:

Crowds Oxford Street is very busy most days of the week, and can be unbearably so during the weekends - the areas around the junction with Tottenham Court Road, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus in particular. If you are in a hurry, be a Londoner and avoid the crowds by diverting via the back streets which run parallel to Oxford Street - plus you have the advantages of stumbling upon little gems such as restaurants, cafes and bars that are off the beaten track!

Begging & "The Clipboard People" Most homeless people asking for money won't and don't usually physically accost you, however, you will see them selling the "Big Issue", which is a magazine published by a homeless charity. "The Clipboard People" are usually students who have been recruited by a charity to waylay passersby and ask if they want to sign up to their charity. Please remember that you are not obliged to purchase either product although "The Clipbard People" are usually far more persistent and will try and attract you in a more aggressive manner. To get rid of these people just say "No" firmly or ignore them.

Targeting If you are a young woman on her own you may become targeted by young men working in the t-shirt shops who wish to invite you for a meal and become quite persistant or young men saying that they have "seen you around" and want to know your name. Firmly tell them "No" and walk away, they should leave you alone. If you do have to pass by one of the shops where you have been targeted, usually expect nothing more than a cat-call. Remember if you do feel harrassed, please call the Police.

Buses at night It is safer for the lone traveller to sit downstairs and towards the front. It is inadvisable to sit at either the back, (as these seats are monopolised by youths), or upstairs. If you must sit upstairs it is not recommended that you sit at the back.

Contact
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District Notting Hill-North Kensington Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By bus

• Get around

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Hostels

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Notting Hill is a popular destination for its lively market, gorgeous streetscapes, interesting history and diverse population. It has acheived a level of fame from the eponymously named Hugh Grant film, the world famous Portobello Road market and of course from the annual carnival.

The area was rural until the 19th century when it was developed as an upper-middle class suburb with quite large homes. During the early 20th century, these large homes were divided into low cost housing which often degenerated into slums. In the 1950s, many Caribbean immigrants settled in the area. In the 1960s it attracted musicans and artists and Portobello Road became the centre of English hippy culture. Portobello Road still hosts a very eclectic weekly market and is also home to a similarly off-beat set of permanent shops.

The Notting Hill carnival was first staged in 1964 as a way for the local Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. After some rough times in the 1970s and 1980s when it became associated with social protest, violence and huge controversy over policing tactics, this is now Europe's largest carnival/festival event and a major event in the London calendar. It is staged every August over the Bank holiday weekend.

During the 1980s, the Notting Hill proper area of the district was largely gentrified although areas in the north west of the district at Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park remain deprived and run down. In local mythology, these more recent residents of Notting Hill are assumed to live from trust accounts, giving rise to the practice of classifying locals as either Rastafarians or Trustafarians.

Further west from Notting Hill providing a natural buffer between the north and south of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is Holland Park. This is the least well known of London's Royal Parks and locals would like to keep it that way. A real a gem of a park which is off the tourist trail but very much worth a visit.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following stations:

- Notting Hill Gate (Central, District and Circle lines)

- Queensway (Central line)

- Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith and City line)

- Westbourne Park (Hammersmith and City line)

- Bayswater (District and Circle lines)

By bus
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Get around
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The area is best explored on foot and lends itself well to walking.

See
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- Holland Park (short walk southwest from Notting Hill Gate tube station), (5-min walk S from Holland Park tube station), [1]. Holland Park is a mixture of open spaces, woodland and formal gardens. It includes a large field dedicated to Soccer and Cricket and tennis courts. It was originally the private garden of Holland House, much of which was destroyed. As you walk around the park, you can see bits of the building dotted around the place which give you some idea of how grand it used to be. In the summer this is a great place to catch outdoor opera. An ecology center is located near the police station that provides information about the ecology of the park and arranges various activities for children. A cafe is located nearby that provides ice creams and hot food. The park is an ideal way to walk from Notting Hill Gate to Kensington High St.

- Kensington Palace, Palace Green W8 4PX, (Tube: Queensway), +44 20 3166 6000, [2]. daily, Nov-Feb 10AM-5PM, Mar-Oct 10AM-6PM. A royal residence which is still used by some members of the ruling family. Much of it is however open to the public and it is a very popular tourist attraction perhaps due as much to its association with Princess Diana as anything else. The King's Gallery here is a magnificent Regency period court drawing room and contains some impressive paintings including a Van Dyk. Also a nice restaurant on site called The Orangery. £6.25-12.50.

- Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ (tube: Kensington Olympia), +44 20 7602 3316 (museums@rbkc.gov.uk), [3]. The former Victorian home of artist Frederic (Lord) Leighton. Regarded as one of the finest examples of Victorian residential architecture, it is now a museum showcasing works of many famous artists of that period. Combines well with a visit to Holland Park.

Do
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- Electric Cinema, 191 Portobello Rd (tube: Notting Hill gate or Ladbroke Grove), [4]. Recently restored cinema boasting all leather armchairs (most with footstools) and a bar in the theatre - this is definitely a Notting Hill experience. The Electric shows a wide range of films from cinema classics, cult and independent films, to regular Hollywood blockbusters. They also have the Electric Scream session, specifically for parents with screaming babies! Ticket prices vary depending on how fancy your seat is. More expensive than a normal cinema but a fun experience.

- Film Walk, [5]. Notting Hill's diversity and streetscapes have earned it a place in many films. Time Out has put together a walk encompassing some of them.

- Gate Picturehouse, Notting Hill Gate W11 3JZ (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 7727 4043, [6]. Repetorty/arthouse cinema with a very varied programme.

- Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising (MOBPA), 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road, W11 2AR (tube: Ladbroke Grove), +44 +44 207 908 0880, [7]. A history of consumer culture arranged by decade. Over 12,000 exhibits.

- Musical history tour, [8]. Tom Vague - a local music journalist and historian has put together an excellent do-it-yourself tour of Notting Hill focussing on its rich musical history. You can download it to you mp3 player from the Council web-site.

- Notting Hill Carnival, [9]. Two day carnival which takes place every year on the August Bank Holiday weekend. It is said to be the largest carnival of its type in the world, attracts over a million people and is a great celebration of London's modern multi-cultural identity. What really gives it flavour is the large local Caribbean and Trinidadian population. This occurs in an almost circular route north of the Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove areas. If intending to visit, see Transport For London's website in advance as many tube stations are closed for the duration and bus routes diverted. Driving into the area is highly discouraged - many streets are closed.

Buy
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- Portobello Road Market, [10]. During the week this is the place to go to buy your fruit and veg but on Fridays and Saturdays there are hundreds of stalls selling clothes, antiques, jewellery and lots more.

- Westbourne Grove. Smart boutiques, food shops and outdoor cafes.

- Travel Bookstore, 13-15 Blenheim Crescent, [11]. Great place to browse. Its other point of interest is that it was the inspiration for Hugh Grant's store in the movie Notting Hill.

Eat
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Food-wise there is so much to choose from, and something to suit all budgets. If you are budgeting then there is great Malay food, bangers & mash, falafel and German sausages. For those with a bit more money to burn there is some seriously swanky bars and restaurants including E&O and 192. Some of the most popular dishes sold along the route of the carnival are jerk chicken and goat curry.

- 192, 192 Kensington Park Road W11 (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 7229 0482. Popular with locals and been around since 1982. Mains £15-20.

- E&O, 14 Blenheim Crescent W11 1NN, +44 20 7229 5454 (eando@rickerrestaurants.com), [12]. Pan Asian food about £30-40 per head.

- Fresco's, 25 Westbourne Grove (tube: Bayswater or Queensway, or buses 7, 23, 27), +44 20 7221 2355. M-Sa 11AM-11:30PM, Su 11AM-10:30PM. It may not look it at first but this is the best Lebanese food in Notting Hill, and certainly the cheapest. Delicious food with a huge variety of fresh juices make this place a must. Eat in or take away. £3-10.

- Geales, 2 Farmer St W8 7SN, +44 20 7727 7528 (info@geales.com), [13]. M-Sa noon-3PM 6PM-11PM, Su 6PM-10:30PM. Fantastic, premium fish and chip restaurant, much favoured by local and out-of-town celebs. Main courses £10-15, cover 50p.

- Kahn's, 13-15 Westbourne Grove W2 (tube: Bayswater or Royal Oak). Very popular and large Indian restaurant, probably not as good as the Standard though.

- New Culture Revolution, 157-159 Notting Hill Gate W11 2LF (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 73139688, [14]. Part of a chain specialising in northern Chinese food and noodles and dumplings especially. Good value and popular with students and budget travellers. Mains £5-7.

- Notting Hill Brasserie, 92 Kensington Park Road W11 2PN (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 7229 4481 (enquiries@nottinghillbrasserie.com), [15]. Decidly swanky restaurant (one of the few in Notting Hill serving mixed international food About £60 per head.

- Standard Indian Restaurant, 23 Westbourne Grove (tube: Bayswater or Queensway, or buses 7, 23, 27), +44 20 7727 4818. noon-3PM, 6PM-midnight. Just what it says on the label: consistently good Indian food. Currently closed, possibly permanently.

Drink
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Populated by the young, hip and rich it is unsurprising that Notting Hill has so many trendy bars. Expect to pay prices that match the location though.

- The Lonsdale, 48 Lonsdale Rd, +44 20 7727 4080. Like a cocktail bar from the future, the decor in this place is too good to miss. Relatively strict door policy; turn up earlier rather than later if you are not a famous celebrity.

- Beach Blanket Babylon, 45 Ledbury d, +44 20 7229 2907. Beautiful bar with fantastical decor. Quality and service at the restaurant seem to vary wildly, but the bar is usually a safe bet.

- E&O, 14 Blenheim Crescent, +44 20 7229 5454. Japanese influenced restaurant with a stylish bar attached. Great cocktails.

- Elbow Room, 103 Westbourne Grove, +44 20 7221 5211. A bar with pool tables too, rather than the other way around. Relaxed and friendly.

- The Cow, 89 Westbourne Park Rd, +44 20 7221 0021. A small and trendy pub/bar with a focus on Guinness.

- The Electric Brasserie, 191 Portobello Rd. Attached to the Electric Cinema this trendy brasserie is a good place for a drink before or after your movie. Very busy Fr/Sa evenings especially.

- Trailer Happiness, 177 Portobello Rd, +44 20 7727 2700. Intimate and kitsch lounge bar, den and kitchen with the feel of a low rent, mid-60s Los Angeles valley bachelor pad.

Sleep
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Hostels
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- YHA London Holland Park, Holland Walk, Kensington (tube: High St Kensington), +44 845 371 9122, [16]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Historic hostel set in the specatcular grounds of Holland Park - a former Jacobean mansion dating back to the 17th Century. £18 (adult), £13.50 (under 18).

Budget
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- Blue Bells hotel, 14 Pembridge Square W2 4EH (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 4257 3379 (info@bluebellshotel.com), [17]. In a converted early Victorian building. 30 rooms on four soteys but no lift. Five minutes walk to Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Rd. From £60.

- Notting Hill Hotel, 2 Pembridge Square W2 4EW (tube: Notting Hill Gate), +44 20 7727 1316, [18]. Old converted Victorian building in a quiet square only 5 minutes from Notting Hill Gate. Single, double and family rooms. From £60.

Mid-range
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- Abbey Court, 20 Pembridge Gardens W2 4FE, [19]. Boutique hotel in a converted Victorian house and decorated in that period style. 22 rooms, no lift. From £90.

- The Gate Hotel, 6 Portobello Rd (Near Notting Hill Gate tube at Pembridge Road end of Portobello Rd, only a few steps away from Portobello Market), +44 20 7221 0707.

- Westland Hotel, 154 Bayswater Road W2 (tube: Bayswater), (info@westlandhotel.co.uk), [20]. Good location on Bayswater Road very close to Kensington Gardens and five minute walk to Notting Hill Gate. From £110.

Splurge
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Contact
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District Paddington-Maida Vale Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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This inner London district is somewhat bereft of attractions but it does have a large range of budget and mid-priced accommodation. That, combined with the convenient central London location and transport links, makes it a popular area with visitors.

Paddington itself and the areas between it and Hyde Park - Bayswater and Lancaster Gate - consist largely of Victorian houses, some of them rather grand, which have been converted into either small residential flats or hotels. Maida Vale to the north is similar but almost entirely residential and is most notable for canalside streets and the houseboats of Little Venice. St John's Wood is distinctly upscale and leafy and includes the home of world cricket at Lords as well as some of the most sought after real estate in London.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is served by the following tube stations:

- Paddington (District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines)

- Bayswater (District and Circle lines)

- Queensway (Central line)

- Lancaster Gate (Central line)

- Maida Vale (Bakerloo line)

- Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line)

- Edgware Road (District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines)

- Royal Oak (Hammersmith & City line)

- St John's Wood (Jubilee Line)

By train
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Paddington Station is the London terminal for trains from the following cities in the southwest of the country: Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Swindon, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Bath, and also for trains from Reading and Oxford.

By bus
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See
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While there is not a great deal to see in the way of traditional visitor attractions, Paddington makes a convenient base for exploring other parts of the city.

- Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, St. Mary's Hospital, Praed St, +44 20 7886 6528, [3]. M-Th 10AM-1PM. £2.

- Abbey Road Studios, Abbey Rd, St. John's Wood (A short walk from the St. John's Wood tube station). No tours. World-renowned studios where many famous musicians and groups, most notably The Beatles, recorded music. Near the studios is the equally famous zebra crossing immortalized on the cover of the Beatles' album Abbey Road. Located in the vicinity, in Cavendish Avenue, is a home which was formerly owned by Paul McCartney.

Do
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- Lord's Cricket Ground, Wellington Road NW8 8QN (nearest tube station: St John's Wood), [4]. The home of Cricket and a must visit place for cricket lovers. Lord's usually hosts two international five-day Test matches every season, as well as limited-overs One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, although tickets for internationals can be expensive and will often sell out. Lord's is also the site of many Middlesex County Cricket Club home matches, with tickets for County Championship games and day/night limited-overs fixtures available on the day.

- Queens Ice and Bowl, 17 Queensway W2 4QP (tube: Bayswater or Queensway), +44 20 7229 0172, [5]. Queens is an entertainment centre with 50,000 sqft of activities including ice skating, 12 lanes of ten pin bowling, karaoke rooms, bar, food and video games.

Buy
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- Whiteleys, Queensway W2 (tube: Bayswater), [6]. Large shopping plaza with many of the usual suspect British high street brands plus a UCI cinema.

Eat
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Good value eats abound in this area. The Bayswater/Queensway area has many excellent Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese options. Edgware Rd is another good bet for Middle Eastern and the area around Paddington Station itself is a hive of small cafes. Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale are home to some good, stylish mid-market restaurants.

- Cous Cous Cafe, 7 Porchester Gardens W2 4DB (tube: Bayswater), +44 20 7727 6597, [7]. Morrocan cuisine at decent value prices. Try the tagines (£10-15) or mezze plates (£7-12)

- Kalamaras, 66 Inverness Mews W2 3JQ (tube: Bayswater), 0871 3327813, [8]. Markets itself as London's oldest Greek restaurant. Not sure if that is true but it has been around a long time in this quiet mews in Bayswater and is a favourite with local residents. Counts several celebs amongst its regular clientele. Try the taramasalata and keftedes Mains £10-15..

- New Taxin Thai, 79 Castellain Road W9 1EU (tube: Maida Vale), +44 20 7286 4801. Good Thai restauarant using fresh ingredients to produce food that will not burn too large a hole in your wallet. £15-20 per head.

- The Phi Brasserie, 16 London St (Exit Paddington Train Station (Garfunkel's Restaurant on your left), cross the road and walk 2 blocks down the London St on your right), +44 20 7706 4444, [9]. 7AM-11PM. The Phi Brasserie at the Hotel Indigo London-Paddington offers a wide selection of healthy meals in a relaxing atmosphere. Serves a selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. It features seasonal menus that draw from as many natural, organic and zero trans fat ingredients as possible.

- Rodizio Rico, 111 Westbourne Grove (tube: Bayswater), +442077924035, [10]. A Brazillian all you can eat meat (with limited veggie options) buffet. The meat is imported from Brazil and barbequed on site. The meat is delivered to your table on a skewer, the waiter then cuts a portion of it and you put it on your own plate. The meat is fantastic and it just keeps coming. This place is highly recommended.

- The Street Hawker, 166 Randolph Avenue W9 1PG (tube: Maida Vale), 0871 0757916. Pan Aian cuisne at decent value prices. £15-20 per head.

- The Waterway, 54-56 Formosa Street, London, W9 2JU (tube: Warwick Avenue), +44 20 7266 3557 (info@thewaterway.co.uk), [11]. Stylsh bar and restaurant alongside the canal at Little Venice. Has alfresco dining area right by the water during summer. Mixed European food Mains £15-20.

Drink
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- Mad Bishop and Bear, (In Paddington Station itself, go to The Lawn eating area, and up the escalators to the top floor). A surprisingly good pub. It is a Fullers pub, serving well-kept real ales. It is in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Breakfast is served from opening (M-F 9AM, Sa 7:30AM, Su 10AM) until noon, standard pub food is served at other times.

Sleep
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This district probably the greatest range of budget and mid-price accommodation in central London.

A lot of the hotels here are converted Victorian houses which makes for a charming stay but can also mean dodgy plumbing and poor heating systems. And always check if the property has have a lift if this is important to you.

A good option for the value-conscious is to check the large range of service apartments available. The standard of accommodation at these is often much better than you would get in an equivalently priced traditional hotel.

Budget
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- Ascot Hyde Park Hotel, 11 Craven Rd (Few minutes' walk from Paddington Station), [12]. Popular budget hotel

- Bluedaws Hotel, 133-135 Sussex Gardens (2 min from Paddington Station or Hyde Park), +44 20 7723 6040 (fax: +44 20 7262 8390), [13]. Very clean budget hotel. Singles £25, doubles £35, triples £45, including English breakfast.

- Equity Point London, 100-102 Westbourne Terrace (It's a 2 minute walk from Paddington Station), 0044 207 087 8001 (infolondon@equity-point.com), [14]. An affordable hostel that has clean and cheap rooms. From 15£ including breakfast, internet access and bottom linen.

- Green Man Bestplace Inn Hostel, 308 Edgware Rd W2, +44 207 723 7980. Very cheap hostel above a pub aimed at young partying types. Gets very raucous indeed. Dorm and private rooms. Dorms from £12, privates from £45.

- Mina House Hotel, 21-23 Craven Rd (Few min walk from Paddington Station), [15].

- Mitre House Hotel, 178-186 Sussex Gardens (5 min walk from Paddington Station), +44 20 7723 8040 (fax: +44 20 7402 0990), [16]. Two-star hotel.

- Palace Court Studios, 1 Palace Ct W2 4LP (tube: Queensway), + 44 845 6800086, [17]. Thirty six self-contained apartments for one to three persons. All apartments are en-suite with own kitchenette and bathroom. Other facilities are communal washing/drying machines, phone in each apartment, Wi-Fi and lift to all floors. Single studio apartments from £56, twin from £64, double from £64, triples from £70.

- Royal Court Apartments, 51 Gloucester Terrace W2 3DQ, +44 20 7402 5077 (info@rcahotels.co.uk), [18]. Good value self-cateirng apartments in a very convenient location. From £56.

- Umi Hotel London (umi Hotel Bayswater / The Westminster Hotel), 16 Leinster Sq W2 4PR (tube: Bayswater), +44 20 7221 9131 (reception@umihotels.co.uk), [19]. Good value budget hotel with 117 rooms in a convenient Bayswater location. Opened in 2007. From about £50.

- Wake Up! London Backpackers Hostel, 1 Queens Gdns W2 3BB (corner of Queens Gdns and Devonshire Terrace), +44 20 7262 4471 (fax: +44 20 7706 8548), [20]. Dorm beds from £13.

Mid-range
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- Brynteg Hotel, 109 Sussex Gardens (tube: Paddington 2 min), +44 20 7723 6040 (bluedaws_uk@yahoo.co.uk, fax: +44 20 262 8390). Recently upgraded 3-star bed and breakfast. Well appointed, modern bedrooms with spotlessly clean and en-suite facilities. Singles £50, doubles £65.

- Hyde Park Towers Hotel, 41-51 Inverness Terrace (tube: Bayswater or Queensway), +44 20 7221 8484 (fax: +44 20 77923201), [21]. Elegant three star hotel.

- Quality Crown Hotel Paddington, 144 Praed St (tube: Paddington), +44 20 7706 8888 (stay@qualitycrownpaddington.com), [22]. Good value for the price. The rooms are tiny, but that is where the resemblance to other London hotels ends. The rooms are immaculate, the plumbing is perfect, the decor is beautiful, and the fitness room is brand new. Singles £70, doubles £120.

- Quality Crown Hotel Hyde Park, 8-14 Talbot Sq (tube: Paddington), +44 20 7262 6699 (stay@qualityhydepark.com), [23]. Four star hotel. Blend of classic and contemporary English town house style. The hotel and the staff are very welcoming. The location is in a quiet garden square.

- Royal Norfolk Hotel, 25 London St (junction of Norfolk Sq/London St in Sussex Gdns, tube: Paddington), [24]. The conversion of two Edwardian London terraced houses into one 60-en suite room hotel, an affluent residential area close to Hyde Park.

Splurge
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- Hilton London Paddington, 146 Praed St (at Paddington Station), +44 20 7850 0500 (fax: +44 20 7850 0600), [25].

- Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace W2 2TY (tube: Lancaster Gate), +44 20 7262 6737 (info@lancasterlondon.com), [26]. Right alongside Hyde Park and many of the rooms have clear views over the park. From about £120.

- Hotel Indigo London-Paddington, 16 London Street, Paddington, London W2 1HL (tube: Paddington), +44 20 7706 4444 (stay@hipaddington.com), [27]. checkin: 2:00 pm; checkout: 11:00 am. Close to Paddington Station. From about £130.

- The Hempel, W2 3EA, +44 20 7298 9000, [28]. Offers a Zen minimalist atmosphere, very unique for the area. £110-£220.

- London Short Letting Apartments, 7 Spring St, +44 207 706 11 22, [29]. Provides a wide range of short and long let apartments service around west and central london. £75-525.

- Danubius Hotel Regents Park, 18 Lodge Road, 020 7722 7722 (enquiries@danubiuslondon.co.uk, fax: 020 7483 2408), [30]. Very friendly staff. Spotlessly clean quiet room. Great view of Regents Park. Breakfast is excellent. Service the same. The location is superb, particularly for any cricket fan, as it looks right over Lords cricket ground. 148.00 GBP - 198.00 GBP.

Contact
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District Soho Table of Contents

• Understand

Orientation

History

Reading

• Get in

By tube

By train

By car

By rickshaw

• See

• Do

Explore

Watch

• Buy

Clothing and accessories

Music and record shops

Gay-related

Others

• Eat

Budget

Asian fusion

Italian and pizza

Mid-range

Splurge

Patisseries

• Drink

Pubs

Bars and clubs

Predominantly gay

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

• Get out

Understand
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Orientation
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This is generally considered to be the area enclosed by Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue and Cambridge Circus to the south, Charing Cross Road to the east, Oxford Street to the north, and Regent Street to the west. Oxford Street is the main shopping street in London but much of it is in the Mayfair-Marylebone district.

The area immediately surrounding Old Compton Street in the southern part of Soho is widely recognised as London's foremost gay village and is a very stylish part of London indeed.

Soho is sometimes considered to include London's Chinatown. Chinatown, however, lies south of Shaftesbury Avenue and, having a culture distinctly different from the rest of the West End, adjoining - but not really part of - Soho.

History
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Soho has a long and colourful history. The first record of the name comes from the 17th century when the area was pasture after being used as hunting park for the Royal Court of Henry VIII some 100 years earlier.

Despite this royal attention and very grand development taking place in adjoining districts, Soho did not become fashionable until recent times and was mostly known as an area settled by new immigrants. By the mid-19th century it had become the home of prostitutes and low brow music halls. Things looked up in the early 1900s when it gained something of a Bohemian reputation with writers, artists and actors moving in but the sex industry continued to dominate the district until as recently as the 1980s. This lucrative business was always run by organised crime groups and ensured that Soho was a notorious haunt of gangsters throughout much of the 20th century.

The music business began to really prosper here in the 1950s with a beatnik and jazz culture very much to the fore. Perhaps London's most famous jazz venue, Ronnie Scotts, is still thriving today in Frith Street. Many famous rock bands are also closely associated with Soho. The Rolling Stones played their first ever live concert here (at the legendary Marquee) and The Sex Pistols lived in Denmark Street as well as playing a number of infamous gigs. In the 1970s and 1980s Soho, and the Marquee in particular, was the place in London to head for to check out up and coming and often very controversial British bands.

Since the 1980s, the whole of Soho has undergone rapid transformation and development into a fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices. There are though still a few places which are easily associated with its more colourful past and even a small remnant of the previously dominant sex industry remains.

Modern day Soho has the densest concentration of restaurants, cafés, clubs and bars in central London and truly represents the vibrant, bustling heart of the city. It is also the modern hub of London's media world with multiple advertising agencies, television and radio studios and post-production companies choosing this as their base of operations.

Reading
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Unsurprisingly given its colourful nature, much has been written about Soho. The following is short selection of books, all of which are a great read and would be of benefit to anyone planning to visit Soho.

Dirty White Boy, Tales of Soho by Clayton Littlewood, Cleiss Press 2008. The musings and observations of a clothing store owner in Old Compton St in the 2000s. You will struggle to find a better modern day commentary on Soho. Littlewood's book has been compared to Christopher Isherwood's writings about sordid Berlin in the 1920s. And apart from all that, it is very funny.

Dog Days in Soho by Nigel Richardson, Phoenix 2001. A biography of one sailor's life in Soho in the 1950s, perhaps the single most notorious period in the history of the district. Poignant and very well written. Gives a fine sense of the period just before the evolution of modern day Soho.

Soho: A History of London's Most Colourful Neighbourhood by Judith Summers, Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd 1989. Not easy to find copies of this book but it is worth the effort. Covers the social history of the district from the 18th to late 20th century.

Get in
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By tube
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A  tube station serves each of the four approximate corners of Soho:

- Tottenham Court Rd to the north-east (Central and Northern lines)

- Oxford Circus to the north-west (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines)

- Leicester Square to the south-east (Northern and Piccadilly lines)

- Piccadilly Circus to the south-west (Bakerloo and Piccadily lines)

By train
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The most convenient mainline rail station is Charing Cross, located 10-15 min walk to the southeast.

By car
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Access to Soho by car is not recommended, owing to traffic congestion and stringent parking restrictions, and the £8 congestion charge. There is, however, a Masterpark parking station on Poland St.

By rickshaw
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More entertainment than transportation really, rickshaws run in Soho and the surrounding areas. They are much more expensive than a black cab, and may seem a lot less safe, but they are a lot of fun and can often be the fastest way to get around these tightly packed streets.

See
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Old Compton Street is Soho's unofficial high-street and is full of bars, cafes, clubs and shops. It is a great place to grab a coffee and watch Soho go by.

- Soho Square, Soho Square W1. A centuries-old small park that becomes packed on warm sunny days.

Do
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Explore
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- Wander the streets. Soho is best discovered by simply wandering its streets. Take the less trodden paths and you will be amazed by the rabbit warren of streets and the seemingly endless number of cafes, bars, shops and more. Some highlights are the gay village on Old Compton St, Soho Square and a tea and cakes in one of Soho's great patisseries.

Watch
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- London Palladium, Argyll Street W1F 7TF, [1]. Famous old London music hall whose boards have been trodden by many legendary names. These days it shows mostly blockbuster musical productions for the masses.

- Prince Edward Theatre, 28 Old Compton St W1D 4HS, +44 20 7440 3020, [2]. Plays Mary Poppins, the award-winning production based on the book and Disney film.

Buy
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Soho has a diverse range of shops, tending towards the arty, boutique and independent style of outlet.

After a period in the 1970s and 1980s when Carnaby Steet became little more than a tourist trap and a pale imitation of its innovative, trend-setting heyday in the 1960s, it is now once again a major centre of new design. There are some especially interesting independent fashion stores in the small streets and courtyards off Carnaby Street, so it is well worth exploring the area carefully.

Berwick Street is notable for a collection of independent record shops specialising in different genres of dance music.

Clothing and accessories
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- Ben Sherman, 50 Carnaby St W1F 9QA, +44 20 7437 2031 (jason.zeller@bensherman.co.uk), [3]. The flagship retail outlet of this iconic British fashion brand. Men's and women's clothing, accessories and shoes.

- The Great Frog, 10 Ganton St W1F 7QR (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7439 9357 (info@thegreatfroglondon.com), [4]. Rock and heavy metal jewellry specialist. Been in business here for more than 40 years. The iconic skull ring worn by so many famous rockers was originally designed and produced by Great Frog.

- Social Suicide, 8 Ganton St W1F 7QP (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7617 7696, [5]. M-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. Beautifully tailored men's jackets with a real funky design flair.

- Stromboli's Circus, 1.5 Kingly Court, Carnaby St W1B 5PW (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7734 1978 (info@circusvintage.com), [6]. Electic range of vintage clothing, furniture and other homewares. Some quite wonderful stock and a must for those in search of both retro chic and the truly kitsch.

Music and record shops
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- BM Soho, 25 D'Arblay Street W1F 8EJ (tube: Oxford Circus), ++44 20 7437 0478 (mailorder@bm-soho.com), [7]. Specialises in house and drum 'n' bass.

- Revival Records, 30 Berwick St W1F 8RH (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7437 4271 (revival.records@gmail.com), [8]. Mostly old rock vinyl but just about any genre could jump out at you.

- Vinyl Junkies, 94 Berwick St W1F 0QF (tube: Oxford Circus), +44 20 7439 2493 (vjunkies@vinyl-junkies.com), [9]. Cutting edge dance music including house, tech and old rare soul. A favourite with many famous DJs and producers.

Gay-related
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Unsurprisingly, Soho has a number of gay-related outlets, some of the best known are:

- Prowler, 5-7 Brewer St W1F 0RF.

- Clone Zone, 64 Old Compton St W1D 4UQ. The world's largest gay retail company.

Others
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- Berwick Street Market, (on Berwick St). An absolute gem and a relic of Soho's past. This is an old fashioned London fruit and vegetable market complete with shouting Barrow Boys and a whole array of colourful characters. There has been a market at this site since the early 1800s. Best early in the mornings.

- Blackwell's, 100 Charing Cross R WC2H 0JG (tube: Leicester Square), +44 20 7292 5100. Small secondhand section in this mainstream bookshop.

- Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0EB, +44 20 7437 5660 (customerservices@foyles.co.uk), [10]. 9.30AM-9PM. London's best known bookshop is a mazy warren containing a seemingly impossible number of books! It is not always easy to find your way around and although greatly improved since the renovation in 1999, the service is notably surly. Nonetheless, this place is a must for all book lovers.

Eat
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Budget
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- Boardwalk, 18 Greek St W1D 4DU, [11]. A club, bar, and restaurant. Good choices if you are strapped for cash.

- Cafe Valentino, 13a Greek St W1D 4DN, +44 20 7437 8837. Late. A small cafe, primarily notable for its very late opening hours.

- The Dining Plaice, 20 Berwick St W1F 0PY, +44 20 7437 3280. Decent fish and chip shop in the heart of Soho. Handy for Berwick Street market.

- Ma'oz, 43 Old Compton St W1D 6HG. 10AM-late. The best place for a light fast-food style vegetarian/vegan meal, one of the few places in Soho where a fiver can get get you fed.

- The Montague Pyke (A Lloyds No.1 bar), 105-107 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0BP. Offers real ales and two-for-one offers on a variety of meals.

- Stockpot, 18 Old Compton St W1D 4JL, +44 20 7287 1066. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 11:30AM-11:30PM. Good dependable 'British' cuisine Mains average £5-10 without drinks.

Asian fusion
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- Taro, 61 Brewer St W1F 9UW. Noodles, sushi, bento boxes and assorted other Japanese goodies. Good cheap eats and reliable quality.

- Tai of Soho, 10 Greek St W1D 4DH (Just off Soho Sq, parallel to Charing Cross Rd). ( CLOSED) An oriental vegetarian/vegan restaurant that offers a cheap buffet and a variety of spicy dishes.

- Tuk Tuk Noodle Bar, 56 Old Compton St W1D 4UE (Next door to Admiral Duncan pub), +44 20 7734 5951. noon-midnight M-Th, noon-1pm F-Sa, 12.30PM-11.30PM Su. Honest, authentic and reliable Thai food, served up quickly and is amazing value for money. Can be crowded at peak times, turnover is so fast you won't be waiting too long. £8-12.

- Thai Cottage, 34 D'Arblay St W1F 8EX. A slightly rough around the edges Thai restaurant which is always busy, thanks to the excellent value food which speaks for itself.

- Wagamama, 10a Lexington St W1F 0LD, [12]. M-Sa until 11PM, Su until 10PM. Reliable Japanese food at a reasonable prices from this almost Starbucks-esque chain. Service is swift, and although queues can often be quite long, they clear rapidly. Diners are seated on uncomfortable benches opposite each other, so not a good place for an intimate meal. Main courses around £5-8.

Italian and pizza
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- Piccolo Diavolo, 8 Old Compton St W1D 4TE. noon-11:30PM. A little corner of great Italian hospitality in the heart of Soho. A good variety of Italian quality food served with passion by friendly waiters. Mains and pizza around £7.

- Pulcinella, 37 Old Compton St W1D 5JY, [13]. Th-Sa noon-1AM, Su-W noon-midnight. Arguably the best Italian pizzeria in Soho with a good variety of pizzas prepared with a thin and crustry dough spun in the air and other traditional Italian dishes. Good value for money.

- Ristorante Cappucetto, 9 Moor Street (At the intersection of Old Compton Street and Moor Street - close to Cambridge Circus), +44 20 7437 2527/9472, [14]. Th-Sa noon-1AM, Su-W noon-midnight. One of the oldest established Italian restaurants in Soho - since 1962. Family run, and the service is friendly, with some really good and authentic Italian dishes. Lunchtime meal deal between 12pm and 4pm with a main course and drink for £5.50.

Mid-range
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- Andrew Edmunds, 46 Lexington St W1R 3LH. Top quality restaurant, great romantic spot. Bookings recommended. From about £25 per head.

- Balans, 60-62 Old Compton St W1D 4UG, +44 20 7439 2183 (headoffice@balans.co.uk), [15]. daily 24 hrs. Almost a Soho institution, this 24 hour eatery in the heart of the gay village offers a wide range of British and world cuisine in a stylish atmosphere. Has now gone international with branches in Miami, but the original Old Compton Street Balans is still be best, attracting clientele as diverse as TV presenter Dale Winton and politician and former mayor Ken Livingstone among its regulars. £20-25.

- Busaba Eathai, 106-110 Wardour St W1F 0TR, +44 20 7255 8686. noon-11PM. One of the best choices on a street with any number of fantastic restaurants. You will find a laid back atmosphere with big low wooden tables (expect to share if your party is small). The menu features among other dishes a fine butternut squash curry. Average meal £14-20.

- Chowki, 2-3 Denman St W1D 7HA (Off Piccadilly Circus), [16]. Until midnight. In a city which was once the capital of India it makes sense that one can find a decent to good Indian restaurant on just about every corner. Once in a while you find one though that does things in an interesting enough way to be worth talking about. Chowki is like that, with dishes from around India that do not conform to the standard Bengali/Kashmiri/Punjabi fare, but surprise and please the pallet with unexpected overtones of Africa, or Italy, or Greece. Set menus £14.50, vegetarian £12.50.

- The Red Fort, 77 Dean Street W1D 3SH, +44 20 7437 2525 (info@redfort.co.uk), [17]. This has been the landmark Indian restaurant in Soho since it opened in 1983. It was badly damaged during the Dean St fire in July 2009 and is currently closed for renovation. No doubt it will be back and serving the same high quality Indian food soon. Vegetarian options are especially good.

- Red Veg, 95 Dean St W1D 3TB (Opposite TESCO), +44 20 7437 3109, [18]. For those of you looking for veggie fast food, this has some great options.

- St Moritz, 159-161 Wardour St W1F 8WJ. A slice of the Swiss Alps in central London, offering Fondue, Raclette and other winter comfort foods amongst giant alpine horns and cowbells.

Splurge
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- L'Escargot, 48 Greek St W1D 4EF (tube: Tottenham Court Road), +44 20 7437 6828, [19]. This French restaurant has been serving up refined cuisine to the Soho faithful since 1927 and is currently owned and run by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White. The brasserie downstairs is slightly less formal than the Michelin-starred upper level. From about £60 per head.

- Quo Vadis, 26-29 Dean St W1D 3LL (tube: Tottenham Court Road), +44 20 7437 9585 (info@quovadissoho.co.uk), [20]. Bit of a Soho institution formerly owned by Marco Pierre White. Now under new management but little has changed. Top notch British grill style food in a very smart environment. About £60 per head.

- Vasco and Piero's Pavillion, 15 Poland St W1F 8QE (tube: Oxford Circus), + 62 20 7437 8774 (at@vascosfood.co.uk), [21]. Umbrian food prepared with the very best ingredients by chef Vasco. All the pasta is freshly made on the premises. The calve's liver is especially famous. Has been in business here for 40 years. About £60 per head.

Patisseries
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Have tea and cakes in one of Soho's great patisseries.

- Maison Bertaux, 28 Greek St W1D 5DD (tube: Tottenham Court Road), +44 20 7437 6007. Slightly tatty but utterly and deliciously French, since 1871. Take away or sit at one of their sidewalk tables.

- Patisserie Valerie, 44 Old Compton St W1D 5JX (tube: Tottenham Court Road), +44 20 7437 3466, [22]. daily 7.30AM-11PM. The original location of this highly successful business which has expanded across London. Wonderful French cakes and pastries. Breakfast here is notably good. Has a large seating area upstairs.

Drink
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Be careful not to go any place recommended by someone you just met or it will cost you hundreds of pounds with the suggester getting a commission.

Pubs
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- Garlic and Shots, 14 Frith St W1D 4RD, [23]. Walk through the unassuming upstairs restaurant and head down the back stairs to find this small hidden basement bar, which boasts 101 different garlic and chilli-infused shots and loud rock/metal music. The 'Bloodshot' is highly recommended! There is also a seated outdoor smoking area out the back.

- The Crobar, 17 Manette St W1D 4AS (Off Charing Cross Rd), [24]. Metal pub. Very fine atmosphere if you like or are among the metal folks.

- The Crown and 2 Chairmen, Dean St W1D 3SB, +44 8721 077 077, [25]. Has had a fancy refit and has a good selection of beers together with non-smoking upstairs. You may have to wait a little while for your drink however. Popular with local media industry crowd.

- The French House, 49 Dean St W1D 5BG, [26]. The legendary pub in which the French resistance convened during World War II and which was the favoured haunt of legendary Soho characters such as Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. It is a very small pub, so expect to be jammed in, particularly in winter. Also, note that the pub only serves beer in half-pints. An absolute Soho institution. Think "Jeffrey Bernard is unwell".

- The Midas Touch, 49 Beak St W1F 9SB (tube: Piccadilly Circus). Popular pub with locals and usually has some good happy hour deals. Cheap-moderate.

- The Tottenham, 6 Oxford St W1D 2DN (corner of Oxford St opposite Tottenham Court Rd tube station). Recently refurbished pub claiming to be the only pub on the whole of Oxford St. An aboslute tourist trap but it is very convenient.

- The Toucan, 19 Carlisle St W1D 3BX. Widely mistaken for an Irish bar it actually specializes in Guinness, said to be the best pint in London. Also checkout their collection of over 100 different Irish whiskies.

Bars and clubs
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- Alphabet, 61-63 Beak St W1R 3LF, +44 20 7439 2120. Trendy bar that manages to have a comfortable vibe, despite the great art on the wall and hip clientele.

- Lab, 12 Old Compton St W1D 4TQ, +44 0 7437 7820. Popular martini bar.

- Ronnie Scott's Jazz Bar, 47 Frith St W1D 4HT, +44 20 7439 0747 (ronniescotts@ronniescotts.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7437 5081), [27]. Open M-Sa 8:30PM-3AM including Bank holidays (closed Christmas Eve and Day, and Boxing Day); live music 9:45PM-2AM. Ronnie Scott's world-famous jazz venue. Non-members admission M-Th £20, F Sa £25; members admission M-Th £5, F Sa £10 (ordinary membership £60 per annum).

Predominantly gay
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- Admiral Duncan, 54 Old Compton St W1D 4UB. Gay institution.

- Barcode, 3-4 Archer St W1D 7AP, [28]. Bar and dance club, opened a second venue in Vauxhall. Relaxed and friendly bar, mainly male orientated.

- Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle St W1D 3BJ, [29]. Most popular lesbian bar with a mixed clientele.

- Comptons, 53-57 Old Compton St W1D 6HN. Gay institution.

- G-A-Y, 30 Old Compton St W1D 4UR, [30]. Dance party, popular with a very young crowd, who often strip down to their boxer shorts as the night progresses.

- Rupert Street, 50 Rupert St W1D 6DR (Corner of Rupert and Winnett Sts), +44 20 7292 7141, [31]. A great bar, popular with businessmen.

- Shadow Lounge, 5 Brewer St W1F 0RF, +44 20 727 7988, [32]. Where the trim, taut and terrific go to party. Often hosts incredible dance party nights.

Sleep
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Soho is a densely built district and there are not too many places to stay here.

Budget
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- Oxford Street Youth Hostel, 14 Noel St W1F 8GJ, 770 5984, [33]. Busy, vibrant hostel ideal for backpackers, not a place for a quiet break. Self-catering kitchen. 2-4 bed rooms. Adults from £24.50.

- Piccadilly Backpackers, 12 Sherwood St W1F 7BR (N of Piccadilly Circus, adjoining Brewer St), [34]. One of the first pod-style hostels in London, space is at a premium but the low prices and central location are right. 10-bed dorms £12, twins £52, basic breakfast included.

Mid-range
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Splurge
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- Courthouse Doubletree, 19-21 Great Marlborough St W1F 7HL, +44 20 7297 5555, [35]. A Hilton hotel in a spectacular old building. From £200.

- Hazlitt's, 6 Frith Street W1D 3JA, +44 20 7434 1771 (reservations@hazlitts.co.uk -), [36]. A quirky little hotel which occupies a number of adjacent Georgian houses. Just about as boutique as boutique gets. From £190.

- The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (tiny laneway running between Dean and Wardour Sts), +44 20 7559 3000 (soho@firmdale.com), [37]. Luxury boutique hotel with 91 rooms in an old converted building. Full range of five star facilities including spa, gym, restaurant and bar. If you can afford it, a fine experience for sure. From £280.

Contact
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- Netstream, 9-12 St Annes Court W1F 0BB, +44 20 74342525 (mail@netstreamlondon.com), [38]. daily 24 hrs. Very well equipped outlet with full business services as well as a fast internet connection. Even have a few Macs.

Get out
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- If you are looking for gay nightlife, note that it spills across into the Leicester Square area.

District South Bank Table of Contents

• Understand

Tourist Information Centre

• Get in

By tube

By rail

• Get around

By bus

By boat

• See

Landmarks

South Bank

Bankside

Museums and galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Pubs and bars

Clubs

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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Experiencing the South Bank is a must-do in any London itinerary. Travellers will be visiting the cultural heart of London, an eclectic and creative area that is home to iconic attractions, stylish hotels and boutique shopping.

Within easy walking distance from Covent Garden, Soho, Westminster and the City of London, South Bank stretches along the Thames from Lambeth Bridge east to St Saviour's Dock just east of Tower Bridge. It is the perfect location for a relaxing stroll and a spot of people watching. You can take in beautiful views across to the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s, especially early morning and at dusk, and the packed programme of theatre, exhibitions, music, film and free events means there are plenty of inspiring things to see and do for all ages.

Tourist Information Centre
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- London Visitor Centre, Arrivals Hall, Waterloo Int Terminal, SE1 7LT (at Waterloo mainline station), +44 20 7620 1550 (london.visitorcentre@iceplc.com).

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following tube stations:

- Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo lines). In the heart of South Bank, perfect to access riverside walk.

- Westminster (Jubilee, Circle and District lines). Walk over Westminster Bridge to arrive at London Eye and County Hall.

- Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern lines). Walk south over the pedestrianised and recently-renovated Hungerford Bridge to the Royal Festival Hall area. Beautiful views.

- London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines). Most convenient for the eastern end of the South Bank Walk.

- Southwark (Jubilee line). Near the heart of the district.

- Borough (Northern line). Convenient for the eastern part of the district and Borough Market especially.

By rail
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- South Bank: London Waterloo, London Waterloo East, Charing Cross

- Bankside: London Bridge

Get around
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The South Bank area is probably best accessed on foot or by bike - parking is difficult at times.

By bus
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The Riverside Bus service (RV1) is an great way to get around. It links over thirty of London’s attractions on its route from South Bank to Bankside, London Bridge, Tower Gateway and Covent Garden. [1]

By boat
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The following piers [2] are in the South Bank area: Westminster, Waterloo Millennium, Embankment, Festival.

Bankside is served by Bankside and London Bridge piers.

The Tate Boat runs every 40 minutes between Tate Modern and Tate Britain (Millbank Pier), also stopping at the London Eye. It takes 20 minutes.[3])

See
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Landmarks
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South Bank
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From west to east:

- County Hall, Belvedere Rd (tube: Westminster, Waterloo), +44 8716 632501. The former seat of regional London government, now home to the London Aquarium and Dali Universe.

- London Eye, Westminster Bridge Rd (tube: Waterloo, Westminster), +44 870 9908883 (customer.services@ba-londoneye.com, fax: +44 870 9908884), [4]. Jun-Sep 10AM-9PM daily, Oct-May 10AM-8PM daily (except Christmas and 3-8 Jan). An enormous, 135 metre-high observation wheel with 32 exterior glass-walled capsules. It offers incomparable views over central London and up to 25 miles away on a good day. Tickets are sold for specific times, so if visitors wish to go on the London Eye at a specific time, they are strongly advised to book in advance, particularly in the summer. On a busy day, you can easily spend 1-3 hr queuing just to buy a ticket. However, you can also purchase tickets in advance online. Then you can collect your tickets at the London Eye in a separate queue, which takes a few minutes or less. Adult £15.17, child £7.59, senior £11.74, disabled Person £11.74, 10% discount purchased online.

- Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd (tube: Embankment, Waterloo), +44 8716 632501, [5]. Large 1960s development on the South Bank. Built largely of concrete, views on its architectural merits vary considerably. Presents a varied programme of music, literature, dance, performances and exhibitions on contemporary art and culture at its venues the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward. A host of new eateries and shops have now opened along the riverside and terrace. The Royal Festival Hall hosts almost daily classical music concerts throughout the year, tickets often available on the day. The Royal Festival Hall has recently been through a long redevelopment though still holds its classic 1960s design. Free events are held daily, ranging from free music to festivals, interactive art installations to the popular slow food market.

- Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Rd, +44 20 7921 0813 (hginfo@hayward.org.uk, fax: +44 20 7401 2664), [6]. Sa-M, Th 10AM-6PM; Tu 10AM-8PM; W 10AM-8PM); F 10AM-9PM (except 24-27 December and 1-2 January). Particularly strong on contemporary art exhibitions. Hosts a single temporary exhibition at any time. Adult £7.50, child (12-16) £4, senior (60+) £7, student £6.

- BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd (tube: Embankment, Waterloo), [7]. Tucked under Waterloo Bridge, BFI Southbank, formerly known as the National Film Theatre, pitches itself as the home of film and has three screens showing classic (including silent), foreign language and less mainstream films. Recently redeveloped, it now has a new entrance on Theatre Alley, a shop dedicated to film, an interactive exhibition space and an excellent bar/restaurant at the back. Visitors can also access the Mediatheque - wind your way through the BFI's extensive film and TV archive for free. Cool bar and restaurant. Tickets are generally available on the spur of the moment.

- National Theatre, Belvedere Rd (tube: Embankment, Waterloo), +44 20 7452 3000 M-Sa 10AM-8PM or +44 20 7452 3400 (info@nationaltheatre.org.uk, fax: +44 20 7452 3030), [8]. Three large auditoriums, the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe. The Olivier theatre is the largest with an open stage and a fan shaped auditorium around it. This ensures that all seats provide a good view. Most of the more 'popular' productions are put on here as the space provided is much larger than most theatres. The Lyttelton theatre is more traditional with a procenium arc with good views from most seats. The Cottesloe is a small studio theatre, seating around 400. Some tickets will be available on the day, either day seats (arrive before 9:30AM and queue) or standby (arrive before 6PM and queue), or you can buy online. Popular shows, especially those around Christmas in the Olivier sell out months in advance. Tickets to The National Theatre are generally better value than most other theatres. There is also the '£10 Travelex' season in the summer that provides a large number (over 100,000 seats a year) at £10. Booking in advance is required for these. There is also an exhibition space in the Lyttelton theatre foyer that frequently holds popular photographic exhibitions. Free jazz is often played in the evening in the ground floor foyer. During summer there is a free daily outdoor festival of performance, music, comedy and cabaret known as Watch This Space. Deckchairs (and artificial grass) are provided to watch on. Free exhibitions. Backstage tours £5. (http://www.nationaltheatrelondon.com/tickets/)

- BFI IMAX Cinema, 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk (tube: Waterloo), +44 08707 872525, [9]. Set back from the riverside is the BFI IMAX, the largest cinema screen in the UK at 26 m wide, 20 m high. Shows family-friendly 3D IMAX films as well as action films which work well on the huge screen. Also hosts special all-nighters such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

- Gabriel's Wharf, [10]. An eclectic mix of Shops and restaurants, the design shops at Gabriel's Wharf are exclusively run by small businesses who design and manufacture their own products, the majority of work available will have been made by the person selling it to you. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for it is possible to commission many of the designers directly. Shops to look out for include Bicha, Game of Graces and Anne Kyyro Quinn.

- OXO Tower, [11]. Home to designer-marker boutiques, selling everything from hats and homeware to wedding dresses and jewellery. Modern gallery on the ground floor which is free and open every day, various cafes, a florists and hairdressers here to. Upstairs there's the Tamesa Brasserie and Bincho Yakitori (Japanese tapas). Also contains a restaurant and bar on the top floor, giving you a great view over the Thames. You pay for the privilege through the food bill, though you can go up the tower and have access to a separate balcony for free. Interesting views of the surrounding South London area and great views of the Embankment.

Bankside
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- City Hall, The Queen's Walk (tube: London Bridge), [12]. M-F 8AM-8PM. Greater London Authority offices. The brand new headquarters for London's Mayor and Assembly, a radically-designed glass fronted and rounded building.

- HMS Belfast, Morgan's Ln (tube: London Bridge), [13]. Mar-Oct 10AM-5:15PM daily, Nov-Feb 10AM-4:15PM daily. A historic boat, part of the Imperial War Museum. £7.20-10.30, child under 16 free. (latitude,)

- Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge (tube: London Bridge), [14]. Off the traditional tourist path, Southwark Cathedral has been the site of worship since the year 852. Literally in the shadow of London Bridge, the Cathedral is a shelter from the noise of the city. Next to the Cathedral is the Borough Market open Th-Sa with a wide range of specialty food to buy, a good area for lunch. (latitude,)

Museums and galleries
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From west to east:

- Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, Belvedere Rd (tube: Waterloo, Westminster), +44 20 7967 8000 (info@londonaquarium.co.uk), [15]. 10AM-5PM daily. One of the largest aquariums in Europe, it boasts a collection of 350 species of fish, from sharks to stingrays. £9.75-13.25.

- Tate Modern, Bankside (tube: Southwark, Blackfriars), +44 20 7887 8888 (every day, 10AM-6PM) (visiting.modern@tate.org.uk), [16]. Su-Th 10AM-6PM (last admission 5:15PM), F Sa 10AM-10PM (last admission 9:15PM). An enormous art gallery converted from the former Bankside Power Station, a visit to Tate Modern could easily take half a day. The gallery collects together contemporary and modern art from around the world, arranged thematically. The most stunning aspect of the building, is the enormous Turbine Hall, which plays host to a single piece of work commissioned for the space each year. Permanent collection free but all donations welcome.

- Topolski Century, Concert Hall Approach, 150-152 Hungerford Arches (tube: Waterloo, Embankment), +44 20 7620 1275, [17]. Mon-Sat 11AM-7PM, Sun noon-6PM. Painted between 1975 and 1989, Topolski Century is a unique, monumental work of a Polish artist Feliks Topolski (1907-1989) that presents a remarkable record of the key events and the iconic figures of the 20th century such as Churchill,Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Picasso and Coco Chanel. Six-hundred feet long and twenty feet high, Topolski Century is the artist’s eye witness testimony to the era that shaped our lives. It is global in its scope and is Topolski’s legacy to future generations. £2 adult (£1 concesion).

- The Hayward, (At the Southbank Centre). The largest public art space in the UK and the exhibitions showcase masters and young British and international artists, usually accompanied by outdoor installations that bring the area to life. The gallery often holds free exhibitions which can be enjoyed by all.

- London Dungeon, 28-34 Tooley Street (tube: London Bridge), [18]. Brings to life the gorier elements of London's past, with faithful recreations of disaster, disease, and torture. Younger children may be scared. £21.95.

- The Old Operating Theatre, (tube: London Bridge), [19]. 10:30AM-5PM daily. Britain's oldest operating theatre is an unusual tourist attraction, located in the roof space of St. Thomas's Church along with the herb store originally used by St. Thomas's Hospital's apothecary.

- Fashion & Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey St, [20]. Founded by veteran designer Zandra Rhodes.

- Design Museum, Shad Thames (tube: Tower Hill, London Bridge), (info@designmuseum.org), [21]. 10AM-5:45PM daily (last admission 5:15PM) (except 25-26 Dec). A must for anyone with an interest in modern and contemporary design. The permanent exhibition follows the change in British homes from the early 20th century until present day, which is constantly updated to include new design classics. There are temporary exhibits which run for 3-4 months. Recent exhibits have included Saul Bass, Peter Saville and Archigram. The museum also runs Designer of the Year which awards a prize to a person or organisation that has produced an impressive piece of design (past winner was Jonathan Ive, who designed the iMac and iPod). There is a small shop that has plenty of art and design books as well as designer goods to take home with you. £7, student or concession £4.

Do
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- South Bank Walk. The walk along the South Bank of the Thames is a relaxing walk through central London, away (albeit only a short distance) from the traffic. Pedestrians can walk alongside the river almost the whole way from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Bridge, following the route of the Jubilee Walkway [22], a route through central London that takes in most of London's key attractions, which was developed for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. A full guide to the riverside walk along the south bank of the Thames can be found on the Wikitravel South Bank Walk page.

- Frog Tour, +44 20 7928 3132. Along the Thames and through the streets of London in an amphibious vehicle. Operated by Capital Frogs Ltd, County Hall, on the south side of Westminster Bridge.

- Florence Nightingale Museum, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd (tube: Waterloo, Westminster), [23]. Tells the story of the Lady with the Lamp. Various family events, including art workshops. Located in the grounds of St. Thomas' Hospital.

- Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk (tube: Blackfriars, Southwark), +44 20 7401 9919 (info@shakespearesglobe.com, fax: +44 20 7902 1475), [24]. May-Sep 9AM-5PM daily, Oct-Apr 10AM-5PM daily. Sam Wanamaker's largely authentic reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, built using traditional techniques, stages plays in the Summer months. Around the year, there is an exhibition ending with either a tour of the theatre itself (in winter, and mornings in the summer), or a virtual tour (summer afternoons). Tickets for plays are often available on the day, particularly if you are prepared to stand in the yard.

- Dali Universe, County Hall, Belvedere Rd (tube: Waterloo, Westminster), [25]. Extensive private collection of Dali's work.

- Young Vic, The Cut, Waterloo (tube: Waterloo, Southwark), [26]. Fab theatre on The Cut which is home to younger theatre artists, especially directors. Presents plays for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Lively bar and restaurant too.

- Old Vic, The Cut, Waterloo (tube: Waterloo), [27]. One of the oldest theatres in London which is now under the artistic direction of Kevin Spacey.

- Menier Chocolate Factory, 51/53 Southwark St (tube: London Bridge), Theatre +44 20 7907 7060, gallery +44 20 7407 3222 (office@menierchocolatefactory.com), [28]. Restaurant, theatre, gallery and bar.

Buy
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- Borough Market, (Off Borough High St), [29]. F noon-6PM, Sa 8AM-5PM. One of London's favourite wholesale working food markets, on Fridays and Saturdays offering a general retail market with specialties sold directly from the producers, organic products, delicatessen, cheese, wines, fish and imported continental fare. Around the market are other excellent food shops, for a total food experience! Pick up some food and enjoy it under Southwark Cathedral.

- Hay's Galleria, (tube: London Bridge), [30]. A beautiful converted wharf which since 1987 has been home to cafe, shops and traditionl barrows selling fine art, jewellery , souvenirs and a vast array of London T-shirts

- Oxo Tower Wharf, Barges House St (tube: Waterloo), [31]. Huge galleria.

Eat
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There is a great selection of cafes, bars and restaurants for all budgets, so make sure you take time to watch the world go by. Have a light lunch at the cool Concrete day/night bar in The Hayward, a try crepe in Gabriel’s Wharf, or treat yourself to cocktails-with-a-view at the upmarket Skylon or Oxo Tower Restaurant. There’s also ‘Japanese tapas’ at Bincho and Japanese favourite Wagamama, dim sum at Ping Pong, contemporary English at Canteen, modern oriental at Ozu and Chino Latino, and a brasserie-style menu at Tamesa.

Budget
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- Marie's Cafe, 90 Lower Marsh (Behind Waterloo Station), 020 7928 1050. 7am-10.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Serves Thai only from 6pm. A favourite with locals, don't be put off by the shabby exterior of this greasy spoon/Thai cafe hybrid. The Thai menu is authentic and very tasty and service is quick. Very close to the Old Vic and around 10 minutes walk from the Southbank Centre: a great alternative to Southbank's uninspiring chain restaurants whether you are on a strict budget or not. Mains £4 - £6, 'bring your own' alcohol policy.

Mid-range
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- Cantina Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London Bridge, +44 20 7940 8333. This high vaulted brasserie was converted from Victorian railway arches. With an affordable listing offers fresh produce, the dishes are full of flavour and tasty.

Splurge
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- OXO Tower Restaurant Bar & Brasserie, 8F, OXO Tower Wharf, Barge House St (tube: Waterloo), +44 20 7803 3888 (oxo.reservations@harveynichols.com), [32]. M-Sa noon-2:30PM and 6:30PM-11PM, Su noon-3PM and 6:30PM-10PM. Offers spectacular views and the complete dining experience with mouthwatering dishes and indulgent wines to match.

Drink
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Pubs and bars
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- Doggett's Coat and Badge, (Blackfriars Bridge, south side), [33]. A four-floored bar overlooking the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge.

- The Hole In The Wall, 5 Mepham St (tube: Waterloo), +44 20 7928 6196. With a homey and comfortable decor, the appeal of the Hole in the Wall lies in its close proximity to the station and the excellent range of beers on the hand.

- Windmill Tavern, 86 The Cut, +44 20 7207 3984 (fax: +44 20 7928 5300). Friendly bar staff pouring chilled beers from a wide selection. Great pub food.

- The Horniman, (Hays Galleria, near London Bridge).

- Founder's Arms, Hopton St.

- George Inn, Archway off Borough High St (tube: London Bridge), +44(0)20 7407 2056, [34]. The current Inn was built in 1676 after the original establishment was burned down in the Great London fire of 1666. The George is London's only surviving galleried coaching inn, and is one of the oldest pubs south of the Thames.

Clubs
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- Concrete, (The Hayward Gallery). Open until 3AM. Free nightly music events. The best place to sample underground electro, indie, dub-step and more.

Sleep
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Budget
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Mid-range
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- Days Inn Waterloo, [35].

- Express by Holiday Inn London Southwark, 103-109 Southwark St (tube: Southwark), +44 20 7401 2525 (info@exhisouthwark.co.uk), [36]. Situated on the River Thames, this clean and charming hotel offers good rates for its location.

- Novotel London City South, 53-61 Southwark Bridge Rd (tube: London Bridge), +44 20 7089 0400 (H3269@accor.com, fax: +44 20 7089 0410), [37]. Offers great views along with a fitness gym and spa.

- Southwark Rose Hotel, 47 Southwark Bridge Rd (tube: London Bridge), +44 20 7015 1480 (info@southwarkrosehotel.co.uk), [38]. A boutique hotel located in the bustling and popular South Bank area less than 200 metres from the Thames. Offering air conditioned rooms with en suites, this hotel also has meeting room facilities.

Splurge
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- London Bridge Hotel, 8-18 London Bridge St (tube: London Bridge), +44 20 7855 2200 (reservations@londonbridgehotel.com, fax: +44 20 7855 2233), [39]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: noon. This four star boutique hotel is popular with business travelers with its sleek and contemporary design and furnishings.

- Marriott London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd (tube: Waterloo), +44 20 7928 5200, [40]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: noon. With Big Ben checking on you across the street, the Mariott has an enviable reputation and is home to the largest pool in any London hotel. Providing first class service, enjoy a luxurious spa treatment on site or sip on a cocktail in the trendy bar downstairs.

- Park Plaza Riverbank. Stylish and reputable.

- Park Plaza County Hall. Stylish and reputable.

Contact
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District South Kensington-Chelsea Table of Contents

• Understand

History of Chelsea

• Get in

By tube

By bus

• See

Museums

Other

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Gastropubs

Other

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Serviced Apartments

Understand
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This district is defined as the southern part part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBK & C). It includes the area south of the Royal Parks commonly known as High Street Kensington and South Kensington west to Earl's Court and Olympia and south to Sloane Square and Chelsea. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combine to form the largest green space in metropolitan London and provide a real oasis in the heart of this vast city.

South Kensington hosts four of London's largest and finest museums and is also home to the venerable Imperial College. High Street Kensington leads to a long line of shops and department stores, offering a less hectic version of Oxford Street as well very upmarket stores in Knightsbridge. Sloane Street connects Knightsbridge to Chelsea via Sloane Square and is lined with luxury brand boutiques.

Chelsea is a extensive riverside area of London that extends broadly from Sloane Square in the east to the World's End pub in the west and down to the River Thames. The King's Road marks the main thoroughfare of Chelsea.

The whole of the district contains some of the most expensive residential property in the world but is a little more downmarket towards its western edges.

History of Chelsea
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Chelsea's modern reputation as a centre of innovation and influence originated in a period during the 19th century when the area became a veritable Victorian artists' colony: artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, J.M.W. Turner, James McNeill Whistler, William Holman Hunt and John Singer Sargent, as well as writers such as George Meredith, Algernon Swinburne, Leigh Hunt and Thomas Carlyle all lived and worked here. A particularly large concentration of artists existed in the area around Cheyne Walk (pronounced Chey-nee) and Cheyne Row, where the pre-Raphaelite movement had its heart.

Following the Second World War, Chelsea, like many other formerly prosperous areas became rather run down and poor. It became prominent once again as an artistic centre, Bohemian district and hot spots for young professionals in the 1960s. The Americans called this period "Swinging London" and the King's Road became the definition of style and fashion and both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones lived in the neighbourhood.

In the 1970s, the "World's End" area of the King's Road was home to Vivienne Westwood's shop ("Sex"), and witnessed the genesis of punk music and style with many Mohawks to be seen on the road against the background of the closed down shops. Thereafter, working class youth culture was priced out of the area nd gravitated to Camden, Islington, Ladbroke Grove, Brixton and Brick Lane.

The 1980s saw the rise of the Sloane (archetypally Princess Diana) and the Mohawks gave way to twin set pearls, pink Polo shirts and what an American would call a "preppy". Chelsea seems to have settled into stylish affluence and aspiration and although the 'Hooray Henries' do not try to stand out, their loud braying voices, youth and wealth are hard to hide. They can be seen here in their natural habitat particularly on school holidays when they return from their boarding schools and all stay at a friends house, on the "King's Road, mate".

Get in
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By tube
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This is a large district and it is served by a similarly large number of tube stations:

- South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines). For the museums.

- Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line). For Harrods, Harvey Nicholls and other upmark stores.

- High Street Kensington (District and Circle lines). For general shopping and Kensington Gardens.

- Hyde Park Corner [Piccadilly line). For Hyde Park.

- Sloane Square (District and Circle lines) For King's Road.

- Earls Court (District and Piccadilly lines).

- Kensington Olympia (District line).

- West Brompton (District line).

By bus
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Like most parts of Zone 1 (Central London), this area is well connected by a variety of bus services. Here is a general list of the bus routes serving each major destination in this area:

South Kensington Museums: 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, C1

Knightsbridge: 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 137, 414, 452, C1

High Street Kensington: 9, 10, 27, 28, 49, 52, 70, 328, 452, C1

Sloane Square: 11, 19, 22, 137, 170, 211, 319, 360, 452, C1

King's Road Chelsea: 11, 19, 22, 49, 211, 319

Earl's Court: 74, 190, 328, 430, C1, C3

Hyde Park Corner: 2, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 22, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 414, 436, C2

The most useful buses for visitors to this area are:

9, from Aldwych via Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus serving Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Royal Albert Hall, and High Street Kensington (to Hammersmith)

10, from King's Cross St. Pancras and Euston Station via Oxford Circus/Oxford Street and Marble Arch serving Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Royal Albert Hall, and High Street Kensington (to Hammersmith)

11, from Liverpool Street Station via the City of London, St. Paul's, Aldwych, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, and Victoria Station serving Sloane Square and King's Road Chelsea (to Fulham)

14, from Warren Street Station via Tottenham Court Road, Shaftesbury Avenue/Soho, and Piccadilly Circus serving Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, South Kensington Museums, and Fulham Road (to Fulham and Putney)

19, from Finsbury Park and Islington/Angel via Tottenham Court Road, Shaftesbury Avenue/Soho, nad Piccadilly Circus serving Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, and King's Road Chelsea (to Battersea)

74, from Baker Street via Oxford Street and Marble Arch serving Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, South Kensington Museums, and Earl's Court (to West Brompton, Fulham, and Putney)

211, from Waterloo Station (near South Bank/London Eye) via Westminster and Victoria Station serving Sloane Square and King's Road Chelsea (to Fulham and Hammersmith)

C1, from Victoria Station serving Sloane Square, Knightsbridge, South Kensington Museums, Earl's Court, and High Street Kensington (to White City/Westfield London)

Note that all of these routes use iconic London red double-deck buses except C1, typically operate at least every 10 minutes, and that any travelcard pass is valid for all buses (otherwise, buses are £1.30 per boarding using Oyster pay-as-you-go).

See
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Museums
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Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road in South Kensington are home to several world class museums and all have free entry, only charging for special temporary exhibitions. They do accept (and encourage) donations if you feel you have enjoyed your visit.

- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Cromwell Rd, +44 20 7942 2000 (vanda@vam.ac.uk), [3]. 10AM-5:45PM, F until 10PM. Named in honour of Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert, this museum has existed for over 150 years. It contains a huge collection of decorative arts from all over the world and far back in time, trying to see everything in one day would be exhausting. There are regular exhibitions concentrating on a particular theme from Chinese art to fashion designers. Frequently they put on children's activities and late DJ nights. Free/donation.

- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, +44 20 7942 5000 (info@nhm.ac.uk), [4]. 10AM-5:30PM. Probably the most popular of all the museums here and a must see for many visitors to London. Home to no less than 70 million specimens from across all the life sciences. Especially popular are the dinosaur exhibits, the Darwin Centre and the studio dedicated to BBC wildlife personality extraordinaire, David Attenborough. In the 1980s, the Geological Museum was absorbed but is still in a separate building with a separate entrance. Free/donation.

- Science Museum, Exhibition Road, +44 870 870 4868 (feedback@nmsi.ac.uk), [5]. 10AM-6PM. Dedicated to scientific exhibitions and collections bar those related to the life sciences. A number of famous historical machines and inventions are housed here including Stephenson's Rocket. The space exhibits are especially popular. Exhibitions tend to concentrate on explaining scientific principles with working models and there is a strong emphasis on education and attracting children. This includes their very popular Science Nights whereby children spend an evening learning principles and participating in experiments before spending the night sleeping in the museum with the exhibits. Also houses a vast library of scientific and medical books and journals. Free/donation.

- The Geological Museum (The Red Zone), Cromwell Rd, [6]. 10AM-5:30PM. This venerable old institution was absorbed by the neighbouring Natural History Museum in 1985 but still has something of a separate identity. Unsurprisingly, devoted to all things geological with especially popular exhibits on vulcanology and earthquakes and fossils of all types. Very popular with kids and often under-rated. Free/donation.

- National Army Museum, Royal Hosp Rd, [7].

Other
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- Bram Stoker's House.

- Carlyle's House, 24 Cheyne Row SW3 5HL, +44 20 7352 7087, [8]. W-Su 2PM-5PM. Now preserved by the National Trust, this 18th century house was the home of the historian Thomas Carlyle from 1834 and now houses a museum dedicated to his life and work. £2.50-4.90.

- Chelsea Old Church, 64 Cheyne Walk SW3 5LT, [9].

- Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HS Telephone:, +44 20 7352 5646, [10]. Garden founded by apothecaries in the 17th century to the medicinal properties of plants. £5-8.

- Hyde Park, [11]. Nice big green park. The Serpentine is a small lake within Hyde Park, wildlife including a variety of birds, fountains. Rowing boats and pedalos are available for hire. As commonly used, the term also embraces the adjacent Kensington Gardens.

- Roper's Garden, Cheyne Walk.

- Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, +44 20 7589 8212, [12]. Since opening in 1871 it has become one of the most famous venues in the UK. It still mainly caters for a classical audience, but it also hosts many other varied events including the odd contemporary rock/pop acts.

- Royal Hospital, Royal Hospital Road, [13].

- The Serpentine Gallery, [14]. A nice free art gallery, near to the lake. Each summer a pavilion next to the gallery is designed by a different architect, which then houses various cultural events.

- Speakers Corner. By law, in this far northeastern corner of the park (by the Marble Arch Tube stop near Mayfair), people are free to say whatever they like about who and whatever they like. Worth checking out to see the lunatics and exhibitionists spouting off.

Do
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- Chelsea Football Club. See the English Premier League champions ply their trade at their famous stadium, Stamford Bridge (which is actually located in the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham along with Fulham F.C and Queens Park Rangers F.C).

- Cine Lumiere, Institut Francais du Royaume Unis, 17 Queensberry Pl SW7 2DT (tube: South Kensington), +44 20 7838 2144 (box.office@ambafrance.org.uk), [15]. French language movies.

- Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Sq, SW1W 8AS (tube: Sloane Square), +44 20 7565 5000, [16]. Britain's leading national theatre company dedicated to new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world.

- Troubadour Club, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd (tube: Earls Court or West Brompton), +44 20 7370 1434, [17]. 8PM-2AM. This well known music venue has been programming acoustic music since the 1950s when Bob Dylan et al took to the stage. It's bigger now and has gone electric but is still one of the best venues in London for up and coming talent. The musical spectrum is broad. On any night you might catch solo singer-songwriters or full bands. No heavy rock or covers bands though. There is a good menu too but arrive early to get a table. It can get very busy. Well worth a visit. From £6.

Buy
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- Harrods, 87–135 Brompton Road SW1X 7XL (tube: Knightsbridge), +44 20 7730 1234, [18]. M-Sa 10AM-8PM. The most famous store in London, favoured by the British establishment and owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed. Fairly strict dress code so do not turn up looking like a backpacker and expect to gain entrance.

- Harvey Nicholls, 109-125 Knightsbridge SW1X 7RJ (tube: Knightsbridge), +44 20 7235 5000, [19]. M-Sa 10AM-8PM. Large department store full of designer goods and an excellent cafe.

- The Duke of York Square Shopping Complex. Has a range of spacious branches of popular fashion chains, but lacks some of the road's character, however the small adjoining public space of Duke of York square is a welcome place for a rest between shopping, and a popular place to hang out.

- The Hummingbird Bakery, 47 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington (Opposite of the South Kensington tube station), +44 20 7584 0055, [20]. A nice little bakery with wonderful cupcakes. Try their red velvet cupcake that is incredibly popular with the locals. A regular size cupcake ranges from £1.55-1.85.

- King's Road. One of London's smartest fashion streets, having evolved from the cutting-edge of bohemia and innovative fashion in the 60s to a more genteel place to indulge in retail therapy, albeit with a notable presence of trendy young Londoners (including many so called Sloane Rangers). It is a very attractive street that retains the atmosphere of a small town whilst being in the heart of a huge city. There is a huge range of fashion stores from upmarket chains to one-off boutiques, as well as variety of other shops, complimented by cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs. There is an obvious affluence to the road without any bling or snobbiness. King's Road stretches south-west from here for miles, though the best of the shopping is in the first mile.

- Sloane Street. Lined with high-end designer label stores.

Eat
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Budget
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Gastropubs
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All these pubs charge about the same and the quality is more or less the same too.

- Admiral Codrington, Mossop St.

- Builders Arms, Britten St.

- Coopers Arms, Flood St.

- Phoenix, Smith St.

Other
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- La Nuova Delizia, 63-65 Chelsea Manor St. Noon-midnight. Quaint Italian bistro offers 18 different pizzas, three risottos, various pasta dishes, gnocchi and other traditional Italian entrees. It’s top-notch food at a great value.

- The Pig's Ear, 35 Old Church St, [21]. Lively, old-world style pub/restaurant on Old Church Street. Acclaimed bistro fare and a wide selection of wines by the glass.

- The Troubadour Cafe, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, [22]. 9AM-midnight. Famous bohemian cafe with a pleasing menu of hearty dishes such as fishcakes, burgers and delicious filling salads. Good wine list too and lovely leafy garden out the back. There is a great little music venue downstairs and even accommodation on the top floor.

Mid-range
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- Fifth Floor Café, 109-125 Knightsbridge, [23].

- Kensington Creperie (Cafe Creperie), 2 Exhibition Rd, +44 20 7589 8947, [24]. Tu-Su 11AM-11:30PM, M noon-11:30PM. A small, cute, often crowded cafe and authentic French creperie, popular with the local French and various other South Ken expats. Given its location near the tube, it is a fine place to sit outside and watch the fashionable young people pass by. £3-8.50.

Splurge
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- Aubergine, 11 Park Walk, +44 20 7352 3449, [25]. Dinner: M-Sa 7M-11PM, lunch: M-F noon-2:30PM. Although it still tries to cash in on its association with Gordon Ramsay (who was famously the original head chef before branching out on his own - see below), Chef William Drabble creates a menu of modern French cuisine and has one Michelin star.

- Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Road (Tube: Sloane Square), +44 20 7352 4441, [26]. Lunch M-F 12PM-2:30PM, dinner: M-F 6:30-11:30PM, closed weekends. The original, flagship branch of the Ramsay empire. You are highly unlikely to find the man himself behind the stove these days, but this triple Michelin-starred eatery deserves its reputation as one of the finest on the planet. The lunch menu is just about affordable, but getting a reservation is problematic. Dress code applies.

- Tom's Kitchen. Populist spot for Tom Aikens's aptly named restaurant, albeit certainly in the "Splurge" category, the fish and chips make it certainly worth the difficulty getting reservations and the rather high cost.

- Chelsea Brasserie and Bar, 7-12 Sloane Square, 020 7881 5999, [27]. Modern restaurant/bar at the Sloan Square hotel serving French cuisine. Popular lunch place for people working in the area.

Drink
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- Chelsea Potter, 119 Kings Rd (First pub when walking away from Sloane Square Tube Stop). Traditional pub fare, but when warm outside, best people watching spot around. Also, Aussie and Kiwi barmen solidify the awesome environment here.

- Coopers Arms, 87 Flood St. Great pints, including Peroni on tap. Best Sunday Roast around, and more of a gastropub than a traditional pub.

- Henry J Beans Chelsea, 195-197 Kings Road, +44 20 7352 9255 (chelsea@henryjbeans.com), [28]. Henry J Beans Chelsea is the first of its kind, situated a stone throw from Sloane Square and South Kensington underground stations on the famous Kings Road in Chelsea.Featuring the biggest beer garden in Chelsea, Henry J Beans Chelsea is a true institution and a great place to relax, unwind and party.

- The Hour Glass, 279 Brompton Rd, SW3 2DY, +44 20 7581 2840. This small, triangular, very easy-going pub just a little away from the main street bustle is a favorite among the locals, above all because the seating inside is designed to prevent overcrowding, but also for its pavement seating and upscale gastropub fare.

- The Phoenix, 23 Smith St. Great pints, tremendous place for a pint on a sunny day. be sure to grab one of the outdoor tables and enjoy a cool pint on a hot day here (when not raining in London).

- Townhouse, Beauchamp.

- Troubadour Wines, 267 Old Brompton Rd (Right next door to its famous sister, The Troubadour Cafe). This cozy wine bar is a quieter alternative to the buzz next door. With a great selection of wines from around the world, many of which are not available anywhere else in London, this is a peaceful oasis where you can discover delicious and good value wines. Drink in or take home.

Sleep
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Budget
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- Ambassadors Hotel, [29]. Popular three star hotel situated on Collingham Road between Earls Court and Kensington. The hotel offers 140 en-suite rooms, all with modern amenities. Book direct for best rates and low prices.

- Avonmore Hotel, 66 Avonmore Rd, W14 8RS, +44 (0) 20 7603 4296 (+44 (0) 20 7603 3121, fax: +44 (0)20 7603 4035), [30]. Close to the West End.

- Chelsea House Hotel, 96 Redcliffe Garden (5 min from Earl Court Underground, go to right on Earls Court Rd, the hotel's 50 m after crossing Crompton Rd). checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM. The staff is very gentle and helpful. It is clean, and the rooms are all right, they are a bit small, have fridge, a small TV, but no table. The hotel is not nice, but OK. The breakfast is uninteresting, except the coffee, which is awful! But, the tea and the juice are good. It is close to many pubs, cafés and shops. Good place to stay, but lots of traffic.

- easyHotel Earl's Court, 42-48 West Cromwell Rd (5 min from Earls Court tube station), (enquiries@earlscourt.easyHotel.com), [31]. Guests can only book an easyHotel on the website and rooms are priced on the basis of the earlier you book, the less you pay.

- Exhibition Court Hotel 4, 25 Collingham Place, Earls Court, London SW5 0QF, 020 7370 2414 (info@exhibitioncourthotel4.co.uk), [32]. Neat and tidy 2-star hotel located less than 5 minutes walk from Earls Court tube station. They have a 24-hour front desk. Double rooms with bathroom from around £60 (summer pricing) with basic breakfast included. The rooms are nicer than many of the double rooms in the hostels along Earls Court Rd, for much the same price, although there is no wi-fi internet.

- Green Court Hotel, 52 Hogarth Rd, Earls Court (Underground: Earls Court Station (zone 1, District (green) and Piccadilly (dark blue) lines. Rail: West Brompton. Buses: C1 / C3 / 74 / 190 / 328 / 430 / N31 / N74 / N97), +44 (0)20 7370 0853 (info@greencourthotel.com), [33]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 10:30AM. Long-established private 2-star hotel around 2 minutes' walk from Earls Court tube station. Well-heated, double-glazed and secure. Telephone and cable TV in room (Sky News, CNN), free wi-fi and continental breakfast. From £45.

- Kensington West, 25 Matheson Road, W14 8SN (tube: West Kensington), 020 7602 9954 (stay@kensingtonwest.org), [34]. Refurbished 2 star hotel offering 24 hour reception, wireless internet, and flat screen tv’s. From £65.

- The Lord Jim Hotel, 23-25 Penywern Rd Earls Court, +44 20 7370 6071 (LJH@lgh-hotels.com, fax: +44 20 7373 8919), [35]. One of the best hotels on Penywern Rd, they have 45 rooms ranging from singles to quads. Breakfast is included, some rooms en suite. There is a TV lounge, a 24-hour concierge, and the staff is friendly and helpful. It is clean and the shared bathrooms are not bad at all. Online booking £37 for the booking itself, between £17-33 per person single.

- Merlyn Court Hotel, 2 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, +44 20 7370 1640 (london@merlyncourthotel.com, fax: +44 20 7370 4986), [36]. Lovely and friendly family run bed and breakfast hotel. Totally no smoking. Located in a quiet Edwardian Garden Square. Bright and clean rooms. Family rooms are available. From £35.

- St. Mark Hotel, Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, +44 20 7373 0060, [37]. This popular budget hotel offers 25 guest rooms all with private in-suite facilities. Book online for best deals.

Mid-range
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- The Sloane Square Hotel, Sloane Square, London, SW1W8EG, +44 (0) 207 896 9988, [38]. Modern and stylish hotel with good location in Chelsea close to a great array of shops.

- Kensington House Hotel, 15/16 Prince of Wales Terrace W8 5PQ, [39]. Boutique townhouse rooms and accommodation just off High Street. Attractions are a short walk away and include Kensington Gardens, art galleries, museums and cafés.

- Montana Hotel, 16-17 Gloucester Rd (2 minutes walk from Gloucester Road Tube Station). Good standard tourist class accommodation in an excellent area.

- NH Harrington Hall Hotel, 5-25 Harrington Gardens SW7 4JB, +44 20 73969696, [40]. Beautiful old building and useful location- staff were friendly and welcoming

- Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum (Holiday Inn Kensington Forum Hotel), 97 Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 4DN, 0871 942 9100, [41]. 4 Star hotel near Kensington High street with 906 rooms offering the usual Holiday Inn services

- Simply Rooms & Suites, Kensington, 21 Avonmore Rd, Kensington, W14 8RP, +44 20 3384 4698 (stay@simplyroomsandsuites.co.uk), [42]. Brand new 4 Star hotel boutique hotel offering high spec bedrooms in an excellent location off High St Kensington opening 14th May 2010.

- The Leonard Hotel, [43]. Offers central London accommodation from grand suites to individually decorated bedrooms near the shops of Oxford Street and Bond Street and local attractions.

Splurge
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- The Beaufort Hotel, 33 Beaufort Gardens, [44]. A privately owned small boutique hotel close to Harrods and Harvey Nichols offering first class service and contemporary style.

- The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, Knightsbridge, +44 20 7235 6000, [45]. Five star luxury hotel. Individually designed suites and rooms. Features Marcus Wareing's restaurant and fine afternoon tea in London at the caramel room.

- Blakes Hotel, 33 Roland Gardens, [46]. A fashionable small couture luxury hotel respected for client privacy.

- 54 Boutique Hotel, 54 Queen's Gate, +44 20 7761 4000 (enquiries@fiftyfourboutiquehotel.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7761 4040), [47].

- Cadogan Hotel, 75 Sloane St, +44 20 7235 7141 (info@cadogan.com, fax: +44 20 7245 0994), [48]. Cadogan is a classic Edwardian townhouse hotel, provides comfortable elegant five star hotel accommodation and service.

- K+K Hotel George, 1-15 Templeton Pl (tube: Earls Court), +44 20 7598 8700 (hotelgeorge@kkhotels.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7370 2285), [49]. 154 rooms and free wireless (and wired) internet access. The hotel is also right next door to Earl's Court exhibition center.

- La Reserve Hotel Chelsea, 422-428 Fulham Road, [50]. Spacious hotel offering 43 en-suite bedrooms. The hotel overlooks Chelsea Football Club.

- myhotel Chelsea, 35 Ixworth Pl. On a quiet residential street on the doorstep of fashionable shops and minutes from South Kensington and King's Rd.

- No. 11 Cadogan, 11 Cadogan Gardens, Knightsbridge (Knightsbridge), +44 20 7730 7000, [51]. This designer hotel and private club is London's finest couture space with its beautiful facilities and impeccable service.

Serviced Apartments
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- Astons Apartments, 31 Rosary Gardens, South Kensington (tube: Gloucester Rd), +44 20 7590 6000 (sales@astons-apartments.com, fax: +44 20 7590 6060), [52]. They have 54 self contained apartments of both standard and executive style set within three Victorian town houses. All apartments are en-suite and have either kitchenette or kitchen facilities. Wireless internet access available at cost. Single studio apartments £65, twin studio £95, four person executive £165.

- Troubadour Garret, 267 Old Brompton Rd (tube: Earls Court), +44 20 7370 1434, [53]. checkin: Noon; checkout: Noon. A luxury one bedroom apartment nestled at the top of the Troubadour Cafe and Club in Earls Court. Despite the close proximity to all the action and buzz of the cafe downstairs, the accommodation is quiet and tranquil. The most important feature of The Garret is a very large and comfortable Philippe Starck double bed (2.5m square). Antique furniture, a double sofa bed, high powered shower and free WiFi internet connection. There is a small kitchenette if you would like to cook, and breakfast items can be stocked in the fridge. More likely you will want to go downstairs to the cafe for a properly filling breakfast or brunch. Room service also available. £150.

- York House Luxury Studio Apartments London, Philbeach Gardens, Earl's Court (Close to Earls Court Exhibition Centre and Earl's Court Tube Station), +44 20 7370 6648, [54]. Offers tastefully designed studio apartments with private shower and kitchenette facilities.

District Westminster Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By boat

• See

Palace of Westminster

Buckingham Palace

Pimlico

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

Pubs

Gay and Lesbian

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Cope

Public toilets

• Get out

Understand
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Westminster is a city in its own right, the twin to the ancient City of London further east and historically they jointly formed the focus of what is today regarded as London. The Palace of Westminster came to be the principal royal residence after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and later housed the developing Parliament and law courts of England. The neighbouring Westminster Abbey became the traditional venue of the coronation of England regents. Westminster has therefore been the seat of royal, and later parliamentary, government and power for 900 years.

As a result, many of its attractions are of an historical and cultural variety. Even so Westminster very much retains a bustling, modern feel as the centre of British government and is often used as shorthand for Parliament and the political community (including the elected Government) of the United Kingdom generally.

For the traveller and for the scope of this article, it is important to understand though that the district of Westminster is bounded to the north by Trafalgar Square and Mayfair, to the east by Covent Garden and to the west by Knightsbridge and Chelsea.

St. James's is the region of Westminster that encompasses Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminster and the eponymously named park. This is a very affluent area of the city and has a great deal to offer visitors. Belgravia to the west of Buckingham Palace is probably the grandest residential area in the whole of the United Kingdom. Victoria and Pimlico in the south-west are the least grand regions of the district but still have much to offer including The Tate Britain, some wonderful Regency architecture and a number of good value accommodation options.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following tube stations:

- Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee lines)

- Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Jubilee lines.

- Green Park (Jubilee. Piccadilly and Victoria lines)

- Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)

- Pimlico (Victoria line)

- St James's Park (Circle and District lines).

- Victoria (Circle, District and Victoria lines).

By train
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The nearest mainline train stations are London Waterloo (approximately 15 minutes walk) and London Victoria (20 min walk). It is worth taking the tube from these two stations to arrive at Westminster.

By boat
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- Westminster Millennium Pier [3]. You can take a circular cruise.

See
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- Banqueting House, Whitehall SW1A 2ER (tube: Westminster), +44 870 751 5178, [4]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, closed Su, Bank Holidays and 24 December-1 Jan (inclusive); The Banqueting House is liable to close at short notice for government functions, telephone to check before you travel. Designed and built in 1619-1622 by the Neo-Classical architect Inigo Jones, The Banqueting House is now all that remains of Whitehall Palace, the sovereign's principal residence from 1530-1698 when most of it was destroyed by fire. Renowned for its architecture and paintings (by Rubens, amongst others), the building is also famous for being the scene of Charles I's execution in 1649 at the end of the English Civil War. £4.00, students (with ID) and seniors (60+) £3.00, children 5-16 £2.60, under 5 free.

- Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum, Clive Steps, King Charles Street SW1A 2AQ (tube: Westminster), [5]. 9:30AM-6PM daily (last admission 5PM), closed 24-26 Dec. A branch of the Imperial War Museum, the Cabinet War Rooms preserves the underground corridors and rooms from which Churchill and the cabinet directed the war against Hitler and the Nazis, maintained almost exactly as they were left in 1945. Newly-opened in 2004, the attached Churchill Museum is the world's first permanent museum dedicated to the life and wartime achievements of Sir Winston Churchill, recently voted the Greatest Briton. £10, children under 16 free, seniors £8, students £8, unwaged £5, group concessions available.

- Cleopatra's Needle, Victoria Embankment, along the Thames (tube: Embankment). Cleopatra's Needle originated in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis, in the Temple of Atum, but the Romans moved it to Alexandria in 12 BC. In 1819, viceroy Mehemet Ali presented Cleopatra's Needle to the British, commemorating military victories in Egypt, but it remained in Alexandria until 1877 when transportation was arranged to bring it to London. On the voyage, the ship capsized in a storm, killing six crewmembers. Cleopatra's Needle was thought to be lost, but Spanish trawlers found it afloat a few days later, and after some repairs, it arrived in London on 21 Jan 1878. The obelisk is flanked by two faux-sphinxes, which show the effects of bombings of London during World War II. Today, Cleopatra's Needle shows some wear from exposure to London's damp weather.

- Downing Street, (tube: Westminster). Site of the London residences for the Prime Minister (No. 10) and the Chancellor (No. 11).

- Henry VII's Ladys Chapel, [6]. Described as the wonder of the entire world, this chapel at the eastern end of Westminster Abbey is a breathtakingly beautiful masterpiece of medieval architecture.

- St. Margaret's Church, Parliament Sq (tube: Westminster. Next to Westminster Abbey within Parliament Sq), [7]. M-F 9:30AM-3:45PM, Sa 9:30AM-1:45PM, Su 2PM-5PM. St. Margaret's is the church of the British Parliament, more specifically, the parish church of the House of Commons.

- Westminster Abbey, (tube: Westminster), +44 20 7654 4900 (info@westminster-abbey.org, fax: +44 20 7654 4894), [8]. Abbey admission: M-Tu and Th-F 9:30AM-3:45PM, W 9:30AM-7PM, Sa 9:30AM-1:45PM (extended in summer to 3:45PM), Su open for worship only, the Abbey closes 1 hr after last admission; Chapter House admission: 10:30AM-4PM daily; Westminster Abbey Museum: 10:30AM-4PM daily; Pyx Chamber: 10:30AM-4PM daily; Cloisters: 8AM-6PM daily. Note that the Abbey itself charges tourists for entry, but not for worshippers. Attend a church service for free and enjoy some of the finest choral music in London from the choir. Evensong at 4PM or 5PM, depending on time of year, is an especially good bet. The Abbey is the traditional scene for the Coronation of British monarchs and the burial place of many past kings and queens. £12, concessions £6 (seniors 60+, children 11-16, students with full-time student card), family ticket £18 (two adults and two children under 18), children under 11 free (maximum of two children per paying adult).

- Whitehall, (tube: Westminster, Charing Cross). This street runs between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square, and is the site of several British government buildings. Horseguards Parade, and the heavily guarded entrance to Downing Street (see below) are on the west side. Banqueting House is on the east side. In the centre of the street sits the Cenotaph, a war memorial erected following the World War I, which is the centre of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on 11 November.

- The Jewel Tower (Opposite the Houses of Parliament). This small tower across the road from the Houses of Parliament is the only part of the original Palace of Westminster still standing. While it is overshadowed in splendour by the surrounding buildings, it's well worth a visit, and has good displays about the early history of Westminster.

Palace of Westminster
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Parliament Square (tube: Westminster), [9].

On the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Palace of Westminster (more widely known as the Houses of Parliament) is the seat of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It's often termed the "Mother of All Parliaments" - an exaggeration, but perhaps only a slight one. The present building largely dates from the 19th century when it was rebuilt following a fire in a splendid example of Victorian neo-Gothic architecture. The House of Commons (elected Members of Parliament or MPs) is located to the north of the building and is decorated with green leather upholstery, and the House of Lords (unelected Lords) is located to the south and decorated with red leather upholstery.

