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General Info

London is the most cosmopolitan metropolis in Europe but also the biggest city in terms of size and population (more then 7 millions official inhabitants). London is filled with history and grandeur everywhere and does not fail to intoxicate its visitors with its wonders, museums, more than 30,000 shops, parks, thousands of events, performances, music and the most lively and eclectic night life imaginable. A trip to London is not just a trip, London is a surprising, fascinating city, sometimes frightening due to its size and frantic lifestyle, but it is definitely a city that changes and knows how to change its visitors.

• Mayor of London: http://www.london.gov.uk/

Main Sights

London is one of the favourite urban haunts of visitors to Europe because of landmark sights like Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and the historically rich Westminster Abbey. The city also boasts some of the world's greatest museums and art galleries, and more parkland than most other capitals. A short list of monuments not to be missed, includes: - Buckingham Palace: built in the 18th century, it only became the Queen's palace in 1837. Buckingham Palace is closed to visitors except in August and early September when the Windsors are not in residence. Tube: Green Park / Victoria - House of Parliament and Big Ben: this impressive building was built in the 19th century in Neogothic style after the previous Parliament was destroyed in a fire. The bell tower (96 meters high), known throughout the world as Big Ben, was built at the same time. The building is famous for its 100 rooms and 100 stairways, but it is not open to the public. Tube: Westminster - Tower of London: one of the symbols of London, this fortified complex was built in various phases starting in 1078 under William the Conqueror. Over the centuries the Tower of London was used as a prison, treasury, arsenal and even as a zoo. Today it is one of the major sights in London, and contains the Treasury of the Crown, Medieval Palace and the infamous Bloody Tower. Tube: Tower Hill - Tower Bridge: Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. It was built in 1894 when London was a major port and is equipped with a drawbridge for ships to pass through in just three minutes. Tube: Tower Hill / London Bridge - Fulham Palace: one of the secret gems of the city, this was the country residence of the Bishop of London. The palace is a fascinating mix of styles, surrounded by charming gardens. Tube: Putney Bridge - Westminster Abbey: the most visited church in the United Kingdom, it is one of the symbols of the Crown and British nation, the spot where many of the sovereigns in English history were crowned and buried. Not to be missed: Henry VII's chapel, Poet's Corner, where the most important English literary figures are buried, Coronation Chair, Edward the Confessor's Chapel and the Chapter House. Tube: Westminster / St James's Park - St. Paul's Cathedral: this is one of London's best loved sights. Many visitors come to climb its 530 steps which lead to the Golden Gallery just under the top of the dome, with a view that encompasses the entire city. Tube: St. Paul.

• Saint Paul Cathedral: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/
• Buckingham Palace: http://www.royal.gov.uk/
• Westminster Abbey: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/

Transports

Flying to London is easy and affordable for everyone. It has five international airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City, located at a short distance from the city. - Heathrow (LHR) is the largest European airport and handles intercontinental routes. - Gatwick (LGW) is London's second airport, connected to the city by Gatwick Express which goes to Victoria Station in 30 minutes. - Stansted: London's Stansted airport (STN) it is primarily used by low cost airlines which fly to all European and Mediterranean destinations. The quickest way to reach London is with the Stansted Express, which goes to Liverpool Street station in 45 minutes. - Luton: Luton Airport (LTN) is situated 56 kilometers northwest of London. The airport is used by charter and low cost airlines. It is connected to London by Thameslink trains. - London City Airport (LCY) is the most centrally located airport in London, used mainly for business travel. Connection to the center of London is provided by Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and by bus. London Underground (or Tube) is the fastest and most convenient way of visiting London... The 12 standard lines plus the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will quickly take you to every corner of the city for exploring them. Another excellent solution for a relaxing visit of London are the famous double-decker buses.

