text:
London/South Bank

The South Bank is on a sharp 90° bend of the Thames in central London and one of the city's cultural centres. It is a small area but it contains many artistic and creative sites, as well as an eclectic range of other attractions, boutique shopping and trendy food and drink places. The size of the district, as well as the pedestrianised area along the bank of the River Thames called "The Queen's Walk" (part of the Thames Path and the Jubilee Walkway) – casually, the London South Bank Walk – make it ideal for exploring by strolling around.

Understand
"As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset, I am in paradise"

- The Kinks

The South Bank has long been associated with the arts. In the Middle Ages, its position just south of the City of London, but outside the reach of its laws, made it an entertainment hub for the citizens, featuring everything from theatres to prostitution (both illegal in the medieval City). This waned for a time as customs changed but waxed again in modern times. In 1951 the "Festival of Britain" was held on this site, intended to give the nation a sense of recovery after the war, and the area was redeveloped to accommodate it. Much of the Southbank Centre dates from this event, as can be inferred from its brutalist concrete architecture.

Further around the curve of the Thames, almost directly opposite the City, is the area known as Bankside. This straightforward name is derived from the equally uncomplicated Middle English Banke syde. The same factors that shaped the South Bank were at work here and many mediaeval theatres stood here, including William Shakespeare's Globe (now marked by a replica working theatre). The rowdier neighbourhood also helped justify the Clink, one of the oldest prisons in England. Close by is Borough Market, which has been here in some form since at least the thirteenth century (and may even be Anglo-Saxon). Due to its position near the principal docks of the city, it became one of London's most important food markets in the nineteenth century and was known as "London's Larder". It retains a similar position now, although rather more fashionable and popular with "foodies" than would have been the case for its previous incarnations.

Shad Thames (also known by the names Butler's Wharf and London Bridge City) is the part of this district furthest to the east. In juxtaposition to the rest of the area, the history of this part is industrial. For example, it held the largest warehouse complex in Victorian London. Now, however, its proximity to The City, just across Tower Bridge, makes its population largely city workers and its property prices appropriately high. For the traveller, the restaurants and similar destinations here are also frequented by wealthy city workers and consequently somewhat expensive and upmarket. One of the area's more iconic industrial buildings, Bankside Power Station, was refurbished during the 1990s and reopened in the new millennium as the Tate Modern, which many believe outshines its older sister gallery further upstream, the Tate Britain.

The whole district is within easy walking distance of Covent Garden, Soho, Westminster and the City of London. It is the perfect location for a relaxing stroll and a spot of people watching. You can take in beautiful views across to the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s, especially in the early morning and at dusk, and the packed programme of theatre, exhibitions, music, film and free events means there are plenty of inspiring things to see and do for all ages.

By tube
The district is serviced by the following tube stations, all in Zone 1:
 * Borough (Northern line). Convenient for the eastern part of the district and Borough Market especially.
 * Lambeth North (Bakerloo line). On the south west edge of the district, good access to Lambeth Palace and the Thames Path along the river.
 * London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines). Most convenient for the eastern end of the London South Bank Walk.
 * Southwark (Jubilee line). Near the heart of the district.
 * Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo lines). In the heart of South Bank, perfect to access Riverside Walk. Also has the Waterloo & City line which directly connects to Bank (Bank of England) in the City of London.

On the north bank, with easy access to this district, all in Zone 1:
 * Blackfriars (Circle and District lines). Walk over Blackfriars Bridge to the eastern edge of Bankside.
 * Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern lines). Walk over the pedestrianised and renovated Hungerford Bridge to the Royal Festival Hall area. Beautiful views.
 * Monument (Circle and District lines). Walk over London Bridge to Bankside and Borough Market.
 * Tower Hill (Circle and District lines). Walk over Tower Bridge to Shad Thames.
 * Westminster (Jubilee, Circle and District lines). Walk over Westminster Bridge to arrive at London Eye and County Hall.

By boat
The district is serviced by the following piers:
 * Bankside (RB1 and RB2 river bus routes; Tate–Tate and Westminster–St. Katherine's tours)
 * Festival (Westminster–St. Katherine's tour)
 * London Bridge City (RB1 and RB3 river bus routes)
 * London Eye (RB1 river bus route; Westminster–Greenwich and London Eye tours)

The Tate Boat runs every 40 minutes between Tate Modern and Tate Britain (Millbank Pier), also stopping at the London Eye. It takes 20 minutes.

By foot
This district borders on several others and is easily accessible by walking, or similar, from these. (The southern districts, Lambeth and London/Southwark-Lewisham, are larger and walking from the further parts of these is not practical; otherwise, any point in the other neighbouring districts is within reach of South Bank.) The pedestrian Hungerford Bridge links Embankment to the South Bank Centre and all road bridges have pavements for pedestrians too. Additionally, the whole area can be reasonably navigated on foot or by wheelchair.

By bicycle
As above, the district borders several others and cycling from most parts of these districts to South Bank is reasonably early.

For travellers without personal bicycles, there is a London-wide Barclays Cycle Hire scheme run by Transport for London. These bikes can be rented for short or long periods using a credit or debit card at any docking station (if staying in London for a long term, special keys can be bought from Transport for London for use instead of a card, which can be cheaper over time).

South Bank
From west to east:

Museums and galleries

From west to east:

Do

Tours

Itineraries

 * London South Bank Walk. The walk along the South Bank of the Thames is a relaxing walk through central London, away (albeit only a short distance) from the traffic. Pedestrians can walk alongside the river almost the whole way from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Bridge, following the route of the Jubilee Walkway, a route through central London that takes in most of London's key attractions, which was developed for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Eat
There is a great selection of cafes, bars and restaurants for all budgets, so make sure you take time to watch the world go by.

Mid-range

South Bank
The cultural centre on the western side of the district includes several notable drinking establishments.

Southwark
The non-riverside core of the district doesn't have quite as many drinking establishments as the other areas but there are places worth visiting.

Bankside
The area around Borough Market, directly opposite The City, attracts as many pubs as it does restaurants.

Shad Thames
The area by Tower Bridge contains some of the best pubs in the city.

Free and paid Wi-Fi
Several places have free or paid Wi-Fi:

 * The Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, the BFI Southbank and the BFI IMAX all have free Wi-Fi available.
 * The London Eye's ticket office, and the area immediately surrounding it, also have free Wi-Fi.
 * Waterloo Station offers fifteen minutes of free Wi-Fi (per 24 hours) after which you must register and buy additional access.
 * The Cloud provides pay-only Wi-Fi along the Festival Riverside (by the Thames, in front of the Southbank Centre).
 * London Marriott Hotel County Hall and the local Park Plaza hotels offer free Wi-Fi, with connection details available at their receptions.

title: London/South Bank


text:
London/South Kensington-Chelsea

South Kensington-Chelsea is a district of central London. It is one of the most densely populated places in London and most affluent areas in the world. For travellers, the main points of interest are Albertopolis, containing several of the UK's major museums, and the shopping around Knightsbridge and Sloane Square.

Understand
This district is defined as the southern part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBK & C), from the Thames in the south to Kensington High Street in the north, also taking in Hyde Park in the east and the area around Kensington Olympia in the west. It includes the area south of the Royal Parks commonly known as High Street Kensington and South Kensington, west to Earl's Court, and south to West Brompton, Sloane Square and Chelsea. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combine to form the largest green space in metropolitan London and provide a real oasis in the heart of this vast city.

South Kensington hosts four of London's largest and finest museums, its oldest and one of its most famous concert hall, and is home to the venerable Imperial College. High Street Kensington leads to a long line of shops and department stores, offering a less hectic version of Oxford Street, and very upmarket stores in Knightsbridge. Sloane Street connects Knightsbridge to Chelsea via Sloane Square and is lined with luxury brand boutiques.

Chelsea is an extensive riverside area of London that extends broadly from Sloane Square in the east to the World's End pub in the west and down to the River Thames. The King's Road marks the main thoroughfare of Chelsea.

The district contains the second largest population of American immigrants in the United Kingdom, many of whom work in the financial sector in the City, while others are connected to institutions such as the American International University, which has a campus just off High Street Kensington. Many local shops, from convenience stores to supermarkets, stock American products in their ethnic food sections. South Kensington is sometimes called the "21st arrondissement" because the number of French expatriates living there would make London the sixth largest French city. The community results in many French cafés, delicatessens and other businesses in the area. Knightsbridge is known for its Russian and Arab populations, with the accompanying restaurants and institutions they bring.

The whole of the district contains some of the most expensive residential property in the world but is a little more downmarket towards its western edges.

