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London/Hampstead

Hampstead is a district of north inner London. The key sights are a wealth of under-stated historical attractions, and the magnificent open spaces of Hampstead Heath. Kenwood House is one of the most accessible of London's great Regency homes, John Keats has a museum devoted to his life and work at his former residence here, and the inspiration for many of John Constable's landscapes is all around you on Hampstead Heath. Combine those with some of the most interesting historical pubs in the whole city, and a vibrant restaurant and cafe scene, and Hampstead really does have much to offer the visitor.

Understand
Hampstead Village, with its myriad restaurants, old pubs and cafes, is an agreeable place to spend a day or two. The area retains much of its original village character, and Hampstead High St alone houses no fewer than 18 grade II listed buildings. This is one of the wealthiest sections of the city's inner boroughs, full of stately neighbourhoods and grand historic houses. You will also find  some interesting, non-mainstream shopping, several repertory theatres and one of the best arthouse cinemas in London.

The nearby vast, open green spaces of Hampstead Heath are a major attraction for Londoners, but relatively few visitors know much about this wonderful remnant of countryside in the centre of London.

Hampstead is a district of great literary, artistic and thespian traditions, and former residents include Kingsley Amis, William Blake, John Constable, Ian Fleming, William Hogarth, John Keats, Anna Pavlova and Alfred Tennyson. Those traditions continue today, and Hampstead is the home of choice for many actors, musicians, writers and media personalities. The residents of Hampstead are acutely aware of the history of the neighbourhood they live in, and any changes in this area are subject to rigorous discussion, and often protest.

Belsize Park is in many ways a southward extension of Hampstead Village, and is made up of many similarly grand residential streets with the odd gem of a restaurant. This is also home to one of the largest and most famous hospitals in London, the Royal Free.

The western reaches of Highgate in the Dartmouth Park area, are inside the Hampstead district, and include the important tourist attraction of Highgate Cemetery, which houses the grave of Karl Marx among other notables.

Primrose Hill is a quiet, stately, residential area in the south of the district bordering Regent's Park. Due to the lack of through roads for traffic, this area seems miles away from the general rush and bustle of London, and forms something of an oasis of calm in what is a very central area.

West Hampstead is less grand, and was traditionally a blue-collar housing neighbourhood. Inevitably though, gentrification from about 1990 onwards changed all that, and the area is now a favoured residential area by young professionals. Aside from some budget accommodation, there is little of interest for the visitor here though.

By tube
The district is served by the following tube stations, in zones 2 or 3:
 * Hampstead (Northern Line) – Zones 2+3
 * Belsize Park (Northern Line) – Zone 2
 * Chalk Farm (Northern Line) – Zone 2
 * Golders Green (Northern Line) – Zone 3
 * Swiss Cottage (Jubilee Line) – Zone 2
 * Finchley Road (Jubilee Line and Metropolitan Line) – Zone 2
 * West Hampstead (Jubilee Line and Overground) – Zone 2

By train
Hampstead is reachable via Thameslink trains and the London Overground.

By London Overground
Three London Overground lines run through the area:
 * Mildmay line (formerly North London line (NLL)) – from Richmond to Stratford via Willesden Junction and Highbury & Islington
 * Suffragette line (nicknamed the GOBLIN) – from Gospel Oak to Barking via Blackhorse Road
 * Lioness line (formerly Watford DC) – from Watford Junction to London Euston

Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations are both convenient stops for visiting Hampstead Heath.

Further west in the district, the Overground also stops at Finchley Road & Frognal and West Hampstead which are both on the Mildmay line.

Finchley Road
Finchley Rd is a major bus route through London. Bus numbers 13, 82 and 139 all originate in central London and pass along the length of Finchley Rd, allowing easy access to Swiss Cottage and West Hampstead.

By road
The best advice for any visitors wishing to drive into Hampstead is, don't. This is a largely residential area, and there is virtually no on-street parking available. Residents-only parking spaces are guarded very jealously. With the public transport links being very good, there is little need for any visitor to drive into the district.

If you do insist on driving, there is a public car park on the south eastern edge of Hampstead Heath accessed from East Heath Rd, and this is convenient for visiting the heath. The "easiest" (the term must be used relatively as all routes are congested) routes in from central London are:

 * A41 north from Marylebone Rd at Baker St. The A41 becomes Finchley Rd in this district.
 * A4200 (Eversholt St) north from Euston Station to Camden High St, and then the A502 which runs through the heart of the district as first Chalk Farm Rd, then Haverstock Hill and then Hampstead High St.

Coming from the north, the A41, A502 and A598 all connect to the district from the A406 North Circular Rd, and thus from the M1 motorway.

Get around
Much of the district, particularly in Hampstead Village and Hampstead Heath, lends itself beautifully to walking.

See

Many of the key historical sights are in a cluster within a ten-minute walk of Hampstead tube station and therefore easily covered on foot. If you are planning a full day in the area, a morning visit to Hampstead Heath followed by lunch in Hampstead Village and then an exploration of the historical attractions makes for a good itinerary.

Hampstead Heath
Totalling 320 hectares this is the largest green space in the inner districts of London.

Hampstead Heath, or just the Heath as locals call it, is not a park and has a very different character to the highly manicured Royal Parks in central London. This is a remnant of the great Middlesex Wood that has somehow survived as common land as the metropolis grew around it, and in that sense, it is very unique. Its proximity to, and ease of access from, densely populated urban areas of London, have ensured that Hampstead Heath has a special place in the hearts of Londoners.

The heath has much to offer to the visitor, but is generally not that well known as being a tourist attraction. If you are in the city and simply want some fresh air and calm natural surroundings, there is no better choice than jumping on the tube and coming for an early morning walk here. Both Hampstead and Belsize Park tube stations are about 10-minute walk from the heath. The North London Line rail station Hampstead Heath is right on the southwestern tip of the heath.

Hampstead Heath is administered by the City of London Corporation, and it is worth visiting their website, where there are useful trail maps and other visitor information.

Cultural inspirations
Like so many other iconic landscapes, Hampstead Heath has inspired a great many works of art from all disciplines, with some of the more notable being:
 * John Constable painted numerous landscapes both from sitting on the upper level of his house at the nearby Well Walk, and from on the heath itself. As you take in the splendid vistas over the heath, it is not difficult to see how Constable was so inspired here.
 * John Keats composed his great Ode to a Nightingale whilst sitting at the Spaniard's Inn and hearing the sound of a nightingale on the heath. The nightingales have sadly gone, but the heath still has a very healthy wild bird population.
 * CS Lewis was inspired to write The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe whilst wandering Hampstead Heath on a snowy winter's day.
 * In contemporary literature, Hampstead Heath is the setting for the village of Ham in Will Self's superb The Book of Dave.
 * The cult movie Scenes of a Sexual Nature was shot entirely on Hampstead Heath.

Orientation
Hampstead Heath is a large space, and visitors may find it useful to compartmentalise the different sections.

 * The main part of Hampstead Heath is bounded by Spaniards Rd and Hampstead Lane to the north, Highgate Rd to the east, the North London railway line to the south, and East Heath Rd and Spaniards Rd (again) to the east. A line of ponds runs along each side of the heath here: Highgate Ponds on the eastern side, Hampstead Ponds on the western side. The northern part of this section is occupied by Kenwood House, looked after by English Heritage and the only part of the heath not administered by the City of London Corporation. Parliament Hill forms the southern part of this section.
 * West Heath is across Spaniards Rd and North End Rd from the main section, and includes Golder's Hill Park, The Pergola and The Hill Garden, as well as large tracts of mature oak, hornbeam and birch woodland.
 * Sandy Heath is northwest of Spaniard's Rd and consists mostly of beautiful, mature oak woodland.
 * The Hampstead Heath Extension is north of Sandy Heath bordering suburban Golders Green, and consists mostly of sports pitches. Older locals still call this area the "gunsite" as it was exactly that during World War II, and was not cleared until the 1960s.

Specific attractions on Hampstead Heath

Do
Given its reputation as a centre of the arts, it is no surprise that Hampstead is home to three of London's better known repertory theatres and a truly top-class arthouse cinema. Evenings here certainly focus around those performing arts activities. One-off performances (sometimes at unusual venues) are also far from uncommon, so check local listings. A good place to look is the local weekly newspaper, the Hampstead and Highgate Express.

Buy
Hampstead Village has long been known as a home of off-beat, independent shops. Sadly, that is less the case today than previously as spiralling rents have forced many independent retailers out of the area. Some do remain though, and the keen shopper will be rewarded by exploring the small lanes that lead off the main streets here.

Hampstead High St, Heath St, Rosslyn Hill and Haverstock Hill have a number of mid and upper market boutiques including Nicole Farhi, Gap, Karen Millen, Nine West, Kurt Geiger and Molton Brown.

The usual suspects among British high street retailers are well represented in the Finchley Rd and Swiss Cottage area.

Eat
Hampstead Village and Belsize Park are well known for a wide selection of quality restaurants and cafes. The local resident population here is notably demanding, so any places that make it long term will be serving good food and providing good service. The daytime sees a cafe culture perhaps as strong as anywhere in London, and in the evening, restaurants attract visitors fom all over London, as well as neighbourhood locals.

Elsewhere in the district, Primrose Hill has its own eating sub-culture centre around some chic outlets on Gloucester Avenue, and London's oldest vegetarian restaurant nearby. The West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage area has some good local restaurants.

Budget

Drink
Historic pubs are widespread in this district and visitors will have few problems finding a good quality, rewarding option. A vintage of 200 years is by no means unusual for such establishments and many have colourful stories to tell.

This is not a district with any regular after hours nightlife, but it is not far down the hill to the neighbouring areas of Camden Town and King's Cross where there are many late bar and dance club options.

Hampstead Village and around
Among Hampstead's many pubs are a few traditional jewels, including:

Elsewhere

Sleep
This is not a district well known for its accommodation options and few visitors stay here. The hotels that are available tend to be in the south of the district, although Hampstead Village itself does have a couple of good quality bed and breakfast options which are very much off the regular tourist path. In West Hampstead, there is a small cluster of budget bed and breakfast options.

