Travel Guide LONDON.

Population: 7.2 million

Currency
British pounds, £1 = 100 pence

Opening hours
Monday-Saturday 9.00-17.30. Many department stores stay open till 18.00, some till 19.00 or 20.00 on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Larger shops are also open 10.00-18.00 on Sundays.

Internet
www.visitlondon.com
www.londontown.com

Publications
The Times, Telegraph, Guardian and Daily Mail are among the most important of the approximately 15 national daily newspapers published in Britain. Several have entertainment supplements for London. The Weekly magazine Time Out has the most comprehensive listings and unmatched entertainment and culture coverage.

Emergency number
999

Tourist office
Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC).
Address: 1 Lower Regent St, SW1.
Opening hours: 9.30 - 18.30 Mon, 9.00 - 18.30 Tue - Fri and 10.00 – 16.00 Sat & Sun. Jun. – Sep., Sat & Sun 10.00-17.00.
Tel. +44 (0)20 8846 9000 (main call centre).

Big Ben. Foto:www.istockphoto.com©
Welcome to london
In the sixties it was “Swinging London” Some thirty years later it was “Cool Britannia” And since then…. Well, London is still the place to be! Its vibrant culture just keeps expanding and developing, and you can feel the buzz as soon as you arrive. And there’s more to come. Thanks to London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics, the city will change and reinvent itself at a pace not witnessed since the days of Queen Victoria.
the city | do & see

destination: london
the city | do & see

The city
London is changing and it’s changing fast. Look across the skyline and you will see not only the familiar landmarks – Big Ben, St Paul’s and Buckingham Palace – but also extraordinary new buildings such as the Swiss Re Tower, known as the “Gherkin” because of its shape, and the new County Hall, like the head of an alien in a space helmet, quietly gazing over the river Thames.

But these changes are also visible in almost all of London’s neighbourhoods. It use to be easy to divide the city into the wealthy west stretching from Belgravia to Chelsea, and the working-class and immigrant populations in the east. To some extent that is still true today, but Clerkenwell, Islington and other eastern neighbourhoods have gentrified, attracting a more affluent population.

At the heart of London is Soho and its mix of narrow streets and alleys, trendy shops, elegant bars, and theatres. Notting Hill, well-known from the movie of the same name, attracts ever increasing numbers of visitors. Despite this, it has managed to retain its character of an eccentric village where some people still get the Sunday papers in there pyjamas.
And there’s more to come. Over the next two decades, London will see new development on a scale not witnessed since the days of Queen Victoria and will build up even more momentum for regeneration, thanks to London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

do & see
Few cities have as many sights as London. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St Paul’s Cathedral … it’s impossible to pack all of them into a guide of this length. But they are all worth visiting. Here are a few of the most famous and popular tourist attractions in London.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the Royal Family since 1837, but it first opened its doors to the public in 1993. The State Rooms contain some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings, sculptures and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Enjoy a walk in the Palace’s 39-acre garden with its superb views of the Garden, front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.
Tickets: £13.50.
Address: The Official Residences of The Queen, SW1.
Underground: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 7300.
www.royal.gov.uk

Tower of London
Construction was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world. Here you can see the priceless Crown Jewels, the Medieval Palace and the infamous Bloody Tower.
Tickets: £14.50.
Address: Tower of London, EC3.
Underground: Tower Hill.
Tel: +44 870 756 6060.
www.hrp.org.uk

British Museum
The British Museum is regarded as one of the biggest and finest museums in the world. It attracts 6 million visitors each year. Highlights are the Assyrian treasures, the Egyptian mummies and the spectacular, light-filled Great Court.
Tickets: Free admission.
Address: Great Russell Street, WC1.
Underground: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square, Goodge St.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7323 8000.
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Houses of Parliament
The neo-Gothic brilliance of the Houses of Parliament is impressive. It was built by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in 1840. Together with its clocktower, Saint Stephen’s Tower, the clock itself, Big Ben, the best-known of London’s many symbols.
Tickets: Free admission. Address: Parliament Square, SW1. Underground: Westminster.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7219 3000. www.parliament.uk

