Which London is for you?
No matter how long you have lived in London it never ceases to amaze me at how much there is to see and do. London is the largest city in Europe and it is actually made up of several villages each one having a unique identity of its own. Its rather crazy and baffling street plan must have been designed by a mad man, parts of the public transport system are in decay, it seems to be run by lunatics with anger management issues and the residents rush around as if the police were after them. But despite all this it has great charm, crammed full of tourists many of whom return here on a regular basis because they like it here. Other than visiting the world renowned theatre and film districts, shopping in the sophisticated Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Bond St, Victoria and Piccadilly Circus; provided you have some loose change in your pocket I promise you won’t starve here. There are restaurants, cafés and eateries to suit any handbag or wallet or pocket. There are places to satisfy any craving or any dietary or cuisine obsession.
Covent Garden:
On Great Russell Street, the British Museum and its paraphernalia of specialist and antique bookshops is a definite must for those who cannot live without their passion. During the day Covent Garden’s Floral Street and Neal Street are thronging with shoppers’ craving for designer wear, beauty treatments, hairdressing and accessories. By night the area becomes a playground for those who want to eat, drink, go to the theatre,gamble and generally relax after a hard day’s sightseeing.
Soho: This area is a bit grimy but nonetheless it has a charm of its own where Parisian style café culture dominates its archaic 18th century cobbled streets with a wide range of Chinese restaurants providing exciting and exotic cooked foods. It’s a walk able area once you are able to find you bearings as it borders on Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue and Regent Street. So by day the shopping addict can shop to their heart’s content and by nightfall romance, wine,dine and take in a show.
Islington and the City: In my honest opinion this area exhibits Georgian architecture at its best and also has 30 or more churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren culminating in his domed masterpiece St Paul’s Cathedral with stunning views of the sky light of London.
MayFair & St James: This exclusive area can only be judged by the people who call it their home i.e. Prince Charles and the American Ambassador. By day Old Bond Street, South Molton St,Saville Row and Jermyn St symbolizes exclusivity through its shops and by night its dining experience is exemplified by the number of royalty,diplomats and regular clutch of movie stars that eat in places in the area.
Kensington & Notting Hill: Kensington although much less crowded than some of the other expensive areas of London is more residential to the corporate type. Its attractions are the Olympia Exhibition Centre and Earls Court Exhibition centers well know for its concerts and exhibits.Notting Hill, Bayswater and Paddington are all within in easy access and nice places to live in. Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road although slightly rundown and neglected are the consummate bric a brac buyer’s watering-hole as it is full of gastropubs,vintage fashion,attitude galore, fashionable antiques and so on and so forth.
The West End: Anyone who is anybody in the acting world has set foot here to launch an acting career or to assimilate on one that is in decline. This is considered to be one of the largest theatre districts in the world with Shaftesbury Avenue being the most famous.
No matter how long you have lived in London it never ceases to amaze me at how much there is to see and do. London is the largest city in Europe and it is actually made up of several villages each one having a unique identity of its own. Its rather crazy and baffling street plan must have been designed by a mad man, parts of the public transport system are in decay, it seems to be run by lunatics with anger management issues and the residents rush around as if the police were after them. But despite all this it has great charm, crammed full of tourists many of whom return here on a regular basis because they like it here. Other than visiting the world renowned theatre and film districts, shopping in the sophisticated Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Bond St, Victoria and Piccadilly Circus; provided you have some loose change in your pocket I promise you won’t starve here. There are restaurants, cafés and eateries to suit any handbag or wallet or pocket. There are places to satisfy any craving or any dietary or cuisine obsession.
Covent Garden:
On Great Russell Street, the British Museum and its paraphernalia of specialist and antique bookshops is a definite must for those who cannot live without their passion. During the day Covent Garden’s Floral Street and Neal Street are thronging with shoppers’ craving for designer wear, beauty treatments, hairdressing and accessories. By night the area becomes a playground for those who want to eat, drink, go to the theatre,gamble and generally relax after a hard day’s sightseeing.
Soho: This area is a bit grimy but nonetheless it has a charm of its own where Parisian style café culture dominates its archaic 18th century cobbled streets with a wide range of Chinese restaurants providing exciting and exotic cooked foods. It’s a walk able area once you are able to find you bearings as it borders on Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue and Regent Street. So by day the shopping addict can shop to their heart’s content and by nightfall romance, wine,dine and take in a show.
Islington and the City: In my honest opinion this area exhibits Georgian architecture at its best and also has 30 or more churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren culminating in his domed masterpiece St Paul’s Cathedral with stunning views of the sky light of London.
MayFair & St James: This exclusive area can only be judged by the people who call it their home i.e. Prince Charles and the American Ambassador. By day Old Bond Street, South Molton St,Saville Row and Jermyn St symbolizes exclusivity through its shops and by night its dining experience is exemplified by the number of royalty,diplomats and regular clutch of movie stars that eat in places in the area.
Kensington & Notting Hill: Kensington although much less crowded than some of the other expensive areas of London is more residential to the corporate type. Its attractions are the Olympia Exhibition Centre and Earls Court Exhibition centers well know for its concerts and exhibits.Notting Hill, Bayswater and Paddington are all within in easy access and nice places to live in. Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road although slightly rundown and neglected are the consummate bric a brac buyer’s watering-hole as it is full of gastropubs,vintage fashion,attitude galore, fashionable antiques and so on and so forth.
The West End: Anyone who is anybody in the acting world has set foot here to launch an acting career or to assimilate on one that is in decline. This is considered to be one of the largest theatre districts in the world with Shaftesbury Avenue being the most famous.