Albertopolis
Following the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851, of which he was a key figure, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, proposed a cultural hub to continue the Exhibition's work and to promote both arts and sciences together in one area. Profits from the Exhibition were used to purchase land, which was then in the countryside, and begin an ambitious plan for the area. The prince was so influential that the project became known as "Albertopolis", first in mockery and later with affection. The first building, the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum), opening in 1857. Today Albertopolis, loosely the area around Exhibition Road, contains a collection of world-class museums, universities, conservatories, and other cultural institutions. Its tradition for innovation continues: in 2012 Exhibition Road was redeveloped and converted into a shared space for pedestrians and motorists, with no kerb to separate them.

History of Chelsea
Chelsea's modern reputation as a centre of innovation and influence originated in a period during the 19th century when the area became a veritable Victorian artists' colony: artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, J.M.W. Turner, James McNeill Whistler, William Holman Hunt and John Singer Sargent, as well as writers such as George Meredith, Algernon Swinburne, Leigh Hunt and Thomas Carlyle lived and worked here. A particularly large concentration of artists existed in the area around Cheyne Walk (pronounced Chey-nee) and Cheyne Row, where the pre-Raphaelite movement had its heart.

Following the Second World War, Chelsea, like many other formerly prosperous areas became rather run down and poor. It became prominent once again as an artistic centre, Bohemian district and hot spot for young professionals in the 1960s. The Americans called this period "Swinging London" and the King's Road became the definition of style and fashion and both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones lived in the neighbourhood.

In the 1970s, the "World's End" area of the King's Road was home to Vivienne Westwood's shop ("Sex"), and witnessed the genesis of punk music and style with many Mohawks to be seen on the road against the background of the closed down shops. Thereafter, working-class youth culture was priced out of the area and gravitated to Camden, Islington, Ladbroke Grove, Brixton and Brick Lane.

In the 1980s, the rise of the Sloane (archetypally Princess Diana) and the Mohawks gave way to twin-set pearls, pink Polo shirts and what Americans would call a "preppy". Chelsea seems to have settled into stylish affluence and aspiration.

By Tube
This is a large district, served by a similarly large number of Tube stations, in Zone 1 if not otherwise noted, and three Tube lines:

 * Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line) – For Hyde Park.
 * Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line) – For Harrods, Harvey Nichols and other upmarket stores.
 * Sloane Square (District and Circle lines) – For King's Road.
 * South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines) – For the museums.
 * Gloucester Road (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines)
 * High Street Kensington (District and Circle lines) – For general shopping and Kensington Gardens.
 * Earl's Court (District and Piccadilly lines, Zones 1 and 2) – Interchange with connections to all stations on the District line. Use Earl's Court for budget lodging and step-free tube access to/from Heathrow Airport too via Acton Town on the Piccadilly line. Trains to Kensington Olympia run on weekends and bank holidays, so check with Transport for London (TfL) before travelling.
 * Kensington Olympia (District line, Overground, Zone 2)
 * West Brompton (District line, Overground, Zone 2)

By bus
Like most parts of Zone 1 (Central London), this area is well connected by a variety of bus services. Here is a general list of the bus routes serving each major destination in this area:

 * South Kensington Museums: 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430, C1
 * Knightsbridge: 9, 14, 19, 22, 23, 52, 74, 137, 414, 452, C1
 * High Street Kensington: 9, 23, 27, 28, 49, 52, 70, 328, 452, C1
 * Sloane Square: 11, 19, 22, 137, 170, 211, 319, 360, 452, C1
 * King's Road Chelsea: 11, 19, 22, 49, 211, 319
 * Earl's Court: 74, 190, 328, 430, C1, C3
 * Hyde Park Corner: 2, 9, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 414, 436, C2

The most useful buses for visitors to this area are:

All of these routes use iconic London red double-deck buses, except C1. They typically operate at least every 10 minutes. The usual TfL fares apply.

By train
The nearest mainline train station is London Victoria with services to places in southern England and the Victoria Coach Station which goes all over Britain!

West Brompton and Kensington (Olympia) are on the London Overground Mildmay line (formerly the West London Line (WLL)) from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction via Shepherd's Bush and Imperial Wharf:

Museums
Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road in South Kensington are home to several world class museums and all have free entry, only charging for special temporary exhibitions. They do accept (and encourage) donations if you feel you have enjoyed your visit.

Each of them more than justifies a full day's visit. It's probably more rewarding to spend your time on a relaxed visit to one or perhaps two of the South Kensington museums, giving yourself a chance to breathe in the atmosphere of the institutions and wander through some of the less obvious galleries, than it is to attempt to fit all of them into one day.

Parks and gardens
This area, while urban, is not lacking in green areas. Many residential squares have gated gardens in their centre, although only the residents will usually have keys to access them. Many other green areas will be open, however. The dominant green area is, of course, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. These royal parks are contiguous and often mistaken for just one park, called Hyde Park, although they are officially separate and have different opening hours. Together they are one of the larger metropolitan parks on Earth and cover more land than some small countries. The parks are popular for urban bird-watching as they hold over a hundred different species, from common urban birds and waterfowl to kestrels, owls and parrots. Flocks of the latter, ring-necked parakeets, have established themselves throughout London, although no one knows from where they came (one theory is that they escaped from the filming of The African Queen in 1950, although there are records of urban parrots as far back as the Victorian period).

Blue plaques
Blue plaques mark the buildings in which the notable people of the past lived and worked. The scheme started in London in 1866 and continues to this day. There are hundreds of houses and other buildings marked in this way in the area; the following are just a sample of those that can be viewed. This can be a pleasant way to look around the city, something to see on your journey, or the focus of a pilgrimage to see the historic sites related to a specific figure.

 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.
 * On the same 220-m street are plaques for the founder of the Scouting movement Robert Baden Powell, author and playwright Edith Bagnold, sculptor Jacob Epstein, and one for each of Leslie Stephen (writer) and his daughters Vanessa Bell (artist) and Virginia Woolf (novelist) who were both born at number 22.

Other

Do

 * Football: Chelsea FC aren't based in Chelsea but a short walk west of it. Their home ground Stamford Bridge is just west of Brompton Cemetery, which puts it over the boundary into Fulham.

Budget
Despite being a very upmarket and affluent area, there are still many places to eat on a budget, especially on the high street areas by the stations, each of which has its share of chain restaurants and fast food outlets. Gastropubs are another eating option, which can be found in the Drink section.

Chelsea
The southern area by the river has had a bohemian reputation since the nineteenth century, when it was a famous artists colony. In the 1960s it was part of the Swinging London culture, in the 1970s it was famous for punks, and in the 80s known for rich Sloane Rangers.

Earls Court–Brompton
The western side of this destination is, in relative terms, the cheaper end of the area. Major urbanisation, and drinking establishments, came with the underground stations in the 1860s.

Knightsbridge–Sloane Square
The eastern side of this destination is the most exclusive. Knightsbridge was constructed in the 19th century, at a time when pubs and beer shops were considered something only frequented by poor people. The owners and designers of Knightsbridge included pubs in the plans, for their servants, but made sure to place them down side streets where they wouldn't spoil the view.

Sleep
This destination has many hotels and accommodation across a range of price points. As with most things in London, cost is often relative to the distance from the centre. For this destination, the hotels around Knightsbridge in the east are more in the splurge range, while those around Earls Court in the west are mostly budget or mid-range. For more splurgey, upmarket hotels, you might want to look at Mayfair-Marylebone. For more budgety, affordable hotels, try either Hammersmith and Fulham or Paddington-Maida Vale.

Hostels
If privacy and luxury are not big concerns, or just not in your price range, these hostels will at least give you a place to sleep for the night.

Budget
Many of these listings are converted townhouses, often on streets full of other converted townhouses.

Connect
There are public phone booths on the main streets throughout this area.

Libraries
There are three public libraries within this destination, all of which have Wi-Fi networks available to anyone. They all also have computers available for public use but a library membership card is required to book these machines.

Emergencies
For medical supplies, there are pharmacies throughout this area. The principal emergency medical facility in this destination is Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with more facilities in neighbouring areas. There is one police station in this area. The next closest police stations are in Notting Hill (Notting Hill-North Kensington), Belgravia (Westminster) and Fulham (Hammersmith and Fulham).

General supplies
The two largest supermarkets within this area are in the western, slightly cheaper area. Most general supplies can be found at either.

Go next
Your interests may decide your onward journey:
 * For more shopping like Sloane St and King's Rd, try Mayfair-Marylebone, which includes Oxford St, Regent St, Bond St, etc.
 * For cultural centres like Albertopolis, you want to look at South Bank, home of (amongst others) the National Theatre and the British Film Institute.
 * Museums abound in London but one of its other major examples is the British Museum in Bloomsbury.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: London/South Kensington-Chelsea


text:
London/Southwark and Lewisham

Southwark and Lewisham are two boroughs of inner south east London.