London Eye
137 metres in height, this smart-looking observation wheel, with 32 capsules each holding 25 people, gives a superb view of London. A “flight”, as a turn is called, takes 30 minutes.
Tickets: £14.50 . Address: Riverside Building, next to County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road. SW1.
Underground: Westminster, Waterloo.
Tel: +44 870 5000 600.
www.londoneye.com
Tate Modern
Housed in a former power station, Tate Modern is both imposing and impressive even before you enter it. Since opening in 2000, TM has become one of London’s lead attractions thanks to high-profile exhibitions of artists like Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Frida Kahlo.
Tickets: Free admission to the collections, Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions vary.
Address: Bankside, SE1.
Underground: Southwark, Blackfriars.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8000.
www.tate.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe
The Globe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare and the theatre where he first staged many of his plays. It burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. Now, almost 400 years later, it has risen again, on nearly the same spot.
Tickets for the exhibition: £8.50. Ticket prices for plays vary.
Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1.
Underground: Mansion House.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7902 1400.
www.shakespeares-globe.org

The Victoria & Albert Museum
The V & A, as it’s commonly known. has breathtaking collections of almost everything; from Islamic art to iconic clothing by Vivienne Westwood. But it is the always stunningly designed exhibitions that truly set the V & A apart.
Tickets: Admission is free but tickets for temporary exhibitions vary.
Address: Cromwell Road, SW7.
Underground: South Kensington.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 2000.
www.vam.ac.uk

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5 HOT TIPS
Rhodes W1
This is the latest venture from Gary Rhodes, the famous TV-chef. The menu is a modernist take on traditional, British cuisine.
The Cumberland, Great Cumberland Place, W1
Underground: Marble Arch
Tel: +44 (0)20 7479 3838

Microzine
One of the most exciting new shops in London. The concept is simple yet clever; a shop selling the various kinds of gods you would find in a lifestyle magazine.
Colebrooke Row, N1
Underground: Angel
Tel: +44 (0)20 7704 6667

The Victoria and Albert Museum
For a truly fascinating look at Britain through the country's art and design. This musem hosts various exhibits throughout the year and is well worth a visit.
Cromwell Road, SW7
Tel: +44 20 7942 2000
Underground: South Kensington
www.vam.ac.uk
Vinopolis
Visit Vinopolis and take one of the three main Wine Tour Packages. Learn about the art of producing good wine, as we well as sampling champagne, beer, absinthe and Scotch Whiskey.
Vinopolis, No. 1
Bank End, SE1
Tel: +44 20 7940 8322
www.vinopolis.co.uk
New London Architecture
If you want to see the future face of London, then head of to this brand new gallery housed in The Building Centre.
Admission: Free
26 Store Street
Underground: Goodge Street
Tel: +44 (0)20 7692 4000

do & see

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event highlights | eating

Event highlights
APRIL
Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
7 April
Billed as “the world’s longest surviving sporting challenge”, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is a tradition dating all the way back from 1829. The four-and-a-quarter-mile race between Putney to Mortlake only takes over 20 minutes, but captures an audience of over 250,000 every year.
www.theboatrace.org

London Marathon
22 April
The London Marathon is when the roads along the route come to life to the sounds of cheering crowds, entertainment and 30,000 pairs of feet. The race begins at Greenwich Park and Blackheath, then continues through London, and finishes on the Mall by Buckingham Palace.
www.london-marathon.co.uk

MAY
Baishakhi mela
13 May
It’s time to celebrate the Bengali New Year, Baishakhi Mela. Food stalls, parades will line London’s Brick Lane. Join in the festivities and dance to folk music, Baul, Bhangra and Bengali rock!
www.baishakhimela.com

Chelsea Flower Show
22 – 26 May
The Chelsea Flower Show is THE gardening event of the year. Watch some of the best garden exhibits and designs over the 11-acre site at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Every year the show is visited by the world’s top horticulturalists, as well as gardening enthusiasts.
www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea

JUNE
Graduate Fashion Week
3 – 6 June
Big names such as Stella McCartney, Julien MacDonald and Owen Gaster all launched their careers at the Graduate Fashion Week. The big fashion event is held at the Battersea Park Arena and competition is fierce in order to impress headhunters, buyers and the press.
www.gfw.org.uk

Spitalfields Festival
5 – 22 June
Experience the Spitalfields Festival hosts free lunch time concerts at Christ Church Spitalfields, walks, talks and much more. Ancient and contemporary music is featured.
www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk

JULY
City of London Festival
25 June – 12 July
The summer is filled with music festivals and the City of London Festival offers a diverse musical programme and plenty of events. Highlights include Berlioz’s epic requiem “Grand Messe des Morts”, with the London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.
www.colf.org

Harrods Summer Sale
2 – 28 July
Harrods Summer Sale is one of the biggest international events, drawing thousands of bargain hunters to the store. Get to the store well in advance of the opening time, dress well and be prepared for a huge crowd – some 250,000 visitors are expected on the first Saturday of the sale.
www.harrods.com
www.istockphoto.com©
EATING
It may surprise you to learn that Britain´s favourite food is ... chicken tikka masala! The popularity of Indian cuisine, or the British version of it, means that you will find Indian restaurants in practically every neighbourhood in London. Traditional English restaurants are much rarer (if you want roast beef or saddle of mutton the best bet is still Simpson´s-in-the-Strand, 100 the Strand, WC2, tel. +44 (0)20 7836 9112). although English cuisine has seen a revival and a renewal in the restaurants and recipes of celebrated chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Fergus Henderson. Between the curry and the Welsh rarebit, just about every other cuisine in the world is represented in London, and often at a world-class level. This is particularly true of major cuisines such as Italian, Chinese, French and Indian.

Locanda Locatelli
Undoubtedly one of the best Italian restaurants in London at present. Locatelli’s culinary style can be described as rustic regional food delivered with urban panache. One of their best dishes is the tagliatelle al ragù di capretto, handmade tagliatelle with kid goat ragù.
Address: 8 Seymour Street, W1. Underground: Marble Arch. Tel: +44 (0)20 7935 9088.
www.locandalocatelli.com

J Sheekey
Situated in the middle of London’s Theatre land, this has long been the before-and-after-theatre restaurant, discreet and also very elegant. It’s also London’s best restaurant for seafood – dressed crab with grated egg and parsley, delicately flavoured sea trout, shrimps with brown butter. J Sheekey attracts a lot of A list celebrities these days, so booking is absolutely essential.
Address:28-32 StMartin’sCourt,WC2.
Underground: Leicester Square.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7240 2565.
www.caprice-holdings.co.uk

Shepherd’s
The interior of this power restaurant (near the Houses of Parliament) resembles an old fashioned club and the food consists of traditional English dishes such as juicy marinated lamb, Cumberland sausages, fish cakes and an impressive assortment of pies.
Address: Marsham Court, Marsham Street, SW1.
Underground: Pimlico.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7834 9552.
www.langansrestaurants.co.uk

Haandi
One of the best and certainly most luxurious of London’s many Indian restaurants, it’s also conveniently close to Harrod's, Harvey Nichol's and Sloane Street. The cuisine is a modern take on traditional dishes from the Punjabi region of North India.
Address: 7 Cheval Place, SW3.Underground: Knightsbridge. Tel: +44 (0)20 7823 7373.
www.haandi-restaurants.com
Mr Chow
An institution and simply the best Chinese restaurant in London. The interior positively oozes discreet glamour, with smoked mirrors and walnut furniture, and the dishes are even better than rumoured: hand-pulled pasta served with minced pork and sweet bean sauce, Beijing Chicken with walnuts.
Address: 151 Knightsbridge, SW1.
Underground: Knightsbridge.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7589 7347.
www.mrchow.com/London.html

