London/Central
The central district of London is home to most of the city's main tourist attractions, as well as an enormous number of pubs, clubs, bars and theatres.
Areas
This district is divided into a number of areas, as shown on the map. These are arbitrary regions, rather than political, and encompass parts of five London boroughs - Westminster, Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark - and all of the City of London.- Marylebone
- Mayfair
- St James's
- South Bank
- The City of London
- Clerkenwell
- Bloomsbury
- West End
- *Soho
- *Covent Garden
- *Oxford Street
- *Leicester Square
- *Chinatown
- *Trafalgar Square
- Holborn
Get in
Getting to central London is easy. Numerous bus routes run into the centre of London, and all of the Underground lines lead here.
Several train lines terminate in central London - to the north (Moorgate, Kings Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Marylebone), to the east (Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, Waterloo East, Charing Cross), to the south (Waterloo, Victoria) and to the west (Paddington). Rapid train services into central London from the city's airports run from Gatwick to Victoria, Heathrow to Paddington, and Stansted to Liverpool Street.
Coach services to other British cities, and to the rest of Europe, leave from Victoria Coach Station.
See
There are many things to see in central London, here are some of the highlights of each region of central London. Further highlights can be found in the separate area articles.
Marylebone
- Madame Tussauds and the London Planetarium, Marylebone Road. (Nearest tube: Baker Street) Mo-Fr 10am-5.30pm, Sa-Su 9.30am-5.30pm. Madame Tussaud's is a world famous waxwork museum, best known for its Grand Hall, with a collection of international royalty, statesmen and world leaders. Current highlights are based around the television series Pop Idol, and the film The Hulk. Visitors generally report that the exorbitant entrance fee does not warrant the selection of waxworks on show, which rarely resemble the celebrities. The Planetarium offers a good mix of education and entertainment, however. Between £10 and £20 (fee includes access to both attractions, but pricing depends on time of visit, price decreases as closing time approaches, and whether visitors wish to pass through the Chamber of Horrors). http://www.madame-tussauds.co.uk
- Wallace Collection, Manchester Square. (Nearest tube: Bond Street) Mo-Su 10am-5pm. The Wallace Collection is one of the world's finest private art collections, the best known of which is Frans Hals's work The Laughing Cavalier. Other artists on display include Rembrandt, Titian, Poussin, and Reynolds. Well worth escaping to after the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street. Admission free. http://www.wallacecollection.org
Mayfair
- Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly. (Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus) Sa-Th 10am-6pm, Fr 10am-10pm. The Royal Academy no longer has a permanent exhibition space, instead hosting art exhibitions. Notable recent exhibitions have included the paintings of Monet, contemporary art associated with the theme of apocalypse, and Aztec art. Each Summer, the Royal Academy gives exhibition plays host to a Summer Exhibition, displaying 1,200 new works by established and new artists selected by the academy, most of which are available for visitors to buy. Exhibitions are invariably excellent, and it is worth paying for audio guides, if they are not included. Visitors should book tickets in advance, as exhibitions are often very popular - particularly shortly after opening. £7 to £9 (admission price varies between exhibitions). http://www.royalacademy.org.uk
St James's
- Buckingham Palace, The Mall. (Nearest tube: Green Park or Hyde Park Corner) Opens August-September, while The Queen is visiting Scotland. Mo-Su 9:30am-4:30pm. Changing of the Guard each day at 11:30am, April-June, and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting. Nineteen of the State Rooms are open to the public in the Summer, and visitors are strongly advised to book in advance to tour them. There is no charge to view the Changing of the Guard, but visitors should get to the Palace early to get a good view, particularly on days with good weather. £12.50 (fee to tour the palace, including an audio tour). http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page554.asp
- Apsley House, No. 1, London, Hyde Park Corner. (Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner) Tu-Su 11am-5pm. The former home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, boasting an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture, medals and swords. £4.50. The official website: http://www.apsleyhouse.org.uk
- Palace of Westminster (more widely known as the Houses of Parliament), Parliament Square. (Nearest tube: Westminster) When Parliament is in session, visitors can sit in the viewing gallery of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, by entering through St Stephen's Entrance (opposite Westminster Abbey). There is no admission for this, but visitors have to leave bags, mobile phones, cameras, and any writing material with the staff outside the viewing gallery. Visitors must also be silent while watching proceedings. There is generally a queue to sit in the viewing gallery, which is shorter towards the end of the day. During the summer, the Palace opens for tours led by Parliamentary employees, which are well worth the money for the chance to see behind-the-scenes. £7 (for tours during the Summer). http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting.cfm
- Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square. (Nearest tube: Westminster) There are several areas of Westminster Abbey that are open to the public. The abbey itself is open from Mo-Fr 9:30am-3:45pm, We 9:30pm-7pm, Sa 9:30am-1:45pm, closed Su except for worship. The site of the coronation of every British monarch since William I in 1066, and the site of numerous significant events in British history - the marriage and funeral services of Princess Diana took place here. Well worth the admission fee for the stunning architecture and incredible sense of history. £7.50. http://www.westminster-abbey.org
- Whitehall (Nearest tube: Westminster, Charing Cross) This street runs between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square, and is the site of several British Government buildings. Horseguards Parade, and the heavily guarded entrance to Downing Street are on the west side. Banqueting House is on the east side. In the centre of the street sits the Cenotaph - a war memorial erected following the First World War, which is the centre of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on 11 November.