Understand
Southwark was one of the earliest extensions of settlement in London beyond the walls of the Square Mile and across the river, beginning back in the Roman period and is traditionally referred to as "the Borough" in order to distinguish it from the "Square Mile" of the City. The eastern part of the district, downstream of Tower Bridge, is generally referred to (and marketed heavily) as "the Pool of London", referring to the old docks and wharves of the area that have been reconverted into housing and retail areas. The north-western riverside portions of the borough of Southwark are dealt with in our South Bank district.

The Crystal Palace was a huge steel and glass building designed by Joseph Paxton to house the Great Exhibition, Prince Albert's brainchild for bigging up the British Empire to the rest of the world. It was erected in Hyde Park and closed in 1851. Parliament closely voted not to retain it as a permanent feature in Hyde Park and it was later transported to the top of Sydenham Hill. The surrounding area, still known to many locals as Upper Norwood, is now known as Crystal Palace. The palace burned down in 1936 in still unexplained circumstances.

Dulwich has a number of recognised sub-districts, which include North Dulwich, bordering Herne Hill, Dulwich Village (which includes the traditional village centre, and is the home to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich College and Dulwich Park), and East Dulwich which bounds Peckham and has a number of independent shops, restaurants and bars along Lordship Lane.

Lewisham is a largely residential borough of south inner London and includes some of the most run-down areas in the whole city. To the east of this borough is the historic, more gentrified Blackheath, which hosted the first England v Wales rugby international, now ideal for flying a kite. Deptford (home of Queen Elizabeth I's naval dockyard) and Surrey Quays are on the riverside.

Get in
Despite their ideally close proximity to the City of London, Southwark and Lewisham are poorly connected by public transportation to the rest of London; on the whole, South East London is generally not served by the London Underground so the suburban rail services and the bus network are used to get around.

By train

 * There are also services from London Victoria to Orpington and Woolwich which serve stations in this area.

 * The London Overground – Windrush line shares a route with trains from Crystal Palace and West Croydon to London Bridge as far as New Cross Gate then veers northwards to Canada Water then crosses under the river to the East End and Islington. Another branch of the Overground Windrush line links Canada Water eastwards to Peckham and Clapham Junction.

 * The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) runs from Lewisham rail station northwards to Greenwich and then under the river to the Isle of Dogs in the East End. These are driverless trains so get a seat at the front for a driver's eye view.

By London Underground (Tube)

 * The Jubilee line serves Canada Water and Bermondsey stations then goes west to Stratford station in East London and east to the South Bank, the West End and North West London.

 * For Northern line and Bakerloo line services to the northern part of Southwark borough see our South Bank page.

By bus
All parts of this area are served by regular bus services. Many bus stops have 'spider maps' – diagrammatic representations of the buses serving that area and where they go to. These can be worth a look as they have a lot of info. PDFs of these maps can be downloaded here and here.

For those who like to party late into the night in Central London, the night buses serve all parts of this area, all night long. Most night buses run at hourly intervals but many places are served by more than one route so service intervals are reduced. Check services on TFL's website.

See

 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.
 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.
 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.
 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.
 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.
 * Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.

 * Hilly Fields is a park between Brockley and Lewisham with good views in all directions. Access from 484 bus.
 * Hilly Fields is a park between Brockley and Lewisham with good views in all directions. Access from 484 bus.

Museums and galleries

Cinema and theatre

 * The Broadway Theatre, Catford, hosts pantomime, stand-up comedy, serious dramas and off-West End musicals, often for a bargain price compared to what you would pay in Theatreland. It has a rather ornate art-deco facade and interior. Likewise there is The Albany at Deptford, as well as the Brockley Jack which has an intimate theatre, seating only about 50 at the back of a rather nice same-named pub in Brockley.
 * The Blue Elephant Theatre on Bethwin Road is the only theatre venue in Camberwell.
 * Camberwell is home to several art galleries including Camberwell College of Arts, the South London Gallery and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. The annual Camberwell Arts Festival is well supported. Jazz in the Crypt, for the discerning jazz crowd, is located below St. Giles Church, on Camberwell High St, and has seriously good acts each Friday night.
 * Camberwell is home to several art galleries including Camberwell College of Arts, the South London Gallery and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. The annual Camberwell Arts Festival is well supported. Jazz in the Crypt, for the discerning jazz crowd, is located below St. Giles Church, on Camberwell High St, and has seriously good acts each Friday night.

Sport and leisure

 * Catch a football match at Millwall or Crystal Palace F.C. These two rival teams have been somewhat yo-yos, yet enjoy zealot-like support from fans in the rougher-parts of London, particularly Millwall who have become infamously portrayed in several hooligan films. It should be fairly easy to purchase tickets for The New Den and Selhurst Park respectively, though you'll want to sit in the home end, to be on the safe side. Near to Selhurst Park, is the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, which boasts an international athletics arena (which hosted some of the earliest FA Cup finals) and Olympic swimming pool. It is possible to watch the London Towers basketball team and London Olympians American football club too.
 * Parkrun - Weekly free parkrun events are held at 9am at several southeast London locations including Southwark Park (Southwark Parkrun), Burgess Park, Hilly Fields, Peckham Rye and Catford. In each case, it is a free, timed 5km run - it's you against the clock (pre-register with Parkrun if you want a recorded time). Join in - run, jog, walk, drive a push-chair - whatever your pace. Tourists are always welcome!
 * Beckenham Place Park, large picturesque park, were you can also play golf. Kent CCC are known to play Twenty20 matches here in Summer. Beckenham also has a nice weekend market.

Buy

 * Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.
 * Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.
 * Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.
 * Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.
 * Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.

Eat
The area is home to two historic desserts, a particular kind of light lemony bread pudding called the Deptford Pudding. Similarly Crystal Palace, another area gives us the spectacular, fruity, layered jelly that is Crystal Palace Pudding. See if you can track them down!

 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.
 * There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.

Clubs

 * At New Cross, such as The New Cross Inn, The Hobgoblin and Amersham Arms. Also, try the Goldsmiths Union, for cheap student parties.
 * At New Cross, such as The New Cross Inn, The Hobgoblin and Amersham Arms. Also, try the Goldsmiths Union, for cheap student parties.
 * At New Cross, such as The New Cross Inn, The Hobgoblin and Amersham Arms. Also, try the Goldsmiths Union, for cheap student parties.

Lewisham, Catford and Deptford

 * The Fox & Firkin in Ladywell is a buzzing joint with the 20-something crowd, and has late opening times, as well as film nights and great live music. A stone's throw away, is the Jolly Farmer which has a lot more beardy, grey-haired clientele, and hosts regular folk jam sessions and decent pints.
 * The Goose on the Green, near the old village pump, is the oldest establishment in the area, and was a reputed drinking hole for Karl Marx, it is wonder if he would approve of today's working-class bunch who frequent it. If you fancy a quiet pint, the Catford Ram at the back of the Mews shopping precinct, serves yummy Youngs ale. There are also a few clubs such as Motown, The Spot and Riva.
 * Deptford High Street is now home to a thriving evening economy with several bars and restaurants.
 * The Goose on the Green, near the old village pump, is the oldest establishment in the area, and was a reputed drinking hole for Karl Marx, it is wonder if he would approve of today's working-class bunch who frequent it. If you fancy a quiet pint, the Catford Ram at the back of the Mews shopping precinct, serves yummy Youngs ale. There are also a few clubs such as Motown, The Spot and Riva.
 * Deptford High Street is now home to a thriving evening economy with several bars and restaurants.
 * Deptford High Street is now home to a thriving evening economy with several bars and restaurants.

Peckham and Dulwich

 * Other pubs and bars in the area are John the Unicorn, The Montpelier, and the East Dulwich Tavern.
 * Other pubs and bars in the area are John the Unicorn, The Montpelier, and the East Dulwich Tavern.

Sleep

 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!
 * Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!

Stay safe
Once working-class parts of London, the boroughs that make up Southwark-Lewisham still retain a somewhat rough image in the eyes of many Londoners. Nonetheless, tourists should generally not fear for their lives; much to the contrary. In fact, the area is generally safer than much of South London and on par with London as a whole. Nevertheless, some specific areas should be approached and precautions are to be taken as a result.

Though gang-related activities are nowhere nearly as prevalent as they once were, some areas like Deptford and Peckham remain prone to gun crime and aggravated assaults.

Surrey Quays is a quiet area, but pickpockets and theft have been known to occur in the vicinities.

Southwark Park may be pleasant, but it has been known to attract some unwanted crowds at night and during big events.

If you do manage to party at the Ministry of Sound, get ready to be surrounded by hordes of drunk partygoers that can get really rowdy.

Go next
Because it doesn't appear on the Tube map, this area can get overlooked by tourists but it has good fast links to Charing Cross station (for Leicester Square and Covent Garden), to Cannon Street station (for the City) and to London Bridge station (for the South Bank) so it is a good base for visiting central London.

