London Vacations


	If London contained only its landmarks -- Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London -- it would still rank as one of the world's top destinations. But England's capital is much more. It's a bevy of British bobbies, an ocean of black umbrellas, and an unconquered continuance of more than 2,000 years of history. A city that loves to be explored, London beckons with great museums, royal pageantry, and quirky historical hideaways. Discovering it takes a bit of work, however. Modern-day London still largely reflects its medieval layout, a willfully difficult tangle of streets. Even Londoners get lost in their own city. But London's bewildering street pattern will be a plus if you want to experience its indefinable historic environment. London is a walker's city and will repay every moment you spend exploring on foot. The undaunted visitor who wants to penetrate beyond the city's crust is well advised to not only visit St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower but also to set aside some time for random wandering. Walk in the back streets and mews around Park Lane and Kensington. Pass up Buckingham Palace for Kew, the smallest royal palace, beautifully situated in the botanical gardens. Take in the National Gallery, but don't forget London's "time machine" museums, such as the 19th-century homes of Linley Sambourne and Sir John Soane. For out-and-out glamour, pay a call on the palatial Wallace Collection and Apsley House, the historic residence of the Duke of Wellington. While the outward shapes may be altered and the inner spirit may be warmer now than in years past, the bedrock of London's character remains the same. The British bobby is alive and well, although more often to be seen in flashing cars than on the beat, walking the streets. And teatime is still a hallowed part of the day, with, if you search hard enough, scones, jam, cream, and delicate triangles of sandwiches. Then, of course, there is that greatest living link with the past -- the Royal Family. Don't let the tag "typical tourist" stop you from enjoying the pageantry of the Windsors, one of the greatest free shows in the world. Pomp reaches its zenith in mid-June when the queen celebrates her official birthday with a parade called Trooping the Colour. London related links: London Hotels \| London Vacation Specials Europe Vacations

Weather & When to Go

Like the city itself, the London weather is always changing. Generally, London has a temperate climate and light rain throughout the year. The city dwellers have learned to dress in layers to accommodate the different temperatures. A coat and umbrella are also advised to keep you dry.

History & Culture

London is an ancient city whose history greets you at every turn. To gain a sense of its continuity, stand on Waterloo Bridge at the hour of sunset. To the east, the great globe of St. Paul's Cathedral glows golden in the fading sunlight as it has since the 17th century, still majestic amid the towers of glass and steel that hem it in. To the west stand the mock-medieval ramparts of Westminster -- here you'll find the "Mother of Parliaments," which has met here or hereabouts since the 1250s. Past them both snakes the swift, dark Thames, as it flowed past the first Roman settlement here, circa AD 50.

For much of its history, innumerable epigrams and observations have been coined about London by both her enthusiasts and detractors. The great 18th-century writer and wit Samuel Johnson said that a man who is tired of London is tired of life. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "No person can be said to know London. The most that anyone can claim is that he knows something of it." Simply stated, London is one of the most interesting places on earth. There is no other place like it in its agglomeration of architectural sins and sudden intervention of almost rural sights, in its medley of styles, in its mixture of the green loveliness of parks and the modern gleam of neon. Thankfully, the old London of Queen Anne and Georgian architecture can still be discovered under the hasty routine of later additions.

Attractions & Excursions

Modern-day London still largely reflects its medieval layout. This willfully difficult tangle of streets will be totally confusing to anyone accustomed to the rigidity of a grid system. Even Londoners, most of whom own a copy of the indispensable A-Z street finder (they come under different names), get lost. But London's bewildering street pattern is a plus for those who want to penetrate the city's crust.

London is a walker's city and will repay every moment you spend exploring on foot. But to get somewhere quickly, the easiest and most practical way to get around is on the Underground or "tube." This subway system runs daily from early morning to night and provides comprehensive service. The overground rail system connects outlying districts and suburbs to the center. Buses crisscross all over town, but their routes are more complicated than the tube. A Travelcard pass gives you discounted flexible travel on the tube, plus bus and some overground rail travel. Taxis can be relatively inexpensive if you are traveling in groups; flag them down on the street (look for the lit yellow For Hire sign).

London's postal district system can be useful for finding your way around. The first one or two letters give the location: N means north, NW means northwest, etc. Generally the lower numbers, such as W1 or SW1, are closest to the city center.

