The West End is largely considered the heart of London. Theatre-lovers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven when they get a glimpse of all the marquees with famous names in bright lights. But there’s more than just theatre in the West End. Piccadilly Circus rivals Times Square with its massive displays of neon lights and advertising. You’ll find some of the best Chinese food in Chinatown off Leicester Square. Shopaholics can easily max out their credit cards with a trip to Oxford Street, an area that gets so crowded with shoppers that it can be difficult to walk through the masses during the holiday season. Hipsters and fashionistas should strut their way to Soho and Covent Garden . And you can’t hang in the West End without visiting Trafalgar Square to see the impressive fountains and statues in front of the National Gallery . Much like in Venice’s Piazza San Marco, you’ll still find hordes of pigeons everywhere, but now that it’s become illegal to feed the flying rats (punishable by a fine if you’re caught doing it), it’s much more enjoyable as the pigeon population dwindles. If you are unlucky enough to get pigeon droppings on your shoulder, the best way to remove it is to let it dry, then scrape off the dried crud with a credit card. It's not an appealing solution, but if you try to wipe it off, you'll only rub it into the fabric of your coat.
The City of London (usually referred to simply as “ The City”) is the oldest part of London and you can find the stunning St. Paul’s Cathedral within its reaches, as well as the Tower of London . It is also here that you’ll find the iconic Tower Bridge (not to be mistaken with the London Bridge) that you’ll no doubt recognize from its many appearances in film and television throughout the years. Also in the City are fragments of the original city walls. The role that they played and the history of this city are explained in detail at the Museum of London.
The South Bank is where you’ll encounter the intriguing London Eye, which provides an unparalleled view of London. You’ll also stumble upon the old stomping grounds of Shakespeare and his crew at the Globe Theatre. If you’re looking for a historically inauthentic scare, then a visit to the London Dungeon is a must, where the staff gets almost too much joy out reenacting the macabre events in London’s history. Be aware that the queues at the London Dungeon can be extremely long. The South Bank is also home to the Tate Modern. Housed in a stunning art deco former power plant, it is a must see for architecture buffs, although the collection itself is somewhat disappointing. The gallery is free to enter and they have a regularly changing program of paid exhibitions (and a very nice view from the restaurant on the top floor). This area is very much up and coming and there is a cluster of interesting restaurants developing on The Cut and Lower Marsh streets, a short walk from the river. Don't miss a walk across the Millennium footbrige which connects the Tate Modern and St. Paul's catherdal. There is nothing more pleasant in London on a nice evening that a stroll along the South Bank of the Thames - the views of the city are incomparable. The South Bank is also the unofficial home to London's skaters and BMX bike riders. They hang out and show off under the arches near the Royal festival Hall/London Eye. If gastronomy is your thing then visit Borough Marketon a Saturday. Situated just 2 minutes from London Bridge, this food market is a firm favourite among locals and tourists alike. From home grown organic produce to specialist foodstuffs, you'll find it all here. Borough Market was recently voted one of the top sights in a Visit London poll. Top tip for missing the crush of crowds on a Saturday is to visit on a Friday afternoon (it is open from 12 to 6 on a Friday & Saturday).
Westminster is less about entertainment as it is more of a business district, but there are still plenty of sights to take in, including the homes of the Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth. You can also tour Westminster Abbey and snap pictures of the imposing Big Ben, a must for any visitor to London. Visitors with a UK passport can pre-book tours of Parliament and go up Big Ben; check the parliament website for restrictions and how to guide.
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant made Notting Hill famous in the movie by the same name, but that’s not the only thing it’s known for. The main claim to fame here is the Portobello Market that takes place every Saturday. You can find virtually anything and everything that you might need (and some things you might not need, but discover you can’t live without). Portobello specialises in clothes. If you are looking for authentic street markets with charm and function try the flower market on a Sunday morning in Columbia Road (East End).
Not all of London is crowded with statues, museums and famous homes. For a bit of the country life (albeit wealthy country life) within the city, walk around Hyde Park for a bit and check out the beautiful Kensington Gardens. It’s here in Hyde Park that all the malcontents step up on their soapboxes (seriously) and rant about whatever they want to whoever will listen, as part of Speaker’s Corner on Sundays. The gentle grand splendor of Green Park is hard to rival and it has the gorgeous Canadian War Memorial - a quite stunning sight on any day of the year.
If you’re hoping to see London at its most grungy, look no further than North London, home to the Camden Market. This area of London has staunchly resisted conformity and its residents are a prime example of that, with their multiple piercings, neon-coloured hair and interesting style of dress. Camden Market is the most well known area of this neighborhood, but there are other attractions such as the famous Abbey Road Studios, located right in front of the street crossing where every tourist wants a picture of himself or herself walking like the Beatles, much to the chagrin of local drivers. Don't forget to remove your shoes!
Another interesting and relaxing part of North London is Hampstead. This sleepy upper class neighborhood is a place for walking and shopping in cute little bookshops. Bump into celebrities and enjoy the sun on Hampstead Heath. There are lots of nice pubs to warm up in/cool down in around the heath.
In the neighbourhood of Marylebone and Regent’s Park lies the third-largest tourist attraction of Madame Tussaud’s and the Planetarium. Although locals might not see the allure, and this is a clue, tourists routinely crowd into Madame Tussaud’s to gape at the life-like statues of celebrities such as Muhammad Ali and a selection of U.S. Presidents. You don’t have to wait around outside Buckingham Palace to see the Royals, as they are also all on display and ready for a photo opportunity.
West London is home to Hammersmith as well as the neighbourhoods Shepherd’s Bush, Castelnau and Barnes. A walk in this area would make an ideal half-day outing, but don't expect neon signs, department stores and roaring double decker buses. Take the bus or tube to Hammersmith and begin your walk at the pretty Hammersmith Bridge--cross or don't cross--either way it doesn't matter. There are some charming streets and beautiful homes along this area of the River Thames and there are many nice pubs, large and small, on either side. Do not miss having a beer in what is supposed to be London's oldest pub still in operation, The Dove. Off-off Broadway plays sometimes perform in this area and there are a smattering of music clubs dotting the landscape.
For a short walk along the river that passes beautiful houses, takes in 3 pubs and leads towards the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, try Strand on the Green. This is easily accessible by road, bus and Kew Bridge station. The houses face directly onto the river with only a footpath to separate them, so no cars to contend with, their front gardens are beautiful and the opposite bank is covered in trees. All three pubs serve food and have seating outside and it's only a 15 minute walk to the other side of the river and the botanical gardens.
There are other notable neighborhoods – for example, Bloomsbury, which is largely considered the academic area of London; Chelsea, the Sloaniest of neighborhoods; Holborn, Clerkenwell and also Belgravia. But it’s the ones described above that you’re most likely to frequent while visiting London on vacation.