- Visiting while the Houses are in session. While the house is sitting (most of the year), visitors can sit in the Strangers' Gallery of the Commons and Lords. There is no charge to do this. You should queue at St. Stephen's Entrance (opposite Westminster Abbey). Depending on the popularity of debates happening in the Houses, queueing for admission can take 30min or more. Avoid Wednesday lunchtime when the Prime Minister takes questions, and you are unlikely to find space at all unless you have a ticket from a Member of Parliament. If you do not wish to visit the Commons, then tell one of the police officers standing guard outside that you only wish to see the House of Lords, and you should be able to enter immediately. Upon entry, you pass through a metal detector, and are very thoroughly searched. You then proceed into St. Stephen's Hall, where you are seated to wait for admission. A representative of the Serjeant-at-Arms gives you a slip of paper to write your name and address on.

- House of Commons Strangers' Gallery. When called, you proceed from St. Stephen's Hall to the Central Hall, and then upstairs. You must leave all items (bags, cameras, mobile phones, writing and written material) outside and then proceed through to the Strangers' Gallery. Upon entry, you can pick up a copy of the proceedings being discussed in the House that day. You should be quiet, anything above a whisper may lead to you being asked to leave. After leaving the Commons, you head back down to the Central Hall.

- House of Lords Strangers' Gallery. If you head away from the Commons, you pass along a corridor towards the Lords. If you ask to visit the Strangers' Gallery, a representative of Black Rod asks you to complete another slip of paper with your name and address. You then proceed up a staircase to the Lords Strangers' Gallery. Again, all items need to be left outside. Of the two chambers, the Lords is by far the most impressive, featuring the stunning throne (opposite the Strangers' Gallery) upon which the Queen delivers a speech outlining the Government's plans for the year ahead at the State Opening each year. Also, the queue for the Lords is always very short.

- Westminster Hall. After visiting the two Houses, visitors pass back through St. Stephen's Hall, and through Westminster Hall. Westminster Hall is one of the few areas of Parliament in which photography is permitted, and it is a very impressive place, dating back to the 9th century. Plaques on the floor mark where the bodies of deceased members of the royal family lay in state (most recently the Queen Mother in 2002), and significant events which took place in the hall (such as the trial of King Charles I).

- Summer Opening, +44 870 9063773, [10]. 28 Jul-27 Sep M-Sa. While the Houses are in recess, the Palace of Westminster is generally closed - apart from the long Summer recess, during which tours are run through the building, led by Parliamentary employees. Popularity of these tours means you're best advised to book in advance - a stall erected on the green opposite the Palace of Westminster on Millbank sells tickets in the Summer. £7.

- Clock Tower (Big Ben), [11]. Strictly limited numbers of tickets are available to climb the Clock Tower (containing the Great Bell, commonly known as "Big Ben"). British visitors should write to their Member of Parliament to request tickets. Unfortunately there are no tours for overseas visitors. Free.

Buckingham Palace
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The main residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (reigned since 1952, coronated 1953)[12]. Other residences are Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.

- Changing of the Guard. May-Jul 11:30AM daily, other times see website. Each morning between May and July at 11:30am the guard changes outside Buckingham Palace. The rest of the year, the guard changes on alternate days, weather permitting. A board is placed outside the palace in the morning to say whether the Changing of the Guard ceremony will take place or not. There is no charge to view the Changing of the Guard - simply turn up and stand at the fence in front of the Palace, but it is worth getting there early to ensure a good view, particularly when the weather is fine. Free.

- Summer Opening. 31 Jul-29 Sep 9:45AM-3:45PM. 19 State Rooms open to the public, while the Queen is staying at her Scottish palace at Balmoral. Places are strictly limited, and it might not be possible to just turn up and get a ticket for a specific entry time, visitors should really book in advance to ensure admission. £8.75-15.50.

Pimlico
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- Tate Britain, Millbank (Nearest tube: Pimlico), [13]. M-Su 10AM-5:50PM. This gallery houses the Tate collection of British art from 1500 through to contemporary art. A side wing collects together the gallery's collection of paintings by Turner, including some stunning seascapes. Temporary exhibitions are exceedingly varied - recent examples include exhibitions of Turner's paintings of Venice and the work of photographer Wolfgang Tillmans. The best known exhibition is the Turner Prize, consists of works by four artists shortlisted for the annual contemporary art prize, which runs from late October to January each year. Admission free (though there is a charge for temporary exhibitions).

Do
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- See the guardsmen standing outside Horseguards Parade. Also, watch the daily changing of the guard.

- Free Walking Tours, Duke of Wellingon Arch (tube: Hyde Park Corner exit 2), [14]. 11AM and 1PM daily. There are a number of regular free walking tours in London but the most well known leaves from The Duke of Wellingon Arch twice daily and covers many of the important sights in Westminster. Duration about 2 and half hours. Free, donation.

Buy
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Perhaps the world's most famous shirts are made in Jermyn St SW1 and resident shirtmakers include:

- New & Lingwood (No. 53)

- Turnbull & Asser (No. 71) [15]

- Hilditch & Key (Nos. 37 and 73)

- Harvie & Hudson (No. 77)

- Charles Tyrwhitt (No. 92) [16]

Victoria Street has high-street shops.

- Cardinal Place, Victoria St (tube: Victoria, St. James's Park), [17]. High-street shops for example Marks & Spencer and a selection of chain restaurants.

- National Map Centre, 22-24 Caxton St (tube: Westminster), +44 20 7222246 (info@mapsnmc.co.uk). M-F 9AM-5PM. Fantastic for maps and guide books.

Eat
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- Circus, 1 Upper James St, +44 20 7534 4000. A popular haunt for theatre goers, this French bistro serves food as authentic as you would find on the other side of the Channel.

- Inn the Park, St. James's Park (tube: St James's Park), +44 20 7451 9999 (info@innthepark.com), [18].

- Quaglinos, 16 Bury St, +44 20 7930 6767. Owned by famed designer Terence Conrad, it serves standard food with a menu that changes frequently. It features live jazz every night and on Sunday lunch.

- Great India Tandoori, 79 Lower Sloane Street, 0207 730 2207. One of Chelsea's most popular restaurants. Established by Satir Ahmed in 1960.

- Cardinal Place, Victoria St (tube: Victoria, St. James's Park), [19]. A selection of chain restaurants.

Drink
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Pubs
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There are a large number of excellent pubs in the St. James's area of Westminster.

- The Albert, Victoria St. A nice (but often crowded) traditional pub, dating back to the 1860s, named in honour of Queen Victoria's husband. Portraits of British prime ministers (many of them signed) hang on the stairwell, and Chelsea pensioners (British war veterans) can often be seen propping up the bar.

- The Elusive Camel Victoria (The Camel), 27 Gillingham St, +44 871 984 1229, +44 20 7233 9004 (camel@vpmg.net), [20]. Popular with a young and sporty crowd, with a game always on screen, it is a great place to have a drink and cheer your favorite team.

- The Red Lion, Whitehall (Half way between Parliament Sq and 10 Downing St). A good place to see politicians and political commentators. The pub television shows (muted) debates from the House of Commons, and division bell rings here to summon Members of Parliament to vote on important issues in Parliament.

Gay and Lesbian
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- Heaven, The Arches, Villiers and Craven St, +44 20 7930 2020, [21]. The world's most famous gay nightclub. A must visit while in London, one of the biggest and most established institutions in the city.

Sleep
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Budget
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There are lots of small B&Bs in the Pimlico and Victoria areas which offer very good value for this part of London.

- The Wellington, 71 Vincent Sq, SW1P 2PA, (tube: Pimlico), [22]. Located in quiet area. Rate includes simple breakfast. Internet access available. 10 min from Victoria Station. From £30.

Mid-range
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- Mint Westminster, 30 John Islip St, +44 20 7630 1000, [23]. A central london boutique hotel in Westminster. Offers a restaurant, bar, meeting venue and event offers. From £150.

- Jolly Hotel St Ermin's, 2 Caxton St, SW1H 0QW (tube: Westminster or Victoria), +44 20 72227888 (reservations.uk@jollyhotels.com), [24]. Small but well appointed rooms in a convenient location near Westminster Abbey. From 115.

- Luna & Simone Hotel, 47/49 Belgrave Rd, SW1 (tube: Pimlico, Victoria), +44 20 7834 5897 (stay@lunasimonehotel.com), [25]. Small yet comfortable hotel with friendly staff. Double en-suite £70-90, single basic £35-45.

- Sanctuary House Hotel, 33 Tothill St (tube: Westminster), +44 20 7799 4044 (sanctuary@fullers.co.uk), [26]. Small hotel in a lovely old building close to Westminster Abbey, part of a popular Fullers pub. From £195.

Splurge
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- Crowne Plaza London St James (St James Court Hotel), Buckingham Gate SW1E 6AF, +44 20 7834 6655. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 1PM. Four star hotel close to Buckingham Palace and The Houses of Parliament. Has three restaurants, Spa, and Gym. £150.00. (51.49,-0.1374)

- The Grosvenor, Buckingham Palace Rd (tube: Victoria), +44 871 3769038 (grosvenor@guoman.co.uk), [27]. Handily located next door to Victoria railway and tube station.

- St. James’s Hotel & Club, 7-8 Park Pl (tube: Green Park, just off St. James’s St near Mayfair), +44 20 7316 1600 (info@stjameshotelandclub.com, fax: +44 20 7316 1603), [28]. checkout: 12. A luxury townhouse hotel. From £215. (51.506765,-0.140590)

Cope
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Public toilets
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For £0.25 per message, visitors to the Westminster area can use a toilet-finding service called SatLav. Just text the word "toilet" to 80097 in order to receive a reply with directions to the nearest public toilet.

Get out
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- Just across the river on the South Bank are the London Eye and the Saatchi Gallery

District Camden Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By rail

• See

• Do

• Buy

Camden Town Markets

Shops

• Eat

• Drink

Pubs, bars and cafes

Clubs and music venues

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Stay safe

• Get out

Understand
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For half a century, Camden Town [1]has been the centre of alternative culture in London, be it punk, goth, hippie or emo. The area is home to large markets selling an extremely wide range of products from glowing t-shirts to digeridoos, mostly from independent stalls. With some of the capital's most varied cuisine, great live music and an anything goes attitude, Camden is one of the most vibrant and interesting of all London districts.

Two main London railway stations are located in the south of the district, King's Cross and St. Pancras International (so close together, they are virtually one and on the tube are one station). A number of important main roads also converge at this point.

Virtually the whole of Camden was traditionally a working class, inner-city area with large estates of run-down public housing and some very seedy areas indeed. Inevitably though given its convenient inner London location, considerable gentrification has occurred across the district.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is served well by the following tube stations:

- Camden Town (Northern line). Note that due to the popularity of the market, this becomes an exit only station on Sundays 1PM-5:30PM. Use Mornington Crescent or Chalk Farm for leaving on Sundays before 5:30PM.

- Mornington Crescent (Northern line),

- Chalk Farm (Northern line).

- Kentish Town (Northern line)

- King's Cross/St. Pancras (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines).

- Euston (Victoria and Northern lines).

By rail
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London’s three large railway terminals to the North - Euston, St. Pancras and King’s Cross are all located in the borough with easy connections from other parts of London and the northern suburbs.

- Euston [[2]] is the London terminus of the West Coast Main Line with intercity services to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. It is within easy walking distance of Camden Town itself, or you can catch an onward tube via Northern Line.

- St. Pancras International [[3]] is the terminus of the Midland Main Line (services from Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield) and the High Speed One line to Continental Europe.

- King’s Cross[[4]] serves the East Coast Main Line with intercity services to Cambridge, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, as well as outer suburban services to the northern commuter belt.

See
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- The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB (tube: Kings Cross, St Pancras), +44 20 7412 7332 (Customer-Services@bl.uk), [5]. M, W-F 9:30AM-6PM, Tu 9:30AM-8PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. The official book depository of the United Kingdom, the British Library holds a copy of every book ever printed here, and a wide variety of periodicals. No less than 150 million items catalogued and there is an unimaginable 625 km of shelving! Visitors may not enter the museum itself, but there is a very good exhibition chronicling the history of the written and printed word, collecting some of the museum's best known exhibits, including two of the original manuscripts of the Magna Carta and Leonardo Da Vinci's notebook. In the central atrium stands The King's Library (the library of King George III) surrounded by a glass wall, so visitors can watch librarians retrieving books for readers. Tours of the library building run Mo, We, Fr, Sa and Su and cost £6. Call to book.

- Camley Street Natural Park, 12 Camley St N1C 4PW (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), +44 20 7833 2311 (camleyst@wildlondon.org.uk), [6]. Daily 10AM-5PM. A small 2 acre nature reserve amid the industrial wasteland just north of King's Cross Station. This lovely little park gives visitors interested in nature the opportunity to learn about the work of the London Wildlife Trust who administer this plus 26 other reserves in London. This is the only one in the centre of the city though.

- The Canal Museum, 12/13 New Wharf Rd N1 9RT (tube: King's Cross), +44 20 7713 0836, [7]. Tu-Su 10AM-4.30PM. Exhibits explaining the history of the canal. Housed in a former ice warehouse. £3 adults, £1.50 children.

- The Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert Street NW1 7NB, (tube: Camnden Town), +44 20 7284 1997 (admin@jewishmuseum.org.uk), [8]. Recently renovated and with modern extension. Exhibtions on the long history of the Jewish community in London. Surprisingly well laid out and interesting.

- Regent's Canal, (tube: Kings Cross St Pancras). You can walk or cycle along the canal through east London all the way to the Thames (3 hr). The St. Pancras lock is directly north of St Pancras station. Regents Canal was once a lifeline for trade and industry in London with narrowboats and barges ferrying goods to and from North London. The canal winds its way from the Grand Union Canal near Paddington in West London, past Regents Park, Camden, Islington and Mile End to Limehouse, where it meets the Thames. From Camden Lock you can walk upstream along the canal to The Regents Park and on to London Zoo. It is a great way to approach the Zoo and a good way to avoid the traffic. Downstream of Camden is less pretty but still an interesting walk, taking you through the Islington Tunnel (one of the longest tunnels in the British canal system) and out in to East London. Whichever way you go along the path, watch out for cyclists!

- St. Pancras International Rail Station. Marvelous Gothic architecture, used in the Harry Potter films.

Do
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There are several nice walks along the canal, but the main focus of Camden are the shops, restaurants and nightlife.

- Camden Town Audio Tour, [9]. Download the audio tour and take to the streets with Camdenite celebrity Robert Elms and explore Camden Town, an area known for being different.

- Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Rd, NW1 2AJ (tube: Euston), +44 20 7387 6864, [10]. Theatre named after George Bernard Shaw and famous for showing high quality, non-mainstream productions. Adjacent to the British Library

Buy
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Camden Town Markets
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You will find several great markets [11], one for clothes, one for food, and one for all manner of things, from throws to second hand books, food from a hundred different cultures and a lot more.

- The Lock Market, (E of Chalk Farm Rd, by Camden Lock). Sa Su 9AM-6PM. Many stores mainly focused around music and clothing.

- The Stables Market, (The main entrance is next to the railway bridge across Chalk Farm Road, just past the canal). Some shops open all week, but most stalls only Sa Su 9AM-6PM. This is the largest of Camden's market areas, featuring hundreds of stalls selling everything from African art to beds to fetish clothing to antiques. This is probably the best place in London for interesting clothes, including vintage, goth, cyber and general club-wear. Do not miss The Black Rose and Cyberdog, two institutions in the alternative scene in London. Go early to avoid the crowds.

- The Canal Market, (In the large building beside the entrance to the Stables). Sa Su 9AM-6PM. Three floors of arts and crafts, including jewellery, paintings, candles, figurines and much more. A great place for gifts and souvenirs.

- Inverness Street Market, (Across Chalk Farm Rd from Camden tube station). This is a small market selling a range of common goods such as fruit and vegetables, cheap clothes and other bits and bobs.

- The Camden/Buck Street Market. A great spot for cheap knock-offs of expensive goods such as Doc Martens. Great for t-shirts and women's clothes, not so hot for men. Also lots of fake designer handbags.

Shops
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In addition to the markets, there are a large number of interesting shops dotted all around the area.

Take a long slow wander down Chalk Farm Road (it will need to be slow, the sheer number of people makes walking quickly impossible!), checking out the amazing collection of boots and leather that dominate it. Of special note are:

- Amsterdam of London. Probably the finest purveyor of curious things in London.

- Resurrection Records, [12]. The home of alternative music in North London.

Other shops include:

- Official Doc Martens Boot Co., Kentish Town Rd (tube: Camden Town). Selling Doc Martens since the 60s. The proprietor is always happy to talk and has some fun tales about the strange requests he has had from famous people.

- Rokit, High Street, [13]. A proud up shoot that took its roots from Camden market and now has four high street stores across London.

Eat
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Camden has some of the most varied cuisine in all of London.

A key part of Camden's food scene are the many stalls offering quick and tasty food from every country possible. Quality varies, but generally it is good and cheap. Stalls tend to be located in and around the Lock and Stables markets, but they appear everywhere. A perennial favourite has been the donut and cake stall located next to the bridge, as have the many Chinese and Thai stalls nearby.

Camden also contains a large number of more formal restaurants, many of which are relatively inexpensive and open after the stalls have closed.

- Belgo, 72 Chalk Farm Road NW1 8AN (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 72670718, [14]. Tasty moules frites without taking the EuroStar, with deluxe decor. The beer menu is intense, and one can catch a good bargain with their "Full Moon Specials".

- Caponata and The Forge, 3-7 Delancey Street NW1 7NL (tube: Mornington Crescent), +44 20 7387 5959, [15]. Caponata is a Sicillian restaurant and the Forge arts venue is attached next door. Has a formal restaurant plus a casual bar serving light bites.

- The Camden Brasserie, 9-11 Jamestown Road NW1 7BW (tube: Camden Town), +44 20 7482 2114 (eat@camdenbrasserie.co.uk), [16]. Serving grilled steaks and fish here since the 1980s. Has a loyal local clientele.

- Chop Chop Noodle Bar, Euston Rd (Opposite the main entrance to King's Cross Station (adjacent to St Pancras Station)). Selection of the usual Chinese/oriental dishes to either eat in (even if you have only got half an hour you can be in and out with time to spare) or takeaway (they give you a plastic fork with your takeaway without even being asked). Very filling with big portions. Quality is not great but you can not argue with the prices. Licensed and drinks are certainly no worse than what you would pay in any London pub. £3.50.

- St. Pancras International Station, Pancras Rd, [17]. Every day. A selection of cafes at the station. Convenient for a quick bite.

- Strada, 40-42 Parkway, N1 7AH (tube: Camden Town), +44 20 7428 9653. Good value pizza, pasta and risottos. One of the better Italian chain restaurants in London. Shame most of their produce in not freshly prepared, it comes frozen in a packet

Drink
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Camden has a great nightlife, with lots of cool bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Pubs, bars and cafes
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- The Big Chill, Pentonville Rd.

- Devonshire Arms, [18]. The dress code is strictly alternative and the pub has got a late night license for Fridays and Saturdays. DJs every night and some gigs. The artwork on the walls was produced by Robin, the barman.

- The Dublin Castle, Parkway. A bit rowdy and often quite packed, this pub and music venue has played a pivotal role in British music. It is well known for producing Madness and helping a great many other groups along their path to glory. Worth a stop, just for the atmosphere.

- The Edinboro Castle, (Just off the end of Parkway to the left). A more refined side of Camden, this pub is part of a chain in North London attempting to apply a little class. It has a fine selection of beer and cider, including a selection of Belgian beers both bottled and draught. The food is always good and the staff always friendly. There is a large, semi-covered outdoor seating area with heaters.

- The Good Mixer, Inverness St (Off Camden Road). M-Sa til midnight, Su til 11PM. A nice pub where the likes of Blur and Pulp and a load of other Britpop bands from the '90s used to drink. Prices are reasonable, there are two pool tables, and the general atmosphere is laid back and friendly.

- Jazz Café. Food, drink, and music (jazz, soul, blues).

- The Misty Moon, (tube: Chalk Farm). A fairly average pub.

- The Prince Arthur, [19].

- The World's End, (tube: Camden Town). Local landmark and a good meeting point. It is large, with two separate bars and a lot of seating. Food is served at the weekend.

Clubs and music venues
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- Scala, 275 Pentonville Rd, King's Cross, +44 20 7833 2022, [20]. Alternative music venue

- Egg, 200 York Way, King's Cross, [21].

- Electric Ballroom, [22]. F 10:30PM-3AM. The Ballroom hosts a number of different club nights. It is a big venue with two separate dance floors and four bars. Features a rock floor and an industrial/goth/rock/techno floor.

- The Underworld, (Beneath the World's End), [23]. F Sa. It is a great spot to go and catch alternative bands: goth, metal, electronica, rock, punk and many others are found here. Friday night is also a regular club night, attracting large numbers from the young alternative crowd and more "studenty" than the Saturday.

- The Barfly, 49 Chalk Farm Rd, [24]. One of the best gig venues in North London, the Barfly plays host to a wide range of music, concentrating on rock and pop.

Sleep
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Budget
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- YHA London St. Pancras, 79-81 Euston Rd, +44 870 7706044 (stpancras@yha.org.uk), [25]. Dormitory from £21.95, including breakfast.

Mid-range
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- Camden Lock Hotel, 89 Chalk Farm Road NW1 8AR (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7267 3912. Good value, family-owned and run hotel five minutes walk from the main markets. Note that there is no lift. £79.

- Corner House Hotel, 201 Camden Rd NW1 9AA (tube: Kentish Town), +44 20 7424 9509 (info@cornerhsehotel.com), [26]. In a lovely old Victorian building about 10 minutes or an easy bus ride away from the main part of Camden town. Have single, double and family rooms available. £85.

- Holiday Inn Camden Lock, 30 Jamestown Road NW1 7BY (500 metres from Camden Town tube), [27]. A modern hotel with 130 rooms beside the canal at Camden Lock. From £105.

- Premier Travel Inn King's Cross, 26-30 York Way N1 9AA, (tube: King's Cross), [28]. A modern, clean, reasonably priced hotel. From about £70.

Stay safe
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Camden has long had strong associations with drugs, in particular cannabis and magic mushrooms. Even during daylight, you are likely to be offered weed or hashish. These dealers will usually accept no for an answer. Remember that these drugs are still illegal, streetside dealers are not to be trusted and often just steal your money if you look interested. Also, there are many undercover police around to catch you. Until 2007, it was possible to freely obtain magic mushrooms due a loophole that permitted the sale of fresh goods. This loophole has now closed and possession is taken seriously by the police.

Walking around Camden at night is generally fine, but gangs of youths can seem threatening, and best avoided if alone. Take a taxi if you are feeling insecure.

Fake goods are found in abundance in Camden. Most of the time its fairly obvious (Bolex watches, etc.), but be careful when purchasing - refunds are not common. Fake DVDs are mostly terrible quality.

Get out
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- Catch the Eurostar for Paris, Lille or Bruxelles.

- Buses and tube trains leave the station for access to all areas of London.

District East End Table of Contents

• Understand

Docklands

• Get in

By tube

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

By train

• See

• Do

Walks

Other

• Buy

• Eat

Canary Wharf

Mile end

Brick Lane

Other places

• Drink

Canary Wharf

Mile End

Brick Lane

Shoreditch

Pubs

Clubs

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Stay safe

• Contact

Understand
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The East End is the home of "Cockney Rhyming Slang", a dialect of English where words are substituted for other words which they rhyme with. For example "Apples and Pears" is cockney slang for "Stairs", "Plates of Meat" is slang for "Feet". In recent years the East End is perhap more famous than ever due to the long running and hugely popular BBC TV series EastEnders, a soap opera about the life of people living in Albert Square, Walford, which is a fictional location.

Exploring the East End can be a great way to get off of the main tourist track, while staying in walking distance of the historic centre of London. A good place to start is to go east from Spitalfields into the nearby Brick Lane neighbourhood.

The East End consists of many small and quite distinct neighbourhoods:

Mile End is an increasingly affluent neighbourhood about one mile (hence the name) from the City of London along the Whitechapel Road. While not as vibrant as its neighbours in Bethnal Green and Brick Lane, it has a charm of its own which makes this district worth a visit. It is rich in history and contains some very interesting relics of London's industrial past. The district was created just at the time when London was expanding at its fastest rate and as such contains areas which are a microcosm of the Victorian city. It also suffered greatly from German bombing in WWII and the slum clearances of the 1960s which saw many fine Victorian houses bulldozed to be replaced by sub-standard communal housing.

Whitechapel runs from the edge of the City of London at Bishopsgate in the West to Cavell Street in the East, and from Commercial Road in the south moving to the Brick Lane area in the north. It became particularly notorious in 19th century for the gruesome murders of Jack the Ripper (once known as 'The Whitechapel Murderer'), in the days when poverty and prostitution were common in this area. It is still a largely working-class area but has attracted a large Bangaledeshi community which has made Brick Lane what it is today. Many aspiring artists moved here for the cheap rents but still central location. Tracey Emin (one of the not-so-Young British Artists (YBAs) of the 1990s) has a studio in this area, and can be seen wandering around in the day. The Royal London Hospital gazes across at Whitechapel tube station and is famous for nursing Joseph Carey Merrick (the 'Elephant Man') in his final years.

Brick Lane is a small but diverse neighbourhood, named after a long road starting in Whitechapel and running north into Shoreditch. The area has come to be known as "Banglatown" in recent years on account of many of its inhabitants and proprietors originating from the Indian subcontinent (especially Bangladesh). You can see evidence of this on the bilingual road signs which where placed to help immigrants in the 1980s who were unable to speak English.

Although now largely a Bengali neighbourhood, within living memory, Brick Lane was a Jewish district. As well as some obvious remnants of this history such as a few remaining bagel delis, there are some more subtle ones too, such as small synagogues in the back streets. Many of the larger synagogues have now been converted into mosques. Before that, it was a Huguenot area. The Huguenots settled in the area and became well-known for silk weaving. The markets here date back to the 16th century, when the area was a stop on the main eastern exit road from London The neighbourhood, now complete with its own annual festival, is now most famous for its curry restaurants, markets, speciality shops and vibrant but relaxed nightlife.

Shoreditch stretches from Old Street station to Kingsland Road in the London Borough of Hackney. Culturally though this is part of the East End. This was once an area largely populated by skint artists but they were scattered once the wave of design and media studios and commercial art galleries rolled in. Although the area is still underdeveloped in many ways, this is one of the best places to go out drinking in London, simply because there are so many different bars, pubs and clubs dotted all over this area and many of these stay open past 11PM.

Docklands
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This area stretches from the edge of the City of London along the river to Beckton. The area encompasses the historical docks of the port of London, which declined after the Second World War. The area has been extensively redeveloped since the 1980s resutling in a doubling of the residential population. This is now predominantly an area of giant offices and mid to upmarket housing, although elements of its historic purpose can still be found. For travellers, the major feature of interest is the Canary Wharf development, home to some of London's tallest buildings. However, there are also other areas of Docklands that are of interest to those with more time to explore the area. Area of modern day Docklands include Wapping, Limehouse, the Isle of Dogs and Royal Dock:

Wapping is immediately east of the City of London on the banks of the Thames. Although largely gentrified in recent decades, there are still many cobbled streets and the warehouse conversions has been done sympathetically in many places, and there are several excellent riverside pubs. The giant News International facility (which publishes The Times and The Sun newspapers) is located here.

Limehouse extends from the edge of Wapping to Canary Wharf. By-passed by the Limehouse Link road tunnel, it is a quiet, predominantly residential area and there are a few riverside pubs of note a well as facilities serving the massive business community at Canary Wharf.

The Isle of Dogs extends south from the Canary Wharf development and is a mixture of light industrial, office and residential areas, with a large park at Mudchute that contains a City Farm. At Island Gardens there are noteworthy views across the river to Greenwich.

The Royal Docks extend east and are at an earlier stage of redevelopment than most of the rest of Docklands. They are dominated by the giant Excel centre and are the home of London City Airport. Aside from these there are few reasons for vistors to come here. Surrey Docks and Rotherhithe on the south of the river are sometimes included in descriptions of Docklands.

Get in
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By tube
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Mile End is one of the best-connected stations in London, with access to the Central, Hammersmith and City, and District Lines. It is claimed that Mile End is the only station on the Underground system which can be reached by every other, with only one change. There is also a District Line station at Bow Road and Docklands Light Railway stations at Bow Road and Devons Road.

For the west side of Whitechapel get off at Aldgate East tube station (Hammersmith & City & District Lines), to take you directly to the Whitechapel Art Gallery and near the bottom of Brick Lane or Whitechapel tube station (Hammersmith & City & District Lines) will take you to the east side of Whitechapel Road. Liverpool Street tube station is a 15 minute walk from Whitechapel.

The Jubilee line extension to Canary Wharf links docklands with the main tube network.

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
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Much of Docklands was historically poorly connected to the rest of London, with the development of the Docklands Light Rail (DLR) and the extension of the Jubilee Underground line, transportation has become much easier and more efficient. If visiting Docklands, you might like to arrive by DLR to experience the views from the train on approach and leave by the Jubilee to see the impressively large station, which has been compared to a cathedral.

Most of the DLR stations are, unsurprisingly, in Docklands. There are three stations on the Canary Wharf development: West India Quay, Canary Wharf and Heron Quays. Heron Quays is best for interchange with the Jubilee line. The stations are a short distance apart so you don't need to use the DLR to get around within Canary Wharf.

By train
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London Overground's East London Line connects various stations in the inner East End, running through Hoxton, Shoreditch High Street, Whitechapel, Shadwell and Wapping, before crossing the river to Rotherhithe, Canada Water and beyond.

See
toc

- Canary Wharf, (tube: Canary Wharf), [3]. A vast shopping, eating, entertainment and (primarily) business complex, home to Britain's tallest skyscraper, One Canada Square. Now increasingly lively at weekends as well, but still at its most impressive during the week. Spectacular main exit from the Jubilee Line tube station. There is a substantial amount of information about the history and the architecture of the development on the website of Canary Wharf Group, the company that owns the development.

- Museum in Docklands, (DLR: West India Quay), [4]. 10AM-6PM. Tells the story of the development of the Docklands from Roman and Viking times to the present day. free.

- The Brick Lane Gallery, 196 Brick Lane, +44 20 7729 9721 (info@thebricklanegallery.com), [5]. Noon-6PM. Free, you can buy the paintings..

- Victoria Park (Vicky Park), tube: Mile End. Daily 6AM-dusk. At 87 hectares this is the largest open green space in the district.

- Whitechapel Art Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street (Nearest Tube, Aldgate East), +44 20 7522 7888, [6]. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM, Th 11AM-9PM, M closed. Whitechapel has been a champion of Modern Art since 1901, and has held exhibitions of greats such as Picasso, Pollock and Frida Kahlo and supported British Artists such as Gilbert & George and Lucian Freud. The space continues to hold regular new exhibtions with additional linked events on Thursday evenings. There is a cafe and a small art bookshop. Free entry. There are excellent facilities for disabled people (visual, hearing and physical).

- White Cube, Hoxton Square (South side). Art gallery with exhibitions by major British and international artists.

- Wilton's Music Hall (Wilton's), Graces Alley off Ensign Street (10 minutes walk from Tower Hill or Aldgate East tube stations. Head towards Royal Mint Street which becomes Cable Street.), 0207 702 2789, [7]. Wilton's Music Hall is the oldest Grand Music Hall in the world. Built in 1858 it has had a long and colourful history. Wilton's has been the haunt of Victorian sailors (and their ladies), become a Mission, survived two world wars, being a rag warehouse, being forgotten, becoming derelict and has ended up as a theatre once more. It is now a performance space offering entertainment of as wide a variety as puppetry to poetry and has launched a capital appeal to save it from crumbling.

- Cultureline, [8]. This is a website promoting locations of cultural interest along London Overground's East London line.

Do
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Walks
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- Tower Bridge. If you feel adventurous then spend a sunny Sunday afternoon walking the north bank of the River Thames to Tower Bridge in the City of London.

- Regents Canal. Walk up the Regents Canal.

- Green Bridge. Walk over the Green Bridge, a unique structure that joins Bow Common to Mile End Park with its urban nature reserve, taking the park over the busy A12 road, ensuring uninterrupted greenery for several miles, from the bottom of Bow Common to the top of the beautiful Victoria Park.

Other
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- East London Art Walks (Comment art walks), 20 Rivington Street (Old Street Tube exit 3), +44 20 7739 1743, 7799 776 016, [9]. A friendly, qualified art guide will take you round a selection of the most interesting exhibitions on at the moment and also talk about the history of contemporary art in East London. £5/4. (51.526000,-0.082402)

- The O2 (Formerly the Millennium Dome), (tube: North Greenwich). Concerts, cinema and restaurants.

- Cineworld Cinema, 11 Hertsmere Road (tube: West India Quay).

- Excel, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock (tube: Custom House), +44 20 7069500 (info@excel-london.co.uk), [10]. Exhibition and conference centre. The venue hosts such public events as the London Boat Show, the British Motor Show and the London Triathlon as well as numerous trade shows. It will be a venue for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics for sports such as boxing, table tennis and fencing.

- Cycle. Hire a bike and cycle around the island. There are lots of cycle paths and great riverside views of the City of London and Greenwich.

- Canary Wharf Ice Rink, (tube: Canary Wharf), [11]. 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. Winter only.

- Jack the Ripper Tour, [12]. For those of you with a morbid fascination with this 19th century murderer, this will hopefully feed your curiosity. Approx 2 hours. Book through website. £8 per person.

- The Brick Lane Gallery, 196 Brick Lane (Nearest tube: Liverpool Street or Aldgate East), +44 20 7729 9721 (info@thebricklanegallery.com), [13]. Noon-6PM. Exhibits an eclectic variety of contemporary art and street art by British and International artists, focusing mainly on exhibiting emerging and mid-career artists. They present an integrated programme of exhibitions, including solo-shows as well as group exhibitions, introducing innovative developments in painting, sculpture, photography, performance, video and works on paper. Free, but you also can buy the paintings.

Buy
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The undoubted highlight of East End trading life was the street market, operating under a grudging acceptance from the authorities and offering bargains with big suggestions that the cheap price may be related to a dodgy road to market. Sunday was the main market day due to the Jewish heritage of the area, and therefore attracted a large influx of punters before shops were allowed Sunday trading elsewhere in London. The (more controlled) current markets are a treat of variety, stretching out in short walk from Liverpool St or Shoreditch stations. During a Sunday morning relaxed walk, allowing 2-3 hours, you can visit the four main markets, Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Columbia Road Flower Market, have lunch and a shandy or two, whilst taking in the ever-changing diversity. New markets are opening en-route all the time, but real surprises are most likely to be found around the north Brick Lane/ Cheshire St area which most resembles the spirit of the original markets, having many stalls operating on the edges of both market and legality.

- Petticoat Lane Market, Middlesex Street. Traditionally the East End market where nearly anything could be found (legal or not) now mostly cheaper mainstream clothes. Main market Sunday, smaller market Mon-Fri in Wentworth Street

- Spitalfields Market, (tube: Liverpool Street, just off Bishopgate), [14]. The traditional fruit and vegetable market for The City moved into the suburbs in 1991. The existing buildings were threatened with complete demolition by developers, but saved partially by local action and the establishment of an organic market on the empty site. It has slowly been shrunk to a third of its size by development in the area. It still features a good variety of clothing, crafts and food stalls/shops, but very little organic anymore. Mon-Fri - upmarket stalls operate on the edge of the new buildings. Towards end of week more eclectic stalls can be found in old market area. Sunday hosts the full market in both old and new areas but tends to be increasingly more expensive and exclusive as traders are squeezed for higher rents.

- Brick Lane. The Whitechapel end of Brick Lane is filled with South Asian (mainly Bangladeshi) shops and restaurants, selling music, spices, tasty sweets and sari material.

- Dragana Perisic, 30 Cheshire Street (Right off of Brick Lane), +44 20 7739 4484, [15]. Tu-Su 11AM-6PM. Tactile textiles, obsessive detailing, designed to fit, quality unsurpassed, clothes that look and feel good. Dragana's clothing could never be considered simple, although it is subtle. It is far from elaborate, yet cleverly thought out. It is an imaginative mix of the landscape of her native Yugoslavia and the sophistication of big cities: A melting of both of the worlds she now inhabits. The work now, apart from the garments, includes delicate fabric jewelery, belts and scarves. The Dragana Perisic shop was recommended as one of London’s top 50 boutiques in Timeout. << This is clearly an advert!

- Beyond Retro, 110-112 Cheshire Street, [16]. Secondhand clothing (male and female).

- Rokit, 101&107 Brick Lane, [17]. Secondhand clothing (male and female).

- Brick Lane Market, (tube: Shoreditch, running from Shoreditch Tube Station to Bethnal Green Road and spreading out into Sclater Street and Cheshire Street). Su 8AM-2PM. Selling second hand clothes, bric-a-brac, books, household goods and electronics.

- Tatty Devine, 236 Brick Lane (Hidden up at the quiet end away from the hustle and bustle of the market and curry houses), +44 20 7739 9009, [18]. Little shop specialising in accessories for men and women, such as volume level brooches and newspaper print ties. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa-Su 11AM-7PM.

- Whitechapel Market, (By the Whitechapel tube station), [19]. M-Sa 8AM-6PM. A small street market selling food and spices, clothing, jewellery, carpets and the odd dodgy stereo.

- 1 Canada Square Shopping Mall, 1 Canada Square. American style air conditioned shopping centre. All the usual High Street shops, plus a John Lewis department store and a Waitrose food store which has the most stunning range of produce.Pleasant upmarket shopping centre, made up of three arcades: Canada, Cabot and Jubilee Place. The three arcades encircle Jubilee Park and the tube station, and house over 200 shops, bars, restaurants and cafes that are open seven days a week. A relaxed shopping environment, especially good for clothes.

- Roman Road Market, Roman Road, Bow (follow the signs from Bow Road tube station). A mix of traditional goods, from high street brands to fish, Roman has it all. Market runs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday till 4 O'clock.

Eat
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Canary Wharf
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There are many restaurants in Docklands clustered around the new developments of Canary Wharf. Some of the best are listed below:

- Café Rouge, Mackenzie Walk, +44 20 7537 9696. Waterfront Parisian Bistro. Wide selection of food and wine in a relaxing setting.

- Carluccios, Nash Court, +44 20 7719 1749. Authentic Italian Cafe with all Italian dishes developed by Antonio Carluccio himself. There is also a genuine Italian deli with take out lunches, meats, cheeses and a range of branded products and gift items.

- The Fine Line, Fisherman's Walk, +44 20 7513 0255. Lunchtime menus include a mixture of continental and international meals. A snack menu is available in the evening. Two mezzanine areas at the bar for private party bookings.

- First Edition, 25 Cabot Square, +44 20 7513 0300. International cuisine with continental and Far Eastern influences compliment a wide range of fresh seafood. Extensive wine list served by the glass. Private affairs welcome.

- Gaucho Grill, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, +44 20 7987 9494. The Argentinian cowboy, the gaucho, made famous the tradition of cooking fresh meat over charcoal grills. The large horseshoe bar offers traditional South American cocktails and beer.

- Itsu, Second floor, Cabot Place East, Canada Place, +44 20 7512 5790. Conveyor belt sushi restaurant, more on the side of "fusion" than traditional. Japanese Sushi along with a wide range of dishes reflecting a strong Asian and Vietnamese influence. Take away boxes are available. Fresh cocktails, sake and Japanese beer at the relaxed bar.

- Nandos, Unit 24-26, Jubilee Place, +44 20 7513 2864. Traditional Portuguese style food, specializing in their famous Peri-Peri chicken flame grilled to perfection. Family style atmosphere is relaxed and always friendly.

- Plateau Restaurant Bar and Grill, 4th Floor, Canada Place, +44 20 7715 7100. Modern French restaurant, part of the Conran restaurants group. More informal Bar and Grill includes steak grills and hearty regional french dishes. Two bars.

- Quadrato, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside (Four Seasons Hotel), +44 20 7510 1857. International classics for breakfast and northern Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The Tuscan Sunday Brunch and cocktails at bar Quadrato should not be missed. Watching chef Sebastiano Spriveri at work is a main attraction.

- Royal China, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, +44 20 7719 0888. Popular restaurant with a great view of the Thames River. Decorated with Royal China gives a contemporary feel. Enjoy dim-sum as well as an extensive menu.

- Scu-zi, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, +44 20 7519 6699. The funkiest restaurant and bar on the Thames river. Pastas, pizzas and salads are complimented by a first class selection of wines, spirits and cocktails.

- Sri Nam, The North Colonnade, Cabot Square, +44 20 7715 9515. Fine dining restaurant offering authentic Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, and Singaporean cuisines. A wide variety of drinks, cocktails and snacks are offered. Private dining rooms available by request.

- Tiffinbites, 22-23 Jubilee Place. Fast Indian cuisine where ancient tradition meets 21st century. Lunch and dinner menus as well as a great list of cocktails.

- Wagamama, Jubilee Place, +44 20 7516 9009. Noodle and rice dishes freshly cooked in a well-designed canteen style restaurant. See detailed review in Chains reviews section of London article.

- Waitrose Food and Home, Canada Place, +44 20 7719 0300. Six different eateries under one roof. Waitrose Steak and Oyster Bar, Salad and Juice Bar, Tapas Bar, Moshi Moshi Sushi Bar and many other options.

- Zizzi, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, +44 20 7512 9257. Serves authentic pastas and pizzas. During the summer a large riverside terrace affords sweeping views over the River Thames.

Mile end
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There is a cluster of good eatereries at Bow Wharf, just a few minutes north of Mile End station.

- The Crown. Remarkable gastropub, see "Drink" below

- Fat Cat Cafe.

- Jongleurs.

- Orange Room Cafe, Burdett Road. A good place for chilled-out lunches.

- Saucy Kipper fish & chip shop, Roman Road. Makes possibly the finest Fish and Chips in the world.

- Thai Restaurant.

- Venus in the Park. Good Greek food. One of several restaurants under the Green Bridge.

- Zeera. A decent, if slightly pretentious, Indian restaurant. One of several restaurants under the Green Bridge.

Brick Lane
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Wander up Brick Lane, and you will be pounced on by countless touts trying to persuade you to enter their client's restaurant. Try to go on a recommendation if you can, otherwise take pot luck.

Unfortuntately many of Brick Lane's curry restaurants have become victims of the success of the area. Most restaurants now employ pushy touts, who will hassle you to eat in their client's restaurants. The discounts may sound tempting, but they frequently inflate the prices simply so they can offer you a 'deal'.

The largest concentration is between Woodseer Street and Fournier Street. The old-style, flock wallpaper curry houses have now largely given way to shiny, light wood and aluminium eateries for the tourists and City workers. Whichever style you go for, though, it's always worth checking that they've got a licence to sell alcohol before taking up a table. A lot of the restaurants will allow you to bring you own alcohol along.

- Bengal Village, 75 Brick Lane. Definitely one of the best places in Brick Lane. Very good food, good value, pleasant atmosphere and good service!

- Brick Lane Beigel Bake, 159 Brick Lane (Closer to Bethnal Green Road and with a white sign), +44 20 7729 0616. 24 hours. A local institution, Beigel Bake is more celebrated of the two and rated by some as the freshest most delicious bagel you will ever have. Their salt beef is more highly rated than Beigel Shop and a salt beef bagel with mustard and pickle is highly recommended for a post-clubbing snack.

- Britain's First & Best Beigel Shop, 155 Brick Lane (Further from Bethnal Green Road and with a yellow sign), +44 20 7729 0826. 24 hours. While less celebrated than its near neighbour, Beigel Shop is still well worth a visit. While Beigel Bake is a local institution, it is reflected in its limited range. As a result, Beigel Shop works harder for your cash, providing a wider range of fillings and an excellent sausage roll, making it the preferred destination for those who aren't enamoured with salt beef.

- New Tayyabs, 83-89, Fieldgate Street (Between the East London Mosque and The Royal London Hospital). Long established and arguably the best South Asian restaurant in the Whitechapel area. Serves traditional food in a pleasant if slightly frenetic atmosphere. Outstandly good value and with fast efficient service, this reaturant is head and shoulders above any rival in nearby Brick Lane. Particularly recommended are: the mixed grills to share and the delicious mango or banana lassi drinks which are similar to milkshakes. Finally, when you have finished your delicious meal, the bill will always leave you with a smile on your face! Book and/or arrive early on Friday or Saturday as the restaurant is so popular you may have to queue.

Other places
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- Tas Firin, 160 Bethnal Green Rd E2 6BG (tube: Shoreditch High Street), +44 20 7729 6446. Great Turkish grilled food, pretty much for carnivores only.(Just off Brick Lane)

- Gourmet San, 261 Bethnal Green Rd E2 6AH (tube: Bethnal Green/Shoreditch). Fantastic Chinese food, as close as you'll get to the real thing in London.

- Pellici's, 332 Bethnal Green Rd E2 (tube: Bethnal Green), +44 20 7739 4873. Possibly the best greasy spoon caff in the country (and one of very few left), this old pad, frequented by celebrities from X-Factor winners to the Krays, is well worth the effort. Cheap as chips by the London standard and well worth the value for money.

- Mala, 2 Marble Quay, St. Katherine's Dock (tube: Tower Hill), +44 20 74806356, [20]. Expensive Indian cuisine. Tandooris, Biryanis, and other specialties. View of the docks, full bar.

Drink
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- The Mahogany Bar, Wilton's Music Hall, Graces Alley off Ensign Street, London E1 8JB. (Nearest Tubes are Aldate East and Tower Hill, 5 minutes walk from St Katharine's Dock.), 0207 702 2789, [21]. 5pm - 11pm, Monday to Friday. The Mahogany Bar was built around 1725 and has always been a public house, trading under many names over the years including The Albion Saloon and The Prince of Denmark. In 1828 it was luxuriously and elaborately refurbished with a magnificent mahogany bar and fittings which was unprecedented for a pub interior at that time and arguably set the look for the iconic Victorian pub we know and love today. Sadly, the famous fixtures and fittings of this remarkable bar have been stripped away over the years but the atmosphere lingers on. This is the charming bar inside the dilapidated Wilton's music Hall. Visit on a Monday for free live music from 8pm.

