London tourist guide

Areas of London

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Greater London, which is made up of 32 boroughs, covers an area of 609 square miles (1,579 kilometers square). The city was founded on the north bank of the Thames and there was only one bridge, London Bridge, for many centuries. As such, the main focus of the city was on the north side of the Thames. Today, London can be divided into five major areas: West London, Central London, East London, North London, and South London.

West London is most attractive to tourists, due to its popular shopping and entertainment. Trafalgar Square, one of the most outstanding landmarks, and Oxford Street, one of the best known shopping streets in the world, are located here.

In Central London, you will find Westminster, home to world famous royal castles and parks. Also found here are the areas of Soho and Covent Garden, some of the trendiest parts of the city.

Most of London famous markets are located in East London, including the Columbia Road Flower Market, Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Market and Petticoat Lane Market. The area is considered the most cosmopolitan area of the city, which include the central business district of Canary Wharf.

Crossing the River Thames to North London is not a barrier but an invitation. The newly built Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern are here, as well as Southwark, one of London's darkest secrets.

You most likely won't be staying in South London, but it is home to internationally known arts and performance venues and museums.

South London

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Travelers will discover some of the most distinguished galleries, theatres and concert halls in South London, located south of the River Thames. Stretching from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, visit the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, Butler's Wharf and the Design Museum, not forgetting the Oxo Tower.

The South Bank has become popular with tourists since the London Eye began to fly and having its fair share of attractions. The Thames River Walk gives pedestrians a spectacular view of the regal north shore.

The Borough Market is good for produce shopping and Bermondsey is known for the antique shops. Visitors will come across fine galleries, art cafes and gastro pubs in this area.

At Southwark, visit the Southwark Cathedral, which is the most ancient Gothic church in London -- built in 1220. Southwark was also home to William Shakespeare. He wrote the majority of his greatest works whilst resident here and visitors can still see these plays at the Globe Theatre.

If looking to stay in the area, the Southwark Rose Hotel is located near the Tate Modern. Or stay at the Enterprise Hotel, if you are on a budget.

North London

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Clerkenwell, Islington and King's Cross are located on the north side of Central London in what is referred to as North London, which doesn't include the areas of East and West London.

The area Clerkenwell symbolizes that typical London alchemy, in which the old and the new fuse together into something stirring and surprising. Visit the charming chapel of St. Bartholomew the Great, situated in an exquisite corner of narrow streets, freckled with traditional restaurants, pubs and shops just across from the Smithfield Market. Exmouth Market is another place that attracts visitors with its delicious cuisines and fine jewelry shops. On the idyllic setting of Regent's Canal, Camden Lock Market is different than other markets and here you can find whatever you can think of.

Islington is further north and is also in a process of rebirth. It used to be a leading suburb in the 19th century, quite alluring to artists, writers and bankers due to its location. Today, it is one of the liveliest and most creative villages of London. Islington is considered the art and culture hub of London. Stop by at the Islington Green and visit the sophisticated and modern Business Design Center for shopping. Islington has a lot of nice gastro pubs, such as The Crown, The Drapers Arms and the Duke of Cambridge. All have an upscale atmosphere, serve beer and a clever selection of wine.

Another place you may want to visit here is King's Cross, formerly a famous train station now turned into a residential neighborhood. The high-speed rail link to Paris, a 2.5 hour ride, has spearheaded development here. You will come across a profusion of trendy bars and shops in the area. On a narrow cobble stoned alley, Smithys is one of London's very atmospheric bars. The venue was a 19th century horse drawn bus garage, now converted into a charming wine bar that also serves bar meals.

In Islington, the Hilton London Islington offered great lodging in the area. However, if traveling on a budget try the Arriva Hotel located near the King's Cross Station.

West London

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The most prominent part in West London is undeniably Notting Hill, due to its proximity to Central London. It is considered one of the most fashionable and expensive residential areas in the city. Travelers who have seen the movie by the same name, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, will recognize many of the picturesque parks and streets shown in the movie.

Sometimes considered part of a, neighborhoods of Kensington and Chelsea are also reputed to be the most posh places to live in the country. The most popular spot in this area is Kings Road, which is speckled with distinguished and attractive shopping streets and thoroughfares. The shops along Sloane Street are dominated by global fashion names. Find more charm in Chelsea at Walton Street, Beauchamp Place or Pont Street.