Stay safe
This is a comparatively safe district of London, it is also rather upper-class populated. You are however still in the city, so be sensible, especially after dark. If you do run into any difficulties, the nearest police station is:

Go next

 * Camden Town with its wonderfully eclectic markets and shops, is just a couple of stops south on the Northern Line.
 * From the south of the district, you can easily walk to Oxford Street and elsewhere in the West End, through the lovely Regent's Park.

title: London/Hampstead


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London/Holborn-Clerkenwell

Holborn-Clerkenwell is a district in central London that is in many ways a buffer zone between London's West End and the City of London financial district.

Understand

Holborn has long been associated with the legal professions, notably in the Lincoln's Inn area, and was also a major centre of the old British newspaper industry before the advent of new publishing technology.

Clerkenwell is full of architects and publishers, and as a result many new bars and restaurants have cropped up; the area continues to be a target for more development. The drinking scene varies from family-oriented wine bars to huge clubs and cool underground bars, and it compares well to its more artistic, trendier neighbour, Shoreditch (in the East End).

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

 * Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines) is at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway.
 * Chancery Lane (Central line) is the best station for accessing Lincoln's Inn and the other Inns of Court.
 * Farringdon (Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Elizabeth lines) is the best station for accessing most of Clerkenwell's nightlife.

By train

 * Thameslink overland rail services between London St Pancras International and City Thameslink stations. There are other services throughout London and the home counties, including: St. Albans, Peterborough, Sevenoaks and Welwyn Garden City.
 * Elizabeth line services from Reading to Shenfield. Farringdon is between London Paddington and Stratford, with connections to Abbey Wood and London Heathrow.

Street food

Clerkenwell

 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.
 * Zetter Town House on St John's Square: see Sleep for the madcap "Great Aunt Wilhelmina" cocktail bar.

Sleep
There are not too many hotel options in this district and visitors are better off looking in neighbouring Bloomsbury.

Newspapers and magazines

 * The Clerkenwell Post, a local lifestyle paper.

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

title: London/Holborn-Clerkenwell


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London/Islington

Islington is a district of north London covering much of the London Borough of Islington. The area around The Angel, Upper Street and Essex Road is of special interest to visitors; it is home to a number of interesting shops selling antiques and collectibles as well as art galleries.

Understand
The south of the district borders the City of London and Clerkenwell and was long seen as something of a poor relation to those two areas. That all started to change in the 1990s when the typical Victorian houses of Islington became very desirable and the area went through huge gentrification to become a highly fashionable address.

Further north, the district becomes a little less grand and largely lower-end residential. Finsbury Park is an area in the north-east of the district which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. The park is a large important green space in an otherwise densely populated area.

In the north-west of the district its character changes again and Highgate takes on many characteristics of the neighbouring district of Hampstead.

Islington has long been known for its left-wing politics and in the 1980s the oft-used moniker of the Socialist Republic of Islington was not unwarranted. The legacy of that still remains: the borough's two MPs—including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—and Council administration are all from the Labour Party, and a number of regular festivals of a distinctly left-wing nature are hosted here.

Islington is also known for being the place where writer and explorer Mary Kingsley was born.

Local information

 * London Borough of Islington Council website

By tube
Islington is served by the following Tube stations, in fare zones 1, 2 and 3:

 * Angel (Northern line) (Zone 1)
 * Highbury & Islington (Victoria line) (Zone 2)
 * Tufnell Park (Northern line) (Zone 2)
 * Archway (Northern line) (Zones 2 and 3)
 * Highgate (Northern line) (Zone 3)
 * Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly lines) (Zone 2)
 * Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)
 * Caledonian Road (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)
 * Arsenal (Piccadilly line) (Zone 2)

National Rail
The nearest mainline stations are and  in Camden.

National Rail stations within the borough include Highbury & Islington, Essex Rd, Canonbury, Finsbury Park and Upper Holloway.

London Overground
Islington has several London Overground stations with services to Stratford, Clapham Junction, Willesden Junction, Richmond, New Cross and West Croydon. All stations are in fare zone 2.

From west to east:
 * Caledonian Road & Barnsbury
 * Highbury & Islington
 * Canonbury

By bus
Bus routes 41, N41, 134, 390, 43, 17, C11, 4 and W5 serve Archway and the surrounding area.

Routes 29, 19, 4, 259, 253 and 254 connect Finsbury Park with the centre of London.

The Angel, Islington is served by the following routes: 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 205, 214, 274 and 341.

Buy

 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.
 * Stroud Green Farmers Market is every Sunday north of Finsbury Park station.

Eat
Diners are spoiled for choice in Islington, especially the Upper Street area between Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations. A wide variety of cuisine and price ranges are available. Mediterranean food dominates but with options like Indian, Afghan, Italian, French, Thai, and South American there is food for all tastes.

A few minutes' walk from Archway station up Highgate Hill will lead you to Highgate, the upmarket end of Archway. There are a selection of nice cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Swain's Lane, five to ten minutes walk from Archway station just near Hampstead Heath, has a few nice places to eat.

Angel to Upper Street can be a diner's paradise if you know where to go. Close to Angel places are geared towards the daytime sandwich eaters and coffee drinkers. From Islington Green on you will generally find nicer restaurants at better value. As a rule, the further towards Highbury & Islington the cheaper the restaurants, although the quality does not necessarily decline. Take a walk down the side-streets too as they hold some of the best restaurants, pubs, and bars.

In Archway, coming out of the Tube station you will see two kebab houses on Junction Road, neither of which are anything special, but rather comically one carries the slogan "best kebabs in UK" while the other says "best kebab in world"; these are not to be believed. You may find other interesting little restaurants down Holloway Road.

The Finsbury Park area is home to many minority groups such as Algerians, Greeks, Turks, and sub-Saharan Africans and as such has some of the most diverse range of restaurants available in London. Down Blackstock Road, a locals' favourite is Sim Sim. Just outside the station on Seven Sisters Road, The Red Zone offers cheap but good food.

Archway
There are plenty of pubs in the area, some of them managing to be slightly more lively or more stylish than the typical local boozer.

Finsbury Park
There are many pubs in the area.

Media

 * Islington Gazette
 * Islington Tribune

Go next

 * East to Hackney
 * South to Holborn
 * West to Camden

title: London/Islington


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London/Lambeth

Lambeth is a borough of inner south-west London. Here is the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, St. Thomas's Hospital and County Hall. Lambeth includes the districts of Kennington (the location of the Imperial War Museum and The Oval Cricket Ground) and Brixton, known for its Black British culture and nightlife.

Although the London Borough of Lambeth extends all the way to the Thames, the most northerly section is covered by a separate article on Wikivoyage, London/South Bank

Understand
This destination covers most of the borough of Lambeth, except for a chunk around Waterloo station that is covered under South Bank. Lambeth was historically a largely deprived area of Inner London with very dense housing. However, this began to change in the 1990s as the gentrification that was apparent in just about all of inner London also manifested itself here.

Brixton is a colourful, unique urban area that is like nowhere else in London. Brixton has a mix of residents, ranging from people who have lived in the district for generations to new residents who have moved prompted by a new trendy image that it has gained. It is a multi-ethnic community, with around 24 percent of the population being of African and/or Caribbean descent, giving rise to Brixton being called the unofficial capital of the British African-Caribbean community in London.

The diverse population originates from the 1940s and '50s, when Britain invited large numbers of immigrants from the West Indies to fill the job gaps.

There is a thriving scene for clubbing and live music, especially reggae/ska and rock. There are also several trendy markets stretching across the district where you can buy all manner of exotic foods, textiles and jewellery. It is well known for its nightlife, particularly the Brixton Academy, along with many other interesting bars, pubs and clubs to explore. Electric Avenue (of Eddy Grant song-fame) was the first electric-lit street in the UK; even if it is in a rather obscure location, it's worth checking out for the thriving, competing halal butchers.

Herne Hill is a village-type area on the corner of Brockwell Park, which includes a historic velodrome.

Kennington is a residential district with a rich history. The area is characterised by late Georgian and early Victorian roads and squares. It is dominated by two London landmarks: The Oval, an international cricket stadium, and the Imperial War Museum, a national museum. Kennington appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Chenintune", which may mean "place of the King". Edward III gave the manor of Kennington to his oldest son Edward, "the Black Prince", in 1337, and the prince built a large royal palace between what is now Black Prince Road and Sancroft Street. Geoffrey Chaucer was employed at Kennington as Clerk of Works in 1389. Kennington remains a Royal manor, and the Duchy of Cornwall has a substantial property portfolio within the district. A large number of Members of Parliament have London residences in Kennington; the district falls within the Division Bell Zone, because it is geographically close to the Houses of Parliament.

Kennington Park (south London's oldest public park, laid out by Victorian architect James Pennethorne) and St Mark's Churchyard now cover the site of Kennington Common, which was a place for executions, entertainment and demonstrations. In 1746 the Surrey County Gallows at the southern end of the common was used for the execution of nine leaders of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. The Common was also where the Chartists gathered for their biggest demonstration in 1848. "The Gymnastic Society" met regularly at Kennington Common during the second half of the eighteenth century to play football. The society - which could lay a claim to being the world's first football club - consisted of London-based natives of Cumberland and Westmorland. The tradition of crowds gathering at Kennington Park in advance of marches upon Parliament continues today.

Vauxhall, dominated by its gyratory system, is best known to many Londoners for its gay scene and as a transport interchange (its bus station is the second-busiest in London; there is also a railway station served by South West Trains, and the Victoria line stops there) - but it is experiencing rapid gentrification along its Thames frontage. Vauxhall is the location of the offices of MI6 (famous from James Bond films), and will be the site for the new American Embassy.