Canary Wharf
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Many of the bars on the Canary Wharf development are indistinguishable chain bars, although they are very popular with office workers on weekday evenings, particularly Thursday and Friday. Most are closed at weekends, but there are usually one or two open if you want to visit then; the area is generally very quiet at this time, which you may or may not consider a good thing! Nearly all have outside areas adjacent to the water which can be pleasant in summer.

Fisherman's Walk, to the north of North Colonnade, has three adjacent bars:

- The Cat & Canary.

- The Fine Line.

- Davy's.

Immediately across the dock, West India Quay has several bars:

- Wetherspoons Pub, (At the west end). Although the view is not so good, is probably the cheapest pub in Canary Wharf.

Mackenzie Walk, to the south of South Colonnade, has a number of bars and restaurants. The following are two 'real' pubs:

- Gun, (On the far eastern edge of Canary Wharf), [22]. 18th-century pub with real fires, a terrace where you can sit and stare at the Millennium Dome over the river, and pistachio nuts behind the bar. A haven of warmth after a trek through JG Ballard-style Docklands wasteland (empty streets, vast satellite dishes and rusting industrial machinery).

- The Spinnaker, (Near South Quay). Nothing particularly to recommend this place, except that it is a real pub, a rarity in Docklands!

Other options:

- Waitrose's Wine Bar. Pleasant and good-value place to sit and sip, though it closes when Waitrose does (i.e. around 9PM).

Mile End
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- The Palm Tree. A traditional East End boozer. No, it is the traditional East End boozer. Now set in the middle of Mile End Park, originally it was surrounded by houses and a factory. Its incongruous surroundings only add to the charm, however. You may recognise the interior from the number of film and TV appearances the pub has made as an "authentic" location. On Saturday nights the locals crowd into the front bar for a sing-song and the back bar is jammed with trendy students from Queen Mary's college. The presence of a student population mean this wonderful pub never has the threatening air of some East End locals and it attracts a mixed crowd.

- The Morgan Arms, Coborn Road. Was a worthy winner of the Evening Standard London Pub of the Year award recently. The attached restaurant also serves some tasty, albeit pricey fare.

Brick Lane
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- Verge Bar, Corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road (Opposite the funky LCB Surf shop), +44 20 7739 0552. It is open everyday for food, flat whites, espresso and cocktails. It has outside seating for you to watch the exciting Brick Lane World go by or you can relax on a sofa inside a gaze out of the huge windows that open to the Brick Lane. A grand spot to relax with the papers and their excellent Bloody Mary on Sunday Morning.

- Vibe Bar, 91 Brick Lane, +44 20 7426 0491, [23]. M-Th 7:30PM-11:30PM, F-Sa 7:30PM-1AM. The main advantage of this place is the huge courtyard which is usually packed out in the summer, and directly competes with cooler neighbour, 93 Feet East opposite. But inside although dingy, spreads out into some nooks where you can hide away for a chat from the booming speakers. Plenty of varied DJ nights and live bands. No dress code. Free entry except F-Sa after 8PM.

- 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, +44 20 7247 6095, [24]. M–Th 5PM–11PM, F 5PM–1AM, Sa noon–1AM, Su noon–10:30PM. This club/bar is made up of three areas: downstairs a loungey bar with low-lit sofa seating everywhere and chilled out music, the main room with a full on sweaty dancefloor (where the headline DJs/bands perform) and an upstairs bar which is mix of the two, plus a large cobbled area outside for the summer. Mon-Thur is mainly live music, and the weekend has the line up of eclectic DJs playing a variety of hip-hop, house and rock music. Charge on the door for gigs, on F/Sa usually free before 9PM, £5 after. No dress code.

- LCB Surf Store and Coffee Shop, (At the corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green). Not only is the coffee delicious, it's always prepared with Fairtrade and Organic Beans, roasted in London by the Tea and Coffee Plant. You can sip a hot Organic breakfast tea with a splash of organic milk, or eat a sandwich prepared fresh and packed by The Organic Sandwich Co. Surf the web for free with provided computers or log on wirelessly with your laptop. Shop and watch movies while you eat because opposite the cafe is a Surf Shop, complete with surfboards, skateboards, snowboards as well as shoes, watches, men and womens clothing and more. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, smoke free and totally comfortable for chilling out, shopping or surfing the net.

Shoreditch
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Pubs
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- Anda Da Bridge, 42-44 Kingsland Road, +44 20 7739 3863. Normal pub hours. At mere spitting distance from Jaguar Shoes and Catch lies this restaurant/bar/cafe. This place could not be more different from the other two, whereas they are usually bursting at the seams, this place is buzzing, but not packed. It is a Jamaican bar, so this is reflected in the decor of the place. The music policy is a mixture of old skool hip-hop, soul, jazz. The place is very friendly, the bar staff seemed to be enjoying themselves, and they serve beer (Red Stripe, of course) on draught. More like somewhere you'd expect to stumble across in Brixton.

- Bar Kick, 126-127 Shoreditch High Street, +44 871 332 2959. Normal pub hours. A two floor bar with plenty of table football machines to thrash away at. If you can not get a table the bar has a few sofas to wait for your turn in the quirky surroundings. It is a friendly place, where there is a mix of trendy boys and girls and suits from the city.

- Catch, 22 Kingsland Road, +44 20 7729 6097. M-Th normal pub hours, F-Sa until 2AM. A slightly shabby but friendly bar on the small strip of bars on Kingsland Road. Downstairs they have limited seating and draught beer, but upstairs is where it is happening. In the week you can catch live bands and on the weekends there's DJs playing xfm music mixed with a bit of cheese. It is also free to get in. Bargain.

- The Masque Haunt, 168–172 Old Street, +44 20 7251 4195, [25]. M–Sa 9AM–11:30PM; Su 9AM–11PM. If you are into pubs and pub food, and especially the J.D. Wetherspoon concept, this is a very good spot. It is priced a notch under its more central sister pubs. The extensive menu consists of a good selection of general healthier pub food (pastas, salads, vegetarian burger, etc), but also traditional food like potato & mash, fish & chips. For a good deal, go for the 2 for 1 at £6.99. Also, check out either the Sunday club (roast), Steak club (tuesday), and Curry club (thursday) for a nice treat - as of 2006.

Clubs
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- 333, 333 Old Street, +44 20 7739 5949, [26].

- Cargo, 3 Rivington Street, +44 20 7739 3440.

- The Comedy Cafe, 66/68 Rivington Street, +44 20 7739 5706, [27]. W-Th 7PM-midnight F-Sa 6PM-1AM. The bar itself is terrible, only serving up a choice of watery beers to hold on to while watching the entertainment. Although they do not have any big name comedians, there's a few lesser knowns that are worth catching before they make it on to TV. Wednesday is an open mic night, this can be excrutiating or hilarious, depending on your luck. Admission: W free, F £12, Sa £15.

- Herbal, 10-14 Kingsland Road, +44 20 7613 4462, [28]. Tu-Th & Su 9PM-2AM, F-Sa 9PM-3AM (times may vary according to night, check with the club). A two floor club that currently hosts residencies from some big artists and labels such as Hospital Records, Grooverider's Grace, Shy FX's Digital Soundboy, Jazzie B's Soul II Soul, Liverpool's Chibuku Shake Shake, Goldie's Metalheadz, and Kila Kela's Spit Kingdom. Downstairs is an open dancefloor, but upstairs is more of a stylish bar and there is a lovely roof terrace perfect for cooling down after breaking a sweat in the club. Drinks are reasonably priced for the area although it is certainly not cheap! There is no dress code however suits may feel a bit out of place. Entry prices can vary from free to over £10 but most nights are much cheaper if you arrive before 10:30PM.

Sleep
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Budget
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- ibis London Docklands, 1 Baffin Way off Preston Road, London E14 9PE, +44 20 7517 1100, [29]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 12AM. Ibis London Docklands hotel is an economy London hotel in the Docklands area. Your hotel booking puts you minutes walk from the commercial and financial hub of Canary Wharf, and a short light rail journey from ExCel and the O2 Arena. The 87 modern guestrooms all come with satellite TV and internet access. You can enjoy a snack or a light meal at the Café. City Airport is just 5km from the hotel, and there is secure onsite parking for up to 30 cars. From £64.

- City Hotel, 12 Osborn Street (Osborn Street leads directly to Brick Lane from Whitechapel High Street). A fairly average two star hotel at typical London prices, however the rooms are clean and provide the basic facilities you need. The area isn't pretty but you are close to where all the action is. Roughly £60/night for a double/twin.

- The RE Hotel London Shoreditch, 419-437 Hackney Rd E2 8PP, +44 20 7613 6500, [30]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. The RE Hotel London Shoreditch, the latest addition to London’s fashionable ‘East-End’, is just one mile (8 minutes) from London's financial district “The City" of London and near Liverpool Street Station - ideal for Stansted and City Airport and just 15 minutes from the London Olympics 2012 Park - Stratford. From £69.

- Travelodge London Docklands, [31]. A gem of a hotel for this area at a highly affordable price for London. It is a modern branch of the ubiquitous budget hotel chain, but is well located almost next to East India DLR station, which has links directly to central London, and is just a few stops from Canary Wharf itself. A fantastic place if you want somewhere comfortable and private in London for a weekend or even a week!. Ask for a room on the front to avoid the busy road at the back. The website often has fantastic rates that can be as low as £9.

Mid-range
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- Britannia International, 163 Marsh Wall (tube: South Quay). Extremely modern three star hotel.

- City Hotel, 12 Osborn Street (At the end of Brick Lane, tube: Aldgate 100m), +44 (0)20 72473313. WiFi £5/day. Normal rate is £140 but you can deals around £60.

- Custom House Hotel, 272-283 Victoria Dock Road (tube: Custom House, opposite Excel), +44 20 74740011 (reservations@customhouse-hotel.co.uk), [32]. £120.

Splurge
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- Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf, 46 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf (tube: Canary Wharf/Westferry), +44 20 7510 1999, [33]. Five star hotel and the most upmarket hotel in the area with views across the Thames or Canary Wharf, offering the kind of 5 star luxury to be expected from this chain.

- Hilton Docklands, 265 Rotherhithe Street (20 minutes to London City Airport), +44 20 7231 1001. Located on the South bank of the River Thames the hotel has a great view of Canary Wharf.

- Marriott West India Quay, 22 Hertsmere Road (tube: West India Quay), +44 (0)20 70931000. Looking out over Canary Wharf's beautiful district, the Marriott combines elegance and comfort to create a welcoming environment.

- Ramada London Docklands Hotel and Suites, 2 Festoon Way, Royal Victoria Dock (tube: Prince Regent, next to the ExCel exhibition centre), +44 8701 118779, [34]. Four star hotel with aterfront position and modern comfortable accommodation and including suites for longer stays.

Stay safe
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The East End in the past has had a bad reputation due to its high rates of crime and poverty. Today though, The East End is generally much safer and just the normal precautions after dark are advisable. People of the East End have pride in their home, so it would be wise to tread carefully around regulars in pubs and bars in places like Whitechapel, Mile End and Bethnal Green, but most people are warm, friendly and interested in you as a traveller providing you behave with the respect and deference due from a visitor. In the same vein, avoiding mention of football is helpful in keeping things smooth.

Contact
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District Greenwich Table of Contents

• Understand

Tourist Information Centre

• Get in

By boat

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

By rail

By tube

• Get around

• See

• Do

• Buy

Greenwich market

Shops

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Understand
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Greenwich is a district of great historic importance and Maritime Greenwich is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Nearby Blackheath is a leafy area of grand historic homes.

Tourist Information Centre
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- Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, Pepys House, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens SE10 9LW, 0870 608 2000 (tic@greenwich.gov.uk), [3].

Get in
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Greenwich is located some 6 miles east of central London, on the south bank of the River Thames. Because of congestion driving is not recommended, but there are three good ways of getting to Greenwich from central London by public transport.

By boat
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Several companies run river tour boats from central London piers at Westminster Bridge, the Millennium Wheel and the Tower of London, to Greenwich Pier which is adjacent to Greenwich town centre and within walking distance of the all the main attractions. £6-8; 33% discount to Travelcard holders.

Thames Clippers [4] commuter service offers an infrequent service, but is quicker and better value (£4.55, 33% off for Travelcard holders).

By Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
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This automated rail system runs from central London terminals at Tower Gateway (adjacent to the Tower of London) and Bank (with interchange to the London Underground). Catch a train bound for Lewisham and get off at Cutty Sark station in the town centre. Because there is no driver and most of the route is elevated, you get a great view from the front of the passing city. Travelcards valid.

By rail
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Six trains per hour run on weekdays from London Bridge (usually platforms 1 or 4) to Greenwich and Blackheath stations (travelcard zones 2/3), with four to Maze Hill (zone 3). Services begin at Charing Cross or Cannon Street stations. Travelcards valid.

By tube
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North Greenwich tube station is not recommended as it is a bus ride away from Greenwich town centre and was built specifically for access to the Millennium Dome (now the O2 Arena). However, it is possible to walk from here along the Thames Path to Greenwich town centre, it is a bleak but peaceful industrial landscape and it will take about 45 minutes.

Get around
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All the locations mentioned in this article are within easy walking distance of each other and both the Cutty Sark DLR station and Greenwich Pier. Note that the Royal Observatory is up a short but steep hill.

See
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Although far from central, Greenwich is the home of several of London's more interesting tourist attractions. The combination of Greenwich Park, the Old Royal Observatory, the Queens House and the Royal Naval College make up Maritime Greenwich, which is a site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

- The Cutty Sark, King William Walk (Adjacent to Greenwich pier), +44 20 8858 3445, [5]. 10AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec. A preserved tea and wool clipper built in 1869 which set the record for passage from Australia under sail. The Cutty Sark was set on fire early on 21 May 2007. Much of the ship's infrastructure had been removed, since it was in the middle of a conservation project, but it is unlikely to be much of a tourist attraction in the near future. The expected date for the exhibit to open is summer 2010. £3-5.

- Eltham Palace, off Court Rd SE9 5QE, +44 20 8294 2548, [6]. 3 Feb-23 Dec 2008 M-W Su 11AM-4PM. One of the most notable art deco buildings in London which was built and owned by the Courtaulds family of textile fame. Administered by English Heritage. £4.20-8.70.

- Greenwich Park, [7]. 6AM-sunset. Situated on a hill rising up from Greenwich town centre, with impressive views from the hilltop across the River Thames to Docklands and the City of London. The park provides a setting for several historic buildings, including the Old Royal Observatory, the old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House. Free.

- The National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd SE10, +44 20 8858 4422, [8]. 10AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec. Contains the UK's national collection of Martime artifacts (although do not expect much in the way of whole ships). One of the buildings housing the museum is the Queens House, built by Inigo Jones and the first Palladian building in England. Free.

- The Royal Observatory, Flamsteed House (In middle of Greenwich Park), +44 20 8858 4422, [9]. 10AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec. The home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line, this is one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world. It was founded by Charles II in 1675 and is, by international decree, the official starting point for each new day, year and millennium (at the stroke of midnight GMT as measured from the Prime Meridian). Now a detached part of the National Maritime Museum, it houses a museum and planetarium. Free, planetarium shows £2-4.

- The Royal Naval College, [10]. Painted Hall and Chapel 10AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec. Built by Christopher Wren in 1694 as the Greenwich Hospital for the relief and support of seamen and their dependents and for the improvement of navigation. It became the Royal Naval College in 1869, and recently the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music have moved in. Best known for its Painted Hall, with elaborate ceiling and wall paintings executed by Sir James Thornhill between 1707 and 1726. Free.

Do
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- The o2, [11]. 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.

Buy
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Greenwich market
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Greenwich market actually consists of several markets all quite close together:

- Greenwich Arts and Crafts Market, (Off College Approach), [12]. An indoor market also selling good food, and containing many interesting little shops.

- The Flea Market, Thames St (easy to miss as it is hidden away down a backstreet). Selling what you would expect.

- Greenwich Antiques Market, Greenwich High Rd. The name is a bit deceptive but it does have plenty of old books, music, clothes and jewellery.

- The Central Market, Stockwell St. The largest part of the market that sells home ware, furniture and books.

Shops
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- Flying Duck, Creek Road (At the bottom of the road). Loads of kitsch goodie and retro furnishings to inject a bit of glamour into your life.

Eat
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Greenwich has restaurants of different types and costs.

- The Kings Arms, 16 King William Walk (On street leading from town centre to Greenwich Park), +44 20 8858 4544. This pub is well situated for the tourist attractions in Greenwich and does good bar food. £5-8.

- The Mogul Tandoori, 10 Greenwich Church St (On the outer edge of the market), +44 20 8858 6790. This restaurant provides excellent Nepalese and Northern Indian cuisine in an unusual and interesting setting (as long as you get seated downstairs, below street level).

- Noodle houses, (Near Cutty Sark DLR). Offers fantastic Chinese cuisine , well, large portions at least, at a budget price. They only take cash.

- The Othello, 113 Trafalgar Rd, +44 20 8858 7050. A Greek restaurant a little way out from the town centre, great moussakas, and a mean steak too!

Drink
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Many of Greenwich's pubs have been bought and revamped by the American-owned Greenwich Inc [13] group, a source of concern to some locals who miss the old venues, and they have built up a reputation for poor service. But commercially, they are very successful in attracting tourists.

- Babas Cafe, 13 Greenwich South St (opposite Greenwich station and dlr). 7AM-4PM. One of oldest cafes in Greenwich great for a value for money breakfast or lunch serving traditional English dishes, Babas is renowed for a massive choice of freshly made sandwiches—a firm favourite with locals and tourists.

- The Cutty Sark. Great pub. Best time to go is on a warm summers evening when you can sit out by the river and watch the sunset in the west. Can get pretty busy though!

- The Greenwich Union on Royal Hill, [14]. Owned by the Meantime Brewery, based in nearby Charlton, which stocks its own range of beer in a variety of styles.

- The Plume of Feathers, Park Row (Off Greenwich Park). A quaint little watering-hole, nearly on the prime meridian, with a variety of guest ales tucked away from the run-of-the mill riff-raff in Greenwich town centre. Excellent food at reasonable prices, try the delicious mixed platter for 4 to get the taste buds going!

- Richard I, (Next door to The Greenwich Union on Royal Hill). Owned by Young's, which sells its real ales.

- The Trafalgar Tavern, [15]. Greenwich Inc-owned. Beautiful but overcrowded. The bar is over bright and sitting outside has become less pleasant since they lined loads of benches up along the river path. Service can also be brusque.

Sleep
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- Clarendon Hotel, 8–16 Montpelier Row, Blackheath SE3 0RW, +44 20 8318 4321 (relax@clarendonhotel.com), [16]. In a lovely old converted Georgian building. Located right on Blackheath green. From £100 including full lbreakfast.

- Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9JW, +44 20 8269 5400 (devonport@deverevenues.co.uk), [17]. This hotel has 93 rooms all in a grand old converted Victorian building. Located right at the Maritime World Heritage site. Specialises in hosting corporate functions and seminars but the accommodation for casual visitors offers decent value. From £89.

- Hotel Ibis Greenwich, 30 Stockwell St SE10 9JN, +44 20 8305 1177, [18]. A typical, rather identikit Ibis hotel. Not expensive by any means though. From £67.

- The Mitre, 291 Greenwich High Rd SE10 8NA, +44 20 8293 0037 (enquiries@mitregreenwich.com), [19]. This historic old pub has 14 guest rooms upstairs. £59.

- The Pilot Inn, 68 River Way SE10 0BE, [20]. This 200 year old Fullers pub has just five bedrooms upstairs at reasonable rates. Close to the o2 Arena. From £79.

District Hackney Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By bus

By train

By tube

• Get around

• See

Landmarks

Parks

Museums

Galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

• Drink

• Sleep

Stay Safe

Understand
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This is a very diverse and multicultural district and one which has undergone massive regeneration in recent decades. Formerly known best as an area with huge social problems and a massive crime rate, parts of Hackney are now very fashionable with a thriving arts scene in the south of the district for example.

Many problems still remain though and for the visitor it is best to stick to well trodden routes. In particular, the Homerton and Hackney Wick area is known as a place to avoid after dark and Clapton Road has the nickname murder mile.

In the far north of the district near Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill is the centre of the Hassidic and Adeni Jewish communities in London and the largest in Europe. A visit here certainly provides a very different cultural experience to anywhere else in Britain.

Hackney is also known for its wide open green spaces with Hackney Marshes (home of 88 football pitches) being the most notable.

Get in
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By bus
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Hackney is well served by buses from all over the capital, with the routes converging on Hackney Central, Dalston and Stoke Newington.

By train
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London local train services serve the district well. The London OvergroundNorth London Line from Stratford to Richmond has four stations in Hackney: Hackney Wick, Homerton, Hackney Central and Dalston Kingsland. National Express East Anglia [1] run rail services from Liverpool Street to a number of stations in Hackney, with the principal station on the line being Hackney Downs.

By tube
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There are no stations in the district but northern parts can be easily reached from Manor Park and Finsbury Park stations (both Piccadily line).

Get around
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The best way to get around the borough is to walk or get buses. The many parks and green spaces dotted around make Hackney much nicer to walk around than its inner London location would suggest.

The main north-south bus routes in Hackney are the 38, 55 and 149.

See
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Landmarks
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- Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA, +44 20 8356 5000. Built in the 1930s including the surrounding square and gardens.

- Sutton House, 2 & 4 Homerton High St E9 6JQ, +44 20 8986 2264, [2]. Th-Su 12.30PM-4.30PM. Tudor House in Homerton, owned by the National Trust. £0.80-2.90.

- St John-at-Hackney Community Space Centre, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD, +44 20 7613 9525, [3]. This tower of St John-at-Hackney Church is the oldest building in Hackney and a famous landmark of the borough.

Parks
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- Clissold Park, Greenway Close N4 2EY (tube: Manor House), (info@hackney.gov.uk), [4]. Park with a rich history. It is a former country house and estate and was first opened to the public in 1889.

- Hackney City Farm, 1 Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QA, +44 20 7729 6381, [5]. Tu-Su 10AM-4:30PM. Farm dating back to the early 1800s. It is now open to the public and is home to domestic animals. Also houses a café.

- Haggerston Park, Audrey St, off Goldsmith's Row E2 8QH, +44 20 8356 8428/9 (info@hackney.gov.uk), [6].

- London Fields, Richmond Road, Hackney, E8, +44 20 8356 8428, 8356 8429 (info@hackney.gov.uk), [7]. There are records of a public park at this site going back to the 16th century. Every Saturday, there is a farmers' market selling here, complemented by many others selling hand-made jewellery, gifts, childrenswear and vintage clothing.

- Stoke Newington Reservoirs, 1 Newnton Close N4 2RH (tube: Manor House), +44 20 8802 4573, [8]. Two former Thames Water reservoirs which are now managed as a nature reserve in urban Hackney by the London Wildlife Trust. Has a small visitor centre.

Museums
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- The Clowns Archive, Holy Trinity Church, Beechwood Rd E8 3DY, 0870 128 4336, [9]. Museum of clowning, unique collection of faces on eggs. Open only first friday of every month from noon-5PM. Free.

- Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Road E2 8EA (tube: Old Street), +44 20 7739 9893 (info@geffrye-museum.org.uk), [10]. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, closed Mo. Furniture museum which charts the evolution of London urban interior design and furnishing since 1600. Free.

- Hackney Museum, Technology & Learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ, +44 20 8356 3500 (info@hackney.gov.uk, fax: +44 20 8356 2563), [11]. Tu-W, F 9:30AM-5:30PM, Th 9:30AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. Providing a history of Hackney as well as periodic exhibitions.

Galleries
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- 291 Gallery, 291 Hackney Road, E2 8NA, +44 20 7613 5676. Contemporary art within visual art, digital art, live performances, video and music events.

- Rhodes + Mann Gallery, 37 Hackney Road, E2 7NX, +44 20 7729 4372 (mail@rhodesmann.com), [12].

- The Residence, The Verger's Cottage, Eastway, E9 5JA (train: Hackney Wick), +44 20 8986 2324 (info@residence-gallery.com), [13]. By appointment. Avant-gard gallery with up and coming as well as newly established artist.

- Space Gallery, 129-131 Mare Street, E8 3RH, +44 20 8525 4330.

Do
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- Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street E8 1EJ (London Overground to Hackney Central; Rail to Hackney Downs; tube: Bethnal Green then 10 min by bus no 106 or 154), +44 20 8985 2424, [14]. Historic theatre and music hall, offering an eclectic mix of entertainment.

- East London Art Walks (Comment Art Walks), +44 20 7739 1743, +44 7799 776 016. A friendly, qualified art guide will take you around a selection of the most interesting exhibitions on at the moment and also talk about the history of contemporary art in East London. call for times and meeting points.

- London Fields Lido, London Fields Westside E8 3EU (London Fields Rail Station), +44 20 7254 9038, [15]. Lovely old-fashioned outdoor swimming Lido run by Hackney Council. £2.45-4.10.

- Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street E8 (London Overground to Dalston Kingsland or Dalston Junction), +44 20 7241 9410 (mail@riocinema.org.uk), [16]. A splendid old cinema dating back to the 1900s. Specialises in foreign language films, offbeat arthouse productions and children's programming.

- Walk Hackney Marshes. Lovely walk along the River Lea and canal which stretches across much of East London and further. A surprisingly rural experience in an otherwise densely built district of London.

Buy
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- Broadway Market. Visit on a Saturday. Has a variety of gastropubs.

- Ridley Road Market. Mix of traditional East-end fruit and veg alongside Afro-Caribbean delicacies, imported films, clothes and household items. Little of interest for the tourist to buy, but a great experience. Watch your pockets in the crowded pavements behind the stalls. There are also market stalls on the side streets surrounding Dalston Kingsland station.

- The Kingsland Centre, (Opposite Dalston Kingsland Station). The main shopping mall in the borough, Tchibo has new stock every week and there is a recently opened Matalan.

- Stamford Hill. The centre of the Hassidic Jewish community and has many kosher bakeries, delis and supermarkets.

- Stoke Newington Church Street. Many small bookshops and antique stores.

Eat
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Stoke Newington (Church Street), Broadway market and, more recently, Hackney Central, have a variety of gastropubs. There are many great Turkish and Asian restaurants on Kingsland Road. To the south of Mare Street there are a great number of very reasonable Vietnamese restaurants. Some also have the bonus of being able to bring your own alcohol, which brings down cost considerably.

Budget
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- Green Papaya, 191 Mare Street, E8 3QT, +44 20 8985 5486, [17]. Tu-Su 5PM-11PM. Offering great Vietnamese food for veggies and meat eaters alike. Mains from £5.

- Mess Cafe, Amhurst Rd. Great quality caff breakfasts. £4.

- Song Que Cafe, 134 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DY, +44 20 7613 3222. Rated by Zagat's as the best Vietnamese on Kingsland Rd.

- Viet Hoa, 70-72 Kingsland Rd, E2 8DP, +44 20 7729 8293, [18]. Tu-Su noon-3:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM. You must try the salted prawns! Mains from £5.30.

Mid-range
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- Au Lac, 104 Kingsland Rd, N5 2XE, +44 20 7033 0588. Sa-W 5:30-11PM; Th-F noon-2:30PM, 5:30-11PM. BYO. The pancakes are recommended as a starter (this was a batter parcel containing chicken and beansprouts, rolled into lettuce leaves), also the steamed sea bass, which has a delicious sauce. More of a restaurant for a group of friends, rather than a romantic meal.

- Buen Ayre, 50 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, +44 20 7275 9900 (info@buenayre.co.uk), [19]. M-F 6PM-10:30PM; Sa-Su noon-5PM, 6PM-10:30PM. Argentine Grill restaurant. Mains £8-22.50.

- The Empress of India, 130 Lauriston Road, E9 7LH, +44 20 8533 5123 (aga@theempressofindia.com), [20]. 9AM-11PM. Indian cuisine. Mains from £12.50.

- LMNT, 316 Queensbridge Road, E8 3NH, +44 20 7249 6727, [21]. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. European cuisine. Mains £9.95.

- Su Sazzagoni, 136 Lauriston Road, E9 7LH, +44 20 8985 8448. Sardinian cuisine. Mains from £9.90.

Drink
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- Biddle Bros, 88 Lower Clapton Rd E5 0QR, +44 20 8985 7052. Lively pub with a good local following. Often have a live band or DJ in the evenings,

- The Birdcage, 58 Stamford Hill N16 6XS, +44 20 020 8806 6740 (manager@thebirdcagen16.co.uk), [22]. Friendly Stoke Newington pub that often hs live bands playing.

- The Cat and Mutton, 76 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ, +44 20 7254 5599, [23]. Beers £3-3.80.

- The Cock Tavern, 315 Mare St, E8 1EJ, +44 20 7248 2918, [24]. M–Th 6:00AM–11:00PM, F 6:00AM–2:00AM, Sa 5:30PM–2:00AM. Beer £2.90-3.50.

- The Wishing Well, 418 Mare St, E8 1HP, +44 20 8533 0372. Popular local pub especially during major sports events which are shown on the large screens.

Sleep
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- Amhurst Hotel, 45 - 47 Amhurst Park N16 5DL (tube:Manor House), +44 20 8800 7587, [25]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 11:00. Budget hotel in north London with self-catering facilities £35.00.

- City Inn Express. Located between Victoria Park nd London Fields. Simple budget hotel offering good value rooms in area with very few hotel options. From £55.

- The RE Hotel London Shoreditch, 419-437 Hackney Road E2 8PP ((Tube: Bethnal Green)), +44 207 613 6500, [26]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 11:00. The RE Hotel London Shoreditch, the latest addition to London’s fashionable ‘East-End’, is just one mile (8 minutes) from London's financial district “The City" of London and near Liverpool Street Station - ideal for Stansted and City Airport and just 15 minutes from the London Olympics 2012 Park - Stratford.

Stay Safe
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Despite its reputation as a dangerous place, it is relatively safe provided you're careful. Most violent crime occurs amongst the gangs in the rougher parts of the borough. Stick to commercial areas where there will be lots of people. Keep away from housing estates as some can be very dangerous. Hackney Wick and some of the surrounding areas should be avoided. Hackney becomes much more dangerous at night, and it would be highly foolish to go out walking alone.

District Hammersmith and Fulham Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By bus

By train

By road

• Get around

• See

• Do

Cinema, Theatre and concerts

Other

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Understand
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This is a large district of the inner west of London.

The most well known part of the district is perhaps Shepherd's Bush which has long been a first home in London to second and first generation immigrants. While this is less true today than in the past, the area undergoing gradual gentrification, beautification and development, there is still a substantial expatriate population (including a great many travelling Antipodeans).

Culturally, Shepherd's Bush is well known as the home of the BBC with the Television Centre located on Wood Lane in the White City sub-district. The Bush was also the fictional home of Steptoe & Son at Oil Drum Lane. The members of two influential British bands, The Who and the Sex Pistols grew up in Shepherd's Bush.

Elsewhere in the district, the residential riverside areas of Fulham have been hugely gentrified in the past 20 years and it is now sometimes difficult to determine where (previously much grander) Chelsea ends and Fulham begins. Fulham is also home to the EPL football team Fulham FC.

Get in
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By tube
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Tube stations servicing this district are:

- Shepherd's Bush (Central line)

- Shepherd's Bush Market (Circle, Hammersmith & City line)

- Wood Lane (Circle, Hammersmith & City line)

- White City (Central line)

- Hammersmith (Piccadily, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)

- Goldhawk Road (Circle, Hammersmith & City line)

- Baron's Court (District line)

- West Kensington (District line)

- Fulham Broadway (District line)

- Parson's Green (District line)

- Putney Bridge (District line)

By bus
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Bus 94 runs between Piccadilly Circus, via Oxford Street, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Shepherd's Bush and Chiswick to Acton Green (also a Night Bus service).

Buses 28, 74, 190, 391, 414, 430, and night buses N11, N22 and N28, all stop in Fulham.

http://lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Transport_and_Streets/Public_Transport/

By train
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Shepherds Bush Railway Station is served by three trains per hour between Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction, and one train per hour between Milton Keynes and East Croydon.

By road
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The A219 links Fulham with the A205 (South Circular) and with the A4.

Get around
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See
toc

- Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour SW10 0XG, +44 20 7225 9101 (enquiries@chelsea-harbour.co.uk), [1]. Daily 9.30AM-5PM. The cutting edge of British design from Furniture to Fabrics and Lighting. Many showrooms soe of which actually sell their designs (at impossible prices). There is also a nice cafe here.

- Fulham Palace, Bishop's Avenue, SW6 6EA, + 44 20 7736 3233 (education@fulhampalace.org), [2]. Sa 11AM-2PM, Su 11.30AM-3.30PM, M&Tu noon-4PM. The former retreat of the Bishops of London now incorporates Bishop's Park and is a lovely green area in a heavily built part of London as well as home to some important historic buildings. Also a museum which charts the history of the palace back to the 11th century and a small cafe. Free.

- Hurlingham Park, (tube: Putney Bridge). A large open park which is mainly sports pitches. It does though have some lovely frontage right onto the Thames and makes for an lovely walk for that reason.

- Ravenscourt Park, Padderswick Rd (tube: Ravencourt Park), [3]. An eight hectare park in Hammersmith with a long history. It is home to a lake, tea house, tennis courts, an all-weather football pitch, a bowling green, areas in which to just sit or play, a garden centre and some truly ancient trees, particularly cedars.

Do
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Cinema, Theatre and concerts
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- Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green W12 (tube: Shepherd's Bush), _44 20 8743 3584, [4]. Home of the Alternative Theatre Company and dedicated to breaking new plays and new writers.

- Irish Culture Centre, Blacks Rd W6 9DT (tube: Hammersmith), +44 20 8563 8232 (info@irishculturalcentre.co.uk), [5]. Regular performances of Irish music and Irish art exhibitions.

- MyVue Cinema, West 12 Shopping and Leisure Centre, Shepherd's Bush (tube: Shepherd's Bush), [6]. Large chain multiplex showing all the big films in comfort and some style

- 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green W12 8TT (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8354 3300 (mail@o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk), [7]. Built in 1903 and at the centre of the entertainment scene ever since, the Empire is one of London's premier live music venues, with an emphasis on contemporary rock and pop.

Other
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- BBC Television Centre Tours, Wood Lane W12 7RJ, +44 28 9053 5904, [8]. Take the tour of BBC with a BBC Backstage Tour. £7-9.50.

- Fulham FC, Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road, SW6 6HH (Craven Cottage is about 10 min walk from both Putney Bridge and Parsons Green tube stations), +44 870 442 1222 (enquiries@fulhamfc.com), [9]. The home of EPL football team Fulham.

- Queen's Park Rangers FC, Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, W12 7PA (Loftus Road is about a 5 min walk from White City, Shepherd's Bush Market and Wood Lane tube stations, and is situated just north of the Uxbridge Road), [10]. The home of Championship football team QPR, is considered more of a proper football experience when compared to Chelsea and Fulham, due to its passionate and warm atmosphere.

Buy
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- Fulham Broadway, (Around the tube station of the same name). Shopping centre.

- Shepherds Bush Market, Uxbridge Rd (Tube: Goldhawk Road). Contains an astonishing array of goods with Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Indian cultural influences combining and vying for the shopper's attention.

- Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way W12 7GF (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 3371 2300. The largest urban shopping mall in the whole of Europe. Vast array of stores, restaurants and a 14 screen cinema.

Eat
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There are loads of great restaurants in Fulham along the high streets and also a distinct lack of any chain restaurants (don't worry, you can find all of these along Putney High St if you're desperate). It is often a good idea to just start walking along any of the main roads and you should have more choice of places to eat than you will ever need.

Budget
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Uxbridge Road is noted for good-value and diverse restaurants.

- Abu Zaad, 29 Uxbridge Rd W12 8LH (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8749 5107. M-Su 11AM-11PM. Authentic Syrian fare. Great value. Average price £10.

- King Solomon's, 300 Uxbridge Rd, +44 20 8749 1355. Try the falafel kebab and hummus -- delicious! The take away menu is well priced, falafel is only £3. £3-7.

- Raj of India, 46 Shepherd's Bush Road W6 7PJ (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 7602 9112‎. Very reasonable prices and good service at this popular Indian restaurant.

- Red Sea Restaurant, 382 Uxbridge Rd W12 7LL (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8749 6888‎. All manner of Middle Eastern food with Eritrean and Ethiopian also thown in! All at very reasonable prices.

Mid-range
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- The Blue Elephant, 3-6 Fulham Broadway (tube: Fulham Broadway), +44 20 7385 6595 (london@blueelephant.com), [11]. noon-2:30PM, 6:30PM-11:30PM. Exuberant Thai restaurant decorated to look like a rainforest, including an indoor waterfall and pond with fish. Food is generally good without being exceptional. You pay for the atmosphere. Starters £8-10, main £12-20.

- Fiesta Havana, 490-492 Fulham Rd SW6 5NH (tube: Fulham Broadway), +44 20 7381 5005‎, [12]. Latin themed restaurant with live DJs and staff who will give you Salsa classes in between courses! The set Tapas menu for £10 is very popular.

- Hell Pizza, 369 North End Rd SW6 1NY (tube: Fulham Broadway), +44 845 666 6999‎, [13]. A New Zealand pizza restaurant with a couple of locations in England. Gourmet pizzas (including gluten-free options) and ribs.

- Le Cinnamon, 158B Shepherd's Bush Rd W6 7PB (tube: Hammersmith), +44 20 7602 8899‎, [14]. Odd name for an Indian restaurant but that's what it is and a very good one to boot. Contemporary takes on many classic Indian dishes.

- Miraggio, 510 Fulham Rd SW6 5NJ (tube: Fulham Broadway), +44 20 7384 9774‎. Ever-popular family-owned Italian restaurant. BYOB no problem. Has an adjoining deli.

Splurge
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Drink
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Shepherds Bush Green contains many large chain pubs. Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road have smaller, more laid-back bars and gastro-pubs. Fulham is full of highly rated, popular pubs some of them right by the Thames.

- The Dove, 19 Upper Mall W6 9TA (tube: Ravenscourt Park). This pretty 17th century riverside establishment may be London's smallest pub.

- Duke on the Green, 235 New King's Road SW6 4XG (tube: Parson's Green), +44 20 7736 2777 (dukeonthegreen@youngs.co.uk), [15]. Very popular Young's pub at the Fulham end of the King's Rd.

- The Goldhawk, 122 Goldhawk Rd W12 8HH (tube: Goldhawk Road), +44 20 8576 6921. Popular local pub, good food and wine.

- The Morrison Bar and Lounge, 648 King's Rd SW6 2DU, +44 20 7610 9859 (info@themorrison.co.uk), [16]. Smart bar on the King's Rd in the heart of Fulham. Has a popular resident guitarist.

- The Walkabout (Walkie), 56 Shepherd's Bush Green W12 8QE (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8740 4339, [17]. Largest concentration of Australians and Kiwi's in London. Expect lots of Antipodean sports.

- The White Horse, 1-3 Parson's Green SW6 4UL (tube: Parsons Green), +44 20 7736 2115, [18]. Awarded best Pub of the years several times, it offers an extensive choice of local and imported beers, both draught and bottled. It also serves restaurant grade meals. Interesting particularity, each one of them is matched with a beer. Somewhat expensive, but it is a must.

Sleep
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Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith are well known as the home of many discount hotels (some of low quality, unfortunately) and B&Bs. With the gradual gentrification of the area, more comfortable and expensive options are appearing.

Budget
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- Abbey Hotel, 23 Wood Lane W12 7DP (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8749 8780 (info@abbeyhotel.org), [19]. Budget hotel close to the BBC Television Centre. Discounts for long stays. £69.

- Adria Hotel, 44 Glenthorne Rd W6 0LS (tube: Hammersmith), +44 20 8742 6674, [20]. A four generation family run hotel with excellent transport connections and good value for money. Regularly refurbished. £69.

- Grantly Hotel, 50 Shepherds Bush Green W12 8PS (tube: Goldhawk Road), +44 20 8743 4345 (grantlyhotel@gmail.com). No-frills budget hotel in an converted Edwardian house. Single, Double and Family rooms available. £67.

- Hotel Sergul, 87 Shepherds Bush Rd W6 7LR (tube: Hammersmith), +44 20 7603 5400 (info@hotelsergul.co.uk), [21]. Affordable smart hotel with excellent links to West End and close to Olympia and Earls Court exhibition centre. £40.

- Jim's Guest House, 26 Aldine St W12 8AN (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8743 0456 (info@jimsguesthouse.co.uk), [22]. Good value bed and breakfast. Family suite available. From £79.

- Plaza Hotel, 53 Shepherds Bush Rd W6 7LU (tube: Goldhawk Road), +44 20 7603 2667, [23]. Actually three hotels all run by the same company - The Plaza, The Rex and The Acropolis. All similar standard and nearby to each other. From about £40.

- Royal Guest House, 47 Shepherds Bush Rd W6 7LU (tube: Goldhawk Road), +44 20 7603 4528 (info@royalguesthouse.co.uk), [24]. Very cheap guesthouse within walking distance of Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith. Triple rooms available. From £45.

Mid-range
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- Jurys Inn Chelsea Hotel, Imperial Rd, Imperial Wharf SW6 2GA, +44 20 7411 2200, [25]. Affordable hotel of one of the better hotel chains. All rooms are ensuite and large by London standards. From £79.

- La Reserve, 422-428 Fulham Rd SW6 1DU (tube: Fulham Broadway), +44 20 7385 8561, [26]. Small hotel with 43 rooms in the extreme south-east of the district bodering Chelsea. £95.

- Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, Hammersmith W6 8DR (tube: Hammersmith), +44 20 8741 1555, [27]. Very large business-class hotel. The rooms are reasonably priced with basic amenities in each room. Wireless internet available, or basic internet through the room's television. English breakfast available at extra charge. Restaurant/Bar/Lounge, massage center, concierge, cash machine, shoe shine machine, tourist information desk, porter, dry cleaning/ironing available, currency exchange, pets allowed with deposit. From about £130.

- Premier Inn, 3 Putney Bridge Approach SW6 3JD (tube Putney Bridge), +44 870 238 3302, [28]. In the extreme south of the district close to the Thames From £90.

Splurge
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- K-West, Richmond Way (tube: Shepherd's Bush), +44 20 8743 3206, [29]. Modern, fashionable hotel with a day spa. From around £150.

District Hampstead Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

By road

• Get around

By bus

• See

Hampstead Heath

Cultural References

Orientation

Specific attractions on Hampstead Heath

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Vegetarian

• Drink

Hampstead Village and around

Elsewhere

• Sleep

• Contact

Internet outlets

• Stay safe

• Cope

• Get out

Understand
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Hampstead Village, with its myriad restaurants, old pubs and cafes is an agreeable place to spend a day or two. The area retains much of its original village character, and Hampstead High St alone houses no less than 18 grade II listed buildings. This is one of the wealthiest sections of the city's inner boroughs, full of stately neighbourhoods and grand historic houses. You will also find some interesting, non-mainstream shopping, several repertory theatres and one of the best arthouse cinemas in London.

The nearby vast, open green spaces of Hampstead Heath are a major attraction for Londoners, but relatively few visitors know much about this wonderful remnant of countryside in the centre of London.

Hampstead is a district of great literary, artistic and thespian traditions, and former residents include Kingsley Amis, William Blake, John Constable, Ian Fleming, William Hogarth, John Keats, Anna Pavlova and Alfred Tennyson. Those traditions continue today, and Hampstead is the home of choice for many actors, musicians, writers and media personalities. The residents of Hampstead are acutely aware of the history of the neighbourhood they live in, and any changes in this area are subject to rigorous discussion, and often protest.

Belsize Park is in many ways a southward extension of Hampstead Village, and is made up of many similarly grand residential streets with the odd gem of a restaurant. This is also home to one of the largest and most famous hospitals in London, the Royal Free.

The western reaches of Highgate in the Dartmouth Park area, are inside the Hampstead district, and include the important tourist attraction of Highgate Cemetery, which houses the grave of Karl Marx amongst other notables.

Primrose Hill is a quiet, stately, residential area in the south of the district bordering Regent's Park. Due to the lack of through roads for traffic, this area seems miles away from the general rush and bustle of London, and forms something of an oasis of calm in what is a very central area.

West Hampstead is less grand, and was traditionally a blue collar housing neighbourhood. Inevitably though, gentrification from about 1990 onwards changed all that, and the area is now a favoured residential area by young professionals. Aside from some budget accommodation, there is little of interest for the visitor here though.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is served by the following tube stations:

- Hampstead (Northern Line)

- Belsize Park (Northern Line)

- Chalk Farm (Northern Line)

- Golders Green (Northern Line)

- Swiss Cottage (Jubilee Line)

- Finchley Road (Jubilee Line)

- West Hampstead (Jubilee Line)

By train
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- Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations are on the North London Line, and both are convenient stops for Hampstead Heath. Further west in the district, the North London Line also stops at Finchley Rd & Frognal and West Hampstead.

- West Hampstead is also on the main Thameslink Line, allowing easy access from the English Midlands and from Brighton in the south of the country.

- South Hampstead is on the London Euston to Watford main line with about 4 trains per hour stopping there.

By bus
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- Finchley Rd is a major bus route through London. Bus numbers 13, 139 and 82 all originate in central London and pass along the length of Finchley Rd, allowing easy access to Swiss Cottage and West Hampstead.

- Hampstead and Belsize Park are less well served, with the only direct connection from central London being bus number 46, originating at Farringdon St.

- Night bus N5 is an excellent and convenient way to get to Hampstead, Belsize Park and Golders Green, after a night out in the West End. Originating in Trafalgar Square, this service makes its way north through King's Cross and Camden Town, before travelling through the district along Chalk Farm Rd, Haverstock Hill, Hampstead High St and North End Way. Runs approximately every 15 minutes from just after midnight until 6AM.

By road
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The best advice for any visitors wishing to drive into Hampstead is, don't. This is a largely residential area, and there is virtually no on-street parking available. Residents' only parking spaces are guarded very jealously. With the public transport links being very good, there is little need for any visitor to drive into the district.

If you do insist on driving, there is a public car park on the south eastern edge of Hampstead Heath accessed from East Heath Rd, and this is convenient for visiting the heath. The "easiest" (the term must be used relatively as all routes are congested) routes in from central London are:

- A41 north from Marylebone Rd at Baker St. The A41 becomes Finchley Rd in this district.

