London is over 2000 years old and has been a vibrant and active city throughout its history. Today, it is home to more than seven million people, with several million more living near its outskirts, and has relatively easy access to the mainland via the Chunnel, the tunnel from France to England. Although England is an exciting and interesting travel experience, the simple act of going to London can fill months of travel time and still not exhaust your interest.

Simply people watching in London can keep you busy for days. London is no longer just British; Instead, it is one of the most vibrant multicultural cities in the world. The area north of Hyde Park is predominantly Arab-owned, and the outlying suburbs are home to entire neighborhoods of people of Indian and Pakistani descent. You can go to many neighborhoods in the city and not hear a word of English.

Of course, sometimes you may not recognize English as English. There are twenty or more different dialects in London alone, some more mainstream than others. About half of the English dialects in Britain have their roots in London, a 600-square-mile piece of land. It is an incredible city full of textures and cultures that you didn’t even know existed. Most of London’s tourist section lies between the Tower of London and Hyde Park, a three-mile walk.

Museums

London has countless museums, big and small, old and new, elegant and kitsch. Museums with free admission include the British Museum, the British Library, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Tate Gallery. After a certain time in the afternoon until closing (call for exact times), the Imperial War Museum, the Museum of London, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museums are also free.

In Victoria and Albert, you can find excellent collections such as the Medieval Treasury art gallery; the Dress Gallery, 400 years of English dress; and many famous works of art, including reliefs by Donatello. At the National Gallery, you can find art by great masters ranging from Da Vinci to Rubens, Botticelli to Monet, and other French Impressionists. If you’re interested in more quirky exhibits, Madame Tussaud’s famous Waxworks contains waxwork depictions of people throughout history and more modern works. It is an incredible historical museum.

Architectural treasures

London is replete with architecture from most stages of its history, some of them historical, many of them remarkable in design and beauty. For starters, the Tower of London covers several hundred years of architectural history, as well as a millennium of British history. Here, Lady Jane Gray and Anne Boleyn lost their minds; here, the Princes of the Tower disappeared. The oldest part is the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror in 1077; the rest has been built around it.

More recently, St. Paul’s Cathedral is only a few hundred years old; It is a symbol of British pride since World War II, when all the German airstrikes in London failed to blow it up. In the crypt, you will find famous tombs like Lord Nelson, or the quietly anonymous dead. London Bridge, where merchants once did business, is an architectural marvel; For a special look, try a boat trip down the Thames.

For less authentic but still delicious fun, try attending a performance at Shakespeare’s New Globe Theater, an exact reproduction of Shakespeare’s Globe, which was destroyed long ago; You can experience theater not as it is done today, but as it was performed in Shakespeare’s time, wandering through the lower gallery and even interacting with the actors. Or you can visit the Royal Shakespeare Company, a Shakespearean company not to be missed.

Walking tours and scrolling through time

There are dozens of walking tours available; visit the tourist information centers at Piccadilly Circus or at Heathrow Airport. Good walking tours will take you to landmarks like Westminster Bridge, the Jubilee Promenade, and then cross the bridge to stand under the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. To get a perfect view and take great pictures, walk about halfway up the bridge. Nearby is Westminster Abbey, overlooking the great statue of Churchill, free of pigeons because it is electrified. Trafalgar Square is the heart of the British government; You will see the queen’s life preserver nearby. And there are dozens of places to eat in the area.

Getting around London is not difficult. Driving is not a great idea; you’ll end up sitting in traffic most of the time, and parking is insanely expensive. Instead, use buses, the tube (London Underground), or taxis to get from one place to another. Or just walk; if you walk, you will not miss the really interesting places. You can get maps of bus and metro routes at a TI or metro station; You should also be able to find them at Tourist Information Centers. If you take the bus, hop on and the driver will sell you a ticket. Or you can buy a transit pass – ask at the Tourist Information Center. To travel by metro, buy tickets at the coin-operated machines, not in the cabins; this way you will avoid lines. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase, so don’t buy tickets in advance.

Purchases

Everywhere you can find neat little shops. For the best, try Harrods of London and Harvey Nichols. For a shopping district, try the Oxford Circus / Regent Street / Piccadilly Circus shopping promenade. If you see a royal stamp in a shop, stop by; this denotes him as the favorite of someone from the Royal Family. Sotheby’s auctions are also excellent, although they can quickly get expensive; Call them for hours. London is also famous for its big street markets, which are like huge flea markets; For a schedule and locations, speak to your handy Tourist Information Center.

This is just a sample of what London has available to visitors. There are thousands of things to do and see.

For more information on London visit http://www.uk-web-index.co.uk/counties/London/