London is United Kingdom’s capital and a major destination in Europe. This frenetic capital fascinates visitors with its majestic palaces, famous museums, larger than life monuments and that distinct genteel aura that pervades among locals. London offers a mixed bag of attractions and activities reflecting the diverse range of ethnicities living in the city. Home to one of the most powerful monarchies in the world, London has enough castles and stately homes to fill anyone’s royal fancies, and yet more are found further afield. Apart from sightseeing, entertainment is another class act. Find a plethora of plays, musicals and other bedazzling theatrical highlights or drop in on any of the swinging pubs and fine restaurants to help you unwind and further enjoy your holiday.

It may be daunting to an avid explorer as he maps out his course of action. Thames River separates London into north and south making your navigation as easy as possible. On the north bank, the key attractions can be found along with theatres and restaurants that can be reached by Underground’s Circle Line. On the western portion of the loop lies trendy haunts. Soho offers all sorts of watering holes and shops! Piccadilly Circus, standing at the junction of five busy streets emulates the atmosphere of New York’s Times Square; its famous statue of Eros in the middle is one of London’s top landmarks. Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Regent Street can also be seen within this area.

Kensington and Chelsea is an affluent borough in which you can have a taste of hip dining and fancy boutiques. History provides these neighborhoods their funky appeal as King’s Road area was where London swung to the beat of the 60s and rocked in the 70s. Notting Hill on the other hand, lay its mark on pop culture as Hollywood saw Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts walking past street markets, little art galleries and Victorian townhouses which were on full display. Another nifty enclave is Camden Town, popular for its bustling street markets.

What should one not miss while in London? Choose between a black taxicab or the red double-decker bus to take on this must-see list. Most of these sights stand testament to England’s proud history. Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace; Westminster Abbey, where royals are entombed; stare in awe at Big Ben or the St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is imperative for fans of the poet and for further art appreciation, visit the Natural History and British museums.

But if you want to see over 55 attractions of the city in one quick swoop, hop on the London Eye, the world’s tallest observation wheel, and enjoy the breathtaking views!

Watch the changing of the guard everyday and see the Queen’s troops march in their full regalia. If you find yourself in London in summer, all of the city comes to a full stop for the Trooping the Colour ceremonies during the Queen’s Birthday Parade. Another time-honored tradition is the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race along the banks of the Thames River. Popular events in the British calendar also include Notting Hill Carnival, bringing out the biggest street parties in August. The Lord Mayor’s Show is also a much-awaited event as locals and tourists are treated to an extravagant parade when the Lord Mayor rides in his gilded coach. Musical extravaganzas are in store for everyone at the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park for the Last Night of the Proms around mid-September. Then if you want to feast your eyes on some of the best flowers in the land, head for the Chelsea Flower Show in May.

In the world of sports, tennis fans witness champions battle it out in the grass courts of Wimbledon, one of the four major grand slam tournaments. Endless revelry in the streets ensue as the London Gay and Lesbian Pride and Mardi Gras comes around June. Soho’s Chinatown celebrates Chinese New Year at the start of the year with fireworks, food tripping and dragon dances spilling onto Trafalgar Square.

If you fall in love with London like so many others do, then just visiting sometimes isn't enough. Moving to London becomes a viable option when you want to experience something totally new. London offers so much; history, the culture, the excitement as well as the very close proximity to Europe.

If you're contemplating taking your London travels to the next level then visit Moving to London to get all the advice, tips and resources you'll need to make your transition easier.

Climate

• Winter (December to March) 3-6°C; mild but damp, rarely freezes
• Spring (March to May) 11-15°C; everything abloom as temperature starts to go up and warm sunshine bathes the metropolis
• Summer (June to August) 18-30°C; temperatures can shoot up in the city but expect cloudy skies and rain as well
• Fall (September to November) 5-25°C; best time to visit but be sure to carry an umbrella to protect yourself from rain

Londoners love it. Overseas tourists can’t get enough of it. But a lot of other people in the country shudder at the thought of visiting the capital. ‘It’s too big, too dirty, too noisy, too dangerous, too crowded, too fast-paced, too famous, too expensive.’