The history of Vauxhall is tied to industry: it was there that Vauxhall Motors was founded, and Royal Doulton had a factory. Before that, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, created in 1661, attracted visitors. The largest green space in Vauxhall today is its small Park, which came about in 1890 through the campaigning of Octavia Hill (co-founder of the National Trust) for "More Air for London". In the 1990s, Vauxhall became a prominent feature on London's gay scene; a number of clubs, bars and pubs have placed it as an alternative to Soho. Bonnington Square, close to The Oval, where Vauxhall meets Kennington, developed from a squat, threatened with demolition, into an artists' community, with carefully tended gardens and community spaces.

By Tube
Lambeth is served by the following Tube stations on the Northern and Victoria  lines:
 * Brixton (Zone 2)
 * Clapham Common (Zone 2)
 * Clapham North (Zone 2)
 * Kennington (Zone 2)
 * Nine Elms (Zone 1)
 * Oval (Zone 2)
 * Stockwell (Zone 2)
 * Vauxhall (Zone 1 & 2)

By train
The district is served by the following National Rail stations:

 * Brixton (a three-minute walk from the Tube station)
 * Clapham High Street
 * Herne Hill
 * Loughborough Junction
 * Streatham
 * Streatham Common
 * Streatham Hill
 * Tulse Hill
 * Vauxhall
 * Wandsworth Road
 * West Norwood

By bus

There are also several Night Buses serving Lambeth including:

See

Do

 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:
 * Cricket:

Eat
There are many different types of food available in Lambeth, from Caribbean to Eritrean and fish and chips to noodles. You will find most of the restaurants on Coldharbour Ln and Atlantic Rd. Here are a few noted establishments. Clapham High St has a good selection of restaurants.

Drink
Brixton has the advantage that every night you can stay out drinking later than almost anywhere else in London. Even on a Sunday, there are plenty of bars open until 2AM if you really do not want the weekend to end. The more interesting and local bars are dotted down backstreets.

Stay safe
Most of Lambeth is as safe as the rest of London. The South Bank is a major tourist area, so do watch out for coats and bags, as opportunist theft is not unknown.

In the 1980s Brixton had a reputation for crime and, even until a few years ago, it was almost impossible to leave Brixton tube station in the evenings without being offered drugs. While the situation has improved a lot, it's still sensible to take some precautions in Brixton and the nearby areas at night. Stick to well-lit, busy areas and you have little to worry about. Some South London housing estates have a poor reputation for violent crime; while these are rarely places tourists would have much reason to go, visitors should avoid spending too much time passing through housing estates at night, at least until they have got to know the area. The same goes for the open space of Clapham Common; fashionable during the day, at night it has something of a reputation for sexual activity and muggings.

title: London/Lambeth


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London/Leicester Square

The area around Leicester Square, often called the West End, is the entertainment heart of London. The area also includes Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

Chinatown
Chinatown is centrally located in the West End, along and around Gerrard Street off Leicester Square. It spreads into Wardour Street at one end and Newport Place at the other. London's Chinatown may not be quite as large as those in Bangkok, New York City or Sydney, but it is still a great place to dine out in the evening, authentically Chinese and definitely different from anywhere else in London.

Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a large public square commemorating Lord Horatio Nelson's victory against Napoleon's navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The central monument within the square is a single tall column on which the figure of Nelson stands gazing over London and is one of the great iconic images of London. His monument is surrounded by four colossal lions and a series of large fountains. Much more than just an open plaza, Trafalgar Square is famous as the location of a large number of important buildings and institutions that surround the square and fill the streets surrounding it. Trafalgar Square also marks the northern end of Whitehall, the centre of British government.

In 2003 Trafalgar Square was renovated and expanded to link up directly with the National Gallery on the north side of the square - a great improvement to the traffic which once completely encircled this, the largest public square in the West End. The early 18th century church of St Martins in the Fields stands at the north-east corner of the square. Just by the church, Charing Cross Road gives access to the fabulous National Portrait Gallery, and leads on further to Leicester Square, Soho and the famous collection of bookstores on the road itself. To the south, Whitehall leads to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street.

Christmas time sees the erection of a large Christmas tree within the square, the annual gift of the people of Oslo, capital of Norway, as a token of gratitude for Britain's help in World War II. The tree provides a focus for Christmas carols, performed by different groups to raise funds for voluntary and charitable organisations. Trafalgar Square is also traditionally the scene of lively celebrations for Londoners on New Year's Eve, though an increasingly heavy police presence has meant that some antics (drunks leaping into the fountains) have all but disappeared. Trafalgar Square has also served as an outdoor venue for concerts and VIP appearances, courtesy of the Mayor of London's Office, which is keen to see Londoners use their public spaces better. Visitors to the square on an ordinary day may also discover small (and not so small) scale demonstrations and public speakers - the Square is a convenient gathering place near to, but not threatening, the seat of British Government down the road at Westminster.

Leicester Square
This smallish London square is the site of most British film premieres and the square itself is surrounded by terrifyingly expensive cinemas — tickets for an evening screening will cost upwards of £17, 3D screenings will cost upwards of £15. At night, Leicester Square becomes exceptionally busy with tourists and locals, visiting the surrounding clubs and bars. In the northwest corner of the square is a musical clock, incorporating a Swiss glockenspiel, that is popular with tourists. It was popular enough that its remodelling and restoration was a requirement when permission was given for the demolition of the Swiss Centre in 2008, of which it had been a part. The TKTS half-price ticket booth is on the south side of Leicester Square for cheap tickets for theatre performances.

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

 * Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines) – is served by a Tube station of the same name just off the north east corner of the Square on Charing Cross Road. The station is on both the Northern and Piccadilly Lines and acts as a convenient place to start any exploration of London's West End.
 * Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) – Chinatown is a short walk from both Picadilly Circus and its Tube station of the same name. Walk east along Shaftesbury Avenue, before turning right at Wardour Street, watch for the ornamental gates — and Leicester Square stations.
 * Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) – is the nearest Tube station to Trafalgar Square and on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines.

By train
in Covent Garden serves the south-eastern region of England.

Get around
Walk. This is a small district which lends itself perfectly to exploration on foot.

Do
Leicester Square is one of London's true entertainment hotspots.

Cinemas
Leicester Square square hosts most high-profile London cinema premieres, on which occasions it is fenced and crowded beyond comfort by people desperately trying to take a look at their celebrity of choice.

Theatre

Along with neighbouring Covent Garden this is the capital of London's theatreland and the most famous London theatres are in this district. Check individual theatre websites or the official London theatreland website for current programmes and never neglect the official half price ticket booth in Leicester Square:

There are many other ticket offices in the area claiming to be "the official" or "the original" half-price ticket office. Be wary of them as they often have high service charges, and have been known to sell counterfeit tickets.

Most of the booking office numbers given below will only work from within the UK. If you want to make a booking from overseas, use the relevant website.

Casinos
Visitors over the age of 18 (with valid ID) can consider patronising the area's casinos to gamble.

Buy
There are several attractions at Swiss Court which used to be a hub with a Swiss bank and shops selling chocolate, amongst other amenities. While these were removed back in 2007 the heritage is retained with a decorative large clock and a glockenspiel restored in 2011.

Books
Waterstone's flagship branch is near Piccadilly Circus and is apparently Europe's largest bookshop.

Charing Cross Road and the tiny Cecil Court which leads off it have long been the centre of the specialist and antiquarian book trade in London. There are fewer outlets than previously as spiralling rents pushed out a lot of the traditional booksmiths but many still remain. Any book lover will be in heaven here.

Eat
All sorts of food are available. While London's Chinatown boasts some of the city's best Chinese food, quality and value vary enormously between individual restaurants. While some consistently win awards, others seem to be regularly being refurbished following visits from the local Environmental Health department. Unless you're on an extreme budget, it is worth paying a little more for quality food and service. Be careful especially with the common all you can eat deals.

There are several buffets in Chinatown and cheerful, and you get exactly what you pay for. Some of them have a larger selection of dishes, but quality varies and can be a lot to be desired. If you do mind, Hong Kong Buffet has the highest price, but is tastier and you can be sure you're not eating lower quality meat.

Budget

Drink
There are relatively few decent places to drink in this district and visitors would do better to head north into Soho or east in Covent Garden, for a better selection of bars and pubs. However, if your legs are weary, there are a number of convenient drinking places:

Pubs

 * The smaller
 * The smaller
 * The smaller
 * The smaller

Sleep
Very few visitors stay in this district and the options which are available are not particularly good value. This is a district to visit, not to stay in.

Go next
Leicester Square is a small and very central district; a very short walk can take you to many other areas of London. Soho is just north, past Chinatown, with fashionable night life and eclectic shops. Covent Garden is just to the east, with more entertainment and shopping opportunities. Westminster is just to the south, past Trafalgar Square, with its mix of government offices, parks and historic buildings. Mayfair-Marylebone is to the west, past Piccadilly Circus, with more up-market places to shop.

title: London/Leicester Square


text:
London/Mayfair-Marylebone

Mayfair and Marylebone are districts of central London. Together they cover a large area of western central London, encompassing the whole of Mayfair and Piccadilly to the south and the area from Oxford Street through Marylebone to Regent's Park and the border with St John's Wood to the north.

Understand
Mayfair is named after a fortnight-long May Fair held from 1686 until banned from that location in 1764. (Previously, the May Fair was held in the Haymarket; after 1764, it moved to Fair Field in Bow). The area was owned by the Grosvenor family and much is still held by the Grosvenor Estate, having been originally developed for residences from the late 17th century. Mayfair is an extremely well-heeled district, as symbolised by its appearance as the most expensive property on the London Monopoly board, followed closely by one of its main thoroughfares, Park Lane. The district includes several major up-market shopping streets, including Bond Street, Regent Street, Jermyn Street.

Dividing the two districts is Oxford Street, considered by many to be the 'high street', (i.e. main shopping street) of London. Here are to be found a number of sizeable department stores, including the famous Selfridges, as well as shopfronts for all the major brands.

Marylebone, to the north of Oxford Street, is larger and less grand than Mayfair but still home to some very desirable housing, as well major tourist attractions such as Madame Tussaud's Wax Works Museum, Baker Street and the fictional haunt of Sherlock Holmes, and—to the north—the wide open green spaces of Regent's Park (including London Zoo).