The Wolseley
Regarded by many as the best of the latest crop of new restaurants in London. Housed in a former car showroom, it has been turned into an elegant old-style “Grand Café.” The food is a mix of modern European and classic brasserie food: omelettes aux fines herbes with frites, marinated herring with potato salad.
Address: 160 Piccadilly, W1.
Underground: Green Park.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 6996., www.thewolseley.com

Duke of Cambridge
At the rustic Duke of Cambridge in Islington, there are no fast Asian fusion dishes – only slow and carefully prepared meals with organic ingredients. Most dishes go well with a pint of Saint Peter's Organic Bitter.
Address: 30 Saint Peters Street, N1.
Underground: Angel.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7359 3066.
www.singhboulton.co.uk

Destino
A hip and very nice South American restaurant. Try the duck tortillas and grilled lamb in banana leaves.
Address: 25 Swallow Street, close to Regent Street, W1.
Underground: Bond Street. Tel: +44 (0)20 7437 9885.
www.destino.co.uk

Zen Satori
The Asian and Oriental School of Catering is London’s first Asian cooking school, and at their restaurant students cook and serve dishes like a spicy mulligatawny soup from India, Thai lemongrass beef with basil or Singapore’s nonya chicken curry. But what’s best is the prices.
Address: 40 Hoxton Street, N1.
Underground: Old Street. Tel: +44 (0)20 7613 9590.
www.zen-satori.co.uk

CAFÉS
Every underground station has its cluster of coffee shops. Costa’s, Café Nero and Starbucks are all very well for a quick cup of coffee. But if you want to sit down longer, maybe have a chat; it can be hard to find a place to go. Here are three suggestions.

Bar Italia
This Soho institution is charming and a bit chaotic. According to people in the know, this is the best café north of Milan.
Address: 22 Frith Street, W1.
Underground: Tottenham Court Road.


RIBA Café
This hidden gem is worshipped by its faithful. Situated at the Royal Institute of British Architects. In the summertime, coffee, sandwiches, and the light lunch menu are best sampled on the roof terrace (make reservations in good time).
Address: 66 Portland Place, W1.
Underground: Regents Park.
Tel. +44 (0)20 763 104 67.

Lisboa Patisserie
After an early shopping round on Portobello Road come here for Portuguese pastries.
Address: 57 Golborne Road, W10.
Underground: Westbourne Park.

BARS
There are trendy and classical bars everywhere in London. But if you want to do a hip barhop Soho and Hoxton/Shoreditch are the areas to visit. Here are a few selected bars and pubs, both classic and modern.

Selfridge's
Yes that’s right. Selfridge's department store now has an oasis in the middle of all the shopping hoopla. A place with soothing bubbles for the soul. Is it a day spa? No, it’s the Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar.
Address: Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1.
Underground: Marble Arch.

T
Stylish hybrid bar that also has a café, deli and restaurant. Owned by Jamie Ritchie, who also runs the Rhodes + Mann Art Gallery a few blocks further east, T is a good starting point for a Shoreditch barhop.
Address: Tea Building,
56 Shoreditch High Street, E1.
Underground: Old Street.

Drunken Monkey
Chinese inspired bar mixing classic details with a futuristic aesthetic. The food here is very good, especially the dim sum dishes.
Address: 222 Shoreditch High Street, E1.
Underground: Shoreditch.

Ye Olde Mitre Tavern
The history of this pub can be traced all the way back to 1546. It is mentioned in William Shakespeare’s Richard II, and Queen Elizabeth is said to have danced here. Small rooms with beautifully aged wood panelled walls and worn oriental rugs.
Address: 1 Ely Court, EC1.
Underground: Farringdon.

The Argyll Arms
One of the best pubs in the Oxford Circus area. Stylish Victorian bar, beautiful windows and a good crowds around lunch and after work.
Address: 18 Argyll Street, W1.
Underground: Oxford Circus.