The Greenwich World Heritage site is a bus ride from most places in Southwark-Lewisham, or take the DLR from Lewisham station.

title: London/Southwark and Lewisham


text:
London/Wandsworth

Wandsworth is a district of south-west London. Today the smart houses, cafes and bars close to the expansive green lung of Clapham Common are popular with young professionals working in the City, whilst cosmopolitan Tooting is home to a large South Asian community. Some of the smartest and newest developments are to be found along the riverfront in Putney and Battersea, where shiny apartment blocks rub shoulders with the industrial shell of the famous power station.

Understand
Wandsworth consists largely of modest housing built as suburban retreats in the 19th century, interspersed with a patchwork of green "commons", a relic of the borough's history as small villages.

By Tube
In the west of the borough, the Edgware Road—Wimbledon branch of the District line serves:
 * East Putney (Zones 2 & 3)
 * Southfields (Zone 3)

In the east of the borough, the main Northern line serves:

 * Clapham Common (Zone 2)
 * Clapham South (Zone 2)
 * Balham (Zone 3)
 * Tooting Bec (Zone 3)
 * Tooting Broadway (Zone 3)

In the northeastern neighbourhood of Battersea, a short new branch of the Northern line opened in 2021. It serves:
 * Nine Elms (Zone 1)
 * Battersea Power Station (Zone 1)

By train

 * SouthWest Trains – London Waterloo, Richmond
 * Southern Railway – London Victoria
 * London Overground – Mildmay line – Willesden Junction via Imperial Wharf, West Brompton, Kensington Olympia and Shepherd's Bush
 * London Overground – Windrush line – London Victoria, London Bridge and Surrey Quays
 * London Overground – Windrush line – London Victoria, London Bridge and Surrey Quays

By bus
Putney is connected by bus from the following areas:

See

Do

 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.
 * Rugby Union: Rosslyn Park play in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is at Priory Lane just south of Barnes railway station.

Eat
There are two eating 'hubs' in the Wandsworth borough. St Johns Hill and Battersea Rise near Clapham Junction have an excellent range of restaurants, with new ones opening all the time - very popular with the young professionals who flock here after work. For the tourist looking to escape the overpriced horrors of central London this is a good, easy-to-reach option. The second hub is Tooting, which has many excellent Indian restaurants, however the area doesn't really compare to Brick Lane.

Splurge
Various restaurants and bars in Putney Wharf area. Just behind the St Mary's Church.

Clapham
Clapham has many upmarket pubs and bars, particularly around the northeast area of the Common

Putney
Putney is blessed with a fine selection of pubs. Among the most atmospheric are the ones on the river bank.

Tooting
Tooting has many new wine bars, and renovated and traditional pubs.

Go next

 * Cross Putney Bridge (A219) or Wandsworth Bridge (A217) into Fulham.
 * South west into Wimbledon famous as the home of Lawn Tennis.
 * Follow the Thames West into Richmond on the A205 and Barnes.

title: London/Wandsworth


text:
London/West

The outer western suburbs of Greater London form a diverse area that ranges from the densely-populated but tree-lined streets of Chiswick, Acton and Ealing, through to the semi-rural western districts that lie between Heathrow Airport and Uxbridge. As you might expect from the outer reaches of a metropolis, much of West London is suburban 'commuter belt' territory. Even so, a great many centres located on or near West London's key transport links have much to offer both the traveller and casual visitor in the way of accommodation, food, sights and experiences. Tracing a meandering course on the area's southern edge is—of course—the River Thames, the focus of many local opportunities.

Understand
West London's popularity with travellers and short-to-mid-term residents (backpackers, working holiday makers, etc.) can be explained by a number of factors, not least its proximity to Heathrow Airport, London's largest airport, and the area's multiple, easy transport connections with the West End and Central London.

West London was once part of the county of Middlesex, which no longer exists for administrative purposes; Middlesex, however, is sometimes still used as part of the postal address for these areas - don't let this confuse you!

Boroughs
West London consists of numerous suburbs, villages and satellite towns. Several areas are particularly popular with travellers and backpackers on account of their attractions, their facilities and their many accommodation options.

West London consists of the following boroughs:

 * Ealing—the centrally-located Borough of Ealing includes the following areas:
 * Acton, an area popular with visiting Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans. Popular with travellers on account of its entertainment options, relatively cheap accommodation (short stay and rental) and excellent transport links with the rest of London and further afield (Acton has the largest number of Tube and train stations that have 'Acton' in their name). Although part of the London Borough of Ealing, Acton very much retains its own identity.
 * Ealing itself, popularly known as the "Queen of the Suburbs"
 * Southall, also known as 'Little India', and a must-visit if you have the time to venture out of Central London. If you do only one thing when here, make sure you have a curry in one of the many authentic Asian restaurants. However beware, it is notorious for all the general street crime, especially pick pocketing, and may seem run down to an outsider.
 * Hounslow—the borough includes the following areas:
 * Chiswick, a leafy, generally well-heeled district, known for its wide variety of quality shopping and food outlets.
 * Brentford, situated on the main transport links from Heathrow airport to central London, this is a mainly commercial area. The riverside area on the north bank of the Thames has a number of new housing developments and hotels.
 * Hounslow, a largely working class area with many of the residents employed at nearby Heathrow airport. Known for being the king of 99p shops in the whole of London, and a good place to find a deal in its large High Street. It has become home to a multitude of budget and mid-range hotel chains (Travel Lodge, Premier Inn and Best Western amongst others) trading on its proximity to Heathrow Airport and good transport links into Central London.
 * Hillingdon—this westernmost Borough of Greater London includes:
 * Uxbridge, the administrative centre of Hillingdon Borough. A vibrant area on the edge of London, good shopping experience and good transport links to the West End.
 * Hayes, industrial and housing areas with good access to the airport.
 * Ruislip, a residential area with a lido and extensive woodlands, including a national nature reserve.

By Tube

West London is well served by London Underground (Tube) connections from Central London:

 * Piccadilly line (solid blue) – runs through Chiswick, then divides at Acton Town with branches to Heathrow and Uxbridge. Heathrow Airport is a special fare sub-zone with journeys between there and Zone 1 being charged at peak rate at all times.
 * District line (solid green) – runs through Chiswick, then divides at Turnham Green with branches to Richmond and Ealing Broadway
 * Central line (solid red) – divides at North Acton with branches to Ealing Broadway and West Ruislip
 * Metropolitan line (solid dark purple) – runs through North London, then divides at Harrow on the Hill with one branch joining the Piccadilly Line to Uxbridge (from Uxbridge to Rayners Lane which is served by both the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines, the Metropolitan Line is normally the faster route to Central London)

By train
The following routes are useful for areas of West London not well served by the Tube.

 * South Western Railway — from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction to Chiswick and Hounslow (Chiswick mainline train station is located several hundred metres south of the Great West Road and Chiswick High Road)
 * First Great Western — from London Paddington to Ealing Broadway, Southall and Hayes
 * Elizabeth line (light purple) — divides into two branches at London Paddington to Reading and Heathrow Airport.
 * The Reading branch goes to Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton (trains further west are outside of TfL fare zones and require a train ticket).
 * The Heathrow branch goes from Hayes & Harlington to Heathrow Airport . Heathrow Airport is a special fare sub-zone with journeys between there and Zone 1 being charged at peak rate at all times.
 * Heathrow Express — A premium express rail service between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington. There are 4 tph to Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5) which takes 21 minutes – the train stops en-route at Terminals 2 & 3 with a free shuttle to Terminal 4.

By bus
A number of key bus routes exist that can readily transport visitors to West London from the centre of town:

Night buses
Night bus services to and from Central London are more restricted but incredibly useful once the Tube has closed for the night:

TfL Map of Night Services

By car
The main routes through West London are:

 * The A4 and M4 Motorway linking London with the Lower Thames Valley, Bath, Bristol and South Wales
 * The A40 and M40 Motorway linking London with Oxford, Birmingham and the West Midlands.

By taxi
There is a taxi stand. Uxbridge Taxi Services are the most popular services.

Uber and other ride hailing services are also available throughout West London including Uxbridge.

See
Although not nearly as concentrated as Central London, West London's attractions are many and varied:

Ealing

 * Rugby League:
 * Rugby Union: Ealing Trailfinders play in the Championship, the RU second tier, also at Vallis Way.

Brentford

 * Football:
 * London Irish rugby union club also played at Community Stadium but went bust in 2023, the third top-tier RU club to fold that year.
 * London Irish rugby union club also played at Community Stadium but went bust in 2023, the third top-tier RU club to fold that year.

Buy
Shopping in West London varies depending on the area. Chiswick in particular has upmarket shops.