- Tate Britain, Millbank. (Nearest tube: Pimlico) Mo-Su 10am-5:50pm. This gallery houses the Tate collection of British art from 1500 through to contemporary art. A side wing collects together the gallery's collection of paintings by Turner, including some stunning seascapes. Temporary exhibitions are exceedingly varied - recent examples include exhibitions of Turner's paintings of Venice and the work of photographer Wolfgang Tillmans. The best known exhibition is the Turner Prize, consists of works by four artists shortlisted for the annual contemporary art prize, which runs from late October to January each year. Admission free (though there is a charge for temporary exhibitions) http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
South Bank
- Tate Modern, South Bank. (Nearest tube: Blackfriars, Southwark) Su-Th 10am-6pm, Fr-Sa 10am-10pm. An enormous art gallery converted from the former Bankside Power Station, a visit to Tate Modern could easily take half a day on its own. The gallery collects together contemporary and modern art from around the world, arranged thematically. The most stunning aspect of the building, however, is the enormous Turbine Hall, which plays host to a single piece of work commissioned for the space each year. Currently, the hall is filled with a vision of a misty dawn sunrise envisioned by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. A definite must-do. Admission free (though there is a charge for temporary exhibitions) http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
- London Eye, South Bank. (Nearest tube: Waterloo, Westminster) Opening hours vary at different times of the year - generally 9:30am-8pm in Winter, 9:30am-10pm in Summer, though visitors are advised to check the website or contact the London Eye to check individual days. An enormous ferris wheel with glass-walled capsules, the London Eye offers incomparable views over central London. In January each year, the London Eye closes for maintenance for around a month. Tickets are sold for specific times, so if visitors wish to go on the London Eye at a specific time, they are strongly advised to book in advance - particularly in the Summer. £11. http://www.londoneye.com
- Saatchi Gallery, County Hall, South Bank. (Nearest tube: Waterloo, Westminster) Su-Th 10am-8pm, Fr-Sa 10am-8pm. An exhibition of works from Charles Saatchi's collection of contemporary art, predominantly Britart, including works by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas. Themes of the art on display may not be suitable for all ages. The admission fee is the highest of any art gallery in the world, so tourists should consider if they are sufficiently interested in the genre of art on display before entering. The entrance corridor, which spans County Hall, contains about 20-30 works from the exhibition, so an unsure visitor can sample the type of work on display before spending out on visiting. £8.50. http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
- Shakespeare's Globe, South Bank. (Nearest tube: Mansion House, Southwark) Sam Wanamaker's reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, built using traditional techniques, stages plays in the Summer months. Around the year, there is an exhibition ending with either a tour of the theatre itself (in Winter, and mornings in the Summer), or a virtual tour (Summer afternoons). Open from 10am-5pm daily Oct-Apr, 9am-5pm May-Sept. Tickets for plays are often available on the day, particularly if you are prepared to stand in the yard. This year's productions is dubbed The Season of Star-Crossed Lovers, and includes Romeo and Juliet. £8 (for admission to exhibition), £5 to £29 (for tickets to see plays). http://www.shakespeares-globe.org
- South Bank Centre (Royal Festival Hall, Hayward Gallery, National Theatre and National Film Theatre), South Bank. (Nearest tube: Embankment) The South Bank Centre is an concrete monstrosity on the south bank of the river, comprising a number of cultural institutions. The Royal Festival Hall hosts almost daily classical music concerts throughout the year, tickets often available on the day. The Hayward Gallery is a gallery hosting a single temporary exhibition at any one time. The National Theatre has three large auditoriums, and puts on a wide variety of shows - tickets should generally be booked in advance, but availability depends on the performance. The National Film Theatre has two screens showing less mainstream films.