By Tube
There are many Tube stations in the area, making these districts extremely easy to access, with all sites of interest a maximum of 10-15 minutes walk from any Tube station:

 * Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).
 * Oxford Circus (Central, Bakerloo and Victoria lines)
 * Marble Arch (Central line)
 * Baker Street (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines)
 * Bond Street (Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines).
 * Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee lines).
 * Edgware Road (Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)
 * Regent's Park (Bakerloo line)
 * Marylebone (Bakerloo line)
 * Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)

The Tube is the best way to reach Oxford Street; although there are plenty of buses serving the area, the traffic congestion is pretty bad, and the wait can be lengthy. The Central Line runs pretty much directly beneath Oxford Street at this point, with four stations along its length: Marble Arch, Bond Street (also served by the Jubilee Line), Oxford Circus (also served by the Bakerloo and Victoria lines), and Tottenham Court Road (also served by the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line). If you want to shop, go to either Marble Arch or Tottenham Court Road station and walk the length of Oxford Street to experience all it has to offer.

If possible, avoid Oxford Circus Tube Station, as its layout is confusing and it's also very busy; at times it can be difficult to get out of the station at all due to pedestrian congestion outside and access to the station is frequently closed on a temporary basis during the evening rush hour.

By bus
Both the 7 and 23 buses travel up Edgware Rd and on towards Bayswater & Notting Hill.

Landmarks

Mayfair
Mayfair has 3 boundaries of major shopping streets: Oxford Street (to the north), Piccadilly (to the south) and Regents Street (to the West). In the centre is Bond Street and the first indoor shopping centres called arcades, full of exclusive shops.

Oxford Street
Oxford Street, which has been a shopping mecca and London's primary shopping street since 1908, will max out your credit card and will provide you with a store for anything you need. Many major British retail chains have their flagship branches along Oxford Street, although some have closed in this high-rent district due to shoppers' increasing preference for online shopping.

Piccadilly
The road connecting the Wellington Arch by Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park to Piccadilly Circus.

Regent Street
Intersecting Oxford St proper is Regent St, which houses the famous Liberty department store, again worth a visit for fabrics and home furnishings.

Savile Row
West and parallel to Regents St is Savile Row synonymous with perhaps the highest quality men's suits in the world. There are many bespoke tailors to choose from, most of whom are behind quite discreet shop fronts. If you feel like really treating yourself, nothing could be more London than a suit from Savile Row and a shirt from Jermyn St.

Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus itself where the London Underground station of the same name resides, is on the corner of Oxford St and Regent St.

Tottenham Court Road
The eastern boundary of the area is marked by Tottenham Court Road, which is London's famous area for specialist electronics, hi-fi and computer equipment shops - most of these are concentrated near the southern half of the road, whilst the northern half is famous for its furnishing stores.

Central Mayfair
If your taste is for mainstream designer label goods, try Bond Street (New Bond Street). Synonymous with international designers and luxury goods, it is a great way to experience London's finest at its best. The street is recognised as the premier location for designer shopping in London, and perhaps the world, featuring brands and labels recognised the world over.

Marylebone
Marylebone High Street and the side streets running off it have a range of upmarket specialised shops, in particular for food.

Budget
All the below are near Oxford Circus:

Stay safe
Whilst Oxford Street is one of the safest streets in central London, there are, however, a few things to be aware of:

Crowds
Oxford Street is very busy most days of the week, and can be unbearably so during the weekends – the areas around the junction with Tottenham Court Road, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus in particular.

If you are in a hurry, be a Londoner and avoid the crowds by diverting via the back streets which run parallel to Oxford Street – plus you have the advantage of stumbling upon little gems such as restaurants, cafes and bars that are off the beaten track! You should be careful though, as pickpockets do sometimes lurk in these streets.

Begging and "The Clipboard People"
Most homeless people asking for money won't and don't usually physically accost you, however, you will see them selling the "Big Issue", which is a magazine published by a homeless charity.

"The Clipboard People" are usually students who have been recruited by a charity to waylay passersby and ask if they want to sign up for their charity.

Please remember that you are not obliged to purchase either product although "The Clipboard People" are usually far more persistent and will try and attract you in a more aggressive manner. To get rid of these people just say "No" firmly or ignore them.

Street Sellers
As well as the recognized stores, you may encounter a few street sellers. Be cautious, and if you have any doubts as to the seller or authenticity of the merchandise do not purchase.

Targeting
If you are a young woman on her own you may become targeted by young men working in the t-shirt shops who wish to invite you for a meal and become quite persistent or young men saying that they have "seen you around" and want to know your name.

Firmly tell them "No" and walk away; they should leave you alone. If you do have to pass by one of the shops where you have been targeted, usually expect nothing more than a cat-call. Remember if you do feel harassed, please call the Police.

Buses at night
It is safer for the lone traveller to sit downstairs and towards the front. It is inadvisable to sit at either the back, (as these seats are monopolised by youths), or upstairs. If you must sit upstairs it is not recommended that you sit at the back.

Go next

 * East crossing Regents Street into Soho.
 * South crossing Piccadilly into Westminster.

title: London/Mayfair-Marylebone


text:
London/North

North London is the outer northern district of London.

Understand
Many outer areas of North London were once part of the county of Middlesex, which no longer exists for administrative purposes. However, residents of these areas still have the option of using Middlesex in their postal addresses.

Boroughs
North London consists of the following boroughs:

 * Barnet — the borough includes:
 * Barnet
 * Edgware
 * Finchley
 * Golders Green
 * Hendon
 * Brent — the borough includes:
 * Wembley
 * Kilburn
 * Neasden
 * Willesden
 * Harlesden
 * Enfield — the borough includes:
 * Enfield, Edmonton and Bush Hill Park
 * Palmers Green
 * Southgate
 * Haringey — the borough includes:
 * Harringay
 * Crouch End
 * Muswell Hill
 * Tottenham
 * Wood Green
 * Harrow — the borough includes:
 * Harrow, Harrow town centre is a bustling shopping and business area, while Harrow on the Hill, with the famous Harrow school, has remained almost unchanged for a hundred years.
 * Pinner, a suburban town with a Tudor high street dating back to the 14th Century.
 * Stanmore

London Borough of Enfield
Enfield can be split into four distinct areas:

Enfield Town, Chase, Slades Hill and Hadley Wood
Shopping here in Palace Xchange can be relatively expensive but there are some well-known stores such as United Colours Of Benetton, Ralph Lauren, Armani Exchange, The Arsenal Store, H&M, Next, Rolex, Per Lui, TK Maxx, Pearsons Department Store, JD Sports, M&S, Jane Norman, plus coffee shops (Caffè Nero, Starbucks and Costa). Also, Enfield Town is the world's first working and commercial ATM at the Barclays Bank on The Town EN2.

Southgate and Palmers Green
Wealthy suburban areas with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian-era houses; a short bus ride from Enfield Town on the 121/329.

Oakwood, Cockfosters, Grange Park and Cat Hill
Upper-middle-class suburbs bordering London's Metropolitan Green Belt; views of the open countryside are not uncommon in both Chase and Oakwood.

Edmonton and Bush Hill Park
Two outer London middle-class suburbs; location of the Edmonton Green shopping centre, Edmonton Green Bus Station and many shopping villages.

Finchley
This is a large, thriving metropolitan area in central North London and can be divided into several areas including Finchley Central (known historically as Finchley Church End), East Finchley and West Finchley.

Finchley Central is one of the only areas within London to be fortunate enough to have a city farm. College Farm is an attraction for locals and tourists who can expect to see horses, cows, yaks, pigs and other farmyard animals (a rare sight in London). Finchley Central is also home to the famous 'naked lady' statue at the Henly's Corner. Hotels in the district range from smaller bed and breakfasts to the Holiday Inn Finchley.

Finchley Central contains an odd mix of upper-middle class suburbia infused with some working class aspects too, thus giving it a unique vibe. There is a strong Jewish community in Finchley, however, this does not have many Orthodox Jews who generally choose to make the neighbouring areas of Hendon and Golders Green their home. The Jewish community is represented by several synagogues in the area, the most prominent being the New North London Synagogue on East End Road. It also acts as a local hub for Jewish culture.

There are a number of restaurants in Finchley Central which are reasonably priced and these include specialist restaurants such as Kosher and Halal establishments. Finchley also has bohemian and lively bars, some of which have late licensing laws. Travel in and out of central London is simple via the Northern Line and a variety of bus routes. Although Finchley has a distinctly urban feel, you can venture close by to the neighbouring Mill Hill area to experience some of the great British countryside.

Kilburn
Kilburn is a busy, diverse area situated along a stretch of the Roman Watling Street that makes up the local Edgware Road. Northern Kilburn encompasses the smaller area of Brondesbury. Known as 'Little Dublin', Kilburn spans the boroughs of Brent and Camden.

Being surrounded by generally wealthier areas, Kilburn is a mixture of influences. Historically, it was a focus point for Irish immigration (at some point it was even referred to as "County Kilburn"), and although there are few remaining in Kilburn, their influence is felt in the naming and styling of some of Kilburn's cafes and pubs. The community is very diverse, both ethnically and socially, with a mix of wealthy and poor streets.

Tottenham
Tottenham is mentioned in the Domesday book as the homestead of a man named Tota. The village of Tottenham grew up around the area of High Cross, on the junction with the High Road (the Roman road Ermine Street) and what is now Monument Way.

As a rural village this was a popular destination for the wealthy, and Henry VIII is believed to have visited the Tudor Bruce Castle, then in the hands of the Bruce family (descended from Robert the Bruce). The area stayed semi-rural until the late 19th century when the railway (with its new, reduced, workmen's rates) brought new trade and the need for more housing to the area. The area rapidly became built up, and by the time of World War II was a major target for Luftwaffe bombing campaigns.

Since then, Tottenham has become most notorious for being one of the most deprived areas of North London and the scene of the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985. Since then, the area has done much to recover, and is now reputed to be the most ethnically diverse part of Western Europe. The 2011 England riots were sparked in Tottenham, which saw some of the worst looting.