• London Tube: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube
• Gatwick Airport: http://www.gatwickairport.com/
• Heathrow Airport: http://www.heathrowairport.com/

Museums

- British Museum: one of the biggest museums in the world. Its "jewels" include: the Rosetta stone, sculptures of the Parthenon and mummies dating back to Egyptian times. Tube: Tottenham Court / Holborn - National Gallery Museum: it houses paintings of European artists from 1250 to the last century. Includes works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Tube: Charing Cross - Tate Modern: is the national British museum of modern art and contains an impressive collection of modern and contemporary works. Masterpieces of Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Pollock and Warhol, among others, are on display here. Tube: Blackfriars - Tate Britain: is the museum dedicated to British art starting from the 16th century to modern times. It houses paintings by major British artists including Constable, Turner, Bacon, Moore, Rossetti and Gainsborough. Tube: Pimlico - Victoria & Albert Museum: dedicated to Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert is one of the best museums in the world for decorative arts. It contains more than 145 rooms with items including ceramics, works in metal, clothing and sculpture, for an impressive total of 4 million pieces. Tube: South Kensington - Natural History Museum: it houses hundreds of "interactive" displays. The room called "The Power within", where it is possible to experience an earthquake, is truly incredible. Don't miss the new Darwin Centre which contains 22 million animal species from 1700 preserved in alcohol. Tube: South Kensington - Science Museum: the largest museum in the world dedicated to science is completely interactive. It lets visitors "touch" the most important scientific discoveries of the last 300 years. The V2 missile and control module of Apollo 10 are two of the most famous pieces on display. Tube: South Kensington

• Madame Tussauds: http://www.madame-tussauds.com
• Tate Gallery: http://www.tate.org.uk/
• British Museum: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/
• Museum of London: http://www.museum-london.org.uk
• The National Gallery: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
• Victoria & Albert Museum: http://www.vam.ac.uk

Where to eat

Even if the British have never been very famous for their cuisine, London is in no way inferior to the great gourmet capitals of the world, actually it gives you the privilege of taking a culinary journey around the world by moving just a few kilometers. The city currently boasts around 9,000 restaurants with cuisine from every country. Each area of London offers all types of restaurants: the greatest concentration is in the center of the city in the Soho and Covent Garden quarters, with a 360° gastronomic offering. Some areas specialize in certain types of cuisine. Indian cuisine can be found in Southall and Wembley (West London) or Brick Lane in the East End (inexpensive). Many of the Chinese restaurants are found in Chinatown (Soho) and Queensway (Bayswater), while Hoxton and Shoreditch are famous for offering the more wholesome Vietnamese cuisine. To soak up Turkish atmosphere a trip to Islington is required; the tastes and spices of the Middle East are best experienced on Edgware Road (Paddington). Brixton and Golders Green have always been known as the home to the Caribbean and Jewish communities, respectively.

• London Restaurants: http://www.london-eating.co.uk/

Business

London is a major centre for international business and commerce and is one of three "command centres" for the global economy (along with New York City and Tokyo). London's economy generates approximately 18% of the UK's GDP. The London Stock Exchange is the largest in the world, and bigger than New York and Tokyo combined. London has five major business districts: the City, Westminster, Canary Wharf, Camden & Islington and Lambeth & Southwark. The City is the largest financial and business centre in Europe, home to banks, brokers, insurers and legal and accounting firms. A second, smaller financial district is developing at Canary Wharf to the east of the City which includes the global headquarters of HSBC, Reuters, Barclays and many of the largest law firms in the world.

• Port of London: http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/
• London Stock Exchange: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/

Shopping

London is without doubt one of the meccas of the world for shopping, even if the prices may be higher than in other European countries, this city offers the privilege of being able to find anything you are looking for and definitely enjoying one the the best shopping experiences in the world. Oxford Street and Regent Street: the most famous shopping street in London, two miles of just shops with all the major chain names plus some department stores like Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and House of Fraser, and for video and music, the multi-story HMV and Virgin Megastore. Knightsbridge: the most famous London department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols are located between Brompton Road and Sloan Street, you'll find all the major designer labels inside them and any type of product you are looking for, from gastronomy to hi tech. A little further on, Kensington High Street is the perfect spot for street fashion. Old and New Bond Street: the true mecca of world fashion. All of the most famous designers in the world have their boutiques here. Not just fashion, but also jewelry, art galleries and antique shops. The most famous? Sotheby's, of course! King's Road and Sloane Square: one of the most chic and trendy areas of London, with a good mix of famous labels and emerging designers, but also an excellent place for the most innovative furniture and accessories for the home. Covent Garden: a very pleasant area for buying anything: street wear, books and gastronomy in an ambiance far from the chaos of Oxford Street, amidst quiet cobblestone streets. Notting Hill: in addition to being a very popular quarter with artists and actors, this is an excellent place for those looking for the alternative, not just in fashion, but also books, furniture and music. It is not by chance that the famous Portobello Road is located right here.

• Portobello Market: http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/