The City of London
- St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill. (Nearest tube: St Paul's) Mo-Sa 8.30am-4pm. The main cathedral of the city of London, and a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars. Visitors can climb up to the Golden Gallery atop the Dome for superb views over the city, stopping at the Whispering Gallery around the base of the dome where whispers on one side can be heard at the other. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and the cathedral's designer Christopher Wren. Visitors should be aware that the cathedral is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment in preparation for the 300th anniversary in 2008, so some sections may not be open to the public. £7. http://www.stpauls.co.uk
- The Tower of London (Nearest tube: Tower Hill) Tu-Sa 9am-5pm, Su-Mo 10am-5pm (in Winter). Mo-Sa 9am-6pm, Su 10am-6pm (in Summer) Built in the 11th century by William I, the Tower of London has been a royal palace, an armoury, a prison and place of execution, and a jewel house. The Crown Jewels remain on display here, and visitors stand on a travelator which slowly inches them past the crown, orb and sceptre. It's worth joining one of the tours led by the Yeoman Warders (beefeaters) which run from the entrance gate at regular intervals throughout the day, but you'll be expected to tip. The admission fee is steep, but the sense of history is unmatched. £12 (if booked in advance by internet or telephone), £13.50 (at the gate). http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/tower_home.asp
- Tower Bridge (Nearest tube: Tower Hill) Every day, 9:30am-6pm. When Tower Bridge was built, the area to the west of it was a bustling port - necessitating a bridge that could permit tall boats to pass. The exhibition looks at how the current design was selected, and how the hydraulic mechanism used to open the bridge works. Visitors go up lifts in the towers to pass over the high walkways to give good views upriver. The bridge opens several times each day to permit ships to pass through - timings are dependent on demand, and are not regularly scheduled. Visitors should consult http://www.towerbridge.org.uk for information, or call the recorded information line on 020 7940 3984. £4.50 (or £5.50 with admission to the nearby Monument to the Great Fire of London).
- The Museum of London (Nearest tube: Barbican, St Paul's) Mo-Sa 10am-5.50pm, Su 12pm-5.50pm. The world's largest urban history museum, visitors follow the history of the city of London from Roman times to the present day, presented in an engaging and interesting way. Admission free. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Bloomsbury
- The British Museum, Great Russell Street. (Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road) Sa-We 10am-5:30pm, Th-Fr 10am-8:30pm. Central Great Court remains open until 6pm (Sa-We), 11pm (Th-Fr). An outstanding collection of antiquaries from around the world, including the largest collection of mummies outside Egypt, the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. A definite highlight of a trip to London. Temporary exhibitions are invariably excellent and meticulously researched, but can be expensive. Admission free. http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
- The British Library, Euston Road. (Nearest tube: Kings Cross St Pancras) Mo & We-Fr 9:30am-6pm, Tu 9:30am-8pm, Sa 9:30am-5pm, Su 11am-5pm. The official book depository of the United Kingdom, the British Library holds a copy of every book ever printed here, and a wide variety of periodicals. Visitors may not enter the museum itself, but there is a very good exhibition chronicling the history of the written and printed word, collecting some of the museum's best known exhibits, including two of the original manuscripts of the Magna Carta. In the central atrium stands The King's Library (the library of King George III) surrounded by a glass wall, so visitors can watch librarians retrieving books for readers. Tours of the library building run Mo, We, Fr, Sa and Su and cost £6. Call 020 7412 7332 to book. http://www.bl.uk
West End
- Trafalgar Square. (Nearest tube: Charing Cross) The main, central square of London, Trafalgar Square is associated with celebration and demonstration - it is the site of London's lacklustre New Year celebrations, and in 2003 was the site of the triumphant homecoming of the British Rugby team from the World Cup, and a centre for demonstration against Britain's involvement in the Iraq War. In recent years, the square has been associated with the many hundreds of pigeons that used to be found here, but London's Mayor Ken Livingstone passed a bylaw in 2003 making it illegal to feed them. Nelson's Column, surrounded by the four bronze lions can be found here, on the south side of the square. The north-west plinth in the square has been vacant since 1841, and controversial contemporary sculpture has been displayed here in recent years.