Uxbridge
Both shopping centres are next to Uxbridge tube station.

Chiswick
The main shopping area in Chiswick is the Chiswick High Road. It has mostly chain shops:

Chiswick
Chiswick is an area of West London with a wide range of options. There are at least 30 restaurants in Chiswick. Chiswick High Road has the usual wide selection of fast food outlets and supermarket food. For the more discerning, an extensive range of restaurants and eateries exists for all tastes and budgets that makes Chiswick a definite destination for the gastronome.

Drink
You will never be short of a pub in West London. Upmarket bars and clubs are also plentiful.

Ealing
Pubs in the centre of Ealing tend to be lively and rather noisy.

Uxbridge
Uxbridge is home to many fine eateries and public houses. Many pubs are located along historic Windsor Street.

Brentford
Historically (and perhaps unsurprisingly, given its roots as an industrial working-class area) Brentford has been known as a "drinker's town". Indeed, it was long reputed that in the Victorian terraces surrounding the football ground, there was "a pub on every corner". To an extent this is still true today, with a sizable number of small drinking establishments still eking out a living in the backstreets to the west of the Ealing Road. Most are perfectly friendly to outsiders, while maintaining a core clientele of local drinkers, primarily men.

For the visitor to Brentford seeking a more eclectic drinking culture, pubs such as:

Visitors might wish to note that pubs such as the Albany Arms and Beehive are most heavily patronised by locals who might be less welcoming to outsiders than in the pubs noted above.

Beer-lovers with a taste for sampling local brews should note that many of Brentford's pubs are 'tied houses' (owned by the brewery rather than the landlord) serving Fuller's ales. Fuller's are a local brewers based in Chiswick (although serving a country-wide market for beers such as London Pride), less than 2 miles along the Thames. Drinkers can thus be assured that their pint of Fuller's is, if nothing else, both local and fresh.

Sleep
With its proximity to Heathrow Airport, Uxbridge has some good hotels. Many independent pubs offering accommodation in the local area.

title: London/West


text:
London/Westminster

Westminster is a district of central London, at the heart of the United Kingdom's royal and political life. Many of its attractions are of an historical and cultural variety. Even so, Westminster very much retains a bustling, modern feel as the centre of British government and is often used as shorthand for Parliament and the political community (including the elected Government) of the United Kingdom generally.

Understand
Westminster is a city in its own right, the twin to the ancient City of London further east and historically they jointly formed the focus of what is today regarded as London. The Palace of Westminster came to be the principal royal residence after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and later housed the developing Parliament and law courts of England. The neighbouring Westminster Abbey became the traditional venue of the coronation of England regents. Westminster has therefore been the seat of royal, and later parliamentary, government and power for 900 years.

For the traveller and for the scope of this article, it is important to understand though that the district of Westminster is bounded to the north by Trafalgar Square and Mayfair, to the east by Covent Garden and to the west by Knightsbridge and Chelsea. The district is much smaller in area than the City of Westminster, which also includes Trafalgar Square, Mayfair, Covent Garden, and Paddington.

St. James's is the area of Westminster that encompasses Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminster and the eponymously named park. This is a very affluent area of the city and has a great deal to offer visitors. Belgravia to the west of Buckingham Palace is probably the grandest residential area in the whole of the United Kingdom. Victoria and Pimlico in the south-west are the least grand parts of the district but still have much to offer including the Tate Britain, some wonderful Regency architecture and a number of good value accommodation options.

To the southeast, there is a smaller area called Milbank, where the view is quite beautiful looking at the ships crossing the river.

By Tube
The district is serviced by the following Tube stations, all in Zone 1:

 * Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee lines)
 * Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Jubilee lines)
 * Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines)
 * Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)
 * Pimlico (Victoria line)
 * St James's Park (Circle and District lines)
 * Victoria (Circle, District and Victoria lines)

By train
The nearest mainline train stations are London Waterloo and London Victoria; it is worth taking the Tube from these two stations to arrive at Westminster.

 * South Western Railway trains from southeast England: Alton, Basingstoke, Leatherhead, Reading, Guildford, Portsmouth and Windsor
 * South Western Railway trains from southwest England: Salisbury, Weymouth
 * South Western Railway trains within London: Chessington, Hampton Court, Kew Bridge and Twickenham

 * Southeastern offers services to Dover, Ashford International (with Eurostar connections to France and Belgium), Ramsgate and Orpington.
 * Southern Rail offers services to Brighton, Eastbourne and Portsmouth.
 * Thameslink offers limited service to Sevenoaks in Kent.

There is also the nearby Victoria Coach Station with even more connections via National Express and Megabus coaches.

By coach

National Express and Megabus are the two main coach operators in the UK and are well-served by the Victoria Coach Station. Just about every city or large town in England can be reached and usually at a significantly cheaper price than a train ticket.

Stagecoach Oxford Tube run a service from Gloucester Green in Oxford to London Victoria Coach Station.

Palace of Westminster

Watch committees and debates
While the house is sitting (most of the year), visitors can sit in the Strangers' Gallery of the Commons and Lords. There is no charge to do this.

You should queue at St. Stephen's Entrance (opposite Westminster Abbey). Depending on the popularity of debates happening in the Houses, queueing for admission can take 30 min or more. Avoid Wednesday lunchtime when the Prime Minister takes questions, and you are unlikely to find space at all unless you have a ticket from a Member of Parliament. If you do not wish to visit the Commons, then tell one of the police officers standing guard outside that you only wish to see the House of Lords, and you should be able to enter immediately.

Tours of Parliament

Buckingham Palace
Other royal residences around the country include Sandringham House, Windsor Castle, Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle. These other residences are open more days and fewer queues. The former Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh may also be of interest.

Royal parks

Statues and monuments
As the centre of government and a city with nigh on a millennium of history, Westminster is not short of statuary. A lot of this is part of other attractions, such as the statesmen commemorated in Parliament Sq, but many stand elsewhere.

 * The same roundabout is the site of several war memorial sculptures:
 * The same roundabout is the site of several war memorial sculptures:

Guards
Due to the number of palaces, government buildings and barracks in the area, there are several opportunities to witness guards and the ceremonies related to them. Buckingham Palace and some other royal residences are guarded by the King's Guard while the King's Life Guard are on duty on the other side of St James's Park, at Horse Guards Parade near Whitehall. Along the same lines, there are also the less ostentatious armed police guarding Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament, but they do not perform any ceremonies.

The King's Guard are usually drawn from one of the five regiments of Foot Guards in the British Army, wearing their dress uniforms of red tunics and bearskins (or a grey overcoat in poor weather). Occasionally soldiers from other regiments, including those of other Commonwealth nations, form the Guard instead. When the King is in residence, there are four guards on duty outside Buckingham Palace; at other times there are just two. Guards are also on duty outside St. James' Palace.

The King's Life Guard is drawn from the Household Cavalry which is made up of two regiments, the Life Guards and the Blues & Royals. The Household Cavalry are the monarch's official bodyguard. When the King is in residence in Buckingham Palace, there are fifteen guards on duty; at other times there are just twelve. Both regiments have similar uniforms but the Life Guards wear red tunics and have white plumes on their helmets, and the Blues & Royals wear blue tunics and have red plumes on their helmets. On special occasions, the King's (or Queen's) Life Guard has also been mounted by the Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The five regiments of the King's Guard wear very similar dress uniforms but they can be recognised by little details. The shoulder and collar badges of each regiment are different but this may be hard to spot for many travellers. The key clues are the buttons on the tunic and the plume on the side of the bearskin. Each regiment arranges the buttons in groups, with a different number of buttons per group for each regiment. Each regiment also wears a certain colour of plume on a certain side of the bearskin (except the Scots Guards who wear no plume at all). The Queen's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force also mounts the King's Guard for about three weeks every year; they can be identified by their dark blue uniforms and peaked caps. On special occasions the King's Guard (or Queen's Guard) has also been mounted by distinguished units from other Commonwealth countries, some examples being the Jamaica Regiment in 1999, Malaysia's Royal Malay Regiment in 2008 and Canada's Royal 22e Régiment in 2014.

Although the King's guards may look relatively harmless and even quaint or ridiculous, and their famed stolidness in the face of almost all potential stimuli might hint that they can take a joke and are used to interference from tourists, it's important to remember that they are actual guards rather than purely ceremonial figures there for the sake of tourism, they tend to carry actual guns with live ammunition and that touching them or getting too close to them will get you bellowed at with a bayonet pointed in your direction. There are plenty of YouTube videos of tourists who have discovered this the hard way.