- A4200 (Eversholt St) north from Euston Station to Camden High St, and then the A502 which runs through the heart of the district as first Chalk Farm Rd, then Haverstock Hill and then Hampstead High St.

Coming from the north, the A41, A502 and A598 all connect to the district from the A406 North Circular Rd, and thus from the M1 motorway.

Get around
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Much of the district, particularly in Hampstead Village and Hampstead Heath, lends itself beautifully to walking.

By bus
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- Bus number 268 is a convenient, regular service that connects Golders Green, Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage and Finchley Rd in both directions. Stops are frequent in key areas such as Heath St, Hampstead High St, Haverstock Hill and Finchley Rd, and are not hard to find.

- Bus number 210 is a useful service for getting to Kenwood House, close to Highgate Cemetery and Waterlow Park, and any other area along the extent of Spaniard's Rd and Hampstead Lane. It runs from Golders Green Station south down North End Rd, turns east along Spaniard's Rd, and then runs the whole length of Hampstead Lane before terminating out of the district at Finsbury Park. The return route is identical in reverse.

See
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Many of the key historical sights are in a cluster within a ten minute walk of Hampstead tube station and therefore easily covered on foot. If you are planning a full day in the area, a morning visit to Hampstead Heath followed by lunch in Hampstead Village, and then an exploration of the historical attractions, makes for a good itinerary.

- 2 Willow Road, 2 Willow Rd NW3 1TH (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 6166 (2willowroad@nationaltrust.org.uk), [1]. Th-F noon-5PM. A house designed by Erno Goldfinger in 1939 and regarded as an icon of modernist architecture. The contents are just as impressive as the house and include original works by Henry Moore and Max Ernst. Local lore has it that Hampstead resident of the time Ian Fleming, objected so strongly to Goldfinger's modernist design, that he named his famous Bond villain after him. £2.80-5.30.

- Burgh House and Hampstead Museum, New End Square NW3 1LT (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7431 0144, [2]. W-Su noon-5PM. This beautiful grade I listed Georgian building houses the Hampstead Museum which has an interesting collection of exhibits on the history of the local area. Free.

- Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Rd NW3 6DG (tube: Finchley Road), +44 20 7472 5500 (info@camdenartscentre.org), [3]. Tu-Su 10AM-6PM, W 10AM-9PM, closed Mondays and national holidays. A contemporary arts centre with exhibitions focused on exposing new talent. Housed in a lovely Victorian mansion. Free.

- Fenton House, Hampstead Gve, NW3 6SP (tube: Hampstead), +44 1494 755563 (fentonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk), [4]. Sa-Su 11AM-5PM. A magnificent old house dating from 1667 which is administered by The National Trust. It is most famous for its globally important collection of early keyboard instruments, and there is also a fine collection of art and porcelain. Plays host to frequent recitals. £5.70.

- Freud Museum, 20 Maresfield Gdns, NW3 5SX (tube: Finchley Rd or Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7435 2002 (info@freud.org.uk). W-Su noon-7PM. The former home of Sigmund Freud. A wide range of exhibits most famously including the psycho-analytic couch that all of his patients used. Freud was also an avid collector of antiquities and there is a fine collection on show of Greek, Roman and Oriental pieces. £6.

- Hampstead Parish Church (The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead), Church Row NW3 6UU (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7794 5808 (vestry@hampsteadparishchurch.org.uk), [5]. Visiting should be OK in daylight hours, but check ahead if you are making a special trip. This is a rather lovely church building but it is the graveyard which will most interest visitors. Notable personalities buried here include Sir John Constable (artist), Hugh Gaitskell (former Labour Party leader and Chancellor of the Exchequer), Kay Kendall (actress) and several members of the du Maurier family. Tomb trails are available at the church.

- Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Ln N6 6JP, +44 20 8340 1834 (info@highgate-cemetery.org), [6]. East Cemetery: M-F 10AM-dusk, West Cemetery: only via guided tours Mar 1-Nov 30 M-F 2PM, Nov 1-Feb 28 Sa-Sun hourly 11AM-3PM, Mar 1-Oct 31 Sa-Su hourly 11AM-4PM. Take a guided tour of the overgrown Western Cemetery which gives it a special beauty and charm, or visit the East Cemetery unaccompanied where you will 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. Getting here by public transport is not straightforward. Go to Archway tube station and on leaving turn left and walk up Highgate Hill and past the Whittington Hospital until you get to St Joseph’s Church (obvious by its large green copper dome). Enter Waterlow Park on your left and go downhill across the park (past the duck ponds) to the Swain's Lane exit (below the tennis courts). The walk takes about 20 minutes. Alternatively, take bus 210 from Golder's Green station and tell the driver that you wish to be dropped as close as possible to Highgate Cemetery on Swain's Lane. This is about a 15 min journey East Cemetery £3, West Cemetery tours £3-7..

- Keats House, Keats Grv NW3 2RR (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7332 3868 (keatshouse@cityoflondon.gov.uk), [7]. 1 Nov-Easter F-Su 1PM-5PM, Easter-Oct T-Th 10AM-5PM. The great poet John Keats lived here from 1818 to 1820 until he travelled to Rome and died of tuberculosis, aged just 25. The house has been restored as a museum with period decor, furnishings and a collection of Keatsiana. Reopened in July 2009 after restoration. In the grounds you will the Heath Library which has a great collection of local books and periodicals, and provides free internet access. Free.

- Primrose Hill, off Regent's Park Rd NW1 (tube: Chalk Farm). A large open grassed hill just to the north of Regent's Park. Offers a free panorama of Central London. The views are probably only bettered by those from Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath.

- Waterlow Park, Swain's Ln N6, +44 20 7974 8810, [8]. A secret jewel of a park. Beautiful landscaped grounds, hills, mature trees, lakes, a walled garden, visitor's centre, café, tennis courts, and children's playgrounds. Bequeathed to the public as a "garden for the gardenless" by Sir Sidney Waterlow in 1889. A visit here combines very well with Highgate Cemetery.

Hampstead Heath
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Totalling 320 hectares this is the largest green space in the inner districts of London.

Hampstead Heath, or just the Heath as locals call it, is not a park and has a very different character to the highly manicured Royal Parks in central London. This is a remnant of the great Middlesex Wood, which has somehow survived as commonland as the metropolis grew around it, and in that sense it is very unique. Its proximity to, and ease of access from, densely populated urban areas of London, have ensured that Hampstead Heath has a special place in the hearts of Londoners.

The heath has much to offer to the visitor, but is generally not that well known as a tourist attraction. If you are visiting the city and simply want some fresh air and calm natural surroundings, then there is no better choice than jumping on the tube and coming for an early morning walk here. Both Hampstead and Belsize Park tube stations are about 10 minutes walk from the heath. The North London Line rail station Hampstead Heath is right on the south western tip of the heath.

Hampstead Heath is administered by the City of London Corporation, and it is worth visiting their website where there are a number of useful trail maps [9], along with other visitor information.

Cultural References
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There are a great many cultural references to Hampstead Heath, with perhaps some of the more notable being:

- Sir John Constable painted numerous landscapes both from sitting in the upper level of his house at nearby Well Walk, and from on the heath itself. As you take in the splendid vistas over the heath, it is not difficult to see how Constable was so inspired here.

- John Keats composed his great "Ode to a Nightingale" whilst sitting at the Spaniard's Inn and hearing the sound of a nightingale on the heath. The nightingales have sadly gone, but the heath still has a very healthy wild bird population.

- CS Lewis was inspired to write "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" whilst wandering Hampstead Heath on a snowy winter's day.

- In contemporary literature, Hampstead Heath is the setting for the village of Ham in Will Self's superb "The Book of Dave".

- The cult movie, "Scenes of a Sexual Nature", was shot entirely on Hampstead Heath.

Orientation
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Hampstead Heath is a large space, and visitors may find it useful to compartmentalise the different sections.

- The main part of Hampstead Heath is bounded by Spaniards Rd and Hampstead Lane to the north, Highgate Rd to the east, the North London railway line to the south, and East Heath Rd and Spaniards Rd (again) to the east. A line of ponds runs along each side of the heath here: Highgate Ponds on the eastern side, Hampstead Ponds on the western side. The northern part of this section is occupied by Kenwood House, looked after by English Heritage and the only part of the heath not administered by the City of London Corporation. Parliament Hill forms the southern part of this section.

- West Heath is across Spaniards Rd and North End Rd from the main section, and includes Golder's Hill Park, The Pergola and The Hill Garden, as well as large tracts of mature oak, hornbeam and birch woodland.

- Sandy Heath is north-west of Spaniard's Rd and consists mostly of beautiful, mature oak woodland.

- The Hampstead Heath Extension is north of Sandy Heath bordering suburban Golders Green, and consists mostly of sports pitches. Older locals still call this area the "gunsite" as it was exactly that during World War II, and was not cleared until the 1960s.

Specific attractions on Hampstead Heath
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- The Bathing Ponds, [10]. May 2-Sep 30 7AM-6.30PM, Sep 31-Apr 30 7AM-noon. There are three notable outdoor bathing ponds on the heath. The Men's Pond and Women's Pond are both part of the line of small lakes on the eastern edge of the heath known as Highgate Ponds, and the Mixed Pond is part of Hampstead Ponds on the opposite side. Swimming hours are seasonal, complicated, age-dependent and change frequently, so it is worth checking before making a special trip. £1-2.

- Golders Hill Park, North End Way, NW3 (tube: Golders Green then bus 210 or 268 to the entrance), [11]. 7.30AM to just before dusk (seasonal). A more formal tended area of the heath at its north western extremity. Has as a small aviary and zoo which kids always enjoy. Free.

- The Hill Garden and Pergola, North End Way NW3 (tube: Golders Green then bus 210 or 268 to the entrance of adjacent Golder's Hill Park), [12]. 7.30AM to just before dusk (seasonal). A quite beautiful hidden garden on West Heath, which is little known even to many Londoners. It was originally part of the gardens of 19th century Inverforth House built by Viscount Leverhulme (the then owner of Lever Brothers, now Unilever). The gardens are now common land and part of Hampstead Heath, and the most impressive feature is a restored timber pergola, covered with various climbing plants including roses, honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria and various vines. The pergola offers two stunning views from its north-western point. You can look straight out and over the heath's canopy and see nothing but mature trees. Alternatively, you can look down and see the beautifully manicured herb garden and the length of the pergola stretching out before you. The adjacent Hill Garden offers a complete contrast to the wildness of the pergola. The garden is beautifully manicured and is a favourite haunt for artists. The bench by the ornamental fish pond here gives a stunning view of Hampstead Heath with the towers of urban London as the backdrop. Free.

- Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane NW3 (tube: Golders Green then bus 210 which stops right outside), [13]. House 11.30AM-4PM daily, grounds 10AM-5PM daily. A splendid Regency house with enormous gardens and woodlands. The gardens alone are worth the visit and are a superb example of 18th century landscaping. On show at the house is art by masters such as Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds and Vermeer, and the gardens have a very notable sculpture by Henry Moore. A regular program of outdoor opera takes place here every summer. Movie buffs will recognise Kenwood from Mansfield Park amongst other famous films. Administered by English Heritage, separately from the rest of Hampstead Heath. Free. A donation of £3 suggested.

- Parliament Hill, (southern side of the Heath between Hampstead and Highgate Ponds). This is a high part of the Heath with clear open vistas, and the views looking south over the city are quite wonderful. Highly recommended on a clear morning, when you can see from Canary Wharf in the east all the way to Battersea Power Station in the west.

Do
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Given its reputation as a centre of the arts, it is no surprise that Hampstead is home to three of London's better known repertory theatres and a truly top-class arthouse cinema. Evenings here certainly focus around those performing arts activities. One-off performances (sometimes at unusual venues) are also far from uncommon, so check local listings. A good place to look is the local weekly newspaper, the Hampstead and Highgate Express [14].

- Everyman Cinema, 5 Hollybush Vale NW3 6TX (tube: Hampstead), +44 870 066 4777, [15]. One of London's most notable art house cinemas which offers a high quality experience. You pay for it, but the environment is very classy indeed. Has a sister cinema just down the hill in Belsize Park - The Everyman Belsize Park. £12 for non members.

- Hampstead Theatre, Eton Ave NW3 3EU (tube: Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7722 9301 (boxoffice@hampsteadtheatre.com), [16]. A repertory theatre that is about as far removed from glitzy west end productions as you could imagine. Dedicated to exposing new writing talent. Harold Pinter gained some of his earliest experience here. £15-20.

- London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC), Ivy House, 94-96 North End Rd NW11 7SX (10 min walk from Golders Green tube station), +44 20 8457 5000 (admin@ljcc.org.uk), [17]. Offers the widest range of Jewish learning opportunities (over 75 courses a term) and Jewish cultural events in the UK. Frequent concerts are hosted here and this is the former London home of Anna Pavlova.

- New End Theatre, 27 New End NW3 1JD (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7472 5800 (info@newendtheatre.co.uk), [18]. The home of the New End Theatre Company and Pluto Productions. Has a fine reputation for producing high quality dramas away from the commercial spotlight. £16-18.

- Pentameters Theatre, 28 Heath St NW3 6TE (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 3648, [19]. Small, intimate theatre known for edgy, high quality productions. Located above The Horsehoe pub. £10-12.

Buy
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Hampstead Village has long been known as a home of off-beat, independent shops. Sadly, that is less the case today than previously as spiralling rents have forced many independent retailers out of the area. Some do remain though, and the keen shopper will be rewarded by exploring the small lanes that lead off the main streets here.

Hampstead High St, Heath St, Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill have a number of mid and upper market boutiques including Nicole Farhi, Gap, Karen Millen, Nine West, Kurt Geiger and Molton Brown.

The usual suspects amongst British high street retailers are well represented in the Finchley Rd and Swiss Cottage area.

- Daunt Books, 193 Haverstock Hill NW3 4QL (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7794 4006 (belsizepark@dauntbooks.co.uk), [20]. M-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 11AM-9PM. A wonderful, old-style independent book shop which has a second branch up the hill at 51 South End Rd.

- Farmer's Market, Parliament Hill Fields (between the tennis courts and the school yard at the base of Parliament Hill). Sa 10AM-2PM. A regular farmer's market selling fresh organic produce every Saturday

- Hampstead Antiques Emporium, 12 Heath St NW3 6TE, +44 20 7794 3297, [21]. Tu-Sa 10.30AM-5PM, Su 11.30AM-5.30PM. More than 30 antique dealers permanently occupy this small arcade and adjacent courtyard. Several genres represented including furniture, paintings, toys and textiles.

- Hampstead Community Centre, 78 Hampstead High St NW3 1RE (tube: Hampstead), +44 Phone: +44 20 7794 8313. Sa 9AM-6PM. On Saturdays, turns into a mini-market selling a variety of things, including a second hand book stall with a fantastic selection.

- Keith Fawkes Books, 1–3 Flask Walk NW3 1HJ (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 0614. M-F 10AM-5.30PM, Su noon-6PM. A rare and antiquarian bookshop with a special focus on the great literary characters who lived in Hampstead. Also carries a huge stock of more run-of-the-mill secondhand titles. An absolute must for booklovers.

Eat
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Hampstead Village and Belsize Park are well known for a wide selection of quality restaurants and cafes. The local resident population here is notably demanding, so any places that make it long term will be serving good food and providing good service. The daytime sees a cafe culture perhaps as strong as anywhere in London, and in the evening, restaurants attract visitors fom all over London, as well as neighbourhood locals.

Elsewhere in the district, Primrose Hill has its own eating sub-culture centre around some chic outlets on Gloucester Avenue, and London's oldest vegetarian restaurant nearby. The West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage area has some good local restaurants.

Budget
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- Bangkok Thai Cafe, 17 New College Parade NW3 5EP (tube: Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7722 9605. daily 6PM-10PM. Exactly what the label says — a Thai cafe. Lightbites and fully fledged dinner courses. Mains £6-8.

- La Creperie de Hampstead, 77 Hampstead High St NW3 1RE (tube: Hampstead), [22]. daily noon-10PM. A crepe stall in front of the King William IV pub. A wide variety of tasty sweet and savoury crepes for under a fiver. Queues can get long at the weekends. Been around a long time and passes the longevity test.

- Jin Kichi, 73 Heath St NW3 6UG (tube: Hampstead, turn right, on the other side of Heath St), +44 20 7794 6158, [23]. 12:30PM-11PM daily. Really good value, no frills sushi restaurant. Set lunch from £8.

- Nautilus, 27-29 Fortune Green Rd NW6 1DT (tube: West Hampstead), +44 20 7435 2532. M-Sa 11.30AM-2.30PM, 5PM-10PM. A very well known fish and chip shop. The great British invention to either take away or eat in. Locals travel a long way to buy here.

- Parliament Hill Café, (off Highgate Rd between the tennis courts/bowling green and the bandstand), +44 20 7485 6606. daily 9AM to between 4AM and 9PM depending on the season. The only cafe actually on Hampstead Heath, and a nice place to stop for a drink or quick bite after exploring the heath.

- Weng Wah, 240 Haverstock Hill NW3 2AE (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7431 4502 (info@wengwah.co.uk), [24]. daily noon-10PM. This Chinese restaurant specialising in dim sum has been operating successfully from this address for more than 20 years. Eat in or order delivery anywhere in the Hampstead area. The lunch menu at £5-8 offers especially good value.

Mid-range
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- Caffe Nero, 1 Hampstead High St NW3 1UN (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7431 5958 (info@caffenero.com), [25]. M-F 7.30AM-6.30PM, Sa 7.30AM-7PM, Su 8AM-7PM. Modern coffee shop just around the corner from Hampstead tube station. Serves decent coffee with cakes and savoury snacks at slightly lower prices than elsewhere in Hampstead Village. Part of a large chain.

- Carluccio's, 32 Rosslyn Hill NW3 1NH (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7794 2184 (hampstead@carluccios.com), [26]. M-F 8AM-11PM, Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-10.30PM. Serves cheap and decent, if not terribly inspired, Italian food. Good value for this area. Also has a deli attached. Part of a large chain. £12-20 per head.

- Fratelli la Bufala, 45a South End Rd NW3 2QB (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7435 7814 (bookings@fratellilabufala.co.uk), [27]. M-F noon-3PM and 6PM-11PM, Sa-Su noon-11PM. Italian bistro with an extensive menu of pizzas and grill items. £15-20 per head.

- Freemason's Arms, 32 Downshire Hill NW3 1NT (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7433 6811, [28]. daily noon-9PM (bars later). A gastro pub offering both homely dishes and some more ambitious options. Good location only one minute walk from Hampstead Heath. Has a large open garden with many tables which is lovely in the summer. About £25 per head.

- Giraffe, 46 Rosslyn Hill NW3 1NH (tube: Hampstead), +44 871 3328828 (smiles@giraffe.net), [29]. M-F 8AM-11PM, Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-10.30PM. This is the original Giraffe, which has now gone to to be a very successful chain with 40 odd outlets in southern England. It still has the feel of a small independent restaurant and provides quality organic dishes. It is also child friendly, which might be a downside for a visit the morning after the night before. About £20 per head.

- Little Bay Kilburn, 228 Belsize Road, NW6 4BT (tube: Kilburn High Road), +44 20 7372 4699 (kilburn@littlebay.co.uk), [30]. M-Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-11PM. European cuisine. Three-course meal £11.00-16.00.

- Ping Pong, 83-84 Hampstead High St NW3 1RE (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7433 0930 (info@pingpongdimsum.com), [31]. M-F noon-11PM, Sa-Su 11AM-11PM. Well established modern Chinese restaurant. Dim sum is especially popular and therefore Sundays tend to get very busy and bookings are recommended. £12-15 dim sum set menus.

- Walnut, 280 West End Lane NW6 1LJ (tube: West Hampstead), +44 20 7794 7772 (bookings@walnutwalnut.com), [32]. Tu-Su 6.30PM-10.30PM. Cozy, neighbourhood West Hampstead restaurant which serves up modern European fare at affordable prices. About £25 per head.

Splurge
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- Base, 71 Hampstead High St NW3 1QP (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7431 2224 (base@basefoods.com), [33]. Tu-Sun 8AM-10.45PM, M 8AM-6PM. Mediterranean bistro notable for both its food and its wine list. About £40 per head.

- Goldfish, 82 Hampstead High St NW3 1RE (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7794 6666. M-Th noon-10.30PM, F-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Asian fusion eatery boasts a menu that is distinctly modern Chinese, with main courses such as wasabi prawns, mocha spare ribs and pan-fry roasted duck with special curry sauce and apple salsa. About £60 per head.

- Odette's, 130 Regent's Park Rd NW1 8XL (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7586 8569 (info@odettesprimrosehill.com), [34]. Tu-Sa noon-2.30PM, 6.30PM-10.30PM, Su noon-3PM, 6.PM-10.30PM. Modern European cooking in the Primrose Hill district. Interesting set degustation menu for £60 per head.

- Sardo Canale, 42 Gloucester Ave NW1 8JD (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7722 2800 (info@sardocanale.com), [35]. T-Th noon-10.30PM, F-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. An Italian (Sardinian to be more precise) restaurant in a lovely setting by the Regent's Canal. Although on the more expensive side, it is arguably worth it. About £50 per head.

Vegetarian
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- Cafe 79, 79 Regent's Park Rd NW1 8UY (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7586 8012. M- Sa 8.30AM-6PM, Su 9AM-6PM. Simple vegetarian and whole food cafe with many vegan options also. Budget prices.

- Manna, 4 Erskine Rd, NW3 3AJ (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7722 8028 (info@mannav.com), [36]. daily 6.30PM-11PM, Su only noon-3PM. The UK's oldest vegetarian restaurant which has been in operation since 1966. That says a lot about the quality of the food, and the presentation and service are also top notch. About £40 per head.

Drink
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Historic pubs are widespread in this district and visitors will have few problems finding a good quality, rewarding option. A vintage of 200 years is by no means unusual for such establishments and many have colourful stories to tell.

This is not a district with any regular after hours nightlife, but it is not far down the hill to the neighbouring areas of Camden Town and King's Cross where there are many late bar and dance club options.

Hampstead Village and around
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Among Hampstead's many pubs are a few traditional jewels, including:

- The Flask, 14 Flask Walk NW3 1HE (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 4580 (flask@youngs.co.uk), [37]. Bar hours: M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10.30PM. The name dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, when Hampstead was known as an area with many freshwater springs and people went there to take the waters. The current building has been a pub since 1874. Two bar rooms and a separate dining area.

- The Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount NW3 6SG (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 2892 (info@hollybushpub.com), [38]. Bar hours: M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10.30PM. Been around since 1807 and an absolute traditional favorite. Two bar rooms with open fireplaces. Consistently rated as one of the best traditional pubs in the whole of London.

- The King William IV, 77 Hampstead High St NW3 1RE (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 5747 (info@kingwilliamhampstead.co.uk), [39]. Bar hours: M-T 11AM-11PM, F-Su 11AM-midnight. London's oldest established gay pub and a pleasant place for a drink whether you are gay or straight. Three bar rooms and a pleasant, if small, outdoor beer garden at the rear. Right in the heart of Hampstead village.

- The Old Bull and Bush, North End Rd NW3 7HE (tube: Golders Green), +44 20 8905 5456 (info@thebullandbush.co.uk), [40]. Bar hours: daily 11AM-11PM. This former farmhouse first gained a licence to sell liquor in 1721 and is the pub that gave rise to famous Victorian music hall song "Down at The Old Bull and Bush". Today it is a thriving pub and one which has modernised sympathetically. A great place to go for a drink and imagine the characters who have done likewise here over the past nearly 300 years.

- The Spaniard's Inn, Spaniard's Rd NW3 7JJ (tube: Golders Green, then bus 210 which stops right outside), +44 20 8731 8406 (feedback@thespaniardshampstead.co.uk), [41]. Bar hours: daily 11AM-11PM. Been around since 1585 and has just claims to be one of the most famous pubs in London. Keats, Shelly and Byron all drank here and Dickens mentions it in Pickwick Papers. Local lore has it that Dick Turpin used the pub and that his ghost still does. These days it is a decent pub with a real countryside atmosphere.

Elsewhere
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- The Engineer, 65 Gloucester Ave NW1 8JH (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7722 0950 (info@the-engineer.com), [42]. Bar hours: M-Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-10.30PM. Rather small pub with a cosy inside bar and lovely outdoor beer garden which gets busy in the summer. It is quite expensive compared to other local options.

- The Lansdowne, 90 Gloucester Ave NW1 8HX (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 20 7483 0409 (info@thelansdownepub.co.uk), [43]. Bar hours: M-F noon-11PM, Sa 9AM-11PM, Su 9AM-10.30PM. Local favourite with a lively bar downstairs and excellent restaurant on the first floor.

- The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave NW1 8JA (tube: Chalk Farm and walk across the bridge), +44 8721 077 077. Bar hours: M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10.30PM. Intimate pub with a cozy inside bar and a very popular beer garden which gets packed in summer.

- The Princess of Wales, 22 Chalcot Rd NW1 8LL (tube: Chalk Farm), +44 8721 077 077. Bar hours: M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10.30PM. Traditional pub which offers a fine selection of beers and has a relatively broad food menu. Traditional jazz is played on Thursday nights. One of the more reasonably priced pubs in the area.

- The Sir Richard Steele, 97 Haverstock Hill NW3 4RL (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7483 1261 (info@sirrichardsteele.com), [44]. Bar hours: M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10.30PM. Old fashioned London pub which runs a regular program of themed nights including some quite eclectic musical themes. Saturday is comedy night and especially popular. Named after the notable Georgian journalist and writer whose home was formerly on this site,

Sleep
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This is not a district well known for its accommodation options and few visitors stay here. The hotels that are available tend to be in the south of the district, although Hampstead Village itself does have a couple of good quality bed and breakfast options which are very much off the regular tourist path. In West Hampstead, there is a small cluster of budget bed and breakfast options.

- Charlotte Guest House, 195-197 Sumatra Rd NW6 1PF (tube: West Hampstead), +44 20 7794 6476 (info@charlotteguesthouse.co.uk), [45]. Traditional B&B with 43 rooms ranging from singles to family suites. The cheapest rooms do not have private bathrooms. From £50.

- Dawson House, 72 Canfield Gdns NW6 3EG (tube: West Hampstead), +44 20 7624 0079 (booking@dawsonhousehotel.com), [46]. Budget guest house with 15 rooms including family options. A five minute walk to the West Hampstead stations. From £59.

- Dillons, 21 Belsize Park NW3 4DU (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7794 3360 (desk@dillonshotel.com), [47]. Bed and breakfast in an old converted Victorian building in Belsize Park. Quiet and reserved residential neighbourhood but easy access to Hampstead Village. From £65.

- Hampstead Village Guest House, 2 Kemplay Rd NW3 1SY (tube: Hampstead), + 44 20 7435 8679 (info@hampsteadguesthouse.com), [48]. A real traditional bed and breakfast experience staying in an old family run house in Hampstead Village. A converted Victorian detached house furnished in the period style. Easy five minute walk to Hampstead Heath and the main local shops and cafes. From about £90.

- La Gaffe, 107-111 Heath St NW3 6SS (tube: Hampstead), +44 20 7435 8965 (info@lagaffe.co.uk), [49]. Charming boutique-type bed and breakfast accommodation above a restaurant and wine bar of the same name. Family owned and managed. From £85.

- Langorf Hotel and Apartments, 20 Frognal NW3 6AG (tube: Finchley Road), +44 20 7794 4483 (info@langorfhotel.com), [50]. Converted townhouse within walking distance of Hampstead Village. From £75.

- Palmer's Lodge Hostel, 40 College Cres NW3 5LB (tube: Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7483 8470 (reception@palmerslodge.co.uk), [51]. A high quality, multi award-winning hostel in a converted Victorian mansion. Has private rooms as well as a number of dorm options. Offers free WiFi, breakfast included in the price and nice touches such as serving free trade coffee only. Dorm beds from £21, double private rooms £77.

- Swiss Cottage Hotel, 4 Adamson Rd NW3 3HP (tube Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7722 2281 (reservations@swisscottagehotel.co.uk), [52]. Converted Victorian townhouse with 59 rooms. Two minute walk to Swiss Cottage tube station. From £56.

Contact
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Internet outlets
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- Belsize Library, Antrim Rd NW3 4XN (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7974 6518, [53]. Tu-W 10AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, closed M,Th-Fr,Su. A small public library run by Camden Council which offers free public internet access. The queues are often long though.

- The Internet Cafe, 235 Finchley Rd NW3 6LS (tube: Finchley Road), +44 20 7435 6000. daily 10AM-9PM. A small internet cafe offering light bites and drinks.

- Queen's Internet Cafe, 191 Queen's Cres NW5 4DS (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7485 1558. M-Sa 10AM-6PM. A rather quirky place which doubles as an internet cafe and a supplier of hair grooming products! Very friendly and a reliable, fast connection.

- Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Rd NW3 3HA (tube: Swiss Cottage), +44 20 7974 6522,, [54]. M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. A public library run by Camden Council which offers free WiFi and a limited number of desktop stations.

Stay safe
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This is a comparatively safe district of London. You are however still in the city, so be sensible, especially after dark. If you do run into any difficulties, these are the main police stations in the district:

- Hampstead Police Station, 26 Rosslyn Hill NW3 1PD (tube: Hampstead), 0300 123 1212, [55].

- West Hampstead Police Station, 21 Fortune Green Rd NW6 1DX (tube: West Hampstead), 0300 123 1212, [56].

Cope
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- Hampstead and Highgate Express (The Ham and High), 100A Avenue Rd NW3 3HF, +44 20 7433 0000 (editorial@hamhigh.co.uk), [57]. Very few London districts have their own proper local newspaper (as opposed to a free sheet), but it is no surprise that literary Hampstead does. A great source of local news, events and listings. Published each Thursday, and widely available at newsagents and other outlets throughout the district.

- Royal Free Hospital, 23 East Heath Rd NW3 1DU (tube: Belsize Park), +44 20 7794 0500, [58]. One of London's largest and most famous hospitals. Has a full A&E department.

Get out
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- Camden Town with its wonderfully eclectic markets and shops, is just a couple of stops south on the Northern Line.

- From the south of the district, you can easily walk to Oxford Street and elsewhere in the West End, through the lovely Regent's Park.

District Islington Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Angel and Highbury areas

Archway

Finsbury Park

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Understand
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This is large district covering much of the London Borough of Islington [1].

The south of the district borders the City of London and Clerkenwell and was long seen as something of a poor relation to those two areas. That all started to change in the 1990s though when the typical Victorian houses of Islington became very desirable and the area went through huge gentrification to become a highly fashionable address. The area around The Angel, Upper Street and Essex Road is of special interest to visitors it is home to a number of interesting shops selling antiques and collectibles as well as art galleries.

Further north, the district becomes a little less grand and largely lower-end residential. Finsbury Park is an area in the north-east of the district which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. The park itself is a large important green space in an otherwise densely populated area.

In the north west of the district its character changes again and Highgate takes on many characteristics of the neigbouring district of Hampstead.

Islington has long been known for its left-wing politics and in the 1980s the oft-used moniker of The Socialist Republic of Islington was not unwarranted. The legacy of that still remains: The borough's two MPs and Council administration are all from the Labour Party and a number of regular festivals of a distinctly liberal nature are hosted here.

Get in
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By tube
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Tube stations in this district are:

- Angel (Northern line)

- Highbury & Islington (Victoria line)

- Tufnell Park (Northern line)

- Archway (Northern line)

- Highgate (Northern line)

- Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly lines)

- Holloway Road (Piccadilly line)

- Caledonian Road (Piccadilly line)

- Arsenal (Piccadilly line)

By train
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Overground stations include Highbury & Islington, Essex Rd, Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Upper Holloway.

By bus
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Bus routes 41 ,N41 ,134 ,390 ,43 ,17 ,C11 ,4, W5 all serve Archway and the surrounding area.

29, 19, 4, 236, 254, 254 all connect Finsbury Park with the centre of London and the West End.

See
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- The Arsenal Museum, Emirates Stadium, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, N5 1BU (tube: Finsbury Park), +44 20 7619 5003, [2]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM closed matchdays, Su 10AM-5PM. Impressive museum charting the hisory of this great football club. £3-6.

- City Road Basin Plaza, (Off City Road next to McDonalds and Texaco. Tube: Angel), +44 207 253 6512, [3]. A former industrial site which fell into decline in the 50s and 60s. The site remained undeveloped and inaccessible to the public for many years. A multi-million pound project has created public access to the waterway (one of the largest open stretches of water in North London) complete with a newly landscaped public park facing onto the canal.

- Crafts Council, 44a Pentonville Rd (tube: Angel), +44 20 7278 7700, [4]. Tu-Sa 11AM-5:45PM, Su 2PM-5:45PM. This gallery promotes contemporary craftspeople working materials such as metal, glass, pottery and textiles but with a unique take on each medium. The work frequently strays into contemporary art and blurs the border between art and craft. The small shop inside provides individually crafted pieces, that are as expensive as you would expect. Free.

- Gillespie Park Ecology Centre, Drayton Park, N5 (Tube: Arsenal). open daily except on Arsenal FC home match days. Award-winning education centre in this small park in a heavily built up area of the district. Managed habitats inlude woodland, wetland meadows and ponds.

- Highgate Wood, (tube: Highgate), +44 20 8444 6129 (highgate.wood@cityoflondon.gov.uk), [5]. A 28 hectare remnant of the great Middlesex Wood which once spread across north London. There is a supervised children's playground, a café and an information centre.

- Parasol Unit, 14 Wharf Rd N1 7RW (tub: Angel. Next door to Victoria Miro), +44 20 7490 7373, [6]. Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Contemporary art gallery, which looks closed from initial appearances, but press the buzzer to have the door unlocked. Free entry.

- Victoria Miro Gallery, 16 Wharf Rd N1 7RW (tube: Angel), +44 44 20 7336 8109, [7]. Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM. An excellent contemporary art gallery in a converted Victorian furniture factory. Press the buzzer to unlock the door, it is not a typical Tate-tourist magnet. Free entry.

Do
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- Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street N1 1TA (tube: Highbury & Islington, just off Upper St), +44 20 7359 4404 (info@almeida.co.uk.), [8]. Theatre with a reputation for daring and innovative productions.

- Arsenal Football Club, (Short walk from Finsbury Park tube station), [9]. The famous EPL club play at the Emirates Stadium in the north of the district. Count yourself very lucky if you can secure a ticket.

- Everyman Screen on the Green (formerly Screen on the Green), 83 Upper St N1 0NU (tube: Angel, 5 min walk up Upper St), [10]. One of the leading art house cinemas in London. Recently refurbished.

- Rise, (tube: Finsbury Park). Anti-racism festival. Every summer the mayor of London hosts this. This has been held in Finsbury Park for many years and has seen acts such as Kelis, Jimmy Cliff and Lily Allen all play there. Bob Dylan, Blur and Oasis have also played concerts there.

- Vue, Upper Street Islington, N1 (tube: Angel, 1F of the N1 shopping centre), [11]. An enormous multiplex cinema.

Buy
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- Camden Passage Antiques Centre, Camden Passage N1 8ED (tube: Angel), [12]. One of London's leading antique and collectible centres for the past 40 years. The complex is home to dealers in a wide variety of fields and is a must for any visitor to London interested in antiques.

- Map, Junction Rd. Trendy gift shop with cool products. Much too nice to be in Archway!

Eat
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Diners are spoiled for choice in Islington, especially the Upper Street area between Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations. A wide variety of cuisine and price ranges are available. Mediterranean food dominates but with options like Indian, Afghan, Italian, French, Thai, and South American there is food for all tastes.

A few minutes walk from Archway station up Highgate Hill will lead you to Highgate, the upmarket end of Archway. There are a selection of nice cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Swain's Lane, five to ten minutes walk from Archway station just near Hampstead Heath, has a few nice places to eat.

Angel to Upper Street can be a diner's paradise if you know where to go. Close to Angel places are geared towards the daytime sandwich eaters and coffee drinkers. From Islington Green on you will generally find nicer restaurants at better value. As a rule, the further towards Highbury & Islington the cheaper the restaurants, although the quality does not necessarily decline. Take a walk down the side-streets too as they hold some of the best restaurants, pubs, and bars.

In Archway, coming out of the tube station you will see two kebab houses on Junction Road, neither of which are anything special, but rather comically one carries the slogan "Best kebabs in UK" while the other says "Best kebab in world". These are not to be believed. May find other interesting little restaurants down Holloway Road.

The Finsbury Park area is home to many minority groups such as Algerian, Greek, Turkish, African and as such has some of the most diverse range of restaurants available in London. Down Blackstock Road, a locals favourite is Sim Sim. Just outside the station on Seven Sisters Road, The Red Zone offers cheap but good food.

Budget
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- The Afghan Kitchen, 35 Islington Green N1 8DU (tube: Angel), +44 20 7359 8019. One of the best cheap eats in London. Authentic Afghan food which is a hugely better than you expect when looking at the place! Highly recommended.

- Angel Mangal Ockabasi, 139 Upper St N1 1QP (tube: Highbury & Islington), +44 20 7359 7777. Excellent Turkish meals.

- Gallipoli, 102 Upper St N1 1QP (tube: Angel, Highbury & Islington), +44 20 7359 1578, [13]. Well known and serve great Turkish meals, for very reasonable prices. Another branch nearby.

- Le Mercury, 140a Upper Street N1 1QY (tube: Highbury & Islington), +44 20 7354 4088, [14]. Cosy, romantic French restaurant split amongst three floors. Typical French cuisine at low prices. Mains around £6.

- Little Bay Farringdon, 171 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3AL (tube: Highbury & Islington), +44 20 7278 1234, [15]. Opulent bohemian restaurant serving traditional high-end European cuisine at very low prices 3-Course Meal from £10-16.

- La Porchetta, 141-142 Upper St N1 1QY (tube: Angel, Highbury & Islington), +44 20 7288 2488, [16]. Authentic Italian pizzeria: thin wood-fired pizzas, selection of pasta, antipasto, desserts, Italian wine & beer. Buzzing atmosphere. Child friendly.

- Tortilla, 13 Islington High St N1 9LQ (tube: Angel, opposite the station), +44 20 7833 3103, [17]. Californian and Mexican take-away, serves fajitas/burritos/etc and Mexican beers. The food is fresh and mostly organic. Well priced, very friendly staff, open kitchen. Small number of benches for eating in. About £5 each person.

Mid-range
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- Kalendar, 15A Swain's Lane N6 6QX (tube: Archway and 15-20 minute walk), +44 20 8348 8300. Stands out as a bohemian deli/cafe with beautiful if not cheap food. Excellent for brunch/long weekend lunches. Chunky rustic furniture, specials on blackboards, free newspapers. Quite child friendly.

- Masala Zone, 80-82 Upper St N1 0NU (tube: Angel), +44 20 7359 3399, [18]. This hip Indian restaurant chain's Angel branch. Good value Indian food, try a Thali for a good sized meal with a variety of flavours. Mains around £8.

- Mem & Laz, 8 Therberton St N1 0QX (tube: Angel), +44 20 7704 9089. Large menu of great Mediterranean food, friendly staff, very reasonably priced. Their lunchtime TWO-course special around £7 is available to 6PM, an excellent option for an early dinner.

- Cafe Mozaic, 24 Junction Rd N9 5 RE (tube: Archway), +44 20 7272 3509. Mediterranean restaurant. Right next door to the best kebabs in the world, and yet somehow manages some classiness. Lively atmosphere. Reasonably priced. Sometimes with live musical performances (Friday evening). Outdoor seating. £10.

- The Northgate, 113 Southgate Rd N1 3JS (tube: Old Street, then bus 76 or 141), +44 20 7359 7392. Excellent gastro-pub menu changed daily. Pricey for a pub, but the consistently high quality never disappoints. Mains £10-12.

- Punto Zero, 14 Barnsbury Rd (tube: Angel), +44 20 7713 6619. Offers authentic Neapolitan thin-crust pizzas, baked in a wood-fired oven.

- St. John's, 91 Junction Rd N19 5QU (tube: Tufnell Park), +44 20 7272 1587. Expensive gastro pub. Quite pleasant.

- Sunderban, 50 Blackstock Road, London, N4 2DW (tube: Finsbury Park), +44 20 7359 9243, [19]. Sunday-Thursday: 6 PM-Midnight; Friday and Saturday: 6 PM-12:30 AM; Arsenal match days: Afternoon Games: Noon-2 PM; Evening Games: 5:30 PM-Midnight. Delicious North Indian/Bangladeshi cuisine and a good value. One of the best curries in London. Starters: £1.75-£4.45; Mains: £3.25-£11.50; Rice, Nan, etc.: £1.60-£2.95.

Splurge
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Drink
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Angel and Highbury areas
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- The Angel, Pentonville Rd N1 9LQ (tube: Angel).

- The Flying Scotsman, 2-4 Caledonian Rd N1 9DU (tube: King's Cross St Pancras), +44 020 7837 8271.

- Keston Lodge, 131 Upper Street, N1 1QP (tube: Angel), +44 20 7354 9535, [20]. A retro style bar open very late at the weekends.

- The Nag's Head, 12 Upper St N1 0PQ (tube: Angel), 08721 077 077.

- Pitcher and Piano, 68 Upper Street N1 0NY, +44 20 7704 9974 (angel@pitcherandpiano.com), [21]. Stylish bar. Part of a chain.

- The York, 82 Islington High St N1 8EQ (tube: Angel), +44 20 7713 1835.

Archway
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There are plenty of pubs in the area, some of them managing to be slightly more lively or more stylish than the typical local boozer.

- The Archway Tavern, Archway Close, Archway Rd N19 3TD (tube: Archway), 08721 077 077. Pub with a reputed republican history. Live music some nights.

- The Hideaway, 114 Junction Rd N19 5LB (tube: Archway), +44 20 7561 0779, [22]. Nice pub/bar. Good pizzas and cheap happy hour drinks. Bar staff can be a bit grumpy.

- The Landseer, 37 Landseer Rd N19 4JU (10 min walk down Holloway Rd from Archway Station and off to the left on Landseer Rd), +44 20 7263 4658. Smart pub with posh food. Fairly lively. Nice hanging plants.

- Tufnell Park Tavern, 162 Tufnell Park Rd N7 0EE (tube: Tufnell Park), +44 20 2722078.

Finsbury Park
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There are many pubs in the area.

- 12 Pins, 263 Seven Sisters Rd N4 2DE (tube: Finsbury Park), +44 20 8809019, [23]. Irish pub which gets very busy on Arsenal match days.

- Faultering Fullback, 19 Perth Rd N4 3HB. (tube: Finsbury Park). Beautiful pub, popular with locals watching football and eating their Thai Food. Since the smoking ban, a large amount of money has been spent on the beer garden at the rear, which now offers a wooden mezzanine floor.

- Gaslight, 5 Station Place N4 2DH (tube: Finsbury Park). Get very busy on match days.

- Kings Head, 26 Blackstock Rd N4 2DR (tube: Finsbury Park), 0871 258 6247. Local pub with friendly Irish landlords and locals.

- The T-Bird, 132 Blackstock Rd N4 2DX (tube: Finsbury Park), 08721 077 077. Open mic night on Thursdays and a free jukebox on Mondays.

Sleep
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Budget
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- London City Apartments, 104 Offord Rd N1 1PF (tube: Highbury & Islington), 07510 062 715, [24]. Budget studio apartments with kitchens. Maximum 2 person occupancy. From £44.

- Journey's hostel, 54-58 Caledonian Rd N1 9DP, (tube: King's Cross St Pancras). Budget hostel. From £15 for dorm bed.

- Pembury Hotel, 326-328 Seven Sisters Rd N4 2AP (tube: Finsbury Park). Budget hotel right opposite Finsbury Park Station. Popular with football fans as it is close to The Emirates Stadium. Read the reviews on TripAdvisor before booking! From £40.

Mid-range
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- Hilton London Islington, 53 Upper Street Islington, N1 0UY (tube: Angel), +44 20 7354 7700. Next door the Business Design Centre. From £125.

- Jury's Inn Islington, (tube: Angel), +44 20 7282 5500, [25]. Large mid-market hotel offering decent value for money. From £79.

Splurge
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Contact
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District Lambeth Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

Pubs

Bars and clubs

Gay and Lesbian

• Sleep

• Contact

• Stay safe

Understand
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Lambeth was traditionally a largely deprived area of Inner London with very dense housing. However, than began to change in the 1990s as the inevitable gentrification that was so apparent in just about all of inner London also manifested itself here.

Brixton is a colourful, unique urban area that is like nowhere else in London. Brixton has a mix of residents, ranging from people that have lived in the district for generations to new residents that have moved prompted by a new trendy image that it has gained. It is a multi-ethnic community, with around 24 percent of the population being of African and/or Caribbean descent, giving rise to Brixton being called the unofficial capital of the British African-Caribbean community in London.

The diverse population originates from the 1940s and 50s, when Britain invited large numbers from the West Indies to fill the job gaps. It still has an edgy reputation left over from the race riots in the 80 and 90s and the easy availability of drugs.

There is a thriving scene for clubbing and live music. There are also several markets stretching across the town where you can pick up all manner of exotic foods, textiles and jewellery. It also well known for its nightlife, particularly Brixton Academy and the Fridge along with many other interesting bars, pubs and clubs to explore which easily takes you through to dawn.

Herne Hill is a tiny village-type area on the corner of Brockwell Park.

Kennington is a mixed class residential area, and is the location of the The Oval, the well-known cricket stadium. Kennington appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Chenintune. It was held by Teodric (Theodoric) the Goldsmith. It rendered: 1 hide and 3 virgates; 3 ploughs, 4 acres (16,000 m2) of meadow. It rendered £3. Edward III gave the manor of Kennington to his oldest son Edward "the Black Prince" in 1337, and the prince then built a large royal palace between what is now Black Prince Road and Sancroft Street. Geoffrey Chaucer was employed at Kennington as Clerk of Works in 1389. He was paid 2 shillings. Much of this area of Kennington continues to be owned by the current monarch's elder son to the present day.

