Neighbourhoods in London
Each area has its own attractions, accommodation and work opportunities, as well
as it's own unique ambience. This is why London has such a great cultural life
such as the style of restaurants, pubs and bars, shopping and markets and live
music venues.
The City of London
Commonly referred to as The City, London's financial
district contains one of the world's largest concentrations of banks and
insurance companies and is a hive of activity during business hours and
deserted on weekends. Although mainly a business district, The City has
several major attractions including St Pauls Cathedral, the Tower of London
and Tower Bridge.
The West End
This is the area that most people talk about when they mean Central London. The area includes
neighbourhoods such as Soho, Covent Garden and Bloomsbury. The main shopping streets are located here including
Oxford and Regent Streets along with the major theatres and the bookshops of Charing Cross Road. Covent Garden is
perhaps the most hip area of London with its market and loads of cool eateries and cafés and bars, pubs and live
music venues. Landmarks in the West End include Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses, Leicester and Trafalgar Squares,
along with the British Museum.
The West End has famous lively nightlife, which centres (for most visitors) around the
maelstrom of Leicester Square - an international playground that many Londoners would never even consider visiting.
Westminster and Victoria
Within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, this is the administrative heart of the UK.
It holds the Houses of Parliament, the Prime Ministers' residence on Downing Street, and New Scotland Yard along
with Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Further to the west, you'll find Buckingham Palace and a small cluster of budget
hotels around Victoria Station.
Kensington, Chelsea and West London
Kensington, Chelsea and neighbouring Knightsbridge are traditionally known as
London's most expensive addresses with loads of ritzy shops including the famous Harrods department store.
Surprisingly this area is also home to most of London's hostels and budget hotels which are situated in Earls Court
and neighbouring South Kensington. Many backpackers living in London rent flats and houses in Earls Court and the
nearby western suburbs of Hammersmith and Acton. This area has a good selection of pubs with many of London's top
museums situated in South Kensington. Other Landmarks include Hyde Park and Kensington Palace (Princess Diana's
former residence).
Paddington, Bayswater and Notting Hill
The northern end of Hyde Park also has a number of hostels and budget
hotels, particularly in the Bayswater area and around Paddington Station. Further to the west, you'll find Notting
Hill with its famous annual street party and Portobello Road Market.
Camden and North London
Most people visit North London to hang out at Camden Town market, however North London also
includes many great live music venues and some great pubs, both in Camden Town and Upper Street Islington.
The Docklands, Greenwich and the East End
The working class neighbourhoods to the east of The City have some
fascinating sights, including the popular Jack the Ripper Walking Tour offering a different perspective of London.
Further east, you'll find new developments at the Docklands, especially the area around Canary Wharf which is fast
becoming a new centre for the financial and media industries. To the south of the Docklands, walk through the
foot-tunnel under the Thames to suburban Greenwich which is famous for its history of time-keeping and navigation.
South London
The majority of South London's sights are clustered along the Thames, usually within walking distance
of the busier areas to the north of the river. In addition to the riverfront promenade which runs from the Design
Museum to Waterloo station, South London features William Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Imperial War Museum and
further afield, Kew Gardens and Wimbledon.
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