South of Notting Hill is the chic and expensive area of Holland Park. It is located near Kensington High Street and contains something of interests for everyone. Visitors can enjoy activities like sports and opera performances here.

Mayfair is the ultimate destination for the affluent foreigners due to its refined hotels. The wealthy Arabs, Americans and East Asians outnumber the local aristocrats here. Bond Street is known for its upscale shopping, particularly gem shopping at Sotheby's.

Regent Street, Bond Street, Piccadilly and Oxford Street seem full of energy. Most of the shops, auction houses and galleries, restaurants and bars in the area have a very high-end clientele.

Great places to check into in the West London area include the Thistle Piccadilly and the Rathbone Hotel.

East London

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East London rivals Central London's Square Mile (also known as the City of London) as the city's central business district with Canary Wharf, the business centre located on the Isle of Dogs. The are is also home to the country's three tallest buildings. Currently, East London is experiencing a property boom due to its proximity to Central London and because of London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Another of interest is the New Spitalfields Market, which opened in 1991 and is located on a 31-acre site in Leyton. Here shoppers can find anything from vegetable to vintage goods at this popular market. The area of Brick Lane is intriguing because of the Bangladeshi settlers and shops, where travelers can sample homemade curry and browse designer label boutiques showing off the local talent.

The area's best hotels can be found at Canary Wharf. The Hilton London Canary Wharf is a modern 4 star hotel. While the Britannia International Hotel is comfortably located near London City Airport.

Central London

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Central London is known for its upscale shopping streets and posh areas like Marylebone, which gets its name from a church called St. Mary's. It is a blend of Edwardian magnitude, modern living and discreet elegance.

Short walk from Oxford Street, you will get to Marylebone High Street, where great shopping is found. There are lots of attractions near Marylebone, like Madame Tussaud's, the Lords Cricket Ground, Regent Park and Hyde Park.

Another area of interest is Fitzrovia, which is a maze of small, one-way streets occupied by advertising agencies, architects and show rooms that have made it a high design neighborhood. You will find restaurants with chic interiors that only add glamour to the dining experience. On the eastern side of Fitzrovia is Bloomsbury, home to British Library, University College and the British Museum.

Covent Garden is another appealing place for tourist and home to numerous shopping streets, including Seven Dials, a crafts market and the Royal Opera House. Get amused by the street entertainers and open space dining is a must here.

At Soho one can find a fusion of the trendy and tacky. Its streets seem more exotic than the rest of the city, lined up with jazz clubs, cinemas and theatres. While at Leicester Square, tourists can find a plethora of bars and clubs.

There are a lot of excellent hotels in Central London. At The Hyde Park Towers Hotel, guests will marvel at the property's own distinct Victorian style. The hotel is close to shopping along Oxford Street. However, if looking to stay in the West End area check into The Ritz London.

Attractions in London

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As the de facto capital of the United Kingdom and one of the leading European travel destinations, London has plenty of landmarks and attractions that keep travelers coming by the millions every year. With a wide variety of museums, art galleries, castles and parks, there is definitely something for every kind of traveler. There are also plenty of must see sights that are quintessentially London.

Clock Tower, often mistakenly called Big Ben, is undoubtedly the iconic symbol of the city. The clock a one point was the most accurate clock in the world. Big Ben is the name of the enormous bell housed within the tower. Houses of Parliament is the home of the tower and is where the country's government officials convene. Visitors can actually sit in on a debate when the Houses are meeting.

Hyde Park spans 350 acres, by far one of the city's largest parks, and provides an oasis of tranquility in Central London. Londoners come out to the park to play a game of football, cricket or rugby, or just to have a picnic and unwind.

The city also houses of the best museums in the world. The British Museum is undeniable the crown jewel of the city's museums, with an incredible collection of artifacts from all over the world. The Victoria and Albert Museum is home to 145 galleries that display an array of works, including sculpture, photography, furniture and fashion.

And this is just the beginning of all the amazing attractions that can be found in London. Make sure to explore and plan everything you want to see ahead of time to make your next London getaway unforgettable.

Tip: If you want to know the details of London attractions at your own pace, StrollOn produces mp3 audioguides for London, as well as free city overviews and Hot Spots (individual guides for individual sights and attractions). Select your guide on their website and download the mp3 files onto an iPod or other mp3 player. Then discover London attractions whenever you want without the guided tours crowd.

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