Apartment South Kensington

The City  London

Large city. For arrivals by plane: airport Heathrow (LHR) 22 km, Luton (LTN) 50 km, Gatwick (LGW) 40 km, Stanstead (STN) 55 km. The most populous municipality in the European Union, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans and it is now one of the world's most important business, financial and cultural centres. Its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contributes to its status as a major global city, housing four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, the historic settlement of Greenwich, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and the site comprising Westminster Palace and Abbey and St. Margaret's Church. London is home to many museums, galleries and other institutions. The British Museum houses historic artefacts from around the world including the famous Parthenon frieze and an excellent Egypt section and the British Library at St Pancras is the UK's national library with 150 million items. The city boasts extensive art collections, primarily in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and in the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, both located along the river Thames. The Natural History Museum (biology and geology), Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum (fashion and design) are clustered further west, in South Kensington's 'museum quarter'. The entertainment district of the West End has its focus around Leicester Square, where London and world film premieres are held and Piccadilly Circus, with its giant electronic advertisements. London's theatre district is here, as are many cinemas, bars, clubs and restaurants and the colourful Chinatown and just to the east is Covent Garden, an area housing speciality shops and the Royal Opera House, one of the main city's music and dance temples together with the Royal Albert Hall, located in South Kensington. A 'Royal visit' is also a must in London: either Buckingham Palace with its change of the guard, the royal residences of Hampton Court and Windsor (just outside the city) or a stroll in one of the several Royal Parks: Hyde Park, St. James's, Regent's and Green Park, all located in the city centre. Primrose Hill to the north of Regent's Park is a popular spot to view the city skyline. Some more informal, semi-natural open spaces include the beautiful Hampstead Heath in North London. West London is known for fashionable and expensive residential areas such as Notting Hill, Knightsbridge and Chelsea and for the top class shopping at the Harrods department store and along King's Road. Europe's busiest shopping area is concentrated along Oxford and Regent Street, home to many shops and department stores including the famous Selfridges. South London has also plenty to offer, the long millennium walk along the South river bank from Westminster to the Tower bridge is highly recommended, with its many attractions like the London Eye, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe theatre and the vibrant area around London Bridge, which includes the London Dungeons and the colorful Borough Market. Moving up north, Islington's 1 mile long Upper Street, extending from The Angel / King's Cross area, has more bars and restaurants than any other street in the UK and the nearby Camden Town, with its famous market and lock is a magnete for the 'young and funky' visitors. Gourmet lovers will not be disappointed: London has long abandoned its bad reputation on the European dining scene an it is now considered a gourmet paradise: the city hosts a selection of the best restaurants in Europe and offers a great variety of cuisine as a result of its ethnically diverse population. Gastronomic centres include the Bangladeshi restaurants of Brick Lane and the Chinese food restaurants of Chinatown.