- National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. (Nearest tube: Charing Cross) Th-Tu 10am-6pm, We 10am-9pm. The National Gallery houses one of the most outstanding collections of European art in the world, displayed chronologically from Medieval art (including a da Vinci cartoon) in the more-recent Sainsbury wing, through to 1900. Notable works include Hans Holbein's The Ambassadors, Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Constable's The Haywain. Temporary exhibitions are generally fairly costly, but invariably well researched and presented. Admission free. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
- National Portrait Gallery,Charing Cross Road. (Nearest tube: Charing Cross) Sa-We 10am-6pm, Th-Fr 10am-9pm. The National Portrait Gallery is just around the corner from the National Gallery and is an entertaining way to learn about British history since the Tudors. Visitors walk around the gallery chronologically, viewing portraits of notable figures from British history - from Henry VII, painted by Hans Holbein, to Blur, painted by Julian Opie. Admission free. http://www.npg.org.uk
- Leicester Square (Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus) The site of most British film premieres, Leicester Square is surrounded by terrifyingly-expensive cinemas - tickets for an evening screening will cost upwards of £10. At night, Leicester Square becomes exceptionally busy with tourists, visiting the surrounding clubs and bars, many of which stay open beyond 11pm - the normal British closing hour for licensed drinking places. In the north-west corner of the square is the Swiss Centre - unaccountably popular with tourists, the building is nowadays home to Sound nightclub, and boasts a carillion in the corner which depicts a Swiss mountain scene and plays tinny versions of Beatles hits on the hour throughout the day. The Half Price Ticket Booth is located on the south side of Leicester Square for cheap tickets for theatre performances.
- Covent Garden (Nearest tube: Covent Garden) Covent Garden is a covered shopping mall with shops predominantly selling clothing, but also gifts and cosmetics. There is a popular pub, The Punch and Judy Tavern at the western end, with a large balcony overlooking a square where street entertainers perform. At the eastern end, the corresponding balcony is occupied by Chez Gerard, a restaurant selling relatively-expensive but good continental cuisine. In the central area of Covent Garden is The Apple Market, a small market of handicraft stalls (Tu-Su) or antiques stalls (Mo), 10:30am-7:30pm. Most shops are open 10am-7pm daily, but may close earlier on Su. Classical musicians will often busk in the lower level of Covent Garden, including extremely talented opera singers.
- Chinatown, around Gerrard Street. (Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square) The centre of London's Chinese community, the area around Gerrard Street has an incredible number of restaurants to suit all budgets, as well as a handful of bakeries. There are no museums or temples, and no souvenir shops - most shops here cater to the local restaurants and the Chinese community. For more information, see the Wikitravel entry at Chinatown.
- Piccadilly Circus (Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus) At the junction of five major roads, Piccadilly Circus is the home of the famous aluminium statue of Eros, which sits atop a fountain. The north side of Piccadilly Circus holds an enormous display board of electric advertisements, including Britain's biggest illuminated display (the widest in the world), advertising a popular soft drink.
Holborn
- Sir John Soane's Museum, Lincoln's Inn Fields. (Nearest tube: Holborn) Tu-Sa 10am-5pm. The former home of architect Sir John Soane, the building has been converted into a museum, displaying some of the objects he collected during his lifetime, including the alabaster sarcophagus of Seti I, and paintings by artists including William Hogarth. There is a display of some of Soane's architectural plans on the upper floor. Be sure to wait in the picture room until the guides open the walls up to reveal further paintings behind. The museum is a little-known tourist attraction, but well worth a visit. Admission free (but you're encouraged to leave a donation) http://www.soane.org
- Royal Courts of Justice, Strand. (Nearest tube: Holborn, Charing Cross) Mo-Fr 9am-4:30pm (though only open 10am-2:30pm in August and September). The building holds the High Court and the Court of Appeal, two of the highest courts in the United Kingdom - though only civil cases are heard here. Trials are open to the public, but tourists would probably more interested in seeing the impressive entrance hall, and admiring the stunning Victorian Gothic exterior. Admission free.