By Tube
North London is well served by Tube connections from Central London:

 * Metropolitan line (purple) runs through Wembley and Harrow terminating outside the London region in Watford and Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
 * Jubilee line (silver) runs through Wembley terminating at Stanmore.
 * Bakerloo line (brown) runs through Wembley terminating at Harrow and Wealdstone
 * Northern line (black) has two branches one terminating at Edgware and the other at High Barnet with a sub-branch line to Mill Hill East.
 * Piccadilly line (dark blue) terminates at Cockfosters.
 * Victoria line (light blue) runs through Tottenham terminating at Walthamstow.

By train

 * From London Euston (part of the overground network, orange) through Wembley, along the same route as the Bakerloo line, to Harrow then continuing to Watford.
 * From London King's Cross to Barnet and Enfield.
 * From London Liverpool Street to Tottenham and Enfield.
 * Tottenham Hale station is a stop on the Stansted Express from London Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street.

By road
The North Circular Road (A406) is the main west to east road through North London. It has junctions with:

From the North: M1/A1, A10.

From the East: M11.

From the West: M4, A40.

By Tube
Tricky as there is no Tube to Crouch End. If you insist on taking the London Underground, these stations are nearby:

 * Turnpike Lane (Piccadilly line)
 * Finsbury Park (Piccadilly and Victoria lines)
 * Highgate (Northern line – High Barnet branch)
 * Archway (Northern line – High Barnet branch)

Harlesden
London Overground services to:
 * Lioness line (Watford DC) trains (4 tph) to Watford Junction.
 * Lioness line (Watford DC) trains (4 tph) to London Euston.
 * Mildmay line (North London Line) trains (4 tph) to Richmond.
 * Mildmay (North London Line) trains (6 tph) to Stratford (4 from Richmond, 2 from Clapham Junction).
 * Mildmay (West London Line) trains (4 tph) to Clapham Junction via Shepherds Bush.

By tube
Tottenham is served by two tube stations on the Victoria line (both in Zone 3) – from north to south:

 * Tottenham Hale
 * Seven Sisters

By train
These stations are on the National Express line between Enfield Town and London Liverpool Street:

By bus
There are many more bus services that come through Tottenham.

By tube
Two London Underground stations are within a short walk of the venues:

 * Wembley Park is on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines.
 * Wembley Central on the Bakerloo and London Overground lines.

Access to the venues are via Olympic Way and the White Horse Bridge respectively. London Underground services typically run every 5 minutes in each direction until midnight, seven days a week.

By train
Two mainline stations are within a short walk of the venues:

Get around
It is relatively easy to get around, as there are lots of buses, as well as Tube and Overground stations.

Neasden

Tottenham

Tottenham

 * Football:

Wembley

 * NFL International Series (American football): the best players battle it out four times a year in jolly old England, with two here and two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Wembley
There are several specialised shops in the area, as well as large shopping centres. Of course, there are hundreds of other shops and shopping centres nearby in London.

Golders Green
Large number of charity/thrift shops in the area. The haul is pretty good if you are looking for ladies' vintage and the Norwood shops often have shipments of castoffs from high street mainstays (Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, and Charles Tyrwhitt), but for actual designer stuff, go to St. John's Wood instead.

Crouch End
There are plenty of good quality restaurants in Crouch End to choose from.

Harrow
With a diverse population, Harrow has a range of cuisines, and in particular has lots of Indian restaurants.

 * St. George's and St. Ann's Shopping Centres have several eateries. See under Buy.

Wembley
Wembley is noted for its large ethnic minority communities, particularly people of Indian origin. There are many Indian takeaways, and many other takeaways, restaurants and pizza parlours.

Wembley
There are numerous bars in the area. Alcohol is not permitted in the arena or stadium.

Golders Green
Golders Green has a fair number of small hotels and Bed and Breakfasts within walking distance of the Underground Station.

Wembley
There are several inns and hotels in the area, ranging for the cheap-and-cheerful to 5-star.

Tottenham
The area has a justified reputation for being blighted with crime. Gangs of male youths are responsible for the majority of crime and disorder, in particular robbery and burglary. Hartington Park is to be avoided from the evening onwards. Keep to the well-lit streets and the High Rd, and avoid flashing jewellery or mobile phones.

Tottenham Police Station is located at 398 High Road N17: 5 min walk north from Seven Sisters underground station.

It is recommended for people to stay in groups when in Tottenham, and avoid anyone who looks dodgy.

title: London/North


text:
London/Notting Hill-North Kensington

Notting Hill-North Kensington is a district in west London. Notting Hill is a popular destination for its lively market, gorgeous streetscapes, interesting history and diverse population. It has achieved a level of fame from the eponymously named Hugh Grant film (he actually does live here!), the world-famous Portobello Road market, and of course from the annual carnival.

Understand
This destination covers the northern part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, from Kensington High Street in the south to the Grand Union Canal and Wormwood Scrubs in the north.

The area was rural until the 19th century when it was developed as an upper-middle class suburb with quite large homes. During the early 20th century, these large homes were divided into low cost housing which often degenerated into slums. In the 1950s, many Caribbean immigrants settled in the area. In the 1960s it attracted musicians and artists and Portobello Road became the centre of English hippie culture. Portobello Road still hosts a very eclectic weekly market and is also home to a similarly off-beat set of permanent shops.

The Notting Hill carnival was first staged in 1964 as a way for the local Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. After some rough times in the 1970s and 1980s when it became associated with social protest, violence and huge controversy over policing tactics, this is now Europe's largest carnival/festival event and a major event in the London calendar. It is staged every August over the Bank holiday weekend.

During the 1980s, the Notting Hill proper area of the district was largely gentrified although areas in the north west of the district at Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park remain deprived and run down. In local mythology, these more recent residents of Notting Hill are assumed to live from trust accounts, giving rise to the practice of classifying locals as either Rastafarians or Trustafarians.

Further west from Notting Hill providing a natural buffer between the north and south of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, is Holland Park. This is the least well known of London's Royal Parks and locals would like to keep it that way. A real gem of a park which is off the tourist trail but very much worth a visit.

By Tube
The district is serviced by the following stations, in Zones 1 and 2:

 * Holland Park (Zone 2) – (Central line)
 * Notting Hill Gate (Zones 1 & 2) – (Central, District and Circle lines)
 * Queensway (Zone 1) – (Central line)
 * Ladbroke Grove (Zone 2) – (Hammersmith & City and Circle line)
 * Westbourne Park (Zone 2) – (Hammersmith & City line)
 * Bayswater (Zone 1) – (District and Circle lines)

National Rail

 * is the nearest National Rail train station with services to Southwest England and South Wales – that can be reached easily by bus or the London Underground District, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Bakerloo lines.
 * is also nearby with services throughout Southeast England and the West Midlands and be reached via the London Underground Bakerloo line.

London Overground
and are on the London Overground Mildmay line from Clapham Junction to Stratford and Richmond via Willesden Junction. Kensington Olympia has limited District line services on weekends and some public holidays.

Get around
The area is best explored on foot and lends itself well to walking.

See

 * Design_Museum_The_Atrium.jpg

Eat
There is so much food to choose from, and something to suit all budgets. If you are budgeting then there is great Malay food, bangers & mash, falafel and German sausages. For those with a bit more money to burn there are some seriously swanky bars and restaurants including E&O and 192. Some of the most popular dishes sold along the route of the carnival are jerk chicken and goat curry.

A row of stalls at the north end of Portobello Road Market (near Portobello Green) have a variety of international cuisines. Try the Iraqi green rice.

Drink
Populated by the young, hip and rich it is unsurprising that Notting Hill has so many trendy bars. Expect to pay prices that match the location though.

Splurge

Go next

 * East to Paddington and Maida Vale
 * South to South Kensington
 * West to Hammersmith

title: London/Notting Hill-North Kensington


text:
London/Paddington-Maida Vale

Paddington-Maida Vale is a district of northwest central London, around the vast Paddington Station of Paddington Bear fame. This inner London district is somewhat bereft of attractions but it does have a large range of budget and mid-priced accommodation. That, combined with the convenient central London location and transport links, makes it a popular area with visitors.

Understand
Paddington and the areas between it and Hyde Park - Bayswater and Lancaster Gate - consist largely of Victorian houses, some of them rather grand, which have been converted into either small residential flats or hotels. Maida Vale to the north is similar but almost entirely residential and is most notable for canalside streets and the houseboats of Little Venice. St John's Wood is distinctly upscale and leafy and includes the home of world cricket at Lord's and some of the most sought-after real estate in London.

The area has a number of connections to music. The BBC Maida Vale studios have been used for recording live music since 1934 including the John Peel Sessions. Abbey Road Studios, and the famous pedestrian crossing pictured in the Beatles' Abbey Road album are in St John's Wood.

By tube
The district is served by the following tube stations, in Zones 1 or 2.

Paddington is on the Wimbledon–Edgware Road branch of the District line – so you may need to change at Earl's Court:

 * Paddington (Zone 1) – (District, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines)
 * Bayswater (Zone 1) – (District and Circle lines)
 * Queensway (Zone 1) – (Central line)
 * Lancaster Gate (Zone 1) – (Central line)
 * Maida Vale (Zone 2) – (Bakerloo line)
 * Warwick Avenue (Zone 2) – (Bakerloo line)
 * Edgware Road (Zone 1) – (District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines)
 * Royal Oak (Zone 2) – (Hammersmith & City line)
 * St John's Wood(Zone 2) – (Jubilee Line)

By train

London Paddington is served by:

 * Great Western Railway (GWR) trains from southwest England (Swindon, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol, Bath and Penzance. Also for trains from Worcester, Cheltenham and Gloucester)
 * Great Western Railway (GWR) trains from southeast England (Maidenhead, Slough, Reading, Didcot and Oxford)
 * Great Western Railway (GWR) trains from South Wales (Swansea, Cardiff and Newport)
 * Heathrow Express has 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.
 * Elizabeth line (Crossrail) services to Reading and Heathrow Airport depart from Platform A.
 * Elizabeth line (Crossrail) services to Abbey Wood and Shenfield via London Liverpool St depart from platform B.