Kennington Park (laid out by Victorian architect James Pennethorne) and St Mark's Churchyard now cover the site of Kennington Common. In 1746 the Surrey County Gallows at the southern end of the common was used for the execution of nine leaders of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. The Common was also where the Chartists gathered for their biggest demonstration in 1848. "The Gymnastic Society" met regularly at Kennington Common during the second half of the eighteenth century to play football. The Society - arguably the world's first Football club - consisted of London-based natives of Cumberland and Westmoreland.

Kennington Park Road and Clapham Road is a long and straight stretch of road because it follows the old Roman Stane Street. This ran down from the Roman London Bridge to Chichester via the gap in the North Downs at Box Hill near Dorking. Another Roman road branched off opposite Kennington Road and went down through what is now Kennington Park and down the Brixton Road. It carried on through the North Downs near Caterham to Hassocks, just north of the South Downs.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following tube stations:

- Brixton (Victoria line)

- Stockwell (Victoria line)

- Lambeth North (Bakerloo line)

- Vauxhall (Victoria line)

- Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo and Northern lines)

- Kennington (Northern line)

- Oval (Northern line)

- Clapham North (Northern line)

By train
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Brixton station (a three minute walk from the Tube station) Herne Hill station Vauxhall station

By bus
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- 2 (Marble Arch - Brixton - West Norwood)

- 3 (Oxford Circus - Brixton - Crystal Palace)

- 196 (Vauxhall - Brixton - South Norwood)

- 109 (Croydon - Streatham - Brixton)

- 159 (Marble Arch - Brixton - Streatham)

There are also several Night Buses serving Lambeth including:

- N3 (Oxford Circus - Brixton - Crystal Palace - Bromley North)

- N159 (Oxford Circus - Streatham - New Addington)

See
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- Brockwell Park, Herne Hill (From town walk up Effra Rd, take a left into Brixton Water Ln, and look out for entrance on the right), [1]. Daily. A large hilly green park, 10-minute walk from the centre of Brixton. Has the following facilities: Brockwell Lido, children's play area, paddling pool, café, flower gardens, sports facilities, toilets and several ponds. Brockwell Park also has a BMX track, but it will not be used for the Olympics 2012 BMX Racing as a dedicated track is being built in the Olympic Village. Free.

- Charles Chaplin plaque, 287 Kennington Rd. Charles Chaplin lived with his mother in various addresses in and around Kennington Rd in Lambeth, including 3 Pownall Terrace, Chester St and 39 Methley St and briefly lived with his father and his mistress, Louise, at 287 Kennington Rd where a plaque now commemorates the fact. After Chaplin's mother was admitted to the Cane Hill Asylum, her son was left in the workhouse at Renfrew Rd in Kennington.

- Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace SE1 7JU (tube: Lambeth North), [2]. Library Exhibition only: May-July, M-S 10AM-5PM.. The palace hs been the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury since the 13th century. Guided tours of Lambeth Palace are incredibly popular and there has been a substantial waiting list for some years . However, the Treasures of Lambeth Palace Library exhibition will be open to the general public in 2010 and will show some remarkable treasures including an original Gutenburg Bible and the 9th century MacDurnan Gospels. £8 for the Libray Exhibition.

- Leake Street, Leake Street, Lambeth (Near Waterloo under the train arches). Also known as the "Banksy tunnel", every inch of the walls of this 300 metre street are decorated with graffiti - initially created during the "Cans Festival" organised by Banksy in 2008. Whatever the strict legal position may be, the ongoing creation of graffiti is tolerated, backed up by a (graffitti'd) billboard advert outside the tunnel stating that this is the case.

- Kennington Park, Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4BE (tube: Oval), [3]. Small London park with some lovely tended gardens.

- Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Rd SE1 7LB (tube:Lambeth North), +44 20 7401 8865 (info@gardenmuseum.org.uk), [4]. Daily 10.30AM-5PM. In an old chrch which is also hosted the tomb of Captain Bligh of The Bounty mutiny fame. THe museum charts the history of garden design and gardening. £6, under 16s free..

- SIS/MI6 Building, Vauxhall Bridge (tube: Vauxhall). Imposing building on the waterfront with a huge number of CCTV cameras and looks more fortified than a prison. Quite a sight to behold and you're able to walk around the outskirts of the building but can guarantee that you're being watched when you do.

Do
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- Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Rd, [5]. Live music venue for audiences as large as 4,000 in a beautiful Art Deco building.

- Brixton Tours, [6]. Specialises in one hour tours of Brixton, taking in the history, culture and local attractions of this part of London. £10 for group tours. £20 for one to one tours.

- Brixton Audio Tour, [7]. Alex Wheatle, the Brixton Bard, takes you on a personal journey through the vibrant streets of Brixton that have been his inspiration.

- Brockwell Lido, [8]. Outdoor swimming pool that's empty during cold days and has queues around the block whenever the sun is out.

- Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ, +44 20 7416 5320 (mail@iwm.org.uk), [9]. An afternoon's worth of British military history. The same institution owns the Central London HMS Belfast (South Bank, a WWII cruiser, now a floating museum extensive enough to satisfy the most warlike husband or son), Cabinet War Rooms and Duxford Air Museum (Cambridgeshire) (an airbase a day trip from London with five hangars of historic aircraft). Free except some temporary exhibitions.

- The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB, 0870 990 8883, [10]. Giant ferris wheel on the south bank of the river Thames built to celebrate the new millenium. Incredibly busy, gives great views over London but best on a clear day. Best to book in advance and seek special offers.

- The National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX, +4420 7452 3000, [11]. The Royal National Theatre is one of the UK's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies. The controvertial building is "an aesthetic of broken forms" meaning a concrete monster. The riverside forecourt has outdoor performances in the summer.

- The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB, +4420 7928 2651, [12]. Kevin Spacey has been the artistic director here since 2003 receiving considerable media attention and starring in a number of the shows himself. Great for something a bit different, and further up the cut you can check The Young Vic which focuses on productions of a younger generation.

- The Oval (The Britoval, Kennington Oval), Kennington SE11 5SS (tube: Oval), 08712 461100 (enquiries@surreycricket.com), [13]. The second home of English cricket in London after Lords. You will find getting a ticket to a match involving England very difficult but Surrey play their home games here and tickets are nearly always available for those.

- The Southbank Centre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX, +44844 875 0073, [14]. Southbank Centre is the largest single-run arts centre in the world and includes The Royal Festival Hall and The Queen Elizabeth Hall. It's one of the largest arts centres in the world, occupying a 21-acre site in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. It offers a wide-ranging artistic programme including classical & world music, rock & pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts.

- Stockwell Skate Park, Stockwell Park Walk. Also ironically named Brixton Beach, this free skate park was originally built in 1970s. Both skateboarders and BMXers can regularly be seen riding or simply hanging out on the edges.

Buy
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- Brixton Markets. M Tu, Th-Sa 8AM-6PM, W 8AM-5PM. Brixton Market consists of several different parts. The main section is Electric Avenue, selling mainly fruit, vegetables and meat, which also has a very good Chinese supermarket. On Pope's Road you will find clothes and bric-a-brac. You will find more indoor markets around the area such as: Brixton Village (between Pope's Road and Coldharbour Lane), Reliance Arcade (between Brixton Road and Electric Lane) and Granville Arcade (running between Electric Lane and Atlantic Road). These sell everything from wigs, clothes, pets, exotic foods and coffee.

- Nubian Natural Retail Store & Therapy Centre, 1&3 Vining St, +44 20 7733 8277. M-Sa 11AM-6:30PM. A stylish boutique store selling natural body care, unusual jewellery, books and natural supplements. Offers a great service in a classy environment. Body care range has reputation for being effective and good value for money. Recently opened a therapy centre offering beauty treatments and massage therapies.

- The Kennington Bookshop, 306-308 Kennington Road, SE11 4LD, +4420 7735 5505, [15]. 9:30am-6:30pm Mon-Sat; noon-5pm Sun. They describe themselves as offering "an individual, thoughtful and eclectic selection of books, imaginatively displayed in calm, lovely surroundings." which is quite an accurate description.

Eat
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There are many different types of food available in Lambeth, from Caribbean to Eritrean and fish and chips to noodles. You will find most of the restaurants on Coldharbour Ln and Atlantic Rd. Here are few noted establishments. Clapham High St has a good selection of restaurants.

- Asmara, 386 Coldharbour Lane (Facing the Dogstar), +44 20 7737 4144. 5:30PM-12:30AM. Small friendly restaurant serving interesting Eritrean food.

- Bruno's (formerly Cafe Pushkar), 424 Coldharbour Ln, +44 20 7738 6161. A vegetarian and organic licenced cafe right in the centre of Brixton.

- Duck Egg Cafe, 424 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, +4420 7733 0363. Cute little cafe which has changed names a few times over the last few years, but consistently serves fantastic fried breakfasts with excellent quality raw ingredients sourced from the market. Not much seating space though, especially busy on Sundays.

- Eco Pizza (formerly Pizzeria Franco), 4 Market Row Electric Ln, +44 20 7738 3021, [16]. Until 5PM. Tasty reasonable priced pizzas, calzones and sandwiches using fresh ingredients.

- Franco Manca, Unit 4, Market Row, London, SW9 8LD, +442077383021, [17]. Lunchtimes. Once named Timeout's #1 cheap eat in all of London and is always ludicrously busy. Authentic Italian sour dough pizza for very cheap prices. Top tip for Saturday dining: Turn up at 11:45, 15 minutes before it opens. You queue 15 minutes guaranteed, but can over an hours wait if you turn up at 12:15.

- Fujiyama, 7 Vining St, +44 20 7737 2369, [18]. M-Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-midnight. As a Japanese noodle bar, the food is similar to Wagamama's but this is a much smaller and friendlier place. It is very good value for money, for about £6 you get a plate of noodles that will fill up any big appetite. They have ramen, bento boxes, don buri, miso soups, pan fried noodles and various curry and rice dishes. They also do some freshly squeezed juices along with the usual beers, wines and sake.

- Gandhi's Restaurant, 347A Kennington Road, SE11 4QE (tube: Kennington), +44 20 7735 9015 (order@gandhis.co.uk, fax: +44 20 7735 9572), [19]. noon-2:30PM, 6PM-11:30PM. Traditional Indian restaurant Mains £6-13.

- Ichiban Sushi, 58a Atlantic Rd. M-Sa noon-10:30PM. Great freshly prepared sushi and tofu dishes.

- Negril, 132 Brixton Hill. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th-Sa 10AM-10PM,Su 10AM-6PM. Jamaican restaurant that serves traditional Jerk chicken and Caribbean curries. Most of the food is organic and they make their own fresh fruit juice. Reasonable priced and has lovely patio area.

- Number 22, 22 Half Moon Lane (tube: Herne Hill, next to Brockwell Park). M-F 5PM-11PM, Sa-Su noon-11PM. Spanish cuisine and cocktails in a small and comfortable setting and even has a courtyard in the back. Great paella!

- El Panzon, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, London, SW2 1DF, +4420 773 772 73, [20]. For some of the tastiest Mexican food in London. Specialising in tacos and burritos, they also offer a selection of authentic Mexican dishes. Very cheap and delicious eating! Used to be part of Dogstar, now part of Hootananny.

- The Pepper Tree, 19 Clapham Common Southside London SW4 7AB (1 minute from Clapham Common tube), +44 20 7622 1758, [21]. A long-established and very popular Thai restaurant serving good food in rather spartan surroundings, alongside Clapham Common. Good value. Expect to queue in peak period. Mains £5-7.

- Pizza Express, 316 Kennington Road, London, SE11 4LD, +4420 7820 3877, [22]. Meh

- Satay Bar, 447 Coldharbour Ln (tube: Brixton), +44 20 7326 5001. M-Th noon-11PM, F noon-1AM, Sa 1PM-1AM, Su 5PM-1AM. Brixton's longest running restaurant, specialising in Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai cuisine. Also has a cocktail bar and lounge with extensive cocktail list and premium drinks menu. Located next to the Ritzy Cinema. Probably Brixton's busiest restaurant. Run's many specials including lunch special at £4.95.

- Upstairs, 89B Acre Lane, London, SW2 5TN (Side street off Acre Lane above Opus), +4420 7733 8855, [23]. Michelin Bib Gourmand winning restaurant in the unlikeliest of locations. A non-descript door buzzer in what looks like a flat leads you up to a cosy bar serving delicious cocktails before you ascend again to the tiny restaurant. The food is delicious and though expensive, very reasonably priced for such upmarket cuisine with very attentive staff. Not a place for every day, but a great choice for a treat. Expensive.

- Wang Fa, 208 Coldharbour Ln (Next to Loughborough Junction Railway Station), [24]. M-Sa noon-10:30PM. Authentic Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Bento boxes, pad Thai, mizo, spare ribs.

Drink
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Brixton has the advantage that every night you can stay out drinking later than almost anywhere else in London. Even on a Sunday, there are plenty of bars open until 2AM if you really do not want the weekend to end. The more interesting and local bars are dotted down backstreets.

Pubs
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- Duke Of Edinburgh, Ferndale Rd. Only really worth going if the weather is sunny, as the pub itself is nothing to write home about. Step out through the back and you will find a massive beer garden, and the only thing waking you to the reality that you are still in Brixton is the trains that clatter by every 15 minutes or so.

- The Effra, 38a Kellett Rd, +44 20 7274 4180. A winning combination of great Guinness, a friendly mixed crowd and superb live jazz on weekdays and Sundays.

- The Grand Union, 123 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UA, +4420 7274 8794 (feedback@gugroup.co.uk), [25]. Chain pub with a difference. Standard pub / bar affair in front and inside, but in the back is a huge beer garden with raised huts you can hire out and a plethora of tables, sofas and other quirky features. Worth a visit in the summer, a wide selection of gourmet burgers on the menu.

- The Grovenor, 17 Sidney St. Fabulous old school boozer with two bars and a pool table. There is large function room at the back with a growing reputation for putting on interesting rock, reggae and punk acts.

- Hootananny, 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, +4420 7737 7273, [26]. Popular late licence pub with a penchant for live ska music. Incredibly popular on weekends with upbeat fun atmosphere and large outdoor area. Also hosts El Panzon Mexican kitchen for delicious cheap food.

- Mango Landin, 40 St Matthews Rd, +44 20 7737 3044. This place is far more successful than its former Russian incarnation, Babushka's. It manages to balance nightlife and families quite well. It is packed out on the weekends, with varied DJs and occasional Tango lessons on a weekdays. There is a organic veg stall on the weekend, and seems to be very family friendly (there is always kids tearing around on the weekend). Overall a nice little pub, no attitude, no bouncers, no charge to get in, and little eccentricity.

- Marquis of Lorne, 36 49a Dalyell Rd, +44 20 7274 1638. Sporting an immaculate and beautifully preserved exterior, this quiet pub deserves to be much better known.

- Prince Albert, 416 Coldharbour Ln. A local favourite that still stubbornly remains a simple pub, without succumbing to standard London bar makeover. Good atmosphere with plenty of places to sit down inside plus a tiny outside beer garden, which is nice in the summer. Opens for normal pub hours.

- Prince of Wales/Dex, 469 Coldharbour Ln, +44 20 7501 9061. The downstairs pub has a late licence while the exquisitely restored upstairs Dex Club is a members only affair and well worth a visit. There is also a boutique hotel on the top floor. In the boozer, there's free wi-fi with any bar purchase, making it a good place for daytime meetings.

- The Trinity Arms, 45 Trinity Gardens, Brixton, London, SW9 8DR (Up Brighton Terrace on the right.), +44 20 7274 4544 (trinityarms@youngs.co.uk), [27]. An award winning proper old man's pub with a picture of the Queen pulling a pint on the wall. Right in the middle of the bustle of Brixton near the tube station, but tucked around a corner on Trinity Gardens that feels like it's in a different part of London altogether. Beer garden in front and back.

- Windmill, 22 Blenheim Gardens (Off Brixton Hill), +44 20 8671 0700, [28]. A bit of a trek from the Brixton tube (about 15 minutes walk), but it's a gem worth discovering. This small pub regularly hosts live music from up and coming bands, in the past seeing Bloc Party before they hit big time thanks to promoter Tim Perry's meticulous quality filter. Sunday nights they have DJs and BBQs during the summer. Usually only about £3 to get in.

Bars and clubs
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- Babalou (Formerly Bug Bar), (Under St. Matthew's Church, Brixton Hill), +44 20 7738 3184. Until 2AM (3AM on Sa). Plays a mixture of jazz/hip-hop/funk and house in this cosy underground venue. Has regular guest DJs and special nights. Admission is charged on the weekends, and expect big queues after 9pm. In the summer there is outside seating, but make sure you get a stamp on weekends, so you get back in free.

- Brixtonian Havana, Beehive Pl (By the Brixton Recreation Centre). One of the few late, free bars on the weekend. It is famous for its bewildering selection of rums, and you will probably exit with a lighter wallet and head than when you walked in. It can get very busy on the weekends.

- Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Ln, +44 20 7733 7515, [29]. Su-Th till 2AM, F Sa till 4AM. One of Brixton's long time favourites and worth a visit for a night out. It still runs an eclectic mix of dance music, covering hip-hop, reggae, r&b, ska and house. Has dance floor, big old sofas and screen for sports matches. Upstairs there is Moca (Caribbean restaurant) and a third floor to hire out for private parties. Admission free weekdays, charges on weekends.

- Fridge Bar, 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill (Next to the Fridge nightclub), +44 20 7326 5100. Until 2AM weekdays and until 11AM on weekends. This has a very stylish bar upstairs, with a chilled out atmosphere, downstairs however is the gloomy, sleazy dance floor which depending on your mood you may love or hate. Music selection is a mix of R&B, soul and hip-hop. Admission is charged on the weekends. Credit cards are not accepted. Security, while friendly, is tight. You will be searched upon entering the bar.

- Hive, 11-13 Brixton Station Road, London, SW9 8PD (Next to the recreation centre), +44 20 7274 8383. Small two floored bar / cafe next to the recreation centre that's great for a bite in the day and a dance upstairs with DJs at night. A little outdoor drinking area outside overlooks the market stalls.

- Plan B, 418 Brixton Road, London, SW9 7AY, +44 20 7733 0926 (office@plan-brixton.co.uk). W-Su 7PM-3AM. Since the closure of Backstage and The Rest Is Noise, they've taken the mantle as the pre-Brixton Academy venue of choice. Refurbished in 2010 after a fire, this trendy bar / club often do drinks deals, play contemporary music & more and more seem to be hosting live music from international touring acts such as Xiu Xiu.

- Tongue and Groove, 50 Atlantic Rd, +44 20 7274 8600. W-Su 7PM-3AM. A long slender bar flanked with comfy leather seating, for slumping on after a long day. The cocktail bar is good, but very expensive (including bottled beers). It charges on the weekends, it is best to make the most of the quieter times in the week. Has one of the swankiest toilets in this part of town.

- White Horse, 94 Brixton Hill, Brixton. Until 3AM on weekends. Typical London pub with outdoor area and pool table. Serves food. DJs usually play Funk music on the dance floor (although you should expect it to be crowded on Fri and Sat after 11). No entry fee.

Gay and Lesbian
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- The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, [30]. A landmark. Features the Dame Edna Experience on Sundays.

Sleep
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Surprisingly, Brixton has very little in the way of accommodation, and you are more likely to be staying in Victoria (10-15 minutes on tube or train).

- Belgrave Hotel, 13 Clapham Rd, +44 20 7793 0142. Nice little economy hotel with friendly staff. Very simple clean rooms.

- Chelsea Guest House, 13 Clapham Rd, +44 20 7793 0142. Nice little economy hotel with friendly staff. Very simple clean rooms.

- Church Street Hotel, 29 Camberwell Church St (Two miles from the Brixton tube station, bus goes from Brixton Academy to right by the hotel), +44 20 7703 5984. Small beautifully decorated boutique hotel.

- London Hotel, 411 Coldharbour Ln, +44 20 7737 0837. Small budget hotel.

- No 7 Guesthouse, 7 Josephine Avenue (A ten minute walk from Brixton tube). A bed and breakfast run by a friendly gay couple.

Contact
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- Aa's Communication Internet Cafe, 248 Kennington Park Road, +44 20 7820 8946.

- Apollo Home Entertainment, 400-402 Brixton Road, +44 20 7733 8330. A video/DVD hire shop which has branched out into providing internet access.

- Internet Exchange, Brixton Library, Brixton Oval (Next to Ritzy Cinema), +44 20 7926 1056, [31]. M 1PM-8PM, Tu Th 10AM-8PM, W F 10AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Free use of computers for internet and word processing, although you may have to queue. No food or drink.

Stay safe
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There are many drug dealers (marijuana, cocaine) who may approach visitors as soon as they get off the tube at Brixton. Buying from them will likely get you arrested, ripped off or scammed. It's highly recommended that you don't deal with these individuals.

At night stick to well-lit, busy areas if possible. Brixton is generally quite safe and there should be no worries about travelling short distances to a venue; however, wandering down any poorly lit back-streets is always a risk, as anywhere in London.

After dark take care when waking through Clapham Common. Night-buses take over for daytime routes after midnight and there are many licenced taxi cab firms that can be used. The use of unlicenced cabs by men who stand near Clapham Junction Station is under no circumstances advised.

District Southwark-Lewisham Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By train

By bus

By tube

• See

Museums and galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Get out

Understand
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Southwark was one of the earliest extensions of settlement in London beyond the walls of the Square Mile and across the river, beginning back in the Roman period and is traditionally referred to as "the Borough" in order to distinguish it from the "Square Mile" of the City. The eastern part of the district, downstream of Tower Bridge, is generally referred to (and marketed heavily) as "the Pool of London", referring to the old docks and wharves of the area that have been reconverted into housing and retail areas. The western riverside portions of the borough of Southwark are covered in the South Bank district.

The Crystal Palace was a huge steel and glass building designed by Joseph Paxton to house the Great Exhibition, Prince Albert's brainchild for bigging up the British Empire to the rest of the world. It was erected in Hyde Park and closed in 1851. Parliament closely voted not to retain it as a permament feature in Hyde Park and it was later transported to the top of Sydenham Hill. The surrounding area, still known to many locals as Upper Norwood, is now known as Crystal Palace. The palace itself burned down in 1936 in still unexplained circumstances.

Dulwich has a number of recognised sub-districts, which include North Dulwich, bordering Herne Hill, Dulwich Village, which includes the traditional village centre, and is the home to the Dulwich Picture Gallery as well as James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich College and Dulwich Park and East Dulwich which bounds Peckham and has a number of independent shops, restaurants and bars along Lordship Lane.

Lewisham [1] is a largely residential borough of south inner London and includes some of the most run-down areas in the whole city.

Get in
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Much of South London is poorly served by the tube network and this district is no exception away from the banks of the Thames. This makes use of overground rail services and the bus network especially important.

By train
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- London Bridge is a main terminus for many south east suburban line rail services.

- Crystal Palace is served by overland trains from two major London stations, Victoria and London Bridge. Direct trains also go south to West Croydon and Beckenham Junction. The tramline linking Beckenham Junction and Croydon is planned to be extended to Crystal Palace as a future development. If they happen then look forward to significant timelines into the 2010s.

- North Dulwich and East Dulwich are both on the line from London Bridge to West Croydon.

- West Dulwich is on the line from London Victoria to Orpington.

- Lewisham is accessible via an overland train from London Bridge (10 mins) to New Cross, New Cross gate, Deptford, St Johns, Lewisham, Ladywell, Lee, Blackheath and Hither Green stations and by Docklands Light railway (DLR) from Bank and Docklands to Lewisham station (approx 25 minutes from Bank, 15 minutes from Canary Wharf).

By bus
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- 3 (Oxford Circus - Crystal Palace)

- 21 (Moorgate - Lewisham)

- 47 (Shoreditch - Catford)

- 75 (Lewisham - Croydon)

- 136 (Peckham - Grove Park)

- 180 (Lewisham - Belvedere)

- 185 (Lewisham - Victoria)

- 321 (New Cross Gate - Sidcup)

- 436 (Paddington - Lewisham)

Crystal Palace is well served by many bus routes and is served by a main bus station. For those who like to party late into the night in Central London the night buses N2, N3, N63 and N137 all run to Crystal Palace.

By tube
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- Southwark (Jubileee line)

- London Bridge (Northern line))

- Borough (Northern line))

See
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- Crystal Palace Park, (Crystal Palace Park rail station is adjacent to the park), [2]. While the original Crystal Palace is no longer there, the 200 acre park is a lasting reminder of the grandeur of the scheme. There is a wide range of things to see and do, including a hedge maze, a sports centre with Olympic-sized pool, a boating lake, fishing, an athletics stadium and an open air concert bowl by a lake among other things. The park is a great place for a walk and also for cycling around. A significant attraction within the park is the Dinosaur Park. Large Victorian concrete and cast iron dinosaurs are scattered around widely. The dinosaurs, built by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins in the early 1850s to meet the emerging passion of wealthy Victorians for fossils and paleontology, were then unique. After falling into a state of disrepair in the 1980s and 1990s they were splendidly renovated using a Lottery grant in the early 2000s. The dinosaurs were designed by the Victorians on their idea of what one would look like

- The Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ, +44 20 8699 1872, [3]. Daily 10.30AM-5.30PM. Is a fine museum with an aquarium, collection of stuffed animals, wonderful collection of world musical instruments, with interactive information. Free.

- Riverside developments. Developments of Shad Thames and Surrey Quays which contains numerous London Dock artifacts. Bermondsey St has undergone extensive redevelopment in the last seven years and it has been transformed into a highly desirable place to live and work.

- St. Paul's Church, Deptford High St SE8, +44 20 8692 7449 (rector@paulsdeptford.org.uk), [4]. Built in 1720, it has been called A remarkable example of English Italianate Baroque.

- Sydenham Hill Wood, Sydenham Hill SE26 6ND (Forest Hill rail station), (awhite@wildlondon.org.uk), [5]. A remnant of the great hornbeam and oak woodland that once traversed South London. Run as a reserve by the London Wildlife Trust. Some splendid old trees and healthy bird and insect populations.

- Southwark Park, Gomm Road, SE16 (tube: Rotherhithe), [6]. A large, open and green park in an otherwise densely built part of London. Wide range of sporting facilities, a cafe, boating lake and an art gallery.

Museums and galleries
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- Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe SE16 4LF (DLR station: Canada Water), +44 20 7231 3840 (education@brunel-museum.org.uk), [7]. daily 10AM-5PM. A museum dedicated to the works of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel including a major exhibition about the founding of the London tube system. Also a fine collection of Victorian induistrial paintings on show. Free.

- Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Rd, Dulwich Village, +44 20 8693 5254 (fax: +44 20 8299 8700), [8]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su and bank holiday M 11AM-5PM, closed M except bank holidays, Good Friday, New Year's Day and 24-26 Dec. One of London's lesser known treasures showcasing a magnificent collection of old masters, including works by Poussin, Claude, Rubens, Murillo, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Watteau, Gainsborough and many others. Originally assembled for the King of Poland in the 1790s, an alternative home was found for the collection of artworks in the "clean air of Dulwich" after the kingdom of Poland's partition and temporary disappearance as an independent state. The Gallery was designed by Sir John Soane and opened in 1817. A new extension recently completed by Rick Mather adds additional space to the compact gallery. DPG received the Museums and Heritage Award for Excellence in 2005 and was Winner of the Independent Award for Britain's Favourite Visitor Attraction. £4, senior citizens £3, unemployed, disabled, students and children free, additional charge for special exhibitions.

Do
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- Dulwich Festival, [9]. Local arts festival held annually in May.

- Sands Film Studios, 82 Saint Marychurch St, Rotherhithe SE16 4HZ, +44 20 7231 2209, [10]. This film production company runs an informal cinema club which shows seldom seen and rare films. The club aims to disseminate a better knowledge of the history of world cinema. Club screenings are usually at 9PM every Tuesday. Attendance is free but you do need to join the club (also free and easily done by email - check the website).

Buy
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- Bermondsey Antiques Market (New Caledonian Market), Bermondsey Sq (at junction of Bermondsey St/Long Lane, tube: London Bridge), [11]. Fridays only 5AM-2PM. A very famous long-standing market wih attracts dealers from all over southern England every Friday morning. Antiques and collectibles from almost every imaginable genre. Used to be infamous for fencing stolen goods but that is no longer the case.

- Deptford Market, Deptford High St SE8 4AG. The old working-class area of Deptford still has a lively street market on Saturdays and Wednesdays. This is a real street market, it is neither trendy or touristy!

- Peter Layton and Associates (London Glass Blowing Gallery), 7 The Leathermarket, Weston St SE1 (tube: London Bridge), +44 20 7403 2800, [12]. A gallery, studio and shop which showcases contemporary glass pieces.

Eat
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- Cafe East, 100 Redriff Road, Surrey Quays SE16 7LH (at the Surrey Quays shopping Centre). Wonderful Vietnamese food and if you like spicy authentic oriental food, this place is an amazing value.

- Island Fusion, 57B Westow Hill, Crystal Palace SE19 1TS, +44 20 8761 5544, [13]. Caribbean food.

- Los Toreros Tapas Bar, 35 Westow Street, Crystal Palace SE19 3RW, +44 20 8771 0087. Tapas and a wide selection of other Mediterranean food.

- Pizza Express, 94 The Village (Dulwich), +44 20 8693 9333. Local branch of the popular up-market pizza chain.

- A Torre, 19 Westow Street SE19 3RY, +44 20 8653 9895, [14]. Portuguese restaurant.

- The Yellow House, 126 Lower Road SE16 2UE (tube: Surrey Quays), +44 20 7231 8777 (info@theyellowhouse.eu), [15]. Informal Restaurant and bar serving modern pub type food and a range of wood-fired pizzas.

Drink
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- Ministry of Sound, Gaunt St, [16]. World famous nightclub with a reputation for strong DJ's. It is mostly too commercial for real dance music fans these days but remains a quality venue.

- Old Salt Quay, 163 Rotherhithe Street SE16 5QU, +44 20 7394 7108. River-side pub with great views across the Thames.

- The White Hart, 96 Church Rd (Corner of Church Rd and Westow St), +44 20 8768 1001. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Really great pub with great mix of seating, specialist nights, interesting beers, great modern British pub food, and a nice outdoor area. Different nights including live music, quiz nights. Mixed crowd. Relaxed weekend day times, can get busy in the evenings. Decor is a mix of traditional, industrial/modern and quirky/shabby chic. Friendly staff. (533500,170457)

Sleep
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- Queen's Hotel, 122 Church Rd, Crystal Palace SE19 2UG, +44 20 8653 6622 (queeneurogroup@yahoo.co.uk), [17]. From £60.

- McMillan Student Village, Creek Rd, Deptford. Fantastic place for a good night's kip after a heavy night out.

- Hilton London Docklands Riverside, 265 Rotherhithe Street SE16 5HW, +44 20 72311001, [18]. Five star riverside hotel.

Get out
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Southwark makes a good starting point for explorations further along the river Thames, whether upstream or downstream. Upstream (to the west) leads to the vibrant and artsy South Bank district.

District Wandsworth Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

• Get around

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Balham

Clapham

Tooting

Putney

Battersea

• Sleep

• Contact

Understand
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Wandsworth consists largely of modest housing built as suburban retreats in the 19th century, interspersed with a patchwork of green "commons", a relic of the borough's history as small villages. Today the smart houses, cafes and bars close to the expansive green lung of Clapham Common are popular with young professionals working in the City, whilst cosmopolitan Tooting is home to a large South Asian community. Some of the smartest and newest developments are to be found along the riverfront in Putney and Battersea, where shiny apartment blocks rub shoulders with the industrial shell of the famous power station.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is serviced by the following tube stations:

- Clapham Common (Northern line)

- Clapham South (Northern line)

- Tooting Broadway (Northern line)

- Tooting Bec (Northern line)

- Balham (Northern line)

- East Putney (District line)

By train
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- Clapham Junction is major station on south London routes and a huge number of services pass through there including from Waterloo station (SouthWest Trains), Victoria Station (Southern Railway), West London (London Overground) and various destinations in suburban South London and the South and Southwest of England. Many London bus routes also operate through the Clapham Junction area.

- Tooting Thameslink goes to Holborn Viaduct and Wimbledon, and direct to Luton airport. There is also a proposed tram link. Trains can be caught at Tooting, Wandsworth Common and Balham stations.

- Trains leave Waterloo Station for Putney every 10 minutes and the journey takes around 20 minutes.

By bus
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- Putney is connected by bus from the following areas:

- South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park (Bus 430, Bus 14, Bus 74).

- Clapham Junction (Bus 39, Bus 337, Bus 37). Victoria Station (Bus 170). Earl's Court (Bus 74).

- Bus 14 also connects Putney with Oxford Street area (Warren Street, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court), West End (Piccadilly Circus) and Buckingham Palace area (Green Park). Bus 220 connects Putney with Hammersmith and Sheperd's Bush. Bus N10 is a night bus that connects Putney with King's Cross Station and Euston Station.

Get around
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See
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- Battersea Park, (tube: Sloane Square and then a 15 minute walk over Chelsea Bridge), (mike@batterseapark.org), [1]. A lovely park on the southern banks of the Thames known or its wildlife and some splendid examples of mature trees.

- Battersea Power Station. One of the great icons of the old smog-filled London of the mid 20th century and regarded as a fine example of industrial design of the art deco era. This coal-fired power station is not unsurprisingly now disused and sits empty as a protected Grade II listed building. Several development plans have been considered and turned down amid much controversy. In many ways best viewed from a distance on the notrh side of the Thames at Chelsea.

- Clapham Common, (tube: Clapham Common), [2]. This large open space in ensely built Wandsworth has been a source of comfort to Londoners for time-in-memoriam. The common is roughly triangular shape with an area of 88 hectares. It is mostly open grassy parkland with scattered mature trees. There are three ponds here which are notably popular with local fisherman. The Grade II listed bandstand was fully restored in 2006.

- Wandsworth Museum, 38 West Hill, Wandsworth, SW18 1RZ, +4420 8875 8323 (contact@wandsworthmuseum.co.uk), [3]. A modest museum covering local history which relocated in 2010; has an excellent cafe.

Do
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Tooting Bec Common is a real gem, with tennis courts, football fields and plenty of open space. Sports facilities include Tooting Leisure Centre and Pool, golf, horse riding, Tooting Bec Lido (the biggest open air pool in the UK), athletic track and the nearby Streatham Ice Rink.

- Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn Street, SW4 0AT (tube: Clapham Common), +44 20 7498 3323, [4]. Repetory/arthouse cinema with a very varied programme

- Easy Peasy Skate, (Battersea Park), [5]. Sa 10:30AM. For absolute beginners.

- Putney Walk. Starts at Putney Rail Station, passing historical houses, old pubs, a cemetery, the Embankment, etc.

- Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Rd SW15 6AW, +44 20 8788 6943, [6]. Comes recommended for anyone interested in anything to do with theatre. They run drama courses for adults and children and around eight shows a year are produced by adults and children alike. Putney Theatre company offers opportunities for anyone interested in any type of theater work from acting to writing to set design. Group 64 is the youth drama group for kids, they run weekly classes, holiday projects but also put together shows.

- Putney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Rd SW15 1BL, +44 20 8785 0388, [7]. All-year warm swimming pool and sauna session. £4.

- Thames Path. Start from Embankment St. If you feel energetic, from Embankment street walk south to Lower Richmond Rd via Festing Rd (a road of cute little white houses). Continue walking to the west until you reach Barnes Village.

- Tooting & Mitcham United Football Club, Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Rd, Mitcham (tube: Morden, buses 280, 118, 201, Mitcham tram stop), +44 20 8648 3248, [8]. The Stripes are a football club based at Imperial Fields. This recently built stadium got promoted into Ryman Premier, two seasons ago looking forward to go into higher divisions. The club has a café/bar with real ale and with big screen TV (sky sports) and has a gym.

Buy
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- Clapham Junction, (An area near the busy Clapham Junction Railway Station). Good selection of shops including high street chains, supermarkets and department stores, complimented by bars, cafes and restaurants.

- Putney High Street. Shopping, also international and British dining experience.

- Tooting and Broadway Markets, Tooting High St London SW17 0RJ (tube: Tooting Broadway). Provide a varied and interesting selection, including fruit and vegetables, clothes, furniture and household items.

Eat
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There are two eating 'hubs' in the Wandsworth borough. St Johns Hill and Battersea Rise near Clapham Junction have an excellent range of restaurants, with new ones opening all the time - very popular with the young professionals who flock here after work. For the tourist looking to escape the overpriced horrors of central London this is a good, easy-to-reach option. The second hub is Tooting, which has many excellent Indian restaurants, however the area doesn't really compare to Brick Lane.

Budget
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- Chanteroy Delicatessen, 233a Wimbledon Park Rd (Tube: Southfields), +44 20 8874 1446. 8AM-8PM. A small delicatessen offering primarily French breads, meats and cheeses. Fresh filled baguettes are made to order with a good helping of arrogance. Be warned that staff are all French speaking and exceptionally rude to so expect some challenging converations. £1.50-3.

- Independent Coffee Shop, 162 Balham High Rd (Near Balham Tube), +44 208 772 9987, [9]. Cheerful, quirky coffee shop serving freshly made sandwiches and cakes. Free wifi.

- Sally at St. Mary’s, Putney High St, [10]. Seven days a week. A homemade food and coffee café at St. Mary’s church.

Mid-range
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- Dosa 'n' Chutney, (Near to Tooting Broadway underground on Upper Tooting Rd and close to the border with Collier's Wood). Large restaurant.

- Gourmet Burger King, 333 Putney Bridge Rd, [11]. Gourmet burger, a favorite for many. Try the venison sausage, sweet potato and rocket leaves burger, an awesome mix of sweet and savory. Meal for 2 £25.

- The Indian Restaurant, 197-199 Replingham Rd (tube: Southfields), +44 20 8870 1483. Open daily to eat in or take away. A very good Indian restaurant. More a restaurant that does Indian food than your traditional curry house. The owner is very friendly, passionate about her food and always happy to help you order. Starters £4-7, main courses: £8-15.

- Ma Goa, 242-244 Upper Richmond Rd, [12]. Indian, has won various awards for its fine Indian cuisine.

- La Mancha, [13]. Some of the best Tapas outside of Spain.

- Lola Rojo, 78 Northcote Road, Battersea., +44 20 7350 2262, [14]. Tu-Sa 10AM-10:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Chef Antonio Belles' comfy, neighborhood restaurant and deli serves contemporary Spanish tapas.

- Mirch Masala, 213 Upper Tooting Rd (tube: Tooting Broadway), +44 20 8672 7500, [15]. Noon-Midnight. BYO, Halal. This place would not win points for interior design, but despite the canteen-style furnishings you have the advantage of an open kitchen, so you can see exactly what they are doing to your food. The staff are numerous, fast and friendly, and you are barely sat down before a plate of poppodoms appear in front of you like magic. The menu caters very well for vegetarians, but still offers plenty of lamb, chicken and fish dishes, all generous portions and very reasonably priced.

- Radha Krishna Bhavan, 86 Tooting High St (tube: Tooting Broadway), +44 20 8767 3462, [16]. noon-3PM, 6PM-11PM daily. Fully licenced. The decor is charmingly eccentric, which just means it is a bit bonkers. Sunset palm trees on the walls and large masked figures glare back at you. The specialty here is South Indian (unlike Brick Lane which is mainly Bangladeshi), so you may discover plenty of dishes you have never heard of before. The poppodoms have some very tasty dips and every dish is very cheap for London, meaning you can try loads of different dishes between a large group. Highly recommended. Starters £2.50, mains £5-6.

- Cafe Rouge, 200-204 Putney Bridge Rd, [17]. French chain restaurant. As the location is a bit hidden it is often quiet, ideal for a romantic dinner for couples.

- Thai Girder, 36 Replingham Rd (tube: Southfields), +44 871 971 7344. Open daily to eat in or take away. A Thai restaurant with an iron girder running through the middle of the place.

Splurge
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Various restaurants and bars in Putney Wharf area. Just behind the St Mary's Church.

- Chez Bruce, 2 Bellevue Road, London SW17 7EG, 020 8672 0114 (fax: 020 8767 6648), [18]. Michelin star restaurant serving Modern European cuisine. Despite the award unpretentious, great food and service; situated across the road from Wandsworth Common. £52.

- Thai Square, Putney Bridge, 2-4 Lower Richmond Rd, [19]. Award winning Thai bar/restaurant. Great food, impressive decor, great view of the Thames river.

Drink
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Balham
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- The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, [20]. Famed for the comedy and live music in the large galleried back room

Clapham
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Clapham has many upmarket pubs and bars, particularly around the northeast area of the Common

Tooting
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Tooting has many new wine bars, and renovated and traditional pubs.

- Lahore, Upper Tooting Road. Favoured by the Good Food Guide and many other awarding bodies. Serving Pakistani cuisine.

- The Selkirk (Formerly The Frog Forget Me Not), Selkirk Road.

- Yars Village, Mitcham Rd (Opposite Smith Brothers Dept Store). Cafe style Indian food, cooked fresh with an open kitchen. Great food served by attentive waiters, BYO alcohol.

Putney
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Putney is blessed with a fine selection of pubs. Among the most atmospheric are the ones on the river bank which include:

- Boathouse, 32 Brewhouse Lane (In Putney Wharf area), [21].

- The Coat & Badge, 10 Lacy Road, [22]. The old-world outward appearance of this pub (established 1715) belies an interior that is distinctly modern. This Putney pub packs in a sizeable crowd of trendy locals, keen to enjoy the attentive service, good pub grub and a wide choice of wines and beers.

- Duke's Head, 8 Lower Richmond Road‎, [23]. A Lovely gastropub with great views on and along the river. A regular for locals.

- Moomba Bar & Kitchen, 5 Lacy Road, [24]. Moomba has been a long term fixture on the Putney food and drink scene. It enjoys rave reviews for its stylish decor, gorgeous menus and friendly service.

- The Slug and Lettuse, 146-148 Putney High Street, [25]. The pub has a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere with comfy chairs and pleasant surroundings. They also serve a variety of modern food. Catering for vegetarians is provided.

- The Spotted Horse, 122 Putney High Street‎, [26]. Described as the oldest pub on the high street, a refurb has made this local the new kid on the block. Thankfully, the local charm and hospitality remains.

Battersea
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- Adventure bar, 91a Battersea Rise, +44 20 7223 1700, [27]. Cocktail bar with daily happy hour.

Sleep
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- Brewers Inn Wandsworth, 147 East Hill SW18 2QB, +44 20 8874 4128 (brewersinn@youngs.co.uk), [28]. A Youngs' pub with rooms. Full English breakfast included. £120.

- Flexistay ApartHotel Tooting, Thirsk Road CR4 2BD (tube: Tooting Broadway), +44 20 7828 1526, [29]. Budget serviced apartments. Single and double studios available. nightly, weekly an monthly rentals. £350 per week.

- Holiday Inn Express Wandsworth, Smuggler's Way SW18 1EG, +44 870 7201298, [30]. The usual Holiday Inn Express set up.

- The Lodge Hotel London, 52-54 Upper Richmond Rd, Putney, +44 20 8874 1598, [31]. Situated in a great central London location, this three star Best Western hotel is both high quality and affordable.

Contact
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District West Table of Contents

• Understand

Boroughs

• Get in

By tube

By train

By bus

By road

• Get around

• See

Landmarks

Parks

Museums

Galleries

Other

• Do

Ealing

• Buy

Markets

Shopping centres

Shops

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Ealing

Acton

Uxbridge

Feltham

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

• Get out

Understand
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West London's obvious popularity with travellers and short- to mid-term residents (backpackers, working holiday makers, etc.) can be explained by a number of factors, not least its proximity to Heathrow Airport, London's largest airport, and its multiple, easy transport connections with the West End and Central London.

Many outer areas of West London were once part of the county of Middlesex which no longer exists for administrative purposes. However, Middlesex is sometimes used as part of the postal address for these areas.

Boroughs
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West London is itself made up of numerous suburbs, villages and satellite towns. Several areas of West London are particularly popular with travellers and backpackers, for their attractions, their facilities and their many accommodation options.

West London consists of the following boroughs:

- Ealing [1] — The Borough of Ealing includes the following areas:

- Ealing,known as the "Queen of the suburbs", transport hub and home to the famous Ealing Studios.

- Acton, an area popular with visiting Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans. Popular with travellers on account of its entertainment options, relatively cheap accommodation (short stay and rental) and excellent transport links with the rest of London and further afield. Although part of the London Borough of Ealing, Acton very much has its own identity.

- Southall is also known as 'Little India', and a must-visit if you have the time to venture out of Central London. If you do only one thing when here, make sure you have a curry in one of the many authentic Asian restaurants.

- Hillingdon [2] — the westernmost Borough of London includes:

- Uxbridge, the administrative centre of Hillingdon borough. A vibrant area on the edge of London, good shopping experience and good transport links to the West End.

- Hayes, industrial and housing areas with good access to the airport.

- Ruislip, a residential area with some woodland areas.

- Hounslow [3] — The borough includes the following areas:

- Hounslow, a largely working class area with many of the residents employed at nearby Heathrow airport

- Brentford, situated on the main transport links from Heathrow airport to central London, this is a mainly commercial area. The riverside area on the north bank of the Thames has a number of new housing developments and hotels.

- Chiswick, a leafy district, well-known for its wide variety of quality food outlets and venues.

Get in
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By tube
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West London is well served by Tube connections from Central London:

- Piccadilly Line (blue) - Runs through Chiswick, then divides at Acton Town with branches to Heathrow and Uxbridge.

- District Line (green) - Runs through Chiswick, then divides at Turnham Green with branches to Richmond and Ealing Broadway.

- Central Line (red) - Divides at North Acton with branches to Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip.

- Metropolitan Line (purple) - Runs through North London, then divides at Harrow-on-the-Hill with one branch joining the Picaddily line to Uxbridge. This is a quicker route to Uxbridge from Central London.

By train
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These routes are useful for areas not well served by the tube.

- Southwest Trains From Waterloo and Clapham Junction to Chiswick and Hounslow. Chiswick train station is located several hundred metres south of the Great West Road and Chiswick High Road.

- Thames Trains From Paddington to Ealing Broadway, Southall and Hayes.

- Heathrow Connect From Heathrow Airport to Hayes, Southall and Ealing Broadway.