The Prince Alfred
Considered to be the best preserved bar from the Victorian era. It opened in 1862 and hasn’t changed a bit.
Address: 5a Formosa Street, W9.
Underground: Warwich Avenue.

NIGHTLIFE
Londoners are not just into music. The truth is they’re musicologists and their sheer love and enthusiasm for music has played no small part in creating what is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant club scenes in the world, with venues ranging from mega big, ultra sleek designed clubs to small DJ bars.

EGG
King’s Cross has emerged as a leading club area over the last five years, and EGG is the cream of the crop. The atmosphere is intimate and the upstairs bar with its red ostrich leather decor adds to the elegance. Music ranges from deep electro to house.
Address: 200 York Way, N7.
Underground: King’s Cross.

Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is much more than a club. It’s a brand, producing dance compilations, tours, and
T-shirts etc. Snobby clubbers tend to sneer at the very mention of it, but this is one of the few clubs with enough financial muscle to consistently be able to hire the best DJs, and the sound system is probably the best in London, which is why MoS is always packed.
Address: 103 Gaunt Street, SE1.
Underground: Elephant & Castle.

Fabric
Fabric is loved and known throughout the world as something truly special. Housed in what was formerly a meat market, and divided into three spaces, it has a rough look but intimate ambience. But it’s Fabric’s music that really sets this place apart: underground and left-field dance music.
Address: 77a Charterhouse Street, EC1.
Underground: Farringdon.

eating | café

Fish and chips. Foto: www.istockphoto.com©
cafés | bars | Nightlife

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shopping
SHOPPING
In London you need to be strategic about shopping. It is easy to wear yourself out trying to take in the large number of shops and boutiques. Two good tips are to focus on one area at a time and to wear comfortable shoes. These three shopping districts are recommended.

Oxford Street and Mayfair
Oxford Street is the home of the chain stores, with one exception. Selfridge's is London’s best department store (see section on Department Stores). Close to Oxford Street is fashionable Bond Street in Mayfair, where more and more interesting shops have opened over the last couple of years. Visit Gucci’s shoe brand Sergio Rossi on 15 Old Bond Street.

Conduit Street and Bruton Street, just around the corner from Bond Street, have emerged as new contenders and amongst those who have opened stores here are Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto and Matthew Williamson. Also, do not miss the seriously hip Dover Street Market on nearby Dover Street.

Savile Row
A step away is Savile Row, synonymous with English bespoke tailoring. Savile Row is no longer the old fashioned gentleman’s club it used to be, thanks to a new generation of innovative tailors, including Richard James at number 29 and Ozwald Boateng at number 12a. For shirts, ties, hats and handmade shoes head for Jermyn Street in St James behind Piccadilly.

Soho and Covent Garden
Soho is a maze. You never exit where you think you will, and you never really know where you’ve been. But the area has fun shops; prepare to shoulder an ever-increasing number of shopping bags. Many of the shops around Covent Garden cater to teens, especially those interested in skate and street fashions. On Neal Street, the sneaker shops line up, and the Seven Dials shopping mall houses even more of the same.
This area is also home to high-class jeweller Laura Lee. Paul Smith, by far the most successful British fashion designer, opened his first shop in Floral Street in Covent Garden in 1979 and now has a whole string of shops there. Another shop worth mentioning is Aram, 110 Drury Lane, which has five floors with furniture classics by names such as Eileen Gray, Charles & Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto alongside the latest pieces by Ron Arad, Jasper Morrison and Philippe Starck.


Chelsea, South Kensington and Knightsbridge
This is the area mostly known for its high end fashion shopping. On Sloane Street in Knightsbridge you’ll find Prada, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Dolce et Gabbana, Fendi and many more. But in recent years it has also attracted a lot of excellent furniture and interior design shops.

Amongst the best are B & B Italia’s cathedral-like shop at 250 Brompton Road in South Kensington, designed by the famous minimalist architect John Pawson. Nearby is The Conran Shop at 8 Fulham Road, founded by Sir Terence Conran and one of the first lifestyle shops in London. If you’re feeling hungry, have some oysters in the Bibendum Oyster Bar, located to the left of the main entrance.