By bus
Various bus routes go to and through Paddington. Visit the Transport for London website for details. Use of a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus is also a possibility.

By boat
A Waterbus runs from Camden Lock through the Regent's canal to Browning's Pool, Little Venice.

By bicycle

 * See also: Cycling in London

For bicycles, there is a traffic-free local cycle route tracks alongside the Grand Union Canal from around Northolt to Paddington Basin. The route is not part of the national cycle network.

See
While there is not a great deal to see in the way of traditional visitor attractions, Paddington makes a convenient base for exploring other parts of the city.

Eat
Good value eats abound in this area. The Bayswater/Queensway area has many excellent Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese options. Edgware Rd is another good bet for Middle Eastern and the area around Paddington Station itself is a hive of small cafes. Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale are home to some good, stylish mid-market restaurants.

Sleep
This district has probably the greatest range of budget and mid-price accommodation in central London.

A lot of the hotels here are converted Victorian houses which makes for a charming stay but can also mean dodgy plumbing and poor heating systems. And check if the property has a lift if this is important to you.

A good option for the value-conscious is to check the large range of service apartments available. The standard of accommodation at these is often much better than you would get in an equivalently priced traditional hotel.

title: London/Paddington-Maida Vale


text:
London/Richmond-Kew

Richmond-Kew is a district in south-west London. This is perhaps the area of outer London with the most to offer visitors.

Understand
The London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, which includes Richmond and Kew, is the only borough in London on both banks of the River Thames. This is a leafy and surprisingly rural borough with some lovely riverside scenery. The small area of Barnes is by the Thames at the eastern edge of the borough.

Richmond used to be a separate town and before 1965 a part of the county of Surrey. Surrey is still used as part of the postal address to distinguish it from the other town called Richmond in Yorkshire. The local inhabitants often view themselves (as do others) as something vaguely separate from the metropolis as a whole. This is perhaps due to Richmond's location on a large loop of the River Thames which surrounds most of the area, its enveloping by several vast royal parks and its previously independent identity. The parks are a major attraction for visitors as are the myriad of fine restaurants and interesting shopping. The areas north of the Thames around Twickenham, Hampton Wick and Bushy Park are part of Richmond borough and include the magnificent royal palace of Hampton Court. They were part of Middlesex until 1965 and Middlesex is still sometimes used for their postal addresses.

Located just to the north of Richmond and in the same loop of the Thames, Kew is mostly known for the world famous gardens of the same name. It is also home to some fine Victorian architecture.

By plane
The nearest major airport is London Heathrow.

By tube
The district is served by the following tube stations all on the District line and the London Overground, in either Zone 3 or 4:

 * Richmond – (Zone 4)
 * Kew Gardens – (Zones 3 and 4)
 * Gunnersbury – (Zone 3)

Note: You may need to change at Turnham Green for westbound trains towards Ealing Broadway.

By train

 * South Western Railway trains from London Waterloo station stop at Richmond. The journey takes 20-30 min, and trains depart every 15 min or so. South Western Railway also has trains to Hampton Wick and Hampton Court stations (although much less regularly than Richmond).
 * London Overground (Mildmay line) line from Stratford via Willesden Junction terminates at Richmond, also stopping at Kew Gardens and Gunnersbury.
 * District Line trains run from the station and can take you into central London in 30-35 mins.
 * District Line trains run from the station and can take you into central London in 30-35 mins.

By taxi
Richmond is accessible by taxi in about 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport or from central London depending on traffic conditions – you can expect to pay about £50 or more for the fare.

By car
If you are driving yourself, then from outside London you want to come in on the M3 or the M4. From the M3 head towards Central London onto the A316 past Twickenham Rugby Ground until you get to the Old Deer Park. From the M4 leave at Junction 2 on the elevated section, cross Kew Bridge and keep going past Kew Gardens for a couple of miles.

There is a fair amount of on-street parking, especially around The Green, but it's expensive - about £5 per hour, with a £60 penalty for overstaying your time. The main off-street car parks are slightly cheaper: try the big Old Deer Park car park down by the A316, or the smaller one tucked away down Friars Lane near the Old Palace.

Richmond
Richmond has a bus station. The 337 bus from Clapham Junction, the 110, 33, 419 buses from Hammersmith, and the N10 night bus from London King's Cross all stop here, amongst others.

Kew
Kew can be reached from Richmond and vice versa via the 65 or 391 bus from outside Richmond station.

Twickenham
Travel between Richmond and Twickenham is possible via the 33, 490, H22, R68, R70, and the N22 night bus.

By boat
There are no regular boat services to Richmond from central London, but in the summer a service runs to/from Hampton Court, and pleasure boats can be hired by the hour near Richmond Bridge.

Kew
The 65 bus runs the length of the Kew Rd, and the 391 runs up Sandycombe and A316 roads. An active person could walk the length of Kew (from A316 to Kew Bridge) in half an hour.

Twickenham
Within the area, Twickenham can be reached from Richmond via the buses 33, 490, H22, R68, R70, and N22 night bus. The R68 also goes on to Teddington and Hampton Court.

Richmond

Learn

 * Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College offers short- to medium-term courses on subjects such as cooking, foreign languages, IT, and business.

Richmond
Most of the major restaurant chains can be found within a few minutes of the town centre. Aside from those, there are plenty of privately owned restaurants with culinary offerings from all around the world, including German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

Possibly the most upscale of Richmond's restaurants is located at the Bingham Hotel, which was awarded its first Michelin star in 2010.

Go next

 * East to Wandsworth along the south bank of the Thames
 * South west into Surrey

title: London/Richmond-Kew


text:
London/Soho

Soho is a district of central London, part of the West End, famous for jazz, its gay village, sex shops and alternative lifestyles.

Orientation
This is generally considered to be the area enclosed by Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue and Cambridge Circus to the south, Charing Cross Road to the east, Oxford Street to the north, and Regent Street to the west. Oxford Street is the main shopping street in London but much of it is in the Mayfair-Marylebone district.

The area immediately surrounding in the southern part of Soho is widely recognised as London's foremost gay village and is a very stylish part of London indeed.

For a period in the mid to late twentieth century, parts of Soho had a negative reputation as a red light district, but subsequent urban redevelopment, rising rents, and not unsurprisingly targeted action by the Westminster City Council, and Metropolitan Police, have all acted to dim and extinguish many of the red-lights. The area is not quite as seedy as its former reputation portrays it, although it is still advised to be aware of it.

Chinatown is sometimes considered to be part of Soho, but it is south of Shaftesbury Avenue and, having a culture distinctly different from the rest of the West End, adjoins – but is not really part of – Soho.

History
Soho has a long and colourful history. The first record of the name comes from the 17th century when the area was pasture after being used as a hunting park for the Royal Court of Henry VIII some 100 years earlier. Although disputed, it is widely believed that the name Soho originated as a hunting cry.

Despite this royal attention and very grand development taking place in adjoining districts, Soho did not become fashionable until the 1980s and was mostly known as an area settled by new immigrants. By the mid-19th century, it had become the home of prostitutes and low-brow music halls. Things looked up in the early 1900s when it gained something of a Bohemian reputation with writers, artists and actors moving in but the sex industry continued to dominate the district until the 1980s. This lucrative business was always run by organised crime groups and ensured that Soho was a notorious haunt of gangsters throughout much of the 20th century.

The music business began to really prosper here in the 1950s with a beatnik and jazz culture very much to the fore. Perhaps London's most famous jazz venue, Ronnie Scotts, is still thriving today in Frith Street. Many famous rock bands are also closely associated with Soho. The Rolling Stones played their first-ever live concert here (at the legendary Marquee) and the Sex Pistols lived in Denmark Street and played a number of infamous gigs. In the 1970s and 1980s, Soho, and the Marquee in particular, was the place in London to head to check out up-and-coming and often very controversial British bands.

Since the 1980s, the whole of Soho has undergone rapid transformation and development into a fashionable district of upmarket restaurants and media offices. There are though still a few places which are easily associated with its more colourful past and even a small remnant of the previously dominant sex industry remains, much of which has been disrupted by a number of waves of police crackdowns.

Modern-day Soho has the densest concentration of restaurants, cafés, clubs and bars in central London and truly represents the vibrant, bustling heart of the city. It is also the modern hub of London's media world with multiple advertising agencies, television and radio studios and post-production companies choosing this as their base of operations.

Reading
Unsurprisingly given its colourful nature, much has been written about Soho. The following is a short selection of books, all of which would be of benefit to anyone planning to visit Soho.

 * Dirty White Boy, Tales of Soho by Clayton Littlewood, Cleiss Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1573443302. The musings and observations of a clothing store owner in Old Compton St in the 2000s. You will struggle to find a better modern-day commentary on Soho. Littlewood's book has been compared to Christopher Isherwood's writings about sordid Berlin in the 1920s. And apart from all that, it is very funny.
 * Dog Days in Soho by Nigel Richardson, Phoenix, 2001, ISBN 978-0575403420. A biography of one sailor's life in Soho in the 1950s, perhaps the single most notorious period in the history of the district. Poignant and very well written. Gives a fine sense of the period just before the evolution of modern-day Soho.
 * Soho: A History of London's Most Colourful Neighbourhood by Judith Summers, Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 1989, ISBN 978-0747508731. Not easy to find copies of this book but it is worth the effort. It covers the social history of the district from the 18th to the late 20th century.

By Tube
A Tube station serves each of the four approximate corners of Soho, all in Zone 1:

 * Tottenham Court Rd to the north-east (Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines)
 * Oxford Circus to the north-west (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines)
 * Leicester Square to the south-east (Northern and Piccadilly lines)
 * Piccadilly Circus to the south-west (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines)

By train
in nearby Covent Garden is the most convenient mainline station, is a 10-15 min walk to the southeast.