Museums & Galleries

London’s museums and galleries are a great way to view the culture and history of the region. Visit Tate Modern, Tate Modern, Victoria & Albert, Natural History Museum, and National Gallery & Science Museum.

Entertainment

After dark, London is a wonderful place to play. Shakespearean theater and Handel oratorios, the roof-rattling Proms concerts, Andrew Lloyd Webber-ish extravaganzas, magnificent opera and contemporary dance theater -- if you're into the arts or the glamorous late-night scene, London will definitely fill your fancy.

The arts may still be underfunded but they have at least acquired some shiny new buildings and renovated homes. The Royal Ballet now has a permanent home inside the world-renowned Royal Opera House. The Donmar, Almeida, and Royal Court theaters have all been renovated to reveal their stripped-down, intimate structures. And there are new studios and a renovated theater for contemporary dance at The Place.

But the biggest story is south of the river. Architects Herzog and de Meuron's magnificent transformation of the Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern has given London a flagship contemporary art gallery to rival the best in the world. Though some of the more tourist-oriented shows have suffered from a downturn in international visitors, much of London's vibrant cultural scene is in a better position than ever to play on the world stage.

London is the party capital of Europe. The draconian liquor laws are soon to be relaxed, and though the tubes inconveniently stop running around midnight there is a good network of night buses. Even with the old licensing laws there is a staggering variety of places with late licenses where you can party after 11 PM.

Shopping

As befits one of the great trading capitals of the world, London's shops have been known to boast, "You name it, we sell it." Indeed, almost any item that exists and is for sale can be found somewhere in London, from the toniest velvet suit to plastic turtles for the bath. If you have a yen to keep up with the Windsors, look for the by appointment logo, which means that this particular emporium supplies Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip, or the Prince of Wales. More fashionable types will prefer to check out the ever-expanding Browns of South Molton Street while the surrounding small stores there and along quaint St. Christopher's Place aren't bad either.

The most ardent fashion victims will shoot to Notting Hill, London's prime fashion location. London's emporiums have gifts in every price range. Head to Bond Street or Knightsbridge if you're looking for the sort of thing you would find in every Rockefeller's Christmas stocking; if you're bargain-hunting, try one of the street antiques fairs (it wasn't so long ago that a Wordsworth manuscript was discovered in Brick Lane Market for less than $50).

If you have only limited time, zoom in on one or two of the West End's grand department stores. Marks & Spencer is one of Britain's largest, and most beloved, chain stores. Selfridges is a splendid pile of '20s architecture that dominates the whole of one block toward Marble Arch and is increasingly fashion-conscious, with independent, hard-to-find labels as well as all the famous names.

Dining

London these days is head over heels in love with its restaurants -- all 6,700 of them -- from its "be-there" eateries to its tiny neighborhood joints, from pubs to swanky trendsetters. You, too, will be smitten, since you will spend 25% of your travel budget on eating out. A characteristic of this new gustatory frenzy is the appearance seemingly overnight of new menus, food styles, and chefs. Anton Mosimann, Michel Bourdin, Nico Ladenis, and the Roux brothers showed the way, but it was Sir Terence Conran who brought restaurants to the mass market, starting the revolution with Quaglino's, the first of the mega-restaurants. Happily, though, the vogue has turned against mega-eateries. Intimacy is in. Take chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, who downsized from three big places to just one, Maison Novelli, in Clerkenwell.

Lodging: Hotels & Accommodations

London‘s luxury hotels are mostly located in the West End of the city. Famous 5-star hotels are located within proximity of many famous landmarks, such as Kensington Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace.

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	National Gallery This London museum has some of the greatest examples of paintings from artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Cezanne and Van Gogh. British Museum With exhibits that depict prehistoric to modern times, the British Museum has world renown historic pieces such as the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures. Tate Modern Along the banks of the River Thames, the Tate Modern is Britain's national museum of modern art. The collections displayed include works by Matisse and Picasso. It also has contemporary collections and exhibitions. National History Museum For animal enthusiasts, the National History Museum has an impressive collection of dinosaur exhibits, and other true-to-life examples of science. The Tower of London Learn about the 900 year history of this London landmark.


	The Berkeley Brown's Hotel Claridge's The Connaught The Dorchester The Ritz London The Savoy, a Fairmont Hotel The Chesterfield Mayfair Flemings Mayfair Hotel Radisson Edwardian Berkshire Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Hotel Sheraton Heathrow The Park Lane Hotel

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