 * There are two rehearsals for Trooping the Colour:
 * There are two rehearsals for Trooping the Colour:
 * There are two rehearsals for Trooping the Colour:
 * There are two rehearsals for Trooping the Colour:
 * There are two rehearsals for Trooping the Colour:

Theatres
Outside of Leicester Square and Covent Garden, there are several important theatres in Westminster, most notably near Victoria Station. For current programmes please check the relevant theatre website or the Official London Theatre listings. Budget travellers should look for last minute bookings and off-peak performances. Most of the booking office numbers given will only work from within the United Kingdom. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website.

Buy
A lot of the land in this district is owned by a small number of entities—most of Belgravia is owned by the Duke of Westminster via his family's Grosvenor Group property company and a lot of the rest comes under the Crown Estate, the Royal Parks, or central government—and the residents prefer exclusivity, so chain stores have mostly been kept out of the northern, more upper class, areas. Victoria, on the other hand, hosts a lot of the common high street shops found elsewhere in the UK, as do the riverside areas Pimlico and Millbank.

Clothing
Perhaps the world's most famous shirts are made in Jermyn St, SW1, running parallel south of Piccadilly and between Green Park and Piccadilly Circus tube stations. The street's resident shirtmakers include:

Belgravia
Like neighbouring Knightsbridge, Belgravia was built with its pubs out of sight down side alleys and mews. They were intended for the household servants rather than their masters, who did not wish their views spoiled by such unsightly establishments.

St. James's

with 3 pubs named after Lions (plus The Prime Minister's Local in Parliament Street).

Afternoon tea
Take tea at:

Budget
There are lots of small B&Bs in the Pimlico and Victoria areas which offer very good value for this part of London.

Public toilets

 * Westminster Council list of toilets.

Go next

 * South just across the river on the South Bank are the London Eye, London Aquarium and the Royal National Theatre
 * West to South Kensington & Chelsea for Chelsea & Knightbridge shopping and a cluster of museums in South Kensington

title: London/Westminster


text:
London/Wimbledon

Wimbledon is a district in south-west London and hosts one of the world's four tennis grand slam tournaments.

Understand
Wimbledon is a well-known and affluent suburb in the southwest of London, England and is part of the London Borough of Merton. It is best known for the All England Lawn Tennis Championships (or often just referred to as Wimbledon) held every summer and which form part of the worldwide tennis grand slam series. This is the oldest tennis championship in the world dating back to the first match in 1877.

The other three worldwide tennis grand slam tournaments are the US Open in New York City, the French Open in Paris and the Australian Open in Melbourne.

By tube
Wimbledon is serviced by the following stations, in Zones 3 or 4:

 * Wimbledon (District line) – Zone 3. Direct buses run from outside for a small charge during the Tennis Championships.
 * South Wimbledon (Northern line) – Zones 3 and 4.
 * Southfields (District line) – Zone 3. This is the most convenient station for the tennis club.

The quickest route into Wimbledon from central London is usually via a combination of Tube and the National Rail. Though the District Line is the most obvious choice from central London, it is usually the least efficient and often requires a change at Earl's Court. Trains depart every 3–5 minutes from Waterloo to Wimbledon during weekdays with a journey time of about 15 minutes (South West Trains operates this service.)

By train
Services run from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction to Wimbledon Station (about 15 min). Trains from Wimbledon go to Guildford, Hampton Court, Dorking, Shepperton and Woking. Change at Clapham Junction to get to Brighton, Epsom, Gatwick, Reading, Portsmouth and further afield.

Wimbledon Station has two entrances, one at the front of the station serving as a drop-off point for cars and a taxi stop and one to the side that leads to buses and a shopping mall. Disabled access to the 10 platforms is by lifts. Public toilets can be found near the tube District Line platforms. There are food and drink shops within the station complex.

By plane
Wimbledon is almost equidistant between the two major London Airports, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport.

The quickest way from Gatwick is to catch a fast Southern train for London Victoria and get off at Clapham Junction. Here, change onto a South West Trains service south bound to Wimbledon (weekdays: 15 an hour).

From Heathrow, you can either catch the London Underground Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Earls Court and change onto the District Line to Wimbledon, or you can catch the Heathrow Express (or Heathrow Connect) service to London Paddington Station and then catch a Wimbledon bound District line train from there. Both of these require luggage movement through underground stations.

By tram
Wimbledon Station is the northern terminus of two London Trams routes which cover much of South London:

 * Wimbledon to Elmers End – other tram stops on this route include Dundonald Road and Merton Park
 * Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction

Also, both of these routes go to East Croydon, West Croydon and Reeves Corner, Centrale and Wellesley Road.

A route map can be found here

By car
The A219 runs through Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Bridge to the Broadway and beyond. The A3 is the main route to Wimbledon when coming in from the M25 Motorway or Heathrow Airport. From Gatwick Airport follow the M23/M25/A217. The nearest petrol station is an Esso Garage with a Tesco Metro (Open 24 hours) found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon underground station.

Get around
Wimbledon is mostly pedestrian friendly and most places can be easily reached on foot. Buses leave outside the Centre Court Shopping Mall next to Wimbledon station. The main bus station is near Hartfield Rd on Sir Cyril Black Way (behind Morrisons supermarket and the car park on Hartfield Rd). Additionally, there is a taxi stand outside the main entrance to Wimbledon Station.

By bus
Wimbledon is served by local bus routes including routes 57 Kingston/Clapham Park), 93 (Putney Bridge/North Cheam), 131 (Kingston/Tooting Broadway), 156 (Vauxhall), 163 (Morden), 164 (Sutton), 200 (Raynes Park/Mitcham), 219 (Clapham Junction), 493 (Richmond/Tooting) and N87 Night Bus (Aldwych/Kingston). A bus map of Wimbledon (PDF) can be found here.

By car
Parking available at Centre Court Shopping Mall. Off-street parking is normally made available by home-owners looking to make some additional income from the rental of their driveways and garages. Prices are normally in the region of £30-50. Alternatively, you can try renting one of these private parking spaces online through various services.

See

Sports

 * Football: AFC Wimbledon were relegated in 2022, so they now play soccer in League 2, England's fourth tier. Their home ground is Plough Lane (capacity 9200) a mile northeast of the railway station and a mile northwest of Tooting Broadway Underground Station. "The Wombles" were formed in 2002 when the historic Wimbledon FC relocated to Milton Keynes and became MK Dons.
 * Rugby League: London Broncos play the 13-a-side game in the Championship, the second tier; the playing season is Feb-Sept. They share Plough Lane with AFC Wimbledon.
 * Rugby League: London Broncos play the 13-a-side game in the Championship, the second tier; the playing season is Feb-Sept. They share Plough Lane with AFC Wimbledon.

Buy
Shops are to be found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon and along Wimbledon Hill towards Wimbledon Village and in Wimbledon Village.

Eat
At the tournament, strawberries and cream are a traditional, if expensive, snack, but Wimbledon proper is home to many eateries.

Connect
As of May 2022, Wimbledon has 5G from all UK carriers.

title: London/Wimbledon


text:
London Bridge

There is more than one London Bridge:

United Kingdom

 * London - London Bridge connects City of London and the South Bank.

United States of America

 * Lake Havasu City - A town in Arizona containing the 1831 bridge originally located in London.

title: London Bridge


text:
Londonderry

There's more than one place called Londonderry:

Australia

 * Londonderry (New South Wales) - a suburb of Sydney

Canada

 * Londonderry (Nova Scotia)

Chile

 * Londonderry (Chile) - an island in Tierra del Fuego

United Kingdom

 * County Londonderry (County Derry) - in Northern Ireland
 * Londonderry - see Derry - a city in Northern Ireland
 * Londonderry (North Yorkshire) - a village in North Yorkshire, England

United States of America

 * Londonderry (New Hampshire) - a town in New Hampshire, New England.
 * Londonderry (Vermont) - a town in Windham County (Vermont), Vermont, New England.

title: Londonderry


text:
Londonderry (New Hampshire)

Londonderry is a large town in New Hampshire known for its apple orchards.

By car
Londonderry is accessible from exit's 4 and 5 on Interstate 93. State Route 102 is the only notable east to west route running from Route 101 near Epping to Route 111 in Hudson.

By bus
The Boston Express bus runs from stops at Exit 4 and Exit 5 in Londonderry to Boston's South Station and Logan International Airport.

By plane
Substantial portions of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport are in Londonderry, but there is no public transit from the airport to the rest of the town. Boston's Logan International Airport is less than an hour south by car in light traffic.

Get around
There is essentially no public transit within the town, and as destinations are spaced out, people almost always get around by driving.

title: Londonderry (New Hampshire)


text:
London South Bank Walk

"There are two things scarce matched in the universe: the sun in heaven and the Thames on Earth."

- Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618)

This walk along the South Bank of the River Thames makes for a pleasant couple of hours of riverside views, majestic cityscapes, and interesting cultural sites in the heart of London.