By car
Driving to Soho is not recommended, owing to traffic congestion and stringent parking restrictions, and the £8 congestion charge. There is, however, a Masterpark parking station on Poland St, and another car park on Brewer Street.

By rickshaw
More entertainment than transportation really, rickshaws run in Soho and the surrounding areas. They are much more expensive than a black cab, and may seem a lot less safe, but they are a lot of fun and can often be the fastest way to get around these tightly packed streets.

By bicycle
London's cycle hire scheme (known locally as "Boris bikes") has a number of outlets around Soho including on Old Compton Street, Wardour Street, Soho Square and Golden Square.

See
Old Compton Street is Soho's unofficial high street and is full of bars, cafes, clubs and shops. It is a great place to grab a coffee and watch Soho go by.

Buy

Soho has a diverse range of shops, tending towards the arty, boutique and independent style of outlet.

After a period in the 1970s and 1980s when Carnaby Street became little more than a tourist trap and a pale imitation of its innovative, trend-setting heyday in the 1960s, it is now once again a major centre of new design. There are some especially interesting independent fashion stores in the small streets and courtyards off Carnaby Street, so it is well worth exploring the area carefully.

Berwick Street is notable for a collection of independent record shops specialising in different genres of dance music.

Gay-related
Unsurprisingly, Soho has a number of gay-related outlets, some of the best known are:

Patisseries
Have tea and cakes in one of Soho's great patisseries.

Pubs

Jazz joints, bars and clubs

 * There are numerous other jazz bars near Ronnie Scott's, less famous and subsequently cheaper, including:
 * Jazz after Dark, 9 Greek St
 * St Moritz Club, 159 Wardour St
 * St Moritz Club, 159 Wardour St

Sleep
Soho is a densely built district and there are not too many places to stay here.

Stay safe
Soho has a longstanding reputation for seediness, but gentrification paired with an intense police crackdown in the late 2000s and early 2010s has made this reputation mostly legendary. However, there are still con artists and other criminals who may target unsuspecting tourists, particularly those who seem inebriated or otherwise vulnerable.

Don't go to any place recommended by someone you've just met, as this could be a costly scam or worse. Chances are nothing will happen to you if you're sensible, but never drop your guard completely, just in case.

Go next

 * To the east cross Tottenham Court Road into Covent Garden.
 * If you are looking for the gay nightlife, it spills south across into the Leicester Square area.
 * To the west across Regents St. into Mayfair.

title: London/Soho


text:
London/South

South London is generally defined as any part of London that is south of the river Thames. However, this guide only covers the outer South London boroughs, namely Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Sutton, and parts of Merton. Though geographically within this region, the areas of Richmond & Kew and Wimbledon are covered by separate articles due to the number of attractions, as are the inner South London boroughs - see London.

Understand
Most areas of present South London were once towns and villages in the counties of Surrey, Kent and Middlesex outside London, which were assimilated by London as it expanded rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. Surrey and Kent are still used as part of the official postal addresses for some areas of south London.

Most of outer South London is residential suburbia, but this is punctuated by some sites of tourist interest. The main towns of outer south London are Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Sutton, Croydon, Bromley & Bexleyheath. Each of these towns are major commercial centres with transport interchanges, entertainment, cultural and shopping centres.

Kingston upon Thames would have to be considered the most interesting of the aforementioned towns for visitors. It is a former market town within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. It is where many Saxon kings were crowned before the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. It has a pleasant riverside location with views across the river to nearby Hampton Court Palace & Park, which is a Tudor royal palace, built by Cardinal Wolesley for King Henry VIII. It has extensive viewing areas with rooms from various historical periods. There is also a large formal garden and maze, as well as substantial adjacent parkland and river walks along the Thames. The gardens are home to the annual Hampton Court Flower Show.

Boroughs
South London consists of the following London boroughs:

 * Bexley — (population around 224,000) the borough includes Bexleyheath, Crayford, Erith, Sidcup, Thamesmead, Welling and Belvedere
 * Bromley — (population around 303,000) the borough includes Beckenham, Bromley, Orpington, Chislehurst and Biggin Hill
 * Croydon — (population around 342,000) the borough includes Croydon, Coulsdon, Norbury, Purley, Thornton Heath, Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Norwood and Norbury
 * Kingston upon Thames — (population around 161,000) the borough includes Chessington, Kingston upon Thames, New Malden and Surbiton
 * Merton — (population around 202,000) the borough includes Morden, Mitcham and Wimbledon
 * Sutton — (population around 188,000) the borough includes Sutton, Carshalton, Wallington, Cheam and Worcester Park

Bromley
Bromley is in the southeast of Greater London. Much of the borough was historically in the county of Kent, as is reflected by the presence of Kent County Cricket Club's teams in Beckenham. Here one can find Biggin Hill Airport a small private airfield, used mainly for civil aviation, an International Air Fair in June and also featured in the 2006 movie adaptation of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code.

The borough is the largest in London by area and occupies 59 square miles (153 km²). The borough shares borders with Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley to the north, Southwark and Lambeth to the northwest, Croydon to the west; and the counties of Surrey to the south and Kent to the south and east.

Croydon
Known for its density of shiny glass and steel high-rise office blocks, including the Home Office government department. Wellesley Road runs north/south through Croydon and is home to the luxury Saffron Square apartment development, including an iconic 45-storey tower. The pedestrianised shopping precinct west of here is an attractive retail area. Croydon Town hall and the Clock Tower art centre are housed in an imposing Victorian building just to the south of the retail centre.

Sutton
Sutton is a borough and the main town in that borough. The town is a vibrant place with a theatre, lots of public art ranging from murals to statues to an armillary (look it up!), a very large library and many restaurants and coffee houses. The centre has a lot of attractive period architecture, and there are four conservation areas to keep it that way. There is a lush little town centre park called Manor Park, complete with a fountain as its centrepiece. It is also the site of the town's war memorial. The town has a sizeable business sector and one of the biggest shopping areas in London, centred around Sutton High Street. It's not as big as Kingston or Croydon though, being a bit more compact. But you will find many well-known names, including a large Waterstones bookshop, complete with a nice coffee area upstairs.

Finally, being a pretty leafy sort of place, it may be reassuring to know that Sutton benefits from very low crime by London standards.

Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is a Royal Borough and includes the town of the same name, with some historic structures and an attractive retail area, centred on the Bentall Centre. The borough was historically in the county of Surrey, and not only is the postal county of Surrey sometimes still used for traditional reasons for the borough, but Surrey's administrative headquarters are actually located here.

The popular zoo and amusement park of Chessington are located at the southern, almost completely rural, end of the borough.

By London Underground (Tube)
Much of South London, including Croydon is not served by the London Underground network. The historical explanation for the lack of coverage is that at the time the London Underground was built, the area was well-served by private railways, most of London's urban expansion was north of the River Thames and the ground below was too marshy to be excavated in the traditional cut-and-cover method.

The District line (Green) terminates at Wimbledon, though you'll need to change at Earl's Court to reach much of central London.

The Northern line (Black) terminates at Morden. Funnily enough, this is the southernmost Tube station, so you will need to rely on trains, trams and other forms of transport to work your way around South London.

By London Overground
The London Overground links West Croydon and Crystal Palace stations to East London, primarily at Whitechapel station, and North London at Dalston Junction.

By train
South London is served by several train services from Central London stations. Check the London Transport maps for the correct station as the layout of the lines is rather confusing in places.

As a rough guide, services run:

 * From London Waterloo to Kingston.
 * From London Waterloo to Surbiton.
 * From London Victoria, London Blackfriars, London Bridge to Bromley, Croydon, Merton, and Sutton.
 * From London Charing Cross and London Cannon St to Bexley and Bromley.

By car
The M25 sits on the southern edge of the borough. Junction 4 (Bromley/Orpington) quickly connects with the A21, though for Chislehurst and areas it may be quicker to use Junction 3. The A21 is the main London to Hastings road and it runs through the borough before heading south to Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.

By train
The borough has 27 railway stations which cover much of the area and are served by three Central London stations; London Victoria, London Blackfriars and London Bridge (and, by extension, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and Charing Cross). The main transport hub in the borough is Bromley South, with regular fast trains to London Victoria and a network of buses that stop outside the station and go to all parts of the borough. Orpington is the major station for the east of the borough.

By London Overground
Transport for London (TfL) operates the London Overground Windrush line (formerly East London Line (ELL)) from Highbury & Islington to West Croydon. The line goes via Dalston Junction, New Cross, the Docklands (Shadwell and Canada Water) and Whitechapel.

This service, which started in June 2010, uses new rolling stock with longitudinal seating layouts (i.e. seating facing the windows leaving a wide aisleway) similar to those used on Underground trains, allowing for more standing room. It is operated by Transport for London as part of the London Overground scheme.

By tram
Tramlink opened in 2000 and is the first modern tram system to operate in London much of it utilising pre-existing track from previous railway companies.

Nowadays, London Trams is owned by Transport for London (TfL) and operated by FirstGroup using Bombardier trams with distinct green-coloured livery on 3 tram routes:

 * Wimbledon to Elmers End
 * Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction
 * New Addington to West Croydon

Trams have destinations at Beckenham, Wimbledon, Elmers End and New Addington with all lines travelling through Croydon, on the Croydon Loop. Also, they can be used to reach the London Underground's District line in Wimbledon, then the rest of London via Earl's Court.

By train
Croydon is well-connected by trains from two train stations:

Services are provided by Southern and First Capital Connect.

All services from London Victoria that head to the South Coast stop here. Journey times from East Croydon to Brighton range from 36 to 60 minutes, with an average of 9 services per hour during the day.

 * London Gatwick – The journey time from East Croydon ranges from 15 to 36 minutes, with an average of 13 services per hour during the day.
 * London Luton – The journey time from East Croydon is approximately 66 minutes, with an average of 4 services per hour during the day. The train service also stops at London St. Pancras International (average journey time approximately 40 minutes), providing interconnections for Eurostar services to Lille, Paris & Brussels; as well as national services to the north of England & Scotland.
 * London Heathrow Airport – There are no direct train services from East Croydon and a typical fastest journey time would be approximately 90 minutes with at least two changes: London Victoria and Earl's Court.

