Districts
London is one of the largest cities in Europe. It's vast with a population of more than 8 million. The city is made up of a group of neighbourhoods and districts that grew out of the original villages. Each have their own atmosphere and eccentricities, some chic, some boho, some full of student life and others upmarket. It's a multicultural city and it's this diversity that helps make it a vibrant city.
To help you discover all it has to offer we've divided the capital into seven different zones. read on and make the most of your trip.
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1 - Central London (Westend)
2 - North-West London
3 - South-West London
4 - North London
5 - East London
6 - South-East London
7 - Canary Wharf
1 - Central London (The West End)
This is the tourist heart of the city where you'll find some of the best shops in famous Oxford and Regents street. The pavements are always packed especially on a Saturday. Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square attract hordes of tourists and weekend
revellers and locals tend to give it a wide berth. The West End is well known as Theatreland, it's London's Broadway with mainly musicals on the programme. The Strand is a long and busy street full of the iconic red buses and black taxis. Don't miss Covent Garden. The covered markets, shops bars and restaurnats are very touristy but it's a must see for the street performers alone and it has a great atmosphere. Like most major cities, London has its won Chinatown nestled between teh cinemas and bars at Leicester Square and trendy Soho. There's more pubs than you can hope to visit here. Soho has a character all of it's own with a buzzing gay scene, clubs and restaurants. To the north you will find two relatively smaller districts, Bloomsbury (best known for the British Museum) and Fitzrovia. This area, especially around Charlotte Street, is wher ethe media companies and crowds are based.
Areas in Central London: Soho & Chinatown, Bloomsbury, Covent Garden & the Strand, Westminster, Fitzrovia, Mayfair.
2 - North-West London
The area west of Central London is famous for it's green spaces, upmarket shopping streets and residential areas. You'll find Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Holland Park, New Bond Street, Marylbone High Street and Baker Street and the areas of Bayswater, Kensington and Notting Hill. Take the train from Heathrow Airport to London's Paddington Station. West London is very wealthy and that's reflected in the shops, restaurants and beautiful houses set in and around wide avenues and large parks. If you book a package you're likely to end up in a hotel in Bayswater. There's lots of them in white Victorian houses and whiel a good lcoation there's nto much to do in here. However, nearby Notting Hill, made famous for the box offcie hit film of the same is a neighbourhood full of bustling streets lined with cafes, bars, restaurants and trendy boutiques. The famous Portobello Road market is also here.
Areas in North -West Londen:Marylebone, Bayswater & Paddington, Notting Hill
3 - South -West London
The street are paved with gold in south- west London with the highest number of resident millionaires in the world. If you've set up home in South Kensington and Chelsea you've made it. Musicians, stars, actors, industrialists, bankers and stock traders live in the chic streets with beautifully restored Victorian homes and their smart cars parked outside. Wander these streets for a taste of the highlife. You will find Harrods, the most famous department store in the world, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert museum
and trendy shopping in the Kings Road. There's also top attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Travel from Gatwick Airport to Victoria Station.
Areas in South -West Londen: Chelsea, South Kensington, Pimlico, Belgravia, Brompton, West Brompton, Earls Court, West-Kensington
4 - North London
There's a rich ethnic mix in North London and big differences between the rich and poorer areas. It's not the smartest district with the exception of Hampstead and Primrose Hill. Regents Park is a small neighbourhood close to Camden which is famous for it's market. Camden is multicultural and has an alternative atmosphere. Amid the buzz you can find a peaceful spot overlooking the Regent's Canal. The canals give the area its name, Little Venice. You can travel by Eurostar to St-Pancrass station to reach this district.
Areas in North London: Camden & Primrose Hill, Regent's Park, Kings Cross, St- Pancrass, Humpstead Village (Humpstead heath)
5 - East London
Much of East London has shaken off its bad reputation and emerged as one of the city's hippest districts. Many of the factories have been repalced by trendy businesses and the working class homes have been developed and renovated into hip homes for professionals. The crime and gang culture is stiull present in Whitechapel and Hackney but visitors shoudl use the same commensense when visiting these areas at night. The relocation of factories, the arrival of the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) and the devleopment of Canary Wharf has helped transform neighbourhoods. Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Shoreditch into trendy, arty neighbourhoods. There's some great markets worht visiting here too. Reach this district from Stansted Airport by train or bus to Liverpool street station.
Areas in East London: Spitalfields, Shoreditch & Hoxton, Islington, The City, Clerkenwell, Finsburg, Holborn, Barbican,
6 - South-East London
Today south of the River Thames there's some popular areas such as Southwark, home to London Eye, Tate Modern art gallery and the Millennium Bridge. A highlight is the Thames Walk, a long, wide continuous footpath along the river.
An absolute must is Borough Market. This market started as a small organic market but has become a huge crowd puller.
Areas in South-East London: Southbank & Bankside, Borough, Brixton, Waterloo, Bermondsey, Lambeth
7 - Canary Wharf & Greenwich
Canary Wharf gives you a sense of New York with it's tall towers and classic, contemporary architecture. It's a business district with many of the big banks talking office space. There's lots of expensive, luxury appartments with excellent transport links to central London on the Jubilee line and the Docklands Light Railway. More information on Canary Wharf.
Greenwich is famous for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) but this is also a place known for it's village atmosphere with trendy bars, cafes and restaurants along with some lovely boutiques.
The following overview contains detailed information on the different neighborhoods. Click on a district for more information.
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Bayswater & Paddington Category: Suburb, Railway station area, Hotel area
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Bermondsey Category: Suburb
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Bloomsbury Category: City centre
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Brixton Category: Suburb
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Camden & Primrose Hill Category: Market square, Suburb, Park, Shopping
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Canary Wharf Category: Suburb, Shopping
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Chelsea Category: Suburb, Shopping
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Clerkenwell Category: City centre, Shopping, Lively area
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Covent Garden & the Strand Category: Market square, City centre, Square, Historical Centre, Shopping
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Greenwich Village Category: Suburb, Park
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Holborn Category: City centre
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Marylebone Category: City centre, Shopping
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Mayfair Category: City centre
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Notting Hill Category: Market square, Suburb, Shopping
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Soho & Chinatown Category: City centre, Lively area
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Southbank & Bankside Category: Suburb
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South Kensington & Knightsbridge Category: City centre, Shopping
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Spitalfields Category: Suburb, Railway station area, Lively area
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The City Category: City centre, Historical Centre
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Wapping Category: Suburb
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Westminster Category: City centre