Yes, London is all of those things. But that’s actually part of its appeal. The only way to enjoy London is to accept its bad points and revel in its good ones. And once you do, you’re in for the time of your life. So there’s no point resenting the fact that London gets all the attention or puts itself across as the only sporting, artistic and cultural hub in the country. Instead, feel slightly smug that it also gets most of the traffic jams and pollution – and take a short-term visitor’s gain from Londoners long-term stuck-with-it gain.

From the might of Westminster to the seediness of Soho, from the opulence of Mayfair to the overbearing self-confidence of the businesspeople clogging up all the great pubs in the City, there’s so much to see and do. Like taking in a show in the West End or head to Kensington and Knightsbridge for all the museums and galleries – many of which are still, fantastically, free.

While we might scoff at London’s pretentiousness in the privacy of our own towns and villages, there’s an understanding that, like a family member, should anyone from outside the UK join in the mocking, we’ll cut them down quick smart by rattling off a thousand reasons why it’s the cultural centre of the western world.

LONDON’S TOP 10

LONDON LOCAL

Soho

While Soho used to have a dangerous edge due to its notoriety as a red-light district, it has become increasingly gentrified over the years. So much so, in fact, that its dangerous edge now comes from the children of said gentry, trying desperately to get back to gangsta roots they never had, standing threateningly on corners and looking for mischief. While it was far safer and more entertaining when the hookers and pimps ran this end of town, there’s still a fair bit to see and do.

Soho’s bars and clubs, like Chinawhite and Café Boheme are magnets for celebrities from lists A-Z. Even during the day, Soho’s Chinatown and its gay village on Old Compton Street are both full of a vibrant buzz.

Piccadilly Circus

Tourists from every corner of the world flock to this London icon, situated in the heart of the West End, with the theatre-packed Shaftesbury Avenue running off it. Scoff as you may at the gaudy signage and dazed-looking backpackers, there is something about its buzz and vibrancy that sweeps you up in its charm.

Central to everything, including Covent Garden and the high-end shops on Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus is a good meeting spot… except that thousands of others think so, too.

Camden

There aren’t many other areas in London – or in the whole country, for that matter – that have a style so closely associated with its location. From music to fashion to culture, there’s a distinct Camden ‘flavour’ to everything within the village limits, usually marked by pink or blue hair.

Camden is a thriving, buzzing hub of alternative culture, and the perfect place to peruse markets and music venues, including The Roundhouse Theatre and an indoor market inside the Electric Ballroom. The Devonshire Arms (known locally as The Hobgoblin) is the perfect liquid antidote to London’s many touristy pubs.

Chelsea

Remember Cool Britannia in the 1990s? Chelsea does. More than just a New Labour marketing slogan, it was also when King’s Road climbed to the heights of elegance it hadn’t hit since the Swinging Sixties. The district has moved on since then, but the boutiques and designer stores (not to mention the antique shops) remain. So, too, do an irritating number of ‘Sloane Rangers’ who still give Londoners a bad name, but you can’t have everything.

Actually, in Chelsea, you pretty much can have everything – assuming you’re prepared to pay for it…

Notting Hill

Celebs love Notting Hill and can often be seen ‘casually’ browsing Portobello Road Market. If fighting Gwen, Chris and Apple for stall wares isn’t your thing, Notting Hill provides other retail-tastic options. Westbourne Grove is where established fashion designers share real estate with up-and-coming creative types.

LONDON EAT & DRINK

LONDON EVENTS

With more than half a million spectators, London’s New Year’s Day Parade is the biggest event of its kind in the world. Now if that doesn’t make your heart swell with national pride, nothing will!

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in late March attracts a massive crowd to the River Thames. Hugh Laurie rowed it in it once, before he abandoned us and went to America.

Contrary to popular opinion, May’s Chelsea Flower Show not just for octogenarians. It’s actually very pretty and… well, it is really an oldie sort of thing to do.

