Sunday, January 26, 2014

Why you should visit London

By Peter Frank


London is a city unlike any other in the world, everyone should visit it, and in case you need convincing, here are ten compelling reasons why!

Whether it's the view over the Millenium Bridge towards St Pauls Cathedral or that over the Thames towards the Palace of Westminster, London's cityscape is second to none. For a bird's eye view of its iconic skyline, book yourself a place on the London Eye or The View from the Shard.

London has eight royal parks, three of which (Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy) boast their own herds of deer. There are numerous other parks, two botanical gardens and several heaths and commons. Both Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill offer fantastic views of London.

A river cruise along the Thames is one of the best ways to see London, but we shouldn't forget that there are also more than 100 miles of canals in this city. If you fancy something a little bit different, why not take a trip along Regent's Canal in a narrowboat?

London is a shopper's paradise. There are more than 300 shops on Oxford Street alone (including Selfridges and John Lewis) plus a representative from most high street chains. Hamleys and Liberty are close by on Regent Street whilst Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co live in nearby Bond Street.

London certainly has its fair share of sporting tourists who come to see (amongst other things) premiership football, tennis at Wimbledon, rugby at Twickenham, cricket at the Oval and Lords plus the London Marathon and the Boat Race. In addition, both the Aquatic Centre and the Velodrome of the 2012 Olympics will be open to the general public in 2014.

Rainy days provide the perfect excuse to visit indoor attractions. If the Royal Family are your guilty pleasure then a visit to the Royal Mews or the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace would be perfect - although you are more likely to come face to face with a family member at Madame Tussauds!

You don't have to spend money to enjoy a great day out in London; nearly all of the museum and art galleries offer free admission, although you will have to pay to see special exhibitions.

Many people consider that the theatre of the West End is the jewel in London's crown. There are around 40 historic venues in the area around Drury Lane staging the best in musicals, drama and comedy. For theatre in more intimate surroundings, London also offers a thriving fringe movement.

After a busy day's sightseeing, you don't want to travel too far to your bed. Luckily, there's a huge choice of accommodation in London: from inexpensive hostels where you can share a dorm for as little as lb10 per night to luxury hotels where you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous!

Whatever the time of year, whatever the hour of day, there's always something new going on in London. From pop-up markets to original street performers to the latest exhibition at the Science Museum, London's culture is constantly evolving.




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