London Guide

London is a city of villages though many of the main tourist attractions are within the city of Westminster (central London). The city’s “West End” includes Leicester Square, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus and is the centre of London's cinema and theatre land. Also central are Oxford and Regents Street’s which are the main shopping thoroughfares whilst Covent Garden offers a more boutique shopping and entertainment environment.

Camden to the North has long been a focal point for music and fashion and its markets are a feast for bargain hunters – as are the markets along the Portobello Road in Notting Hill to the West of the City. The Antiques markets of Islington are visited by collectors and professional dealers alike. The East of the city, including Hoxton and Shoreditch, has seen a rebirth in recent years with artists and new media entrepreneurs taking advantage of (previously) cheap rents.

Numerous hip galleries, bars and clubs are here whilst Soho, back in the centre of town, is always an interesting night out! Here, there are numerous restaurants, cafés, clubs and bars, and Soho is home to London’s gay village. Unfortunately, a trip to London isn’t cheap and there is just so much to do. It’s worth picking up the main listings magazine Time Out but there are bars, pubs, clubs, live music, restaurants etc for all tastes, ages and budgets.

As you’d expect, the main tourist attractions are surrounded by overpriced options for food and drink, so its worth avoiding these but its perfectly possible to get a good evening meal for £20-£30 a head. Accommodation is plentiful throughout the city but price will be dictated by location as much as anything. Budget options may be found around Earls Court/West Kensington and Paddington/Bayswater, as well as around train stations Euston, Kings Cross and Victoria.

You should expect to pay at least £70-£150 per night.