Understand
The route is about 4 miles (6 km) following paved paths on the riverside, which are usually busy with visitors and those who live and work in London. The path is officially known as "The Queen's Walk", and is part of a much longer Jubilee Walkway. The lamp posts with marine animals that line the walk are colloquially known as "dolphin lamp posts", though they actually depict sturgeons. They are to the design of Victorian architect George John Vulliamy, though the ones on the walk were predominantly installed in the late 20th century.

Prepare
A map and a camera could be useful, but no special preparation is required.

By Underground

 * is just across the river from the start of the walk.
 * is one block back from the route, shortly after the start.

Walk
The walk can be taken either east-to-west or west-to-east. East-to-west is generally easier, as one then ends up in central London for the rest of the day. The full path is from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Bridge, though an abbreviated path from London Bridge to Westminster Bridge, or even shorter between two footbridges: from Millenium Bridge to the Golden Jubilee Bridges. The walk can take under an hour if walked fast, two hours at a leisurely pace, and as long as all day if one makes various stops on the way.

Starting at, before embarking on the walk along the South Bank it's worth taking a short journey east, under the arch of the bridge into. Shad Thames is a narrow street with Victorian warehouses on either side, with small elevated walkways criss-crossing between them. The warehouses have since been converted into restaurants, offices and apartments.

Heading west from Tower Bridge, you immediately pass the glass near-spherical, the headquarters of London's regional assembly. Continuing along the river, you pass, a Royal Navy battleship that served in the Second World War, and is now open to the public. After passing HMS Belfast, although you can continue along the river a short way, it's better to head away from the river through, a shopping arcade – you can't miss it, it's dominated by a vast vaguely-boat-shaped statue – onto Tooley Street.

On Tooley Street, turn right, and you will pass the London Bridge station on the other side of the road. Behind it is, the pointed skyscraper that is one of the most iconic buildings in London's skyline and the tallest in the United Kingdom. Bear right just after London Bridge Hospital to stay on Tooley Street. You will walk through an arch under London Bridge. Immediately on your right after the bridge is Glazer's Hall on the right, and on the left.

After passing the cathedral, you may want to turn left to go on a detour through, a food market which is open daytime every day (with limited stalls in the market operating Sunday), with a full market Wednesdays through Saturdays, and the a relic of the days before antiseptic surgery, bizarrely situated in the roof space of old St Thomas Church, St Thomas's Street.

Otherwise, after passing the cathedral, bear right to see, a scale replica of Sir Francis Drake's galleon, berthed in St Mary Overie Dock beside the river, which is open to the public. Continuing west along Clink Street, parallel with the river, you will pass the remains of, the former home of the Bishops of Winchester, and the , a notoriously unpleasant prison that coined the phrase "in the clink".

At the end of Clink Street, turn right to meet up with the river again, and pass The Anchor public house, a pleasant (but busy) place to have a drink on a Summer evening. Continue further along the river, and after passing under Southwark Bridge, you will shortly reach. Also nearby are the remains of, located beneath an office block, though these are only infrequently open to the public. Immediately next to the Globe Theatre is, although it is not open to the public, the view from the house looks across the Thames past the towards St Paul's Cathedral. Millennium Footbridge is a modern steel construction with a shallow, unobtrusive "blade of light" design. The surface of the footbridge is dotted with hundreds of delightfully tiny paintings, so small that they go unnoticed by most visitors.

The footbridge itself is just beside, located in the site of the former Bankside Power Station. The view from the Tate modern rooftop restaurant is said to be one of the finest in London - it's one of the few places that you can't see Bankside Power station. Continuing alongside the river, you pass under the Blackfriars rail bridge. If you look toward the river just after the bridge, you'll see the columns of the original rail bridge, which was demolished because it was too weak to support modern trains. Continue along the river, passing under Blackfriars Bridge.

A little further along the river, you'll pass the, notable for the stained glass windows bearing the letters "OXO" – installed by the manufacturers of Oxo stock cubes in response to being told that they could not incorporate advertising into their tower. The tower has since been refurbished to provide exclusive residential property, and boasts an expensive restaurant with great views over the city, and a gallery.

Continuing along the river, you'll pass, a pleasant riverside area, with a handful of restaurants and (mainly clothing) shops. The next building along the river is the, where numerous television shows are recorded, on Saturday mornings this stretch of the bankside walk is filled with teenagers keen to catch a glimpse of pop stars leaving the studios of CD:UK, a live music-based show. Just after this is the UK headquarters of IBM, immediately after which is the. The area in front of the theatre is often used for free entertainment (plays, poetry reading, etc.) in the summer.

Just after the National Theatre, you walk under Waterloo Bridge. During the day, second hand booksellers set up tables under the bridge to sell their wares. On the other side of the bridge, you'll find yourself next to the which hosts a wide variety of contemporary and classical concerts and contemporary dance performances. This is part of the Southbank Centre, which although ugly looking on the outside, is an interesting entertainment complex that also includes the smaller Purcell Room and the Hayward Gallery. The Hayward hosts exhibitions of the visual arts, including photography, painting and sculpture. The Southbank Centre also includes the Royal Festival Hall, a venue for (predominantly classical) music events. In the summer, free performances often take place on the balcony overlooking the Thames.

Just after the Southbank Centre is the Hungerford rail bridge, which is flanked by two footbridges, the, generally known to locals by the name of the older bridge that they replaced – the Hungerford footbridges. Continuing the walk west alongside the river, you'll pass (a small park, usually filled with picnickers in the Summer), which lies in front of the, the headquarters of the oil company Shell. Although the Shell Centre isn't open to the public, the exterior might be familiar from the many films in which it has appeared.

At the western end of the gardens is the, the Ferris wheel which offers unparalleled views over London. , the former home of the Greater London Authority, lies just beside the London Eye too – and is home to the London Aquarium, The Namco Museum (an amusement arcade filled with the latest arcade games) and the ticket office for the London Eye.

Just after County Hall is Westminster Bridge. To continue alongside the river, take the tunnel underneath the bridge. Before you do, though, go up the steps onto the bridge. One interesting thing to look for is the statue of a lion beside County Hall on the south side of the bridge – this statue is one of the few remaining examples of Coade stone, a ceramic substance developed by a Victorian female scientist, Eleanor Coade. It originally stood outside the entrance to the Lion Brewery, alongside a larger lion, which now stands at Twickenham Rugby Club.

While you're on Westminster Bridge, before continuing alongside the river, you might like to visit the in the grounds of St Thomas' Hospital on the west side of the bridge.

Returning to the walk along the river, on the west side of Westminster bridge, you'll see an excellent (but rarely photographed) view of the Palace of Westminster on the other side of the river.

As you continue along this last leg of the South Bank walk, you'll see the character of the river bank change considerably. Far fewer tourists walk along this section, and the raised benches offer a nice place to sit and relax while looking out over the river.

As you approach the next bridge, Lambeth Bridge, you'll see, home to the Archbishop of Canterbury since the 11th century (though the current building wasn't built until 1495. Alongside the Palace, in the church of St Mary-at-Lambeth can be found the.

This brings us to the end of the South Bank walk, at Lambeth Bridge. If you wish to continue walking, two paths continue this walk: the Thames Path, which continues up the Thames, and the Jubilee Walkway, which loops around central London. The Thames Path can be followed on either side of the river, but the north side is more pleasant – the buildings along the following stretch of the south bank are predominantly apartment blocks. In all honesty, however, there's not a great deal to see on the Thames after until you reach the. The Jubilee Walkway is more interesting, and continues by crossing to the north side of the river at Lambeth Bridge, then turning north (right) and proceeding to the Houses of Parliament and onwards.

Go next

 * Walk the London Wall – a similar style of walking tour on the other side of the Thames
 * Westminster, across the river from the end of the walk
 * The City of London, right across the river if you do the South Bank Walk from west to east

title: London South Bank Walk


text:
London with children

London with children can be an intimidating endeavour because of the city's size and congestion, but because of its size, it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience for children. London has a wide range of museums and activities targeted to children, and its other museums often have child-focused sections. Furthermore, as a city that has often been at the centre of world history, there is an incredible opportunity to introduce children to key times in the history of the world by taking them to the places where important events happened. Oh, and there are Harry Potter-related sites. That alone will be enough of an enticement to convince many children to be enthusiastic about a family trip to London.

Accessibility
Because it is over 100 years old, the Tube is poorly equipped for lifts and most stations only have escalators. If you're travelling with a stroller you may be in for staircase fun! Don't be afraid to ask for help lifting your stroller, most people are perfectly happy to help.

Some stations are "step-free" meaning they have lifts or are at ground level. TfL provides a step-free station map for planning ahead. As of 2023, only the Docklands Light Railway and the Elizabeth Line  have step-free access at all stations.