By bus
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The Oxford to London bus service runs every 15 minutes and stops at Hillingdon tube station on the Picadilly/Metropolitan line

By road
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The main routes through West London are:

- A4 and M4 Motorway linking London with the Lower Thames Valley, Bristol and South Wales.

- A40 and M40 Motorway linking London with Oxford and Birmingham.

Get around
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See
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Although not as concentrated as Central London, West London's attractions are many:

Landmarks
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- Boston Manor House, around a mile from the centre of Brentford along the Boston Manor Road, +44 0845 456 2800, [4]. A Jacobean manor house (built in 1622), it is a pleasant and informative place to while away an hour or two, particularly during the summer when the extensive open parklands to the rear of the building make for a delightful stroll.

- Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Ln, Chiswick (Bus 190 (Hammersmith-Richmond)), [5]. W-Su and bank holidays 1 Apr-31 Oct 10AM-5PM, Sa until 2PM. Maintained by English Heritage, Chiswick House is a famous and fine example of the 18th century Palladian style of British architecture. The third Earl of Burlington (1694-1753), who designed this elegant Classical villa close to the Thames, drew inspiration from his grand tours of Italy, while William Kent was employed to create sumptuous interiors to contrast with the pure exterior. The classical gardens, although much reduced from their original size, are the perfect complement to the house. £4, children £2, concessions £3, family £10, EH members free.

- The Civic Centre, Uxbridge. Opened in 1979, The architecture of the sprawling, red brick building has attacted a lot of comment.

- Ealing Studios, [6]. Not open to the public. The oldest film studio in the world.

- Ealing Town Hall, 5 New Broadway, Ealing, W5 2BY, +44 20 8579 2424, [7]. Victorian gothic building built in 1888 still in use as town hall.

- Windsor Street, Uxbridge. Take a stroll along this historic street.

Parks
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- Ealing Common, Ealing.

- Ealing Green, Ealing.

- Fassnidge Park, Uxbridge.

- Lammas Park, Ealing.

- Osterly Park, Osterley Park House, Isleworth, TW7 4RB (tube: Osterley), +44 20 8232 5050 (info@osterleypark.org.uk, fax: +44 20 8232 5080), [8]. House 4 Mar-1 Nov W-Su 1PM-4:30PM; gardens 3 Mar-1 Nov W-Su 11AM-5; park 29 Mar-24 Oct 8AM-7:30PM, 25 Oct-28 Mar 8AM-6PM. House and gardens £8.40, children 5-16 £4.20, children under 5 free, family ticket (for two adults and up to three children) £21; gardens only £3.70, children 5-16 £1.85, children under 5 free; park free.

- Ruislip Lido, Ruislip (Off the Ruislip to Northwood Road). A man made lake surrounded by woodland, the Waters Edge Pub/Resturant, a sandy beach (No swimming allowed), narrow guage railway rides around the lake.

- Syon Park, Brentford, +44 20 8560 0881, [9]. House: 24 Mar-31 Oct W Th Su, bank holiday Mondays, Good Friday, Easter Saturday 11AM-5PM (last entry 4:15PM); Gardens: 10:30AM-5PM daily or dusk if earlier except 25-26 Dec. The stately home of the Dukes of Northumberland for 400 years, Syon House and its 200-acre estate are located between Brentford and Isleworth. The main house was built to a design by the English architect Robert Adams, the grounds laid out by Capability Brown. The Great Conservatory, commissioned to be built in 1826, was featured in the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore film Bedazzled, and is a popular local wedding venue; Syon House itself has appeared in a vast number of period dramas. Well worth a visit. Syon House & Gardens & Great Conservatory: £7.50, concessions/child £6.50, family £17.00; Gardens & Great Conservatory: adults £3.75, concessions/child £2.50, family £9.00.

- Walpole Park, Ealing (Just east of the town square). Relaxing experience. There is a small pond and an ice cream stall. There are also great playground facilities, and even a miniature zoo!

Museums
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- Gunnersbury Park Museum, Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane, W3 8LQ, +44 20 8992 1612 (gp-museum@laing.com, fax: +44 20 8752 0686), [10]. Apr-Oct 11AM-5PM, Nov-Mar 11AM-4PM. Local history museum for Ealing and Hounslow, housed in the former home of the Rothschild family. Free.

- Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN, +44 20 8568 4757 (info@kbsm.org, fax: +44 20 8569 9978), [11]. Tu-Su 11AM-4PM. This museum of London's water supply is well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in the industrial revolution. Housed in the former Kew Bridge Pumping Station (a fascinating building in its own right), the Steam Museum possesses the finest collection of steam pumping engines in the world. Different engines are to be seen working on different days, so it is worth checking the website before visiting if a particular engine is of interest. Themed days are a feature of the Steam Museum's calendar, and purchase of an entry ticket permits limitless further visits throughout the following year. Multi visit ticket £9.50.

- London Motor Museum, [12].

- The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DU, +44 20 8560 8108 (fred.stone@musicalmuseum.co.uk, fax: +44 20 8847 9383), [13]. Tu-Su 11AM-5:30PM. Something of an undiscovered gem. The recently reopened museum houses a vast collection of working automatic musical instruments, from barrel organs to player pianos and beyond. Tours with knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic guides are highly recommended, as is the opportunity to listen to the Mighty Wurlitzer (which rises from the floor in the main auditorium). In addition to its function as a museum, the venue also hosts occasional cinema screenings of classic films (preceded by music from the Mighty Wurlitzer, or - in the case of silent film - accompanied by it) and houses a popular cafe with Thames views. Among the unusual (and hard-to-find) items usually available in the gift shop are clocks made from 78 rpm shellac discs, and original player piano rolls. £8.00, concessions £6.50, children under 16 accompanied by an adult free.

- PM Gallery & House, Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 5EQ (tube: Ealing Broadway), +44 20 8567 1227. Tu-F 1-5PM, Sa 11AM-5PM. Houses Pitzhanger Manor House and an art gallery.

Galleries
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- For Arts Sake, 45 Bond Street, Ealing, W5 5AS, +44 20 8579 6365 (fax: +44 20 8566 2974), [14]. M-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Modern British printmaking as well as ceramics and jewellery.

Other
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- Hounslow Urban Farm, [15].

Do
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Ealing
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Many events take place in Ealing each year, including

- Ealing Jazz Festival, Ealing.

- Ealing Beer Festival, Ealing.

- Ealing Comedy Festival, Ealing. Ealing hosts an annual comedy festival in the summer. Speaking of comedy in Ealing, in the late 1940s and 1950s Ealing was famous for a series of comedy movies filmed there.

- Questors, Mattock Lane, Ealing. The cinema is currently under reconstruction, said to include over 10 screens!

Buy
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Markets
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- Ealing Market, Leeland Road, Ealing. Street market with farm products.

Shopping centres
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- Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, Ealing (Moments from Ealing Broadway Station). Was opened by the Queen in 1987 and is home to many shops and a library. The enormous assortment includes WHSmith, Tchibo, Marks and Spencer, Tesco Metro, Boots and Argos.

- Arcadia Centre, Ealing (Opposite Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre).

- The Chimes Mall, Uxbridge. Among the the top 100 shopping destinations in the UK.

- The Pavillions, Uxbridge. Home to many high street names including Marks, Spencers and Argos to name but a few.

Shops
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- Hippy Heaven, Ealing. Sells nice trinkets, jewelry, incense, and stones. There is also a tattoo/piercing shop, with skilled artists.

- The square in Ealing Broadway, Ealing. Often eventful, with beautiful decorations at Christmas time and musicians performing in the Summer. Christmas and Easter markets also take place in the shopping centre square.

Eat
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Chiswick is an area of West London with a wide range of options. There are at least 30 restaurants in Chiswick. Chiswick High Road has the usual wide selection of fast food outlets and supermarket food. For the more discerning, an extensive range of restaurants and eateries exists for all tastes and budgets that makes Chiswick a definite destination for the gastronome.

Budget
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- Coco's Noodle Bar, 70 The Mall, Ealinng, W5 5LS (tube: Ealing Broadway), +44 20 8840 8525. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Oriental restaurant serving delicious food from all over East and Southeast Asia.

- Edwards, 28-30 New Broadway, Ealing, W5 2XA, +44 872 148 4921. Breakfast and dinner-serving.

- The Green Cafe and Bar, 9 The Green, Ealing, W5 5DA, +44 20 8579 7493. Has an extensive burger menu.

- Haha's, 5 Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 5BG (tube: Ealing Broadway).

- Nandos, Feltham (In the centre of Feltham).

- The Okawari, 13 Bond Street, Ealing, W5 5AP, +44 20 8566 0466 (fax: +44 20 8566 2010), [16]. Su-Th noon-3PM, 6PM-11PM; F-Sa noon-3PM, 6PM-11:30PM. Famous for its wonderful Japanese food, and with Takara plum wine on the menu it is worth a trip. Boxes from £9.

- Thai Tiara, 76 Whitton High Street, Twickenham, TW2 7LS, +44 20 8898 3303.

Mid-range
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- Caffè Uno, Ealing. Breakfast and dinner-serving.

- The Devonshire by Gordon Ramsay, 126 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, +44 8719611418, [17]. Gastropub revamped by Gordon Ramsay. Simple food, well cooked with friendly staff. Note that parking in the area can be difficult. Average price £25-35.

- High Road Brasserie, 162-164 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, +44 20 8742 7474, [18]. M-Th 7AM-midnight, F 7AM-1AM, Sa 8AM-1AM, Su 8AM-11PM. A recent addition to the High Street restaurant scene, highly reviewed in the local and national press. Menu includes brasserie classics, seafood platters, and fancy sandwiches. Daily set menu a real bargain at £15 a head for three courses. Three courses à la carte with wine averages £30-£45.

- Sam's Brasserie and Bar, Barley Mow Centre, 11 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick (Just off the High Street and adjacent to Turnham Green), +44 20 8987 0555, [19]. 9AM-midnight. Trendy, relaxed, foody eatery popular among locals. Two course menu £15.

- La Trompette, 5-7 Devonshire Rd, Chiswick (tube: Turnham Green 418 m, Chiswick Park 821 m), +44 20 8747 1836, [20]. Probably the best restaurant in West London, great value French cuisine, excellent wine list. Prix fixe at £23.50 for lunch, £29 for dinner, although an a-la-carte meal would generally be over £50.

Splurge
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- Henley's Restaurant and Bar, 140 Bath Road, Hayes Middlesex, UB3 5AW (At Radisson Edwardian Hotels), +44 20 8817 2607 (henleys@radisson.com), [21]. M-F 7AM-midnight. Mains around £20.

- Qs Waters Edge, 4 Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, UB8 2.

Drink
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You will never be short of a pub in West London, with hundreds of great venues from Ealing to central London and beyond. Upmarket bars and clubs are also plentiful.

Ealing
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Pubs in the centre of Ealing tend to be lively and rather noisy.

- The Drayton, (Opposite West Ealing Station). Homely old fashioned pub.

- Finnegans Wake, Ealing Green. Cheap, lively and popular with students.

- The Haven Arms, (Near Ealing Broadway Station). Homely old fashioned pub.

- North Star, (Near the tube station). Slightly more upmarket and stocks a wide variety of draught beers.

Acton
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- Redback Tavern, 264 High St, [22]. Haunt of many an Australasian backpacker and their hangers-on, a popular pub and live music venue.

Uxbridge
toc

Uxbridge is home to a many fine eateries and public houses. Many pubs are located along historic Windsor Street.

Feltham
toc

Feltham's two main drinking establishments are

- The Moon on the Square, (In The Centre). A Wetherspoon's chain pub.

- Red Lion, (On the corner of the High St and Browell's Ln). Used to have a giant boot in the beer garden for children to play in, but it has been removed. Has a new chef since summer 2009 and the lunchtime and evening food menus are good, as is the quality and price of the meals.

Sleep
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With its proximity to Heathrow Airport, Uxbridge has some good hotels. There is a recently opened (2009) travel lodge in the bus stations and numerous independent pubs offering accommodation in the local area.

Budget
toc

- Caspian Hotel, 14 Haven Green, Ealing, W5 2UU (Opposite Ealing Broadway Station), +44 20 8997 3524 (caspianhtl@aol.com, fax: +44 20 8998 8236), [23]. On the slightly cheaper end of the scale. Doubles from £50.

- London Guest House, 167 Horn Lane, Ealing, W3 6PP, +44 20 8993 6699 (info@londonguesthouse.uk.com, fax: +44 20 889 69012), [24]. Doubles from £55.

- Travelodge, Feltham (Very close to Feltham train station and the shops). Doubles from around £30.

Mid-range
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- The Bridge Hotel, Western Avenue, Greenford, UB6 8ST, +44 20 8566 6246 (bridgehotel@youngs.co.uk, fax: +44 20 8566 6140). Doubles from £75.

- Chiswick Hotel, 73 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, +44 20 8994 1712 (reservations@chiswickhotel.co.uk, fax: +44 20 8742 2585), [25]. Doubles from £88.

- Chiswick Moran Hotel, 626 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, +44 20 8996 5200 (chiswickinfo@moranhotels.com), [26]. Chiswick's newest hotel. 116 designer rooms. £79-450.

- Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Uxbridge Rd, Ealing (Between Ealing Broadway and Ealing Common Stations), [27]. Upmarket hotel. Doubles from £78.

- St. Giles Hotel, Feltham (Very close to Feltham train station and the shops), [28]. Doubles from around £75.

Splurge
toc

Contact
toc

Get out
toc

District North Table of Contents

• Understand

Boroughs

Enfield

Finchley

Kilburn

Tottenham

• Get in

By tube

By train

By road

Crouch End

Tottenham

By tube

By train

By bus

Wembley

By tube

By train

• Get around

• See

Harrow

Wood Green

Wembley

Tottenham

Hendon

• Do

Crouch End

Wood Green

Wembley

Tottenham

• Buy

Harrow

Wood Green

Wembley

Tottenham

Golders Green

• Eat

Crouch End

Harrow

Wood Green

Wembley

Tottenham

Golders Green

• Drink

Wembley

Crouch End

• Sleep

Hostels

Wembley

Golders Green

• Stay safe

Tottenham

Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green (Excluding Lower Edmonton)

• Contact

Wembley

Understand
toc

Many outer areas of North London was once part of the county of Middlesex which no longer exists for administrative purposes. However, Middlesex is sometimes used as part of the postal address for these areas.

Boroughs
toc

North London consists of the following boroughs:

- Barnet [3] — the borough includes:

- Barnet

- Edgware

- Finchley

- Golders Green

- Hendon

- Brent [4] — the borough includes:

- Wembley

- Kilburn

- Neasden

- Willesden

- Enfield [5] — the borough includes:

- Enfield

- Edmonton

- Palmers Green

- Southgate

- Haringay [6] — the borough includes:

- Haringay

- Crouch End

- Muswell Hill

- Tottenham

- Wood Green

- Harrow [7] — the borough includes:

- Harrow, Harrow town centre is a bustling shopping and business area, while Harrow on the Hill, with the famous Harrow school, has remained almost unchanged for a hundred years.

- Pinner

- Stanmore

Enfield
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This area spans a large area of the London Borough of Enfield, home to some of the countries most expensive property west of the borough on Ridgeway EN2 and Slades Hill EN2. Enfield can be split up into 3 distinct areas:

- Enfield Town, Chase and Slades - home to some of the capitals most expensive property west of the borough on Ridgeway, Slades Hill, and Enfield Road; some that exceed the £10m mark. Shopping here can be relatively expensive in Palace Xchange but it's home to some well known stores such as: United Colours Of Benetton, Ralph Lauren, Armani Exchange, The Arsenal Store, H&M, Next, TK Maxx, Pearsons Department Store, JD, M&S, Jane Norman and speciality coffee outlets such as: Cafe Néro, Starbucks and Costa. Enfield town is also home to the worlds first working & commercial ATM machine at the Barclays Bank on The Town EN2.

- Southgate - A wealthy suburban area with beautiful victorian and edwardian era houses. It is a short bus ride from Enfield Town on the 121.

- Oakwood, Chase and Cat Hill - Are middle-class suburbs included in London's Metropolitan Green Belt, vast countryside views are not uncommon in both Chase and Oakwood. Cat Hill is also home to Trent Park and Middlesex University's Trent Park/Cat Hill campus.

Finchley
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This is a large, thriving metropolitan area in North West London and can be divided into several areas including Finchley Central, East Finchley and West Finchley.

Finchley Central is one of the only areas within London to be fortunate enough to have a city farm. College Farm is an attraction for locals and tourists alike and one can expect to see horses, cows, yaks, pigs and other farmyard animals (a rare sight in London!). Finchley Central is also home to the famous 'naked lady' statue at the Henly's Corner. There are a number of hotels situated in the district ranging from smaller bed and breakfasts to the Holiday Inn Finchley.

Finchley Central contains an odd mix of upper-middle class suburbia enfused with some working class aspects too, thus giving it a rather unique vibe. There is a strong Jewish community in Finchley, however, this does not contain many Orthodox Jews who generally choose to make the neighbouring areas of Hendon and Golders Green their home. The Jewish community is represented by a number of synagogues in the area, the most prominent being the New North London Synagogue which is situtated on East End Rd. This also acts as a local hub for Jewish culture.

There are a number of restaurants in Finchley Central which are reasonably priced and these include specialist restaurants such as Kosher and Halal establishments. Finchley also has a number of bohemian and lively bars/pubs some of which have late licensing laws(very handy). Travel in and out of central London is a breeze via the Northern Line and a variety of bus routes. Although Finchley has a distinctly urban feel, one can venture close by to the neighbouring Mill Hill area in order to experience some of the great British countryside.

Kilburn
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Kilburn is a busy, diverse area situated along a stretch of the Roman Watling Street that makes up the local Edgware Road. Northern Kilburn encompasses the smaller area of Brondesbury. Kilburn spans the boroughs of Brent and Camden.

Being surrounded by generally wealthier areas, Kilburn is a mixture of influences. Historically, it was a focus point for Irish immigration (at some point it was even referred to as "County Kilburn"), and although there are few remaining in Kilburn, their influence is felt in the naming and styling of some of Kilburn's cafes and pubs. The community is currently very diverse, both ethnically and socially, with a mix of wealthy and poor streets.

Tottenham
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Tottenham is mentioned in the Domesday book as the homestead of a man named Tota. The village of Tottenham grew up around the area of High Cross, on the junction with the High Road (the Roman road Ermine Street) and what is now Monument Way.

As a rural village this was a popular destination for the wealthy, and Henry VIII is believed to have visited the Tudor Bruce Castle, then in the hands of the Bruce family (descended from Robert the Bruce). The area stayed semi-rural until the late 19th Century when the railway (with its new, reduced, workmen's rates) brought new trade and the need for more housing to the area. The area rapidly became built up, and by the time of World War II was a major target for Luftwaffe bombing campaigns.

Since then, Tottenham has become most notorious for being one of the most deprived areas of North London and the scene of the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985. Since then, the area has done much to recover, and is now reputed to be the most ethnically diverse part of Western Europe.

Get in
toc

By tube
toc

North London is well served by Tube connections from Central London:

- Metropolitan Line (purple) runs through Wembley and Harrow terminating outside the London region in Watford and Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

- Jubilee Line (silver) runs through Wembley terminating at Stanmore.

- Bakerloo Line (brown) runs through Wembley terminating at Harrow and Wealdstone

- Northern Line (black) has two branches one terminating at Edgware and the other at High Barnet with a sub-branch line to Mill Hill East.

- Piccadilly Line (dark blue) terminates at Cockfosters.

- Victoria Line (light blue) runs through Tottenham terminating at Walthamstow.

By train
toc

- From Euston (part of the overground network, orange) through Wembley, along the same route as the Bakerloo line, to Harrow then continuing to Watford.

- From Kings Cross to Barnet and Enfield.

- From Liverpool Street to Tottenham and Enfield.

- Tottenham Hale station is a stop on the Stansted Express[8] from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street.

By road
toc

The North Circular Road (A406) is the main west to east road through North London. It has junctions with:

From the North: M1/A1, A10.

From the East: M11.

From the West: M4, A40.

Crouch End
toc

- Tricky as there is no tube to Crouch End

- You can take a bus number 91 from Trafalgar Sq. But it takes almost an hour (off peak).

- Alternatively you can go by tube to Archway and take a connection with bus number 41 to Crouch End. Or a Victoria Line/Picadilly Line train to Finsbury Park, and then the W7 bus will also take you there.

- There is also a W5 local bus which runs from Sainsbury's on Green Lanes and terminates at the YMCA just down from Crouch End Broadway.

Tottenham
toc

By tube
toc

Tottenham is served by two tube stations on the Victoria line, Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters.

By train
toc

Seven Sisters, Bruce Grove and White Hart Lane stations are on the National Express line between Enfield Town and Liverpool Street.

South Tottenham station is on the London Overground route between Gospel Oak and Barking.

By bus
toc

Buses: 123 Wood Green to Ilford, 149 Liverpool Street to Edmonton, 243 Wood Green to Waterloo, and many more services come through Tottenham.

Wembley
toc

By tube
toc

Two London Underground stations are within a short walk of the venues. Wembley Park is on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, and Wembley Central on the Bakerloo and London Overground lines. Access to the venues are via Olympic Way and the White Horse Bridge respectively. London Underground services typically run every 5 minutes in each direction until midnight, seven days a week.

By train
toc

Two mainline stations are within a short walk of the venues. Wembley Central is served London Overground, providing services to Watford Junction northbound and London Euston southbound. Services typically run every 20 minutes in each direction Mon-Sat, and every half hour on Sundays. Southern trains also run Mon-Fri peak hour services on the West London Line, also to Watford Junction northbound but to Clapham Junction and Gatwick Airport railway station southbound. Whether matchday services will run at the weekends on this route remains unclear.

Wembley Stadium station is next to the stadium. Services are provided by Chiltern Railways on the Chiltern Main Line to London Marylebone (one stop away) southbound. Services are every half-hour seven days a week. Northbound, trains only run up as far as High Wycombe and are every half-hour seven days a week. However, if travellers go first to Marylebone, there are northbound services that go all the way up to Birmingham Snow Hill. These run every half-hour, seven days a week.

Get around
toc

See
toc

Harrow
toc

- Harrow School. Harrow is famous for its school, Winston Churchill attended it as did 7 British Prime Ministers. The school is at the top of the hill, the buildings and surrounding area are a step back in time. Try to go in term time on a Sunday as the pupils in long coats and straw boaters, and the masters in mortar boards are a sight rarely seen anywhere outside of Hollywood films of Olde England!

- Harrow on the Hill. Harrow on the Hill grew around the millennium-old St. Mary's church, and was the centre of power for an area encompassed by what is the current borough. The hill is a place where you can see a chunk of English history in the urban landscape.

- Bentley Priory Nature Reserve

Wood Green
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- Alexandra Palace. Wood Green's landmark, on a hill overlooking the City of London and the West End. The grand Victorian building was the first place from which the BBC broadcast regular television, but has been gutted by fire on two separate occasions. It now serves as an exhibition and event venue, and is popular for the surrounding Alexandra Park, its boating lake and ice-rink, and its panoramic views over London.

Wembley
toc

- Wembley Stadium, Stadium Way, +44 20 8795 9000, [9]. The large arch, the answer to the old stadium's twin towers, is an impressive structure and is often lit up to celebrate special occasions (such as London winning the 2012 Olympic Games bid).

Tottenham
toc

- Bruce Castle & Museum, Lordship Ln, +44 20 8808 8772, [10]. W-Su 1PM-5PM. Bruce Castle is a manor house, one of the oldest brick houses in England, that is now a public park and museum. The museum mostly concerns the local history of Haringey, and there are regular talks and workshops. Free.

- Bruce Castle Park. Large park with tree trail and children's playground. Site of the Tottenham Carnival every June.

- Tottenham Marsh. Part of the Lea Valley Park, a natural habitat for many resident plants and animals.

- White Hart Lane, Park Ln (Near to White Hart Lane station), [11]. Tottenham is most famous for its Premiership football team, Tottenham Hotspur.

Hendon
toc

- RAF Museum, (Longish tube ride from Central London), [12]. 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.

Do
toc

Crouch End
toc

- The Kings Head pub. Good comedy night downstairs most nights.

Wood Green
toc

- Alexandra Palace ice rink.

- Chocolate Factory, Clarendon Road, London N22 6XJ, 020 8365 7500, [13]. Converted sweets factory now used by local artists; there are regular shows and events here. The annual Open Studios is on the second weekend in November.

- Cinemas, Wood Green High Road. There are two cinemas on this road.

Wembley
toc

- Football matches, [14].

Tottenham
toc

- White Hart Lane stadium tour, Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Rd (Use White Hart Ln overground station, or underground to Seven Sisters, then bus 149 or 259 to White Hart Ln), +44 844 499 5000, [15]. A tour of Tottenham Hotspur's home ground at White Hart Lane. Adults £13.

- Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Ln (Buses 123, 243 and 318 stop directly outside the museum. Overground trains stop at White Hart Ln and Bruce Grove), +44 020 8808 8772, [16]. Wed-Sun 1pm-5pm. Haringey's local history museum in the Tudor mansion of Bruce Castle has regular, scheduled talks and workshops]. free.

- Cycle and boat hire on the Lea, Stonebridge Lock, Tottenham Marshes (Walk along the Lea from Tottenham Hale, or take bus 192 from the station), +44 7747 873831, [17]. W-Su plus bank holidays 10AM-7PM. Hire a canoe, kayak or cycle by the hour.

Buy
toc

Harrow
toc

- St. George's and St. Ann's. Two shopping centres housing a range of high street stores, including Topshop, Primark, BHS, TK Maxx, Monsoon.

Wood Green
toc

- High Road. Mile-long shopping street containing many High St chains and independent shops.

- Shopping City. The biggest indoor shopping centre in Inner London, contain many High Street chains and independent shops, as well as a covered market with a large food section including butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetables and international food.

Wembley
toc

There are several specialised shops in the area, as well as large shopping centres. Of course, there are hundreds of other shops and shopping centres nearby in London.

Tottenham
toc

- West Green Road shops, West Green Rd, Seven Sisters (Seven Sisters station, turn left or take bus 141). Specialist Caribbean and African food, open til late.

- Tesco, High Rd (Seven Sister station). 24 hours.

Golders Green
toc

Large number of charity/thrift shops in the area. The haul is pretty good if you are looking for ladies' vintage and the Norwood shops often have shipments of castoffs from high street mainstays (Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, and Charles Tyrwhitt), but for actual designer stuff, go to St. John's Wood instead.

Eat
toc

Crouch End
toc

There are plenty of good quality restaurants in Crouch End to choose from.

- Banners. Global food, good vegetarian options but hard to get into on a weekend.

- La Bota, 31 Broadway Parade, +44 20 8340 3082. Spanish tapas, very popular.

- The Kings Head. Recently redeveloped pub. Trendy crowd, with comedy on a Monday night.

- O's Thai Cafe. Good quality reasonably priced Thai food. Buzzy atmosphere.

Harrow
toc

- St. George's. A small number of restaurants on the same floor as the cinema.

- St. Ann's. Upstairs food court with a KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc.

Wood Green
toc

- Karamel Club, Chocolate Factory 2, 4 Coburg Road, N22 6UJ, 020 8829 8989. Global fusion homemade cuisine and music venue.

Wembley
toc

Wembley is noted for its large ethnic minority commmunities, particularly people of Indian orgin. As such, there are many Indian takeaways. There are also, of course, many other takeaways, restaurants and pizza parlours.

Tottenham
toc

- Marmalade, 40 Lordship Ln (Bus 318, or a short walk from High Rd), +44 20 8808 9111, [18]. An excellent homemade food cafe, with superb cakes.

Golders Green
toc

- Cafe Japan, 626 Finchley Rd. Very good food. Zagat rated. Book in advance as they get very busy.

- Kimchee, 887 Finchley Rd. Good Korean food.

- Local Friends, 28 North End Rd. Chinese.

- Water Margin, 96 Golders Green Road. Chinese Set lunch menu £5.50.

Drink
toc

Wembley
toc

The are numerous bars in the area, although it should be noted that alcohol is not permitted in the arena or stadium.

Crouch End
toc

- The Railway Pub. Has just been taken over by new management and the whole pub has been renovated.

Sleep
toc

Hostels
toc

- London Backpackers, (tube: Hendon Central, virtually next to the tube station), +44 20 8203 1319 (info@ukhostels.com, fax: +44 20 8203 9339), [19]. checkin: 1PM; checkout: 10AM. £10.

Wembley
toc

There are several inns and hotels in the area, ranging for the cheap and cheerful to 5 star.

Golders Green
toc

Golders Green has a fair number of small hotels and Bed and Breakfasts within walking distance of the Underground Station.

- Martel Guest House. Comfortable rooms, reasonably priced.

Stay safe
toc

Tottenham
toc

The area has a justified reputation for being blighted with crime. Gangs of male youths are responsible for the majority of crime and disorder, in particular robbery and burglary. Hartington Park is to be avoided from the evening onwards. Keep to the well-lit streets and the High Rd, and avoid flashing jewellery or mobile phones. Tottenham Police Station is located at 398 High Road N17: 5 min walk north from Seven Sisters underground station.

Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green (Excluding Lower Edmonton)
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These areas are notorious for knife crime, in particular knife point robbery. Alley between Montagu Road N18 and Plevna Road N9 by Salmons Brook is to be avoided, also avoid Bounces Road, Croyland Road and various backstreets in and around Upper Edmonton N18. Edmonton Green Police Station is situated by the huge ASDA in Edmonton Green Shopping Centre and is a 5 min walk south from Edmonton Green Train Station (National Express).

Contact
toc

Wembley
toc

The FA homepage

District East Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By Tube

By DLR

By Train

By Overground

• See

Walthamstow

Ilford

• Do

Stratford

Walthamstow

Ilford

• Buy

Walthamstow

Ilford

• Eat

Walthamstow

• Drink

Walthamstow

Pubs

Clubs

• Sleep

• Contact

Understand
toc

Many outer areas of East London was once part of the county of Essex. Essex is sometimes used as part of the postal address for these areas.

East London consists of the following boroughs:

- Barking and Dagenham [3] — the borough includes:

- Barking

- Dagenham

- Havering [4] — the borough includes:

- Hornchurch

- Romford

- Upminster

- Newham [5] — the borough includes:

- Stratford - Location of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Note: this is not Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, the birthplace of Shakespeare.)

- East Ham

- West Ham

- Redbridge [6] — the borough includes:

- Ilford

- Woodford

- Waltham Forest [7] — the borough includes:

- Walthamstow - This town was made famous by a teen pop band called E-17 (the postcode of the area) who came from here and had a number of hits. Soak up the multicultural atmosphere.

- Chingford

- Leyton

Get in
toc

By Tube
toc

- Victoria Line (Light Blue) to Walthamstow.

- Central Line (Red) to Woodford or Hainault.

- Hammersmith and City Line (Pink) to Barking.

- District Line (Green) to Upminster.

- Jubilee Line (Silver) to Stratford.

By DLR
toc

- DLR to Canning Town then branches to Beckton, or London City Airport and Woolwich.

By Train
toc

- From Liverpool Street to Chingford or Ilford, Romford and Upminster.

- From Fenchurch Street to Barking then Upminster or Rainham.

- From Stansted Airport, Ipswich, Colchester and Norwich to Stratford.

By Overground
toc

- The Overground line (Orange) is useful for getting across the district from Barking to Blackhorse Road.

See
toc

Walthamstow
toc

- Eping Forest, (tube: Central Line), +44 (0)20 85080028 (epping.forest@cityoflondon.gov.uk), [8]. Dawn-dusk. 19 km (12 mi) long in East London and Essex. Free.

- The Vestry Museum, [9].

- Walthamstow Village, [10].

- The William Morris Gallery, [11].

Ilford
toc

- The Central Library, Winston Way. Interesting structure from an architectural point of view. Unfortunately it is also the locale of choice for the native rude-boys to hang out, alas this is not due to the educational value of the institution.

Do
toc

Stratford
toc

- Live performance at Theatre Royal, Stratford East

Walthamstow
toc

Bicycle along the River Lea or Epping Forest.</do>

Ilford
toc

Valentines Park is a pleasant green area, Essex County Cricket team used to play on the pitch in the western side of the park.

Buy
toc

Walthamstow
toc

- Selbourne Walk, (tube: Walthamstow Central; just over the road). Walthamstow's shopping mall, with the usual selection of shopping mall type shops.

- Walthamstow High Street market. early-approximately 5:30PM. All manner of items may be purchased here, an example of the amazing bargains to be found is a carrier bag full of bananas for £1.

Ilford
toc

- The Exchange Shopping Centre. Was one of the largest American style malls when it was constructed in the early 1990s. Although now it has an extensive array of shops now it can only really be considered a bog standard shopping centre. The town centre itself has most high street chain shops.

Eat
toc

Walthamstow
toc

There are a number of cafés and restaurants down the high street.

- Kebabish, Hoe St. Does a nice kebab and also tasty Indian food.

Drink
toc

Walthamstow
toc

Pubs
toc

- The Ferry Boat Inn, (tube: Blackhorse Rd). A quaint country style pub in a lovely river side setting.

- The Goose, (tube: Walthamstow Central, opposite).

Clubs
toc

Walthamstow does not have much of a clubbing scene, though there is:

- The Standard Music Venue, (tube: Blackhorse Rd, opposite). Has rock bands playing most nights of the week, and has a nightclub on Friday nights.

Sleep
toc

- Ibis Hotel Stratford, 1A Romford Rd, Stratford E15 4LJ (tube: Stratford), +44 208 5363700, [12]. 104 room hotel with the usual identikit, Ibis set-up. From about £50.

- Newham Hotel, 349-353 Romford Rd, Forest Gate, E7 8AA (tube: Forest Gate), +44 20 8534 8400 (info@newhamhotel.co.uk), [13]. Budget hotel in the Forest Gate area of Newham From £44.

- Viking Hotel, 162 Romford Rd, Stratford (tube: Stratford).

- Devonshire Hotel[14] • 94 Station Lane, Hornchurch, North-East London, Essex RM12 6LX (tube: Hornchurch), +44 (0) 1708 440088 (info@devonshirehotelhornchurch.co.uk). Opened in 2011, it is a family-run boutique hotel with free wi-fi and secure parking. Some rooms have been adapted to allow for easier access. Breakfast & homemade snacks available.

Contact
toc

District South Table of Contents

• Understand

Boroughs

Bromley

Croydon

• Get in

By tube or London Overground

By train

Bromley

By car

By train

By air

Croydon

By Underground

By tram

By train

By bus

• Get around

Bromley

Croydon

By taxi

By bus

• See

Bromley

Croydon

Kingston

• Do

Bromley

Croydon

Sport

Kingston

• Buy

Bromley

Croydon

Kingston

• Eat

Bromley

Croydon

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Kingston

• Drink

Bromley

Croydon

Kingston

• Sleep

Croydon

Stay Safe

Croydon

• Get out

Understand
toc

Most areas of present South London were once towns and villages in the counties of Surrey, Kent & Middlesex outside London, which were assimilated by London as it expanded rapidly in the 19th & 20th centuries. Surrey and Kent are still used as part of the official postal addresses for some areas of south London.

Most of outer South London is residential suburbia, and generally of little tourist interest. The main towns of outer south London are Kingston-upon-Thames, Wimbledon, Sutton, Croydon & Bromley. Each of these towns are major commercial centres with major transport interchanges, entertainment & shopping centres.

Kingston-upon-Thames would have to be considered the most interesting of the aforementioned towns for visitors. It is a former market town within the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. It is where many Saxon kings were crowned before the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. It has a pleasant riverside location with views across the river to nearby Hampton Court Palace & Park, which is a tourist destination anyone visiting London, should really try & see.

Boroughs
toc

South London consists of the following London boroughs:

- Bexley [3] — (population estimated in 2008 as 224,000) the borough includes:

- Bexleyheath

- Crayford

- Erith

- Sidcup

- Thamesmead

- Welling

- Bromley [4] — (population estimated in 2008 as 303,000) the borough includes:

- Beckenham

- Bromley

- Orpington

- Croydon [5] — (population estimated in 2008 as 342,000) the borough includes:

- Croydon

- Coulsdon

- Norbury

- Purley

- Thornton Heath

- Kingston upon Thames [6] — (population estimated in 2008 as 161,000) the borough includes:

- Chessington

- Kingston upon Thames

- New Malden

- Surbiton

- Merton [7] — (population estimated in 2008 as 202,000) the borough includes:

- Morden

- Mitcham

- Wimbledon

- Sutton [8] — (population estimated in 2008 as 188,000) the borough includes:

- Sutton

- Carshalton

- Wallington

Bromley
toc

Bromley is a borough of London, situated in the south east of Greater London. Much of the borough was historically in the county of Kent, as is reflected by the presence of Kent County Cricket Club's second XI in Beckenham, and the fact that the postal county of Kent is sometimes still used for traditional reasons for much of the borough (though postal counties are no longer required in UK postal addresses). The London Borough of Bromley was created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963.

The borough is the largest in London by area and occupies 59 square miles (153 km²). The borough shares borders with Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley to the north, Southwark and Lambeth to the north west, Croydon to the west; and the counties of Surrey to the south and Kent to the south and east.

Croydon
toc

[9] Known to some as the "Dallas of the South" due to the density of shiny glass and steel high rise office block, mostly owned by the Home Office government department. Wellesley Road runs north/south through Croydon and adds to the rather drab appearance but the pedestrianised shopping precinct west of here provides some relief. A new major re-generation plan has been announced, called Croydon Vision 2020, which includes the new shopping centre and Croydon Gateway site (which includes a arena, park, offices and bars).

Croydon has a cross-section of British history: Among its famous residents were author Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, model Kate Moss, journalist Emile Zola, dubstep pioneer Benga, and punk rocker Captain Sensible of The Damned.

Get in
toc

By tube or London Overground
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The London Underground system does not cover South London as extensively as North London. The Northern Line (Black) terminates at Morden. The District Line (Green) terminates at Wimbledon.

Opened in Summer 2010, the London Overground now links West Croydon and Crystal Palace stations to East London, primarily at Whitechapel station, and North London at Dalston Junction station.

By train
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South London is served by several train services from Central London stations. Check the London Transport maps for the correct station as the layout of the lines is rather confused in places.

As a rough guide, services run:

- From London-Waterloo to Kingston.

- From London-Victoria, London-Blackfriars, London-London Bridge to Bromley, Croydon, Merton, and Sutton.

- From London-Charing Cross and London-Cannon Street to Bexley and Bromley.

Bromley
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By car
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The M25 sits on the southern edge of the borough. Junction 4 (Bromley/Orpington) quickly connects with the A21, though for Chislehurst and areas it may be quicker to use Junction 3. The A21 is the main London to Hastings road and it runs through the borough before heading south to Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.

By train
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The borough has 27 railway stations which cover much of the area and are served by three Central London stations; London Victoria, London Blackfriars and London Bridge (and, by extension, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and Charing Cross). The main transport hub in the borough is Bromley South, with regular fast trains to London Victoria and a network of buses that stop outside the station and go to all parts of the borough. Orpington is the major station for the east of the borough.

By air
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Biggin Hill Airport is a former RAF airfield from which the Battle of Britain was coordinated and serves private jets. While the runway is usable by aircraft up to Boeing 737/Airbus A320 size, it is prohibited for airline operators to sell tickets for flights in and out of the airport, thus there are no scheduled or holiday charter flights from the airport. However, there is still a surprisingly large number of business flights.

Croydon
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By Underground
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Croydon is not served by the Underground network. However, the old East London Line has been integrated into the new London Overground network, linking West Croydon Station to Dalston Junction via New Cross, Docklands, and Whitechapel. This service, which started in June 2010, uses new rolling stock with longitudinal seating layouts similar to those used on Underground trains, allowing for more standing room. It is operated by Transport for London as part of the London Overground scheme.

By tram
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Tramlink, opened in 2000, is the first modern tram system to operate in London. Trams at the moment have destinations at Beckenham, Wimbledon, Elmers End and New Addington with all lines traveling through Croydon, on the Croydon Loop. It can also be used to reach the Underground in Wimbledon. Tramlink also has planned extensions to the M25 motorway (Park & Ride system), Sutton, Bromley, Lewisham with a planned extension to Crystal Palace. All these plans have been shelved by the current Major of London.

By train
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East Croydon station, is the second busiest station in London, and the main station for Croydon. Fast trains run into the centre of London terminating at Victoria or London Bridge stations in about 15-20 minutes.

There are direct service connections to London Gatwick & London Luton airports. Journey times from East Croydon to London Gatwick airport range from 15 to 36 minutes, with an average of 13 services per hour during the day. The journey time from East Croydon to London Luton airport is approximately 66 minutes, with an average of 4 services per hour during the day. The train service for London Luton airport also stops at London St Pancras (average journey time approximately 40 minutes), providing interconnections for Eurostar services to Lille, Paris & Brussels; as well as national services to the north of England & Scotland. There are no direct train services to London Heathrow airport. Typical fastest journey time would be approximately 90 minutes, and involve at least two changes.

All services from London Victoria that head to the South Coast stop here. Journey times from East Croydon to Brighton range from 36 to 60 minutes, with an average of 9 services per hour during the day.

Services are provided by Southern and First Capital Connect.

West Croydon station—which features in the famous story "Casting the Runes" by ghost story master M.R. James—is an interchange station for train, tram and bus. Trains run into the centre of London terminating at Victoria or London Bridge stations in about 20-40 minutes. Services leaving London generally terminate at Sutton but some continue to Guildford, Dorking and Epsom Downs.

By bus
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Croydon is well served by the London bus network, with a major bus station at West Croydon and a new one opening on the eastern side of Croydon next to the Croydon clocktower and Park Place shopping centre soon. Bus services in the centre of Croydon include, but are not limited to:

- Towards central London: bus routes 50, 60, 109, 250, 468, X68 (a peak time express service).

- Other routes: 75, 119 (Purley Way (Croydon Airport) - Bromley), 157, 197, 264, 289, 312 (South Croydon Bus Garage - Peckham, via Central Croydon, Addiscombe), 407, 410, 450, 455, 466 (not too reliable), and X26 (West/East Croydon - Sutton - Kingston - Heathrow Central (Express)).

Get around
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Bromley
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Transport for London (TFL) manages bus services in Bromley and these are operated by Selkent and Metrobus.

Croydon
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Croydon is mostly pedestrian friendly, North End the main shopping parade was closed for traffic over 10 years ago and most places can be easily reached on foot.

By taxi
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There is a large taxi stand, served by black cabs outside the main entrance to East Croydon Station.

By bus
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Buses leave at West Croydon station, with most buses leaving Croydon stopping at the bus station next to West Croydon station. The other bus station is opposite East Croydon station on George street, although not all buses going past it stop.

See
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Bromley
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- Chislehurst Caves, Old Hill, Chislehurst, +44 20 8467 3264 (enquiries@chislehurstcaves.co.uk), [10]. W-Su 10AM-4PM, seven days during school holidays. The caves are not in fact caves but a twenty-mile long network of passageways, carved from the chalk deep under Chislehurst over a period of 8,000 years. Used as a massive air-raid shelter during World War II, the Caves are now a local tourist attraction. £5, concessions £3, under 5's free.

- Crofton Roman Villa, Crofton Roman Villa, Crofton Rd, Orpington, +44 (0)20 8460 1442 (croftonromanvilla@btinternet.com), [11]. Apr-Oct, Bank Holidays, W F 10AM-1PM and 2PM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. The only villa open to the public in Greater London. It was inhabited from about AD 140-400 and was the centre of a large farming estate. Today you can see the remains of 10 rooms protected inside a public viewing building. Remains include tiled (tessellated) floors and the under-floor heating system (hypocaust). £1, children £0.70.

- Down House, Luxted Rd, Downe, +44 1689 859119, [12]. Feb-mid-Dec W-Su 11AM-4PM, additional hours in spring and summer. It was at Down House that Charles Darwin worked on his scientific theories, and wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, the book which both scandalised and revolutionised the Victorian world when it was published in 1859. Built in the early 18th century, the house remains much as it was when Darwin lived here. The rooms on the ground floor have been furnished to reflect the domestic life of the family and the first floor offers an interactive exhibition on his life, his research and his discoveries. English Heritage has restored the gardens to their appearance in Darwin's time. £8.80, children £4.40, English Heritage members free.

- Penge Police Station, [13]. Oldest working police station in London. Built in 1905.

- Royal Waterman's Alms Houses, Penge, [14].

Croydon
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Because it was heavily bombed in WW2, Croydon features a patchwork of old and new architecture.

- The Whitgift Almshouses. Form a fine Tudor courtyard.

- The Town Hall. Very impressive with a huge clock tower.

- Clock Tower Museum. Exhibitions on the gifted black composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) who lived most of his life in Croydon. His works include The Song of Hiawatha, a great favourite (before World War II) at the Royal Albert Hall conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent.

- Woodside Green. Visit for a villagy experience and go to the Joiner's Arms or Beehive pubs for a pleasant drink or meal.

- Croydon Airport. London's former main airport, now disused and is now a tourist attraction.

- Museum of Croydon. A museum highlighting Croydon in the past and present includes the Riesco Gallery

- Shirley Windmill. Restored and the only surviving windmill in Shirley.

- Addington Palace. 18th century mansion in Addington.

- Croydon Clocktower. Arts venue, opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

- Nestle Tower. The famous UK headquarters of Nestle, one of the tallest towers in England.

- Fairfield Halls. Arts centre, which opened in 1962, frequently used for BBC recordings.

- Croydon Palace. Summer residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury for over 500 years.

- Croydon Cemetery. Most famous for the gravestone of Derek Bentley, wrongly hanged in 1953.

- Mitcham Common. Partly in the borough, shared with Sutton and Merton, this massive green space is good for quiet walks when the weather is nice and sledding when there's snow on the ground.

Kingston
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- The Coronation Stone. Whilst not full of sights, an item of some interest is the coronation stone, on which seven English kings from Edward the Elder to Aethelred the Unready were crowned. The stone is located outside the Guildhall, and is close to the market.