By bus
Croydon is well served by the London bus network, with a major bus station at West Croydon and a new one opening on the eastern side of Croydon next to the Croydon Clocktower and Park Place shopping centre soon. Bus services in the centre of Croydon include:

 * Towards central London: bus routes 50, 60, 109, 250, 468, X68 (a peak time express service).
 * Other routes: 75, 119 (Purley Way (Croydon Airport) - Bromley), 157, 197, 264, 289, 312 (South Croydon Bus Garage - Peckham, via Central Croydon, Addiscombe), 407, 410, 450, 455, 466, and X26 (West/East Croydon - Sutton - Kingston - Heathrow Central (Express)).

Bromley
Transport for London (TfL) manages bus services in Bromley and these are operated by Selkent and Metrobus.

Croydon
Croydon is mostly pedestrian friendly, North End the main shopping parade was closed for traffic over 10 years ago and most places can be easily reached on foot.

By taxi
There is a large taxi stand, served by black cabs outside the main entrance to East Croydon Station. The taxi stand is on the left hand side as soon as you exit the station. The taxi stand allows other local cab companies, etc to pick up the passengers from the same taxi stand.

By bus
Buses leave at West Croydon station, with most buses leaving Croydon stopping at the bus station next to West Croydon station. The other bus station is opposite East Croydon station on George street, although not all buses going past it stop.

Bromley

 * Elsewhere in Bromley, the exiled Emperor Napoleon III lived in a country house, which is now Chislehurst golf club. Derwent House is also notable for its exquisite style.
 * Petts Wood, cool place for a picnic, walk or camp.
 * Elsewhere in Bromley, the exiled Emperor Napoleon III lived in a country house, which is now Chislehurst golf club. Derwent House is also notable for its exquisite style.
 * Petts Wood, cool place for a picnic, walk or camp.
 * Elsewhere in Bromley, the exiled Emperor Napoleon III lived in a country house, which is now Chislehurst golf club. Derwent House is also notable for its exquisite style.
 * Petts Wood, cool place for a picnic, walk or camp.

Croydon
Because it was heavily bombed in WW2, Croydon features a patchwork of old and new architecture.

Bexley

 * Green Chain Walk, begins at the gardens by the Thames Barrier and is a leafy pedestrian and cycle path that continues deeper into the south-eastern suburbs. Can also check the pretty villages of Kent dotted around just outside London.
 * Walk or cycle the Thames Path which follows the south bank of the river from Greenwich to Erith. Most sections are paved although there are some gravel/rough sections.
 * Watch a football match at Welling United or Charlton Athletic.

Bromley

 * There is a large swimming pool in the Pavilion Leisure Centre, which has flume shoots and a wave-machine.
 * The area around Down House has a network of lovely footpaths through woods and pastures if you feel like a walk. They're shown on OpenStreetMap-based mapping apps such as OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.
 * There is a large swimming pool in the Pavilion Leisure Centre, which has flume shoots and a wave-machine.
 * The area around Down House has a network of lovely footpaths through woods and pastures if you feel like a walk. They're shown on OpenStreetMap-based mapping apps such as OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.

Sport

 * Bromley FC were promoted in 2024 and play play in League Two, the fourth tier. Their home ground is Hayes Lane, capacity 5000, a miles south of Bromley south railway station.
 * Semi-pro sides in lower divisions include Croydon FC, Welling United and Cray Wanderers, the oldest association football club still in existence in London.
 * Bromley FC were promoted in 2024 and play play in League Two, the fourth tier. Their home ground is Hayes Lane, capacity 5000, a miles south of Bromley south railway station.
 * Semi-pro sides in lower divisions include Croydon FC, Welling United and Cray Wanderers, the oldest association football club still in existence in London.

Kingston

 * Go to the races at Sandown Park, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9AJ. This has frequent flat-racing April-Oct and jumps races Nov-March. Nearby Esher station has frequent trains from Waterloo.
 * Five miles north, Kempton Park likewise has flat-racing and jumps. It's on Staines Rd East, Shepperton TW16 5AQ. Kempton Park station has frequent trains between Waterloo and Shepperton.
 * Go to the races at Sandown Park, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9AJ. This has frequent flat-racing April-Oct and jumps races Nov-March. Nearby Esher station has frequent trains from Waterloo.
 * Five miles north, Kempton Park likewise has flat-racing and jumps. It's on Staines Rd East, Shepperton TW16 5AQ. Kempton Park station has frequent trains between Waterloo and Shepperton.
 * Go to the races at Sandown Park, Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9AJ. This has frequent flat-racing April-Oct and jumps races Nov-March. Nearby Esher station has frequent trains from Waterloo.
 * Five miles north, Kempton Park likewise has flat-racing and jumps. It's on Staines Rd East, Shepperton TW16 5AQ. Kempton Park station has frequent trains between Waterloo and Shepperton.
 * Five miles north, Kempton Park likewise has flat-racing and jumps. It's on Staines Rd East, Shepperton TW16 5AQ. Kempton Park station has frequent trains between Waterloo and Shepperton.

Sutton

 * Sutton United were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in the National League, the fifth tier. Their home ground is Gander Green Lane (capacity 5000) just north of West Sutton railway station.

Bromley
Each of the towns and villages in the borough has its own distinct high street but Bromley High St remains the main shopping centre and runs the length of the town. The northern section is mainly comprised of a cinema, specialist shops and restaurants. As the high street gets to the Market Square, there are a number of pubs. The central section of the High Street, between Market Square and Elmfield Rd, is pedestrianised.

Croydon
Croydon is one of the top 20 retail destinations in the United Kingdom, it has two large and a smaller shopping centers. All the major chain stores can be found in Croydon, along with most department stores.

Kingston Upon Thames
Kingston has the most extensive range of shops in the southeast of England outside central London, and is very popular, especially at weekends. Virtually all major chains have branches, as well as several independent shops and boutiques.

Bromley

 * There is a large choice of typical restaurants you would see on most High Streets, such as Zizzi or Pizza Express, with some good curryhouses spread around like 'Tinga next to the Odeon Cinema. Opposite is Taste Buffet, which has standard Chinese dishes, but the friendly service lends a personal touch to your dining. £6.40 Lunchtimes.
 * There is a large choice of typical restaurants you would see on most High Streets, such as Zizzi or Pizza Express, with some good curryhouses spread around like 'Tinga next to the Odeon Cinema. Opposite is Taste Buffet, which has standard Chinese dishes, but the friendly service lends a personal touch to your dining. £6.40 Lunchtimes.

Croydon
Visitors are often surprised by the variety, quality and affordability of Croydon's restaurants. Whilst the pedestrianised centre is overflowing with chains, the High St and South End Rd (south of the flyover) has an excellent selection of independent places, which is (sadly) becoming a victim of its own success, and itself is beginning to be taken over by the chains.

Kingston
The area of Kingston of New Malden has a sizeable Korean population and there are a large number of restaurants along the High St. Korean barbecue, such as galbi or samgyeopsal is available in numerous places. Another option is bibimbap, a mixture of various vegetables, rice and chilli paste.

Sutton
Sutton town centre's range of restaurants has expanded greatly in the last ten to fifteen years, and there are now culinary offerings of French, Spanish, British, Mexican, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, Pakistani, Portuguese and Turkish cuisine, as well as the more longstanding presence of Italian, Indian and Chinese eateries. You can't miss them, as they are mainly concentrated in the area to either side of the mainline station.

Bexley
There are micropubs in Eltham, Blackfen, Sidcup and Crayford, and there is a large Wetherspoons in Bexleyheath town centre.

Bromley
Borough-wide, Bromley's town centre drinking establishments are generally the sort of generic chain fayre you would find anywhere. However, away from the centres, there are good pubs, many in the traditional vein. Sundridge Park is a small neighbourhood just to the north of Bromley, has retained some well-liked, traditional pubs.

Kingston
There are a large variety of pubs and bars from cheaper chain pubs such as Wetherspoons to the trendy riverside bars. The main club is Oceana which is always very popular and attracts a great number of people from surrounding areas. Oceana's popularity of late however has taken a nosedive due to a widely publicised murder, their close neighbours 'The Hippodrome' is now considered the place to be.

Croydon
There is a wide range of accommodation for visitors to the London Borough of Croydon. The Tourist Information Centre promotes establishments which are members of the National Quality Assurance Standards Scheme. Each establishment is inspected annually by trained assessors from the AA, RAC or English Tourism Council (ETC). Members of the Quality Assurance Scheme are graded according to quality, facilities and level of service. The grading is denoted by stars (H) or diamonds. Any establishment which has no grading is not part of the Scheme, therefore quality cannot be assured. The AA, RAC and English Tourism Council (ETC) have joint grading schemes for hotels, guest accommodation and self-catering. Hotels are graded from one to five stars. These indicate the quality, facilities and level of service. The more stars the higher the quality, level of service and range of facilities offered. Guest accommodation includes guest houses, bed & breakfasts and some hotels. They are graded from one to five diamonds. All establishments must meet minimum standards for facilities and services. More diamonds are awarded for higher standards of quality and customer care.

Croydon

 * The Purley Way is a difficult place to get about by foot: some areas can be reached by tram but the park is designed for cars.
 * Avoid flashing valuable possessions in the town centre to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
 * Croydon town centre becomes very popular on Thursdays with TigerTiger open to under 21s, and its weekends with a multitude of popular bars in the town centre. Always prebook your taxi for safety on a night out because the local London Black cabs are very expensive. That said, the night bus network in Croydon is very good, and the vast majority of journeys will be completed without incident: as ever, common sense applies.
 * It is advised to be cautious in this area as it can include a rough element.

Go next

 * Chartwell, Westerham - during the summer months bus 246 runs from Bromley to Chartwell (Oyster cards accepted).
 * Kent - accessible from various railway stations in Bromley and Bexley.

title: London/South