Make sure to visit David Gill at 60 Fulham Road. He’s the first stop for London’s leading interior designers and displays exquisite pieces such as ceramics by Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso, mirrors by Line Vautrin and silver furniture by Bonetti. A bit further down the road, at No 175- 177, you will find Kelly Hoppen, currently Britain’s leading interior design guru with several books to her name.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Airports
London is served by four major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. The high-speed Heathrow Express train is £14.50 and takes 15 minutes to Paddington Station.
Gatwick is 28 miles from London, and a 30-minute train ride on the Gatwick Express gets you to Victoria Station for £14.90. The Stansted Express connects Stansted Airport and Liverpool Street Station with a single journey costing £15.50. Luton Airport is 34 miles from the city and is served by several coach companies. The cheapest is Easybus, which sometimes offer £2 tickets.
For more information visit:
www.heathrowairport.com
www.gatwickairport.com
www.stanstedairport.com
www.London-luton.co.uk

Stansted Airport
Stansted is the second largest port of entry in the UK for overseas tourists. It can easily be reached by train, bus or car. www.stanstedairport.com
The Stansted Express (www.stanstedexpress.com) connects the airport and Liverpool Street Station with a single journey costing £15 (children £7.25) and a return £25 (children £12). All returns have to be within 30 days. There’s also the option of a Cheap Day Return ticket for £16. Valid all day at weekends and bank holidays. Journey time is only 45 minutes.
Various coach and bus services operate into London and Cambridge, as well as Heathrow and Gatwick airports. For detailed information go to www.stanstedairport.com.
Five major car rental companies are represented in the terminal and a taxi and chauffeur service is available from the arrivals area.
Local transport
Public transport in London mainly consists of buses and the vast Underground system (consisting of 12 lines). The ”tube” is legendary and the quickest and easiest way to get around, especially during rush hour. Unfortunately it only runs until midnight. All the necessary information can be found at
www.tfl.gov.uk/tube

If you’re not in a hurry, buses are a pleasant and interesting way to get around. Viewing the city from the top of a red double-decker is a classic London experience. More and more of London’s buses run at night. www.tfl.gov.uk/buses

Buy the London Visitor Travel Card from your travel agent or local British Tourism office before you depart. The card lets you travel on buses and underground trains in central London.
www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/
A smart idea is to buy a London Travelpass that will give you unlimited travel on London’s buses, underground trains, national railtrains, Docklands light rail and Tramlink, for the dates and duration you require. Prices are (for adults) £18.00 for three days and £39.50 for seven.
www.londontravelpass.com

Taxi
Riding in one of a London’s famous black cabs is a must. They are excellent with lots of space for legs and shopping bags, but expensive. Minicabs are cheaper competitors, but you can’t flag them down on the street.
Black Cabs
tel: +44 (0)20 7272 0272.Zingo Taxis
tel. 08700-700 700 (only inside London, requires a mobile phone).
Minicabs
tel.+44 (0)20 7387 8888.
Ladycabs (female drivers)
tel. +44 (0)20 7254 3501.

Post
Stamps are available from post offices and newsagents. Post offices are generally open Monday-Friday 9.00-17.30. Larger post offices are open Saturdays 9.00-12.30.

Pharmacy
There’s always one neighbourhood chemist that’s open 24 hours. Since all medication is readily available, either over the counter or on prescription, there’s no need to stock up. Apart from individual chemists, Boots the Chemist is the main point for anything pharmacy related, but the Superdrug chain is also a good option. Both chains Medical or Dental care – 24 hrs. If you need urgent medical and dental care, call NHS Direct, tel. 0845 4647. They can give you free medical advice and direct you to the nearest hospital with 24-hour accident and emergency departments.

Telephone
Country code: +44Area code: 020

Electricity
230/240V AC, 50Hz.