Tickets
The Tube is generally free for all children under the age of 11 though the child must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or an Oyster card. Children travelling free enter through a manned gate (usually at one end of a bank of turnstiles) because they do not have tickets. Children 11-15 have the option of buying a child rate ticket (usually half the adult rate) or buying a Child Photo Oyster Card that gives unlimited travel for a day for £1. It takes up to two weeks to get this photo card so, if your trip is for a short duration, you'll have to make do with the child rate.

By bus
An Oyster Photocard is required for children over 11. For visitors, the practical implication is that you'll probably have to buy child rate tickets for children over 11. Strollers may have to be folded on buses - especially at peak times. You should always be prepared to fold your stroller if a wheelchair user requires the space.

By taxi
A ride in a London black cab is exciting by itself for kids of all ages but, for the stroller parents, it is a delight! Almost any stroller can be wheeled into its capacious interior with the sleeping child safely strapped inside. Cabs can be expensive, however, with even the shortest ride coming in at over £5.

By boat
The Thames has been a major "avenue" in London for centuries and there are many interesting boat trips that can also get you from place to place. The easiest ride is the "Tate to Tate" which takes 20 minutes to get from Tate Britain to Tate Modern. A perfect way to break up a one-day tour of both museums. With older kids, a trip to Greenwich is sure to be on the agenda, so why not take the ferry from Embankment for a 40-minute ride to Greenwich? The most famous trip of them all is the three or four-hour ride between Hampton Court and Westminster with a stop at Kew Gardens as the perfect place for a picnic!

Museums
Backpacks with fun and educational activities for children of all ages, audio guides with walking tours specially designed for children, and guided tours for kids are some of the highlights for kids in the various museums of London. Because most of these museums are free and have walk-in access with no let or hindrance it is easy to spend an hour (the limit for most children) without worrying about making full use of your money. Note that the family activities at most museums are geared for Londoners and are mostly available on Sundays and during school holidays, so call the museum or check on-line before you go. Backpacks are usually available every day. Museums with special programs for children include:

War museums
For older children, these museums telling the story of Britain at war can prove to be insightful.

Science and nature museums
Victorian London was a hotbed of science and technological development and, along with excellent museums, there are many interesting smaller museums that kids may find interesting.

Boating
Take the kids boating in Regent's Park or Hyde Park. The older kids can try their hand at rowing at the Boating Pond (with swans, ducks, and other avian creatures for company) in Regent's Park or at the Serpentine in Hyde Park while the little ones can hop onto the yellow paddle boats in the children's boating pond in Regent's Park.

Swimming
Ever thought of swimming in a public pond? You can't do that in New York's Central Park, but both Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath allow swimming in ponds. At the Heath, there are separate ponds designated for Ladies, for Gents, and for mixed bathers, and these are open for swimming between April and December. In Hyde Park, a small corner of the Serpentine is designated for swimming and is open to the public in summer.

Horse riding
A fine English pastime and Hyde Park Stables offers group and solo rides, including lessons, on Rotton Row in Hyde Park (£49 and up for an hour). The stables are at the north end of Hyde Park off Bayswater Road.

Playgrounds
For the younger set (1–7-year-olds), there are many playgrounds in London Parks. Regent's Park has several, with the one between London Mosque and the Boating Lake being the most popular. The place to visit is, of course, the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Park near her Kensington Palace home. With a huge wooden pirate ship in the centre of the park, this playground is a grand and fun place for the tots!

Sport
Cricket, association football (soccer) and tennis are the three sports most associated with London in addition to that, London also hosts the NFL international series as well as several high-profile Rugby football events every year.

Buy
London used to be famous for quirky, independent toy stores. Unfortunately few of these survive today. However, there is still good shopping to be had:

Eat
Many London restaurants have special menus for children. While the fare is not always healthy, the portions are smaller and cheaper and are useful for saving some money. London restaurants are expensive, so do ask for a children's menu.

Pubs
Many London pubs, especially in the residential areas, are child friendly in the early evenings and weekend afternoons and are a good escape for small children. Look for a neighbourhood pub with outdoor seating and you can spend a nice afternoon with a beer or two to wash down a spicy Thai lunch or an old-fashioned roast while the kids run around in the open air.

Pizza
Zizzi and Pizza Express are the two local pizza chains and both are child-friendly with the usual bag of goodies (crayons, paper, puzzles) that will keep the tykes busy and a kids menu that will help keep your expenses under control.

Picnic food
Nothing can be better than a picnic in one of London's many parks on a fine summer day! To make up a basket, look for cheap and serviceable sandwiches, etc. at the various Tesco Express stores dotted over the city or, for more gourmet fixings, visit a Waitrose store or a Simply Food (Marks and Spencers) store.

Sleep
London has a massive array of hotels across most of the city. These range from independent to chain and from cheap to luxurious.

If you have older children and are willing to use public transport then it is well worth considering hotels that are out of the city centre. These hotels are almost always cheaper and with London's excellent public transport you could be in central London in as little as 20 minutes. As long as you're in walking distance of a Tube station you're usually good to go!

A few chains to consider are:

Stay safe
Londoners and their city are on the whole pretty safe, although here are some things children or their parents may not enjoy:

 * Rush hour is generally 7-9:30AM and 5:30-7PM on weekdays. During these times the Tube, trains and buses are busy and taxis are hard to find. It is better to travel outside of these times if possible.

 * Evenings and nights London is a busy city with a thriving nightlife. In areas where there are large numbers of bars it can become rowdy in the evenings.

 * Keep children under close control when walking on the streets and especially when on public transport. In the rush you may get separated and due to the crowds it may not be easy to find each other. Explain to children that if they become lost they should find a member of staff (someone in a London Underground uniform, for example, if you're on the Tube).

 * If you are separated on the London Underground, for example if a carer gets onto the train and the child does not, make sure you have a clear plan for what to do. For example, the child could wait on the platform while the carer travels to the next station and then travels back. To avoid being separated in the first place, don't rush onto trains and don't try and cram yourself on if it's too crowded - another train will be along in a few minutes or so! Also, if you are worried at any point, all stations have an information point where you can press a button and speak to station staff. Do not be tempted to pull the emergency alarm on the train as this can cause major delays and even cause the train to be stuck in the tunnel for a while, delaying your reunion with the stricken child.

 * There is crime in all major cities. While London is generally safe, it is worth reminding children to keep their valuables (such as phones and wallets) in a zipped-up pocket or bag and to only use them when necessary.

 * Illegal traders/con artists can be present around the South Bank and on Westminster Bridge. It often involves some kind of game such as hiding a ball under a cup and asking people to bet on which cup the ball is in. Of course the ball is none of the cups and you lose your money! If anyone "wins" they'll be a friend of the person running the game. There are also street acts that may try and grab you or ask you forcefully to take a picture - they are often pickpockets or will demand money for the photograph. It's important to explain to children to walk past these acts and not look as any kind of interest or eye contact will trigger them to come up to you. Overall, don't participate in any kind of street gambling and don't give money to any act that demands you hand it over - there are plenty of legitimate performers who won't demand anything from you. If you have a mobile phone/cellphone that works in the UK you can call 101 (only use 999 in an emergency) to report any harassment or illegal activity, but don't expect the police to respond swiftly and the con artists have lookouts who will alert them to the police so they can run.

Mazes
The area around London is dotted with garden mazes that will delight kids over five years old:

Theme parks
London's huge population needs to relax sometime and various theme parks have been set up to let people unwind - there are numerous smaller ones, but the below are "the big three". The parks close for winter and then re-open in March:

title: London with children


text:
Londrina

Londrina is a large city in Northern Paraná, southern Brazil. It is a wealthy center of a coffee-producing region. It could be a stopover to or from Foz do Iguaçu. The word Londrina means "Little London", a name which comes from the fact that a London-based cotton company, Paraná Plantations Limited, made the original investment to settle in the area.

Get in

 * Airport with daily flights to Curitiba, São Paulo, Campinas, and others.
 * Good long distance bus connections.
 * BR-369 connects the city with Ourinhos, São Paulo to the east
 * Herminio Antônio Pennacchi Highway connects to Maringá to the west

Get around
City buses can be a challenge. They are more frequent during office hours, specially close to the University hours, so it's very likely that they will be crowded with students. Any other time, you'll probably wait very long for your bus, as sometimes they can take longer than an hour to come. Transporte Coletivo Grande Londrina (TCGL)'s website (http://www.tcgrandelondrina.com.br/) has bus lines and time tables, though it's not easy to find your way around it, either.

Taxis are frequent and to be found everywhere. However, Londrina's traffic sometimes won't help you, and you'll find red light after red light. Be prepared to pay R$ 15 to R$ 20 for short distances.

Go next

 * Maringá
 * Ourinhos
 * Presidente Prudente
 * Teodoro Sampaio

title: Londrina