If you like a bit of pomp and circumstance, Trooping the Colour in June takes some beating. Unless you’re an intrusive paparazzo, it’s probably your best chance of catching Will and Kate (and hopefully Pippa!) in the flesh.

Whether or not you’re a fan of Tom Jones, the English Heritage Picnic Concerts are a good way to make the most of the summer months.

August’s Notting Hill Carnival is the second largest street festival in the world – one of the many boons of London’s diverse culture. It’s crowded but fun and as everyone is determined to have a good time, remarkably trouble-free.

Arguably the most popular classical music concert in the world, the Last Night of the Proms in September was so popular in 2010 they did it twice!

Unlike other European film festivals, October’s London Film Festival is not just for celebrities and film industry insiders.

The second Saturday in November is when the Lord Mayor swears his allegiance to the Crown at the Lord Mayor’s Show. The BBC used to televise this, before they realised there was actually more to the country than London – no matter how fabulous it is.

WHEN TO GO

Like the rest of the country, London can shut down if it even looks like snowing. Apart from that, any time is a good time to visit, providing you dress appropriately.

WHAT TO MISS

· The London Trocadero is the epitome of gaudy and crowded Piccadilly Circus – and not in a good way.

· Public phones. Iconic, yes, but your mobile is sure to have less bacteria on the mouthpiece…

· While Oxford Street is a must-see, save your shopping for less touristy areas to get better prices and more original pieces.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

Stop press: You don’t HAVE to drive to London. In fact, it’s probably best if you don’t. The stats tell us that the Congestion Charge has reduced some of the traffic, but you probably wouldn’t notice it.

You could fly to London, but as both Heathrow and Gatwick are a bit out of it (in distance rather than anything else) and no-one knows anyone who has actually used London City Airport, rail is probably your best bet. Apart from anything else, London’s train stations (particularly like Waterloo and St Pancras) are architectural works of art.

· Once there, the Tube is generally the quickest and most reliable way to get around. But it can get stifling to the point of thinking you’re going to faint in summer, and avoid it at peak commuting times (8am to 9.30am, 4.30pm to 6pm) – unless you want to discover why Londoners moan about it.

· If you have some time to spare, the top level of a double-decker bus is more exciting way to get where you’re going. Get an Oyster Card (available from tube stations and newsagents) for travel across all London’s public networks.

· The distance between tube stations can be misleading. In the thick of it, walking is the best way to get around. Or hail a black cab, give them the obscurest street you can think of in the whole damn town and sit back in amazement as they take you there without once having to consult the A-Z.

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· The London Underground (called the Tube) is generally the quickest and most reliable way to get around. But it can get stifling to the point of thinking you’re going to faint in summer, and avoid it at peak commuting times (8am to 9.30am, 4.30pm to 6pm) – unless you want to discover why Londoners moan about it.

· If you have some time to spare, the top level of a double-decker bus is more exciting way to get where you’re going. Get an Oyster Card (available from tube stations and newsagents) for travel across all London’s public networks.

· The distance between tube stations can be misleading – London is rather small and your feet are often a very convenient method of transportation.

While many hipster aortas claim to own the resurgence of fedoras, skinny jeans and puddle jumpers worn with sockless brogues, it’s really London’s East End that can take the bow. The confines of Hackney, Shoreditch and Hoxton seem to breed food, art and fashion revolutions by the minute – while the rest of the world just follows suit.

From the requisite White Chapel and White Cube galleries to the edgier Hackney Wick and art spaces of Vyner Street, the East End art crowd is at the forefront of the global avant-garde. On the food and booze front, things aren’t any less punch and diverse. Old faithful Brick Lane still does a supreme curry house, while Les Trois Garcons holds the stalwart title firm, serving modern French fare in a vintage curio den . Throw in a smattering of nose-to-tail joints and a cheap Vietnamese contingent and you’re spoilt for choice.

Feel free to sample the achingly hip sartorial choices the East End has to offer, but many decide to linger on the sidelines here. Simply too much pressure!