ABOUT LONDON

London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together: the City of London, known simply as ‘the City’ is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It was the original Roman settlement (ancient Londinium), making it the oldest part of London and already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built. The other part is the City of Westminster, where Parliament and most of the government offices are located as well as Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal family.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York, and is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s 500 largest companies. It has the most international visitors of any city in the world. London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympics three times.

The population of London is 7,762,570 and has the highest population density in Britain, with 4,699 people per square kilometre.

The London Underground network is the oldest underground railway network in the world and the most extensive after the Shanghai Metro.

London’s areas

Soho | Westminster and St. James | Covent Garden | Liverpool Street and The City of London | South Bank and Waterloo | Kensington | Camden Town and Camden Markets | Canary Wharf | Notting Hill and Portobello Market

Soho

Vibrant Soho in Central London is famous for its theatre shows, gay scene, pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants. London's Soho has something for everyone – it's on the must-do list for most tourists and London locals flock here in droves as well.

Soho was developed as an urban area from the late 16th century onwards. The name Soho is thought to come from a 17th-century hunting and battle cry. From the 17th to early 20th century Soho was avoided and neglected by the rich aristocrats in neighbouring Bloomsbury and Mayfair. As such, Soho developed a reputation for prostitution, music halls, cheap food and shady dealings.

During the 20th century, Soho became the centre of bohemian London with intellectuals, writers, artists and poets eating and drinking in Soho's many pubs and restaurants. Beatnik culture began here and Soho's Carnaby Street was a centrepiece for swinging London in the 1960s.

Soho only covers roughly 1 square mile, so it's easy to walk around the whole area.

http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/

Westminster and St. James

London Westminster is home to many of London's most iconic attractions, such as the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. While in Westminster, you can also head to the famous West End for shopping and theatre shows. In the Westminster area you will also find the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.

You'll also find some fantastic shops in the West End, including Selfridges and Topshop's flagship Oxford Street store.

If you need a break from the busy West End, why not take a walk in St James's Park?

Covent Garden

Whether you're looking to shop, dine, stroll, be entertained or experience some unique heritage, there's plenty of things to do in London's Covent Garden.

At the heart of Covent Garden is the market with its quirky craft stalls, boutiques and restaurants. The central piazza has a thriving café culture and is buzzing with outlandish street entertainers and fun events all day, every day.

Two of London's popular attractions - the London Transport Museum and The Royal Opera House stand grandly in Covent Garden and there's lots more shopping to be done in surrounding streets.

Liverpool Street and The City of London

The City of London is a small city within Greater London. It’s the historic core of London around which the modern metropolis grew.

Roughly bordered by Liverpool Street, Tower Hill, Blackfriars and Barbican Tube stations, the City's boundaries have remained almost constant since the Middle Ages. It’s often referred to as just the City or as the Square Mile, as it’s almost exactly 1 square mile in area.

Of course it’s not just visitors who end up at Liverpool Street – the station is a bustling hub of peak hour activity as thousands of City workers pass through on their daily commute.

Tourist attractions in the City of London include The Monument, The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, St Pauls Cathedral, Museum of London, Spitalfields Market.

Notable recent buildings in the city are the 1980s skyscraper Tower 42, the Lloyd's Building, and London’s first eco-friendly skyscraper at 30 St Mary Axe, which is commonly known as the Gherkin.

Several hotels and shops have established themselves here, along with London’s newest shopping centre One New Change, which opened in late 2009. However, large sections of the City remain very quiet at weekends and it’s quite common to find pubs and cafes closed on Saturday and Sunday.

South Bank and Waterloo

There's a wealth of heritage and innovation dotted along the Thames at South Bank.

Just across the river from the Houses of Parliament, the South Bank area of London was energised during the 1951 Festival of Britain by the iconic modern architecture of the Southbank Centre.

The South Bank remains a focus of modern design thanks to the elegant London Eye, the BFI Imax and the designer boutiques in the Oxo Tower and Gabriel's Wharf.

The riverside walkway is perfect for people watching, spending lazy afternoons in a pavement café or browsing in one of the area's many book and art shops, or regular markets.

South Bank will keep the family entertained, whatever the weather. Feed the sharks at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, whizz down the Thames on a high speed boat or enjoy a film BFI Southbank.

Whilst in this area you should visit the infamous Borough Market where you can savour wonderful international foods and soak in the hustle and bustle of an authentic British food market.

Kensington

Kensington is one of London’s wealthiest areas and hosts most of its museums: the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Kensington also boasts two Royal Parks, Kensington Palace, the Serpentine Gallery, and a great range of shops on High Street Kensington.

Kensington’s famous Royal Albert Hall plays host to The BBC Proms concerts each year. As well as classical concerts, you can also see rock and pop gigs, ballet, opera and even tennis here!

Camden Town and Camden Markets

London’s Camden Town offers a plethora of eclectic, intriguing and unique experiences. Visitors and locals gather to hunt for treasures in Camden’s markets, to stroll by Regent’s canal, gaze at the beautiful buildings, sample cuisine from around the world, listen to live music and soak up the vibrant and diverse atmosphere.

Camden is located in between some of London’s richest neighbourhoods. On one side is Bloomsbury, to the other Primrose Hill – not forgetting the beautiful Hampstead to the north with its wonderful heath and stately home.

The six open-air markets and myriad retail outlets of Camden will keep the keenest shoppers busy, with everything from vintage to futuristic designs on offer.

Camden was hit by large fire in February 2008, which affected the Canal Market and ever-popular Hawley Arms pub, but both the Hawley and Canal Market have since re-opened. Other markets, such as Camden Lock Market and the Stables Market have recently undergone an extensive renovation so they're now bigger and better than ever.

Canary Wharf

The sleek tower blocks of London's Canary Wharf dominate the city's skyline and include Britain's tallest building.

Canary Wharf and Docklands was once the busiest port in the world, although that fact can be quite difficult to imagine as you walk around the area. Even harder to believe is that just 20 years ago Canary Wharf was one of the most derelict areas of London.

The warehouses around Docklands' West India Quay are the best preserved in London. These days, they house a selection of bars and restaurants. The quay takes its name from the raw sugar that was imported from the West Indies.

During the 19th century, shipbuilding flourished on the Isle of Dogs, the most notable ship built there being Brunel's Great Eastern. The isle was once empty marshland and it is thought that Henry VIII used it to kennel his dogs in the 16th century.

Notting Hill and Portobello Market

Notting Hill is one of the wealthiest areas of London with stunning residential quarters and quaint picturesque mews. The famous homonymous movie was filmed here and since the area has become a major tourist attraction.

Portobello Road has been a market since the 1800s but became particularly famous for its antiques in the 1950s. Now there are numerous stalls offering everything from fruit and bread to posters, clothes, music and, of course, loads of antiques! Alongside the market there are many boutiques and cafes not to mention the famous Hummingbird Bakery which sells delicious American style cupcakes.