- Somerset House, Strand. (Nearest tube: Charing Cross) Daily 10am-6pm. Somerset House is home to three art galleries - Courtauld Institute of Art, Gilbert Collection and Hermitage Rooms. The Courtauld Institute displays a collection of 19th and 20th century art, including well-known works by Degas, Matisse and Kandinsky. The Gilbert Collection presents a collection of decorative art. The Hermitage Rooms, the most recent addition to Somerset House, hosts temporary exhibitions of works on loan from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. The central courtyard is filled with fountains in the Summer, but in the Winter, an ice rink is installed - it's very popular, so visitors should book in advance, or expect to wait a long time to skate. £5 (admission fee to each of the three galleries) http://www.somerset-house.org.uk
Do
St James's
- Make faces at the guardsmen standing outside Horseguards Parade.
South Bank
- Walk along the South Bank of the Thames. With the exception of the stretch between London Bridge and Cannon Street rail bridge, you can walk alongside the river all the way from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Palace, getting excellent views of many of the city's central tourist attractions. Until February 2004, the Shell Electric Storm ( http://www.shellelectricstorm.com ) sound and light show outside the Shell building makes the riverside walk slightly damp - visitors would be advised to change to the other side of the river between Waterloo Bridge and the Hungerford Foot Bridge.
- Take a Frog Tour along the Thames and through the streets of London in an amphibious vehicle. Operated by Capital Frogs Ltd, County Hall, on the south side of Westminster Bridge. Tel: 0207 928 3132.
The City of London
- Climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral or The Monument to get excellent views over the city.
West End
- Go to see a West End show in Theatreland. If you don't like to book days or weeks in advance, and aren't too fussy about what you see, then turn up at the Half Price Theatre Booth ( http://home.clara.net/rap/half/ ) on the south side of Leicester Square from 10am Mo-Sa, 12pm Su, to get cheap tickets to West End shows.
- Take a walk through London's Royal Parks. A good walk would start at Paddington station, and head through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park (passing Buckingham Palace) and St James Park before crossing Trafalgar Square and the River Thames to the South Bank and Waterloo Station. At a strolling pace this walk would take half a day, with plenty of places to stop, sit, drink, eat en-route. A good pictorial description of this walk can be found at Trips By Trains Royal Parks Walk.
Buy
Some of the best shopping in London can be found in central London.
There are several department stores worth looking at:
- Selfridges is located on Oxford Street
- Dickens and Jones and Liberty's are located on Regent Street.
- Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly.
For current fashions, Carnaby Street and Neal Street in the West End region are worth looking at. Designer labels are available from shops along Bond Street in Mayfair.
Eat
- Mala 2 Marble Quay, St. Katherine's Dock. (020 74806356). Expensive Indian cuisine. Tandooris, Biryanis, and other specialties. View of the docks, full bar. www.mala-restaurant.co.uk.
- Tower Hill Cafe. On the waterfront walkway in front of London Tower. Relatively cheap basic cafe food including soup and sandwiches.
- Belgo 50 Earlham St, Covent Garden (Central) (020 78132233); 72 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town (Noord). (020 72670718). Tasty moules frites without taking the EuroStar, with deluxe decor. The beer menu is intense, and one can catch a good bargain with their "Full Moon Specials". www.belgo-restaurants.com
- Ravi Shankar 133-5 Drummond Street, Bloomsbury. (020 7388 6458 ). A superb vegetarian Thali can be had for under 10 quid. Wash it down with a Kingfisher and you're set for the night.
Sleep
- Hotel Olivelli. 34 Store Street (at Tottenham Court Road). Tel: 0207 636 9682. Possibly the only hotel bargain in Central London (Bloomsbury), this place offers clean, acceptable rooms for around 50 pounds.