- The Thames. Kingston borough has recently put a lot of effort into redeveloping the riverfront, and it is an extrememly pleasant way to spend a summer day. It can get very busy, and to avoid the crowds you can cross over Kingston bridge and walk along the quieter Richmond side.

- Out of Order. For a good photo opportunity seek out the phone boxes, a sculpture by artist David Mach in Old London Road featuring a number of disused red telephone box leaning against each other like dominoes.

Do
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Bromley
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- Churchill Theatre. Offers a range of theatrical performances, including touring productions, performances by (very good) local amateur groups, and pantomime during the Christmas and New Year period (usually starring somebody who used to be in Neighbours).

Croydon
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- David Lean Cinema, [15]. Croydon's only independent cinema, named after the famous film director who was born in Croydon. The cinema is operated by Croydon Council.

- Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG, Box Office: 020 8688 9291, [16]. Theatre / Arts centre.

- BRIT School. Performing Arts and Technology school owned by the BRIT Trust (known for the BRIT Awards).

- City Limits Entertainment Venue. Includes bowling, restaurants, nightclubs all in the same building. Inside the Colonades Leisure Park, Purley Way.

- Croydon Grants. Entertainment Venue. Includes a large 11-screen Vue Cinema, The Milan Bar (a Wetherspoons chain pub), Reflex 80's Bar and Disco, Nandos and Tiger Tiger restaurant and nightclub.

- Warehouse Theatre, [17]. Large and well-known theatre for (mostly) young performers.

- Outdoor Spaces, [18]. The London Borough of Croydon has 120 parks & open spaces which you can visit freely.

Sport
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- Crystal Palace Football Club, Selhurst Park Stadium, Whitehorse Lane, SE25 6PU, Ticket office: 08712 000071, [19]. Crystal Palace F.C are a professional football league club. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, capacity 26,309 (all seated), where it has been based since 1924.

- Surrey County Cricket Club, Whitgift School, Haling Park, South Croydon, CR2 6YT. Surrey County C.C is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English domestic cricket structure. They play four home games away from the Oval (Kennington, Lambeth/South London) each season. Two of these games are played at the Whitgift School, the other two games are played in Guildford. See their website for fixture list.

- Croydon Football Club, Croydon Arena, Albert Road, South Norwood, SE25 4QL, 020 8654 8555, [20]. Croydon F.C are a semi-professional "non-league" football club founded in 1953, as Croydon Amateurs. They currently compete in the Kent League Premier Division. Croydon Sports Arena is 2 minutes walk away from the Arena tram stop.

Most of London's sporting venues are within easy reach of Croydon, via public transport.

- Wimbledon - Lawn Tennis Championships, The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19 5AE, 020 8944 1066, [21]. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held each year over a two week period in late June & early July. Take tram from Croydon to Wimbledon, then either use special bus service or short walk using directions provided on website. Typical journey time should be no more than 30-40 minutes.

Kingston
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- Bike along the riverside. Follow the Thames path to Richmond upon Thames, Kew (home of the botanical gardens) and beyond into Barnes and Putney. In the opposite direction you will find Hampton Court, which has open air picnic concerts during the summer months.

- Football. Football enthusiasts can catch two clubs that play at Kingsmeadow, also known as The Cherry Red Records Fans' Stadium due to a commercial sponsorship deal.

- AFC Wimbledon, +44 20 8547 3528, tickets +44 20 8546 9582, [22]. Founded in 2002 by former fans of Wimbledon F.C. when that club received approval to move from London to Milton Keynes, where the club is now known as Milton Keynes Dons. After a series of promotions in the following years, AFC Wimbledon will make their debut in Football League Two, the fourth tier of England's professional club system, in 2011–12.

- Kingstonian F.C., [23]. Formed in 1885, currently play in the Ryman Premier Division, three promotions away from AFC Wimbledon.

Buy
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Bromley
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Each of the towns and villages in the borough has its own distinct high street but Bromley High St remains the main shopping centre and runs the length of the town. The northern section is mainly comprised of a cinema, specialist shops and restaurants. As the high street gets to the Market Square, there are a number of pubs. The central section of the High Street, between Market Square and Elmfield Rd, is pedestrianised.

- Bromley Charter Market, (In a car park behind Bromley North Station). Th.

- Farmer's market. At weekends.

- Glades shopping mall, (Runs parallel to the east side of the High Street). The bulk of the better-known stores are in this area.

- The Mall, (The southern section of the High Street, which runs down to Bromley South Station). Does not get many shoppers.

Croydon
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Croydon is one of the top 20 retail destinations in the United Kingdom, it has two large and a smaller shopping centers. All the major chain stores can be found in Croydon, along with most department stores (including the only Allders left in the UK).

- Beano's / Marketplace, Middle Street, [24]. 10AM - 6PM. Beano's which once was the largest second-hand CD, LP and DVD store in Europe, has now closed. It has however been replaced by Marketplace, which consist of 50 small market stalls selling arts & crafts.

- Centrale Shopping Centre, North End (Close to West Croydon station), [25]. M-W, F Sa 9:30AM-7PM, Th 9:30AM-9:00PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Shopping centre opened in 2004, situated on 4 floors. Shops include House of Fraser, Debenhams, Next, Zara, H&M, French Connection and Aldo. The Food Gallery is on the top floor of centre and includes a wide variety of restaurants.

- North End. The shopping road in Croydon

- Purley Way, (To the south west of Central Croydon, but still in the borough). Large retail area including large stores such as one of the four IKEA's in London, a B&Q warehouse, the first Homebase, TJ Maxx, Vue, Megabowl, Mothercare World, Argos Extra, Sainsbury's, City Limits and more. There are various retail parks there aswell, Valley Park, Purley Way retail park, Croydon Colonades, Waddon Goods Park, Croydon Fiveways.

- Supermarkets. Include, in Croydon, Sainsbury's (Whitgift Centre), Tesco's (on Brighton Road 5 mins walk from town cntr), Lidl (West Croydon), Marks & Spencer (Whitgift Centre), and a Waitrose (East Croydon).

- Surrey Street Market. Market which has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

- Whitgift Shopping Centre, North End (Close to West Croydon bus station), [26]. M-W, F Sa 9AM-7PM, Th 9AM-9PM, Su 11AM-5PM, Bank holidays 10AM-6PM. Main shopping centre, situated on 3 floors and used to be biggest shopping centre in Europe. Shops include Marks & Spencer, Bhs, Allders, Boots, WHSmith, Sainsbury's Central, Mothercare and Books Etc. Various restaurants and cafes throughout the centre.

Kingston
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Kingston has the most extensive range of shops in the southeast of England outside central London, and is very popular, especially at weekends. Virtually all major chains have branches, as well as several independent shops and boutiques.

- Bentall centre, Clarence St, [27]. Biggest shopping mall. Four-storey mall, which is anchored by a multi-level department store, Bentalls, which sells high-end fashion, home ware and specialty food products. John Lewis is the other main department store in town and is noted for quality. It has a branch of Waitrose supermarket in the basement.

- Fife Road, (Between the Bentall Centre and the railway station). Several clothing boutiques.

- Kingston Marketplace. The marketplace was historically at the heart of Kingston's prosperity, benefiting from a Royal Charter forbidding any other markets within seven miles. Today it mostly sells fruit and vegetables, although there are some other stalls. There are also occasional visiting markets from France and Germany that sell regional produce and takeaway food and drink.

- Borders bookstore. Built on the site of the old Empire department store. Its beautiful listed wooden staircase was maintained through recent renovations.

Eat
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Bromley
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- The Crown, 46 Plaistow Ln, Sundridge Park, +44 20 8466 1313, [28]. Recently opened, this is a stylish yet affordable gastropub minutes from Bromley High St.

Croydon
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Visitors are often surprised by the variety, quality and affordability of Croydon's restaurants. Whilst the pedestrianised centre is overflowing with bland chains and fried chicken, The High St and South End Rd (south of the flyover) has an excellent selection of independent places, which is (sadly) becoming a victim of its own success, and itself is beginning to be taken over by the chains.[29]

Budget
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- Cafe Giardino, Centrale Centre and Whitgift Centre. Italian.

- Cafe Santa Fe, 201 High St, +44 20 8688 6717.

- Chicken Cottage, 263 London Road, +44 20 8689 1666. Fast-food chicken and ribs.

- Fatty Arbuckles, Valley Park, Purley Way. +44 20 8680 4717. American Diner.

- Noodle Time, 56-58 George Street, +44 20 8681 6598. Noodle Bar.

- Yo! Sushi, 21 North End, +44 20 8760 0479. Sushi bar.

Mid-range
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- Addington Village Inn, 36 Addington Village Rd, +44 1689842057. Various.

- Aphrodite Greek Taverna, 19 Westow Street, +44 20 8653 9895. Greek.

- Beefeater, 419 Streatham High Rd, Norbury, +44 20 8764 1671. English family pub chain.

- Chat House Tandoori, 14-16 Brighton Rd, +44 20 8680 5719.

- Chiquitos Restaurant & Bar, Unit 3 Valley Park, +44 20 8686 8341. Mexican.

- Little Bay Croydon, 32 Selsdon Road, South Croydon, CR2 6PB, +44 20 8649 9544 (croydon@littlebay.co.uk), [30]. M-Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-11PM. Three-course meal £11.00-16.00

- Nandos, 26 High St, +44 20 8681 3505,. Peri Peri Chicken.

- Nandos, Hesterman Way, +44 20 8688 9545. Peri Peri Chicken.

- Ocean Fish Restaurant, 56 Lower Addiscombe Road, +44 20 8406 3634. Seafood.

- Old Orleans, City Limits Colonades Leisure Park, +44 20 8225 1900. American.

- The Spreadeagle, 39-41 Katharine Street, +44 20 8781 1134 (spreadeagle@fullers.co.uk), [31]. Food served M-F noon-3PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-6PM. A Fullers' "Ale & Pie" house serving up fresh, homemade pies and other pub classics, along with a great selection of cask conditioned ales.

- Tiger Tiger, 16 High Street, +44 20 8662 4949. English.

Splurge
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- Auberge, Units 2153-2156, Whitgift Centre, +44 20 8680 8337. French.

- La Brasa, 108a High St, +44 20 8760 9610. Argentinian. Winner of numerous 'Best local restaurant 200x' awards and is a real gem - small and unpretentious and serving flavoursome steaks, chicken and other delights. They buy good quality meat which actually has some taste, and it shows.

- Croydon Steak House, 31 South End, +44 20 8688 8422.

- Frankie & Benny's, Valley Leisure Park, +44 20 8760 5021. Authentic Italian and American.

- Paradise Island, 67 South End, +44 20 8688 9848. Seafood.

Kingston
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The area of Kingston of New Malden has a sizeable Korean population and there are a large number of restaurants along the High St. Korean barbecue, such as galbi or samgyeopsal is available in numerous places. Another option is bibimbap, a mixture of various vegetables, rice and chilli paste.

Drink
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Bromley
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Borough-wide, Bromley's town centre drinking establishments are generally the sort of generic chain fayre you would find anywhere. However, away from the centres, there are good pubs, many in the traditional vein.

- The Anglesey Arms, 90 Palace Rd, Sundridge Park. Traditional feel, friendly staff and good ale, albeit a bit on the pricey side. Shepherd Naeme pub.

- The Prince Frederick, 31 Nichol Ln, Sundridge Park. Allegedly the only pub named after George II's son, Poor Fred, Prince of Wales. It has managed to retain its traditional feel by maintaining separate saloon and lounge bars. A good choice of ales and lagers but no food. Greene King pub.

- The Red Lion, 10 North Rd, Sundridge Park. Some christen this the best pub in Bromley. A friendly atmosphere, good quality ales and decent, affordable pub food make this an excllent choice. Greene King pub.

- Sundridge Park. A small neighbourhood just to the north of Bromley, has retained some well-liked, traditional pubs.

Croydon
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- Bar Red Square, 63-67 High St, +44 20 8688 1020. Wine Bar.

- Black Sheep Bar, 68 High St, +44 20 8680 2277, [32]. Alternative and very friendly rock bar which provides a nice change from the rest of the town centre's establishments. Very cheap drinks until 10pm most days. It is a members bar but arrive with any form of ID and you will be signed up for free and allowed in.

- Green Dragon, 58-60 High St, +44 20 8667 0684. Pub with an eclectic but very good natured crowd. Live bands and DJs some nights of the week.

- The Spreadeagle, 39-41 Katharine Street, +44 20 8781 1134. Good place to get a pint with a tasty pie.

Kingston
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There are a large variety of pubs and bars from cheaper chain pubs such as Wetherspoons to the trendy riverside bars. The main club is Oceana which is always very popular and attracts a great number of people from surrounding areas.

Sleep
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Croydon
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There is a wide range of accommodation for visitors to the London Borough of Croydon. The Tourist Information Centre promotes establishments which are members of the National Quality Assurance Standards Scheme. Each establishment is inspected annually by trained assessors from the AA, RAC or English Tourism Council (ETC). Members of the Quality Assurance Scheme are graded according to quality, facilities and level of service. The grading is denoted by stars (H) or diamonds (¨). Any establishment which has no grading is not part of the Scheme, therefore quality cannot be assured. The AA, RAC and English Tourism Council (ETC) have joint grading schemes for hotels, guest accommodation and self catering. Hotels are graded from one to five stars. These indicate the quality, facilities and level of service. The more stars the higher the quality, level of service and range of facilities offered. Guest Accommodation=== Guest accommodation includes guest houses, bed & breakfasts and some hotels. They are graded from one to five diamonds. All establishments must meet minimum standards for facilities and services. More diamonds are awarded for higher standards of quality and customer care.

- Aerodrome Hotel, Purley Way (Next to Croydon Airport), +44 20 8680 1999. Luxury hotel, recently re-fited to become a luxury hotel.

- Express by Holiday Inn, 1 Priddys Yard (Central Croydon), +44 20 8253 1200. Built in 2003, new and modern.

- Jury's Inn, Wellesley Rd (Central Croydon), +44 20 8448 6000 (Central Croydon). Modern hotel.

- Premier Inn, The Colonnades Leisure Park (West Croydon), +44 870 990 6554. Hotel which offer warm and cosy rooms. From £40.

- Premier Inn, 104 Coombe Rd (South Croydon), +44 8701 977 069. Hotel which offer warm and cosy rooms. From £40.

- Travelodge, Norfolk House, Wellesley Rd (Central Croydon, next to Jury's Inn), +44 871 984 6318. Cheap and modest. From £40.

Stay Safe
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Croydon
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- The Purley Way is a difficult place to get about by foot: some areas can be reached by tram but the park is designed for cars.

- Avoid flashing valuable possessions in the town centre to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

- Croydon town centre becomes very popular on Thursdays with TigerTiger open to under 21's, and its weekends with a multitude of popular bars in the town centre. Always prebook your taxi for safety on a night out because the local London Black cabs are very expensive. That said, the night bus network in Croydon is very good ,and the vast majority of journeys will be completed without incident: as ever, common sense applies.

Get out
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District Richmond-Kew Table of Contents

• Understand

Tourist Information Offices

• Get in

By tube

By train

By car

By bus

By boat

• Get around

Kew

• See

Richmond

Kew

• Do

Richmond

Kew

• Learn

• Buy

Richmond

Kew

• Eat

Richmond

Cafés

Kew

• Drink

Richmond

Kew

• Sleep

• Contact

• Cope

• Get out

Understand
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This is perhaps the area of outer London with the most to offer visitors. Both Richmond and Kew are located (largely) south of the Thames in the western quadrant of the city. This is a leafy and surprisingly rural district with some lovely riverside scenery. The small area of Barnes is by the Thames at the eastern edge of the district.

Richmond [1] was originally a separate town and before 1965 a part of the county of Surrey. Surrey is still used as part of the postal address to distinguish it from the other town called Richmond in Yorkshire. The local inhabitants often view themselves (as do others) as something vaguely separate from the metropolis as a whole. This is perhaps due to Richmond's location on a large loop of the River Thames which surrounds most of the area, its enveloping by several vast royal parks and its previously independent identity. The parks are a major attraction for visitors as are the myriad of fine restaurants and interesting shopping. The areas north of the Thames around Twickenham, Hampton Wick and Bushy Park are part of Richmond borough and include the magnificent royal palace of Hampton Court.

Located just to the north of Richmond and in the same loop of the Thames, Kew is mostly known for the world famous gardens of the same name. It is also home to some fine Victorian architecture.

Tourist Information Offices
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- Richmond Community and Visitor Information Centre, Museum of Richmond, Old Town Hall, Whittaker Ave, +44 (0)20 8940 9125 (info@visitrichmond.co.uk, fax: +44 (0)20 8940 6899), [2]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM.

Get in
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By tube
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The district is served by the following tube stations:

- Richmond (District line)

- Kew Gardens (District line)

- Gunnersbury (District line)

By train
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- South West Trains services from London's Waterloo station stop at Richmond. The journey takes 20-30 min, and trains depart every 15 min or so. South West Trains also service Hampton Wick and Hampton Court stations (although much less regularly than Richmond).

- The London Overground line from Stratford terminates at Richmond also stopping at Kew Gardens.

- Kew Bridge Station is served by National Rail trains out of London Waterloo.

By car
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Richmond is only a few miles away from Heathrow Airport, from where taxis to Richmond can be caught. Richmond is also close to the A316, accessible from the M3 and M4 motorways. From the direction of London, Upper Richmond Road becomes Sheen Road, which courses right through the town centre of Richmond.

By bus
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- Richmond has a large bus station. The 337 bus from Clapham Junction, the 391, 33, 419 buses from Hammersmith, and the N10 night bus from Kings Cross all stop here, amongst others.

- Kew can be reached from Richmond and vice versa via the 65 or 391 bus from outside Richmond station.

By boat
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Get around
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Kew
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The 65 bus runs the length of the Kew Rd, and the 391 runs up Sandycombe and A316 roads. Yet an active person could walk the length of Kew (from A316 to Kew Bridge) in half an hour.

See
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Richmond
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- Bushy Park, [3]. The second largest of the London Royal Parks, covering an area of 450 hectares (1,099 acres). Lying north of Hampton Court Palace, the history of of the park is inextricably linked to the palace, yet it has always had its own distinct rural character.

- Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey (Bus R68 from Richmond Station, or by rail from London Waterloo to Hampton Court), +44 8444 827777 (hamptoncourt@hrp.org.uk), [4]. 10AM-4:30PM daily. Historic home to English kings such as Henry VIII, now open to the public. There are many attractions which can occupy a whole day visit, including 60 acres of gardens with the famous maze, the Tudor kitchens, the Chapel Royal, the Great Hall, Mantegna's Triumphs of Caesar paintings, and various exhibitions about Henry VIII. £6.50-13.

- Ham House, Ham Street, Ham TW10 7RS (Bus 371 from Richmond Bus Station), +44 20 8940 1950, [5]. The Duke of Lauderdale's elegant 17th century manor house, a mile or so upriver from Richmond riverside. Free to members of The National Trust.

- Marble Hill House, Richmond Rd TW1 2NL (Over the river from Ham House), +44 20 8892 5115, [6]. Was home to King George II's mistress, with well-manicured lawns by the riverside. £2.50-5.

- Richmond Palace. Remains of the once-magnificent palace, home to English kings since Edward I, adjoins Richmond Green, a pleasant open green space and historic cricket ground. Only the Gate House and Wardrobe, now converted into flats, remain.

- Strawberry Hill House, Strawberry Hill, TW1 4SX, 0871 560 9489, [7]. Erratic hours, phone to check. Eccentric Gothic home of 18th century poet and author, Horace Walpole, son of England's first prime minister.

- Richmond Park, (tube: Richmond, then bus 371 or 65), [8]. 7AM-dusk. The largest open space in London, covering almost 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) and home to a huge array of wildlife, including 400 wild deer. Also contains the Royal Ballet School, seen in the film Billy Elliot. Popular with cyclists, both for the on-road perimeter circuit and the off-road trails. There are several car parks for walkers and picnickers. Free.

- Richmond Hill, (From town centre walk up Hill Rise, which becomes Richmond Hill). The view from the top of the hill (between Friar Stile Road and Nightingale Lane) is protected by an act of parliament and takes in the river, the meadows at the bottom of the hill. Much painted by JMW Turner. Well worth the short walk up the hill and it is on the way to Richmond Park if you are walking from the town.

- Twickenham, Twickenham Stadium, Rugby Rd, Twickenham, +44 20 8892 8877, [9]. Twickenham, which seats over 80,000, is the home of the England national rugby team, and is used mostly for major internationals and cup finals. Tour the stadium and visit the Museum of Rugby. Check their website to avoid being turned away on match days.

- Twickenham Stoop, Twickenham Stoop Stadium, Langhorn Dr, Twickenham, +44 20 8410 6000 (main switchboard), 0871 527 1315 (tickets). Across the road from the main Twickenham Stadium is this smaller stadium (capacity about 15,000), popularly known as "The Stoop". It serves as home to one top-level team in each form of rugby football. Harlequin F.C., [10] usually referred to as "Harlequins" or simply "Quins", are one of England's most historic rugby union (15 a side) clubs and currently play in the Aviva Premiership, as well as domestic and European cup competitions. They are affiliated with a rugby league (13 a side) club of more recent vintage, Harlequins Rugby League [11] (aka "Harlequins RL" or "Quins RL"). The latter club play in Super League, a competition primarily contested in England that also includes clubs from Wales and France.

- Museum of Richmond, Old Town Hall, Whittaker Avenue TW9 1TP (tube: Richmond), +44 20 8332 1141 (museumofrichmond@btconnect.com), [12]. Tu-Sa 11AM- 5PM. Exhibitions on Richmond's history. Free.

Kew
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- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, (tube: Kew Gardens), +44 20 8332 5655 (info@kew.org), [13]. From 9.30AM everyday except Dec 24-25, closing time seasonal. This historic and beautiful garden features elements that illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries, as well as a plant collection second to none in the world. Since their creation in 1759, the gardens have made a significant and uninterrupted contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany. The gardens cover 120 hectares (300 acres) and are over 1.5 km long. They contain several major glasshouse complexes, not least the famous Palm House opened in 1848, together with a museum and several follies. £10.25-12.25.

- Kew Bridge. Fine stone bridge linking Brentford/Chiswick with Kew.

- Kew Green. Large lawn, split in two by Kew Rd, with St. Mary's Church, Kew Cricket Club and pubs set on or near it.

- The National Archives are four minutes walk from Kew Gardens Station. The route is clearly sign-posted. All non-classified government documents can be read and photographed here, with a (free) reader's card having been obtained. There is also a small museum, which does not require a card to access.

Do
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Richmond
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- Boat ride. In summer months, either upriver to Teddington Locks or Hampton Court Palace, or downriver to Westminster, offers a good way to relax while enjoying the riverside scenery. Some boats offer a commentary service. The boat ride to Hampton Court takes about an hour and a half, to Teddington Locks about 45 min, and to Westminster about two hours. Boats depart from a dock close to Richmond bridge. You can also hire rowing boats next to the bridge.

- Curzon, Water Lane (A narrow cobbled street which runs down to the river at the crossroads of Hill St, George St and Red Lion St), [14]. Arthouse cinema.

- London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes (tube: Hammersmith, then bus 283; or bus 33 from Richmond), +44 20 84094400 (info.london@wwt.org.uk), [15]. Substantial nature reserve on the old disused Barn Elms Reservoirs. A major wetland habitat for wintering wildfowl and and an excellent choice for any keen birders visiting London. £4.50-8.13.

- Orange Tree Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street TW9 2SA. (tube: Richmond), [16]. Offers theatre in the round, where the audience surrounds the stage.

- Richmond Theatre, The Green TW9 1QJ (tube: Richmond), 0870 060 6651, [17]. See a pre-West End play at this pretty Victorian theatre.

Kew
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- Along the river path. Cycle, jog and walk.

- Tennis, (By Kew Bridge).

- Yoga, Arch 2, Kew Bridge Arches, +44 20 8940 0888 (info@earth-life.co.uk), [18]. Offers a range of yoga/pilates classes for all abilities.

Learn
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- Richmond Adult Community College [19] offers short- to medium-term courses on subjects such as cooking, foreign languages, IT, and business.

Buy
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Richmond
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- Richmond's high street, George St. Contains a few boutique clothing stores and all the standard high street chains, such as Habitat, Marks & Spencer's, WH Smith, HMV, Boots, Robert Dyas, etc. For more boutique clothes shops, such as Matches, and small art galleries and antiques shops, follow the road up the hill called Hill St, which turns into Hill Rise.

- House of Fraser (Many locals still call it by its old name, Dickens & Jones), (On the corner of George Street and King Street). Department store.

- Open Book, King St. Independent bookshop. Rather cramped, but stacked with a very good selection of new books.

- Lion & the Unicorn, (Almost directly opposite of Open Book), [20]. Children's bookshop.

- Houben's, (On an alleyway called Church Walk off George St (up the side of Tesco)). Has new (particularly literature, art, history and philosophy) books as well as second-hand books in the basement.

- Waterstone's, (On the corner of Hill and Red Lion Sts). Branch of a big chainstore.

- Farmer's Market, Heron Square (Off Hill St). Sa 11AM-3PM. For local produce.

Kew
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Immediately by the station is situated Kew Parade, here there are a few chain shops like.

- Tesco Express, 2/8 Station Parade, Kew Gardens, +44 845 0269355. 7AM-11PM. Small supermarket.

- Martin's, 10 Station Parade, +44 20 8332 7953. Newsagents.

- Lloyd's Pharmacy, 19-21 Station Parade, Richmond, +44 20 8940 5800.

- ABC Music, 9 Royal Parade, Station Approach, Kew Gardens, +44 20 8940 1892 (fax: +44 20 8948 2666). M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM.

- Olivers Wholefoods Store, 5 Station Approach, Kew Gardens, +44 20 8948 3990. A health food and alternative therapies shop.

- The Shoe Station, 12 Station Parade, Richmond, +44 20 8940 9905.

- Mia Wood, 9 Station Parade, Kew Garden Village, +44 20 8439 9265 (enquiries@miawood.co.uk, fax: +44 20 8439 9275), [21].

Eat
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Richmond
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- Chez Lindsay, Hill Rise. French cuisine.

- Don Fernando's, (Near Richmond station). Offers decent Spanish cuisine, such as tapas.

- The Dragon Inn, Sheen Road. Offers Chinese cuisine and very friendly staff.

- Gelateria Danieli, Brewer's Lane (Alley between George St and Richmond Green. From George St it is the alley down the side of TopShop and jewellers Courlander's). Great ice cream shop as the queues on sunny summer weekends indicate.

- Raj Bohan, 49 Kew Road Richmond (near Richmond Station). Authentic Indian shashlik and other cuisine.

- Hilltribe, Red Lion St. Thai cuisine.

- The Boat, (docked close to Richmond bridge), [22]. A floating restaurant which does brunch, lunch and dinner.

- NDK. Offers a Japanese-style karaoke diner.

- Pizzeria Rustica, (Near Richmond station). Offers award-winning pizzas.

- Stein's, (On the riverside). A German bierhaus-style restaurant offering authentic German dark beers and food.

- The Thai Elephant, (Opposite the Richmond bus station). Thai cuisine.

Cafés
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- Austin's, (Overlooking Richmond Green). Does coffee, smoothies, soup and sandwiches and good falafel and tabouli pitta wraps (not listed on the board).

- Greedies, (On a boat moored almost opposite Tide Tables). Which serves breakfast, coffee and lunches. Great views of Richmond Bridge if you are lucky enough to get one of the outdoor tables at the end of the boat.

- The Hollyhock Cafe, (In the Terrace Gardens between the Richmond Hill and the river). Great location in the gardens. It sells mainly coffee and cakes and a few lunch dishes.

- Pembroke Lodge, (In Richmond Park). Café, which sells rather average food and drinks but has a lovely view if you sit outside on the terrace.

- Petersham Nurseries, Petersham (Off Petersham Road), [23]. Upmarket garden centre with a very upmarket and expensive lunchtime restaurant (closed M and Tu) as well as a cafe (closed M), which sells great soup and sandwiches at lunchtime in a really lovely setting amongst the greenhouses. They have some problems with too many cars upsetting the locals so they encourage people to walk (about 30 min from centre of Richmond) or take a 65 or 371 Kingston bus to Dysart Arms pub stop.

- Thai Cafe, Hill Rise (Heading towards Richmond Park). Thai cuisine.

- Tide Tables. Under the arches of Richmond Bridge has a great location with a large outdoor area overlooking the river. It does very good fairtrade coffee, juices etc and food such as foccacia and quiches. licensed

Kew
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- Curry Garden Tandoori Restaurant, 289 Sandycombe Rd, +44 20 8940 9473, 8332 7375, [24]. 6PM-midnight. A family run authentic Indian restaurant established in Kew for nearly 30 years.

- The Glasshouse, 14 Station Parade, +44 20 8940 6777, [25].

- Ma Cuisine, The Old Post Office, 9 Station Approach, +44 20 8332 1923 (info@macuisinekew.co.uk), [26].

- Rara Nepalese Dining, Rara Restaurant, 279 Sandycombe Rd, +44 20 8332 1020 (dine@rara-kew.co.uk). A really smart Nepalese restaurant.

Drink
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Richmond
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- Pubs on the Richmond riverside include The White Cross (often surrounded by water at high tide), Edwards, The Slug and Lettuce, and the Pitcher and Piano which has a large outdoor terrace. The White Swan [27] is set further back on Old Palace Lane between the river and the Green, and The Waterman's Arms, which serves Thai food, is on Water Lane, nearer the town centre.

- In town, The Old Ship offers pub grub. The Richmond Arms attracts a gay crowd and offers karaoke nights. Near the bus station is a wine bar called One Paradise Road [28], which also serves food. The chain wine bar All Bar One [29] is on Hill Street and also serves food.

- Near Richmond train station, The Bear, the Sun, the Orange Tree, and O'Neills, a popular Irish-themed chain bar, are close by.

- Around Richmond Green, the Cricketers Arms, and the Prince's Head offer food and drinks while watching the action on the Green, with the Britannia slightly set back from the green.

- Heading up the hill, the Victoria Inn on Hill Rise has a cosy atmosphere and further up the top of the hill is the Roebuck, from which you can take your drink across the road to the Terrace which overlooks the famous view from Richmond Hill. Nearby is the Marlborough on Friar Stile Road, a family friendly pub with a large beer garden out the back (with a children's play area) and the Lass O'Richmond Hill on Queens Road.

- Further towards Sheen, the White Horse (off the main road behind the Red Cow) has a gastro-pub menu and is family-friendly with a gate opening onto a children's playground, while the Red Cow offers sports television, and has a popular Tuesday night pub quiz.

- nano cafe (Richmond), 76 Sheen Rd. Lovely food & Italian coffee full of aroma & flavor.

- The Admiral Nelson, Whitton.

Kew
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- The Railway, Kew Gardens Station Station Parade, +44 871 917 0007.

Sleep
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- Bingham Hotel, 61-63 Petersham Rd, +44 20 8940 0902 (info@thebingham.co.uk), [30].

- Coach and Horses Hotel, 8 Kew Green, [31].

- The Kew Gardens Hotel, 292-294 Sandycombe Rd, +44 20 8940 2220, [32].

- Quinns Hotel, 48 Sheen Rd, +44 20 8940 5444.

- The Red Cow, 59 Sheen Rd, +44 20 8940 2511 (tom@redcowpub.com), [33].

- The Richmond Gate Hotel, Richmond Hill, +44 844 855 9121 (fax: +44 20 8332 0354), [34].

- Richmond Inn Hotel, 50-56 Sheen Rd (opposite Quinns Hotel), +44 20 8940 0171, [35].

- Richmond Park Hotel, 3 Petersham Rd, +44 20 8948 4666 (fax: +44 20 8940 7376), [36].

- Richmond Hill Hotel, 144-150 Richmond Hill, Richmond-upon-Thames, +44 (0)20 8940 2247, [37]. 5-star hotel.

Contact
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- The Richmond police station is located near the Odeon cinema, on Red Lion St [38].

Cope
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- The Barn Church (St. Philip's), Atwood Ave, +44 20 8878 5646 (janlewison@aol.com), [39]. Service Su 9:30AM. Free.

- St. Luke's Church, The Avenue, [40]. Service Su 8AM and 11AM. Free.

Get out
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District Wimbledon Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By tube

By train

By plane

By tram

By car

• Get around

By bus

By car

• See

• Do

Wimbledon

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

• Get out

Understand
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Wimbledon is a well-known and affluent suburb in the southwest of London, England and is part of the London Borough of Merton [3]. It is, of course, best known for the All England Lawn Tennis Championships (or often just referred to as Wimbledon) held every summer and which form part of the worldwide tennis grand slam series. This is the oldest tennis championship in the entire world.

Get in
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By tube
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Wimbledon is serviced by the following stations:

- Wimbledon (District line). During the Tennis Championships, direct buses run from outside for a small charge.

- South Wimbledon (Northern line).

- Southfields (District line). This is the most convenient station for the tennis club.

Please note that the quickest route into Wimbledon from central London is usually via a combination of Tube and the National Rail. Though the District Line is the most obvious choice from central London, it is usually the least efficient. Trains depart every 3-5 minutes from Waterloo to Wimbledon during week days with a journey time of about 15 minutes (South West Trains operates this service.)

By train
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Wimbledon Station is the most important transport hub in the area. Located in central Wimbledon, it is well served by South West Trains [4] and First Capital Connect [5] train companies.

Services run from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction to Wimbledon Station (about 15 min). Trains from Wimbledon go to Guildford, Hampton Court, Dorking, Shepperton and Woking. Change at Clapham Junction to get to Brighton, Epsom, Gatwick, Reading, Portsmouth and further afield.

Wimbledon Station has two entrances, one at the front of the station serving as a drop off point for cars and a taxi stop and one to the side that leads to buses and a shopping mall. Disabled access to the 10 platforms are by lifts. Public toilets can be found near the tube District Line platforms. There are food and drink shops within the station complex.

By plane
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Wimbledon is almost equidistant between the two major London Airports, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport.

The quickest way from Gatwick is to catch a fast [6] Southern train for Victoria and get off at Clapham Junction. Here, change onto a South West Trains service south bound to Wimbledon (weekdays: 15 an hour).

From Heathrow, you can either catch the London Underground Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Earls Court and change onto the District Line to Wimbledon, or you can catch the Heathrow Express (or Heathrow Connect) service to London Paddington Station and then catch a Wimbledon bound District line train from there. Both of these require luggage movement through underground stations.

By tram
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By car
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The A219 runs through Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Bridge to the Broadway and beyond. The A3 is the main route to Wimbledon when coming in from the M25 Motorway or Heathrow Airport. From Gatwick Airport follow the M23/M25/A217. The nearest petrol station is an Esso Garage with a Tesco Metro (Open 24 hours) found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon underground station.

Get around
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Wimbledon is mostly pedestrian friendly and most places can be easily reached on foot. Buses leave outside the Centre Court Shopping Mall next to Wimbledon station. The main bus station is near Hartfield Rd on Sir Cyril Black Way (behind Morrisons supermarket and the car park on Hartfield Rd). Additionally, there is a taxi stand outside the main entrance to Wimbledon Station.

By bus
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Wimbledon is served by local bus routes including routes 57 Kingston/Clapham Park), 93 (Putney Bridge/North Cheam), 131 (Kingston/Tooting Broadway), 156 (Vauxhall), 163 (Morden), 164 (Sutton), 200 (Raynes Park/Mitcham), 219 (Clapham Junction), 493 (Richmond/Tooting) and N87 Night Bus (Aldwych/Kingston). A bus map of Wimbledon (PDF) can be found here [8].

By car
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Parking available at Centre Court Shopping Mall. Off-street parking is normally made available by home owners looking to make some additional income from the rental of their driveways and garages. Prices are normally in the region of £30-50. Alternatively, you can try renting one of these private parking spaces online through various services.

See
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- Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, Centre Court, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Rd, [9]. 10:30AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec, 1 Jan, middle Su and first M after the Championships. £6, concessions £5, children under 16 £3.75, children under 5 free, tours available with additional fee

- Wimbledon Common, +44 20 8788 7655 (rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk), [10]. 24 hrs. A large area (460 hectares) of woodlands, open grass areas and healthland with a windmill, nature trails and ponds. Free.

- Wimbledon Society Museum of Local History, 22 Ridgway, Wimbledon, +44 20 8296 9914. Sa Su 2:30PM-5PM, by appointment at other times. Showing local history in Wimbledon from the Stone Age to the present day. Free.

- Wimbledon Windmill Museum, (On Wimbledon Common), [11]. End Mar-end Oct Sa 2PM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. A museum which depicts the history of windmills. £1, children £0.50, concessions £0.50.

- Buddhapadipa Temple, 14 Calonne Rd, [12]. Temple ground: M-F 9AM-6PM, main temple: weekends. The first Buddhist temple in the UK.

- Cannizaro Park, (West side of Wimbledon Common, next to the Cannizaro House Hotel), [13]. 34 acres of parkland.

Do
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Wimbledon
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Each June the All England Lawn Tennis Championships [14] are organized, one of the four "Grand Slams" for professional tennis. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club has been chosen to host the tennis matches for the 2012 Olympic Games from Thursday 2 August – Saturday 11 August, 2012. 172 athletes will compete for 4 gold medals in tennis [15].

- New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, +44 870 060 6646, [16]. The theatre is a Grade II Listed Edwardian theatre showing West End plays and musicals.

- Odeon Cinema, Odeon Wimbledon, The Piazza, The Broadway, [17]. +44 871 22 44 007. A large modern multiplex in Central Wimbledon with 12 screens and IMAX screen.

- Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, +44 20 8543 4888, [18]. Telephone bookings: M 9:30AM-4:30PM, Tu-F 9:30AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM; box office opening hours: Tu-F 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sa 11AM-5:30PM. Childrens theatre.

- Ridgway Stables, 93 Ridgway, +44 20 8946 7400, [19]. Tu-Su 9AM-5:30PM. Lessons and horse riding on Wimbledon Common.

- Wimbledon Village Stables, 24 a/b High St, +44 20 8946 8579, [20]. Lessons and horse riding on Wimbledon Common.

Buy
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Shops are to be found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon and along Wimbledon Hill towards Wimbledon Village and and in Wimbledon Village itself.

- Centre Court Shopping, (In Central Wimbledon next to the station), [21]. M-W F Sa 9AM-7PM, Th 9AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Shopping mall with two floors of shops. Includes shops such as River Island, Monsoon, Body Shop, Warehouse, Gap, H&M, Debenhams, La Senza and Kew. There are food outlets on the third floor and a cafe on the ground floor.

- The Fish Peddlar, 40 Replingham Rd (tube: Southfields), +44 20 8871 4411 (info@fishpeddlar.co.uk), [22]. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. Southfields' fishmonger. Stock can be a bit sparse early in the week, but from Thursday onwards there is usually a decent amount on offer. Orders can be placed in advance.

- Supermarkets. Include Morrisons (The Broadway), M&S (Centre Court), Sainsburys (Worple Rd and The Broadway towards South Wimbledon) and Tesco Metro (Centre Court, South Wimbledon & Wimbledon Village).

- Elys is another mall just off the High Street and a few minutes' walk from the Tube & Rail station.

Eat
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- Ahmed, 2 The Broadway, +44 20 8946 6214. Indian.

- Alforno Restaurant, 2a Kings Rd, +44 20 8540 5710. Italian.

- Aphrodite, 195-197 Merton Rd, +44 20 8417 0606.

- Broadway Tandoori, 250 The Broadway, +44 20 8542 7697. Indian.

- Cafe Rouge, 26 High St, +44 20 8944 5131. French.

- Chutneys, 31a Hartfield Road, +44 20 8540 9788. Indian.

- Coal, Piazza, 31-37 The Broadway, +44 20 8947 8225, [23]. Bar and grill serving international food. Seating outside.

- Confucious, 271-273 The Broadway, +44 20 8542 5272. Chinese.

- Dolce Vita, 44 The Broadway, +44 20 8543 7643. Italian.

- Est Est Est, 38 High Street, +44 20 8947 7700. Italian.

- Gourmet Burger Kitchen, 88 The Broadway, +44 20 8540 3300, [24]. Great Burger Restaurant.

- Jo Shmos, 33 High St, +44 20 8879 3845.

- Lambourne Bar and Grill, 263 The Broadway, +44 20 8545 8661, [25]. Part of the Antoinette Hotel. Sky sports, happy hour. Medium.

- Lighthouse, 75-77 Ridgway, +44 20 8944 6338.

- Makiyaki, 149 Merton Rd, +44 20 8540 3113. Good Japanese food.

- Mai Thai, 75 The Broadway, +44 20 8542 8834.

- Nandos, 1-1a Russell Rd, +44 20 8545 0909, [26]. Peri-Peri Chicken.

- La Nonna, 213-217 The Broadway (+44 20 8542 3060). Italian.

- Paprika, 1 Kingston Rd, +44 20 8540 9229. Indian Food

- Reds Bar & Grill, 86 The Broadway, +44 20 8540 8308, [27]. International Food.

- Slurp, 138 Merton Road, +44 20 8540 7918. Good Chinese and Japanese noodle bar, great value. Try the bento box.

- Thai Tho Restaurant, 20 High St, +44 20 8946 1542. Thai.

- Tapanco, 20 Hartfield Rd, +44 20 8947 4737, [28]. Mexican, Italian and American.

- The Common Room, 18 High St, +44 20 8944 1909. Italian.

- The Stage Door, 90-92 The Broadway, +44 20 8543 8128, [29].

- Wagamama, 46-48 Wimbledon Hill Road, +44 20 8879 7280, [30]. Japanese chain.

- Wimbledon Palace, 88 The Broadway, +44 20 8540 4505. Chinese.

Drink
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- The Alexandra, 33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, +44 20 8947 7691, [31]. Large pub with a wine bar next to the main pub called Smart Alex. Food served. Roof terrace with bar.

- All Bar One, 37 Wimbledon Hill Rd, +44 20 8971 9871. Food Served.

- Bar Sia, 105-109 The Broadway (Next to the Wimbledon Theatre), +44 20 8540 8339. A Small shady dirty bar, with rude service.

- Bertie's Bar, 2 Hartfield Way, +44 20 8879 7537. A wine bar below the Prince of Wales Pub. Seating outside. Food served.

- Brewery Tap, 68-69 High St, +44 20 8947 9331. Good selection real ales. One of the better pubs in the village.

- Crooked Billet, 14 Crooked Billet, +44 20 8946 4942, [32]. A Youngs pub, food served.

- Dog & Fox, 24 High St, +44 20 8946 6565, [33]. Large pub in the centre of the Wimbledon village. Food served, lots of seating outside.

- Fox & Grapes, Camp Rd, Wimbledon Common, +44 20 8946 5599. Food served.

- The Grid Inn, 22 Replingham Rd (tube: Southfields), +44 20 8874 8460. A slightly down-at-heel traditional pub.

- Grove Tavern, 2 Morden Rd, South Wimbledon (Opposite South Wimbledon tube station), +44 20 8543 2023, [34]. Live music, food served, seating outside and parking.

- Henry J Beans, 153-163 The Broadway, +44 20 8543 5083, [35]. Food served. Great cocktails, some seating outside at the front. *Hideaway, 175 Kingston Rd, +44 20 8544 9451, [36]. Food served, good Sunday lunch served.

- House Bar, 141 The Broadway, +44 20 8544 9306. Serves food based on inspiration from South Africa. Outside seating at the front and beer garden at rear.

- Kilkenny Tavern, 131 Merton High St, South Wimbledon (next to South Wimbledon tube station). +44 20 8543 7308.

- O'Neills, 66 The Broadway, +44 20 8545 9931. Food served.

- The Old Garage, 20 Replingham Road (tube: Southfields), +44 20 8874 9370. Larger, cleaner and more modern than The Grid.

- Rose and Crown, 55 High St, +44 20 8947 4713 (fax: +44 020 8947 4994). Food served, seating outside.

- Suburban Bar and Lounge, 27 Hartfield Rd, +44 20 8543 9788, [37]. Cocktail bar for chavs, run by chavs!

- Sultan, 78 Norman Rd, +44 20 8542 4532. Decent local pub serving very good real ale. The only pub in London owned by the Hopback Brewery. Walled garden. Bar Food served. BBQ on sundays weather permitting. "No loud music/TV policy" for those who want a quiet pint.

- SWnineteen Bar, 4-5 High St, +44 20 8879 7020.

- The Prince of Wales, 2 Hartfield Rd, +44 20 8946 5369. Serves food, owned by Punch taverns.

- The Slug, Hartfield Rd, +44 20 8947 1791, [38]. Sports orientated bar. Food served with seating outside.

- The Terrace, Above Centre Court Shopping Centre, Queens Rd, +44 (0)20 8944 9970, [39]. Terrace overlooking central Wimbledon. Serves food.

- Walkabout, 74-78 The Broadway, +44 20 8543 8624, [40]. Food served in this sports bar.

- Watershed, 267 Broadway, +44 20 8540 0080, [41]. Club with live music and comedy evenings on Saturdays.

- White Hart, 144 Kingston Rd (Near the Merton Park tram stop). Thai Food Served. Seating outside. Parking.

- The Wibbas Down Inn (JD Wetherspoon pub), 6-12 Gladstone Rd, +44 20 8540 6788. Food Served. Some seating outside - now nearly completely taken up by smokers.

Sleep
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- Antoinette Hotel, The Broadway, +44 20 8543 4222, [42]. A 50 bedroom hotel, under new management and recently refurbished.

- Cannizaro House, West Side, Wimbledon Common, +44 20 8879 1464 (fax: +44 20 8879 7338), [43]. A beautiful hotel overlooking Cannizaro Park to the rear and Wimbledon Common to the front. Excellent dining.

- Justin James Hotel, 43 Worple Road, +44 20 947 4271 (fax: +44 20 8296 6715), [44].

- The Phoenix, 123-125 Merton Road, +44 20 8542 0826, [45].

- The Wimbledon Hotel, 78 Worple Rd, +44 20 8946 9265 (fax: +44 20 8946 1581), [46]. Small family run hotel.

- Worcester House Hotel, 38 Alwyne Road, +44 20 8946 1300 (fax: +44 20 8946 9120), [47]. Small family run hotel.

Contact
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Get out
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