Located in Central London,
West End is an important tourist attraction in London featuring theaters, art galleries and several administrative and business headquarters. West End in London boasts of being the largest theater arena in the whole world. West End is popularly called the 'Theatreland' because of the numerous theater companies and theater houses that are found in proximity to one another. The location of West End in the center of London makes it a bustling entertainment hub. West End is flanked by busy and important streets of London such as the Oxford Street, Regent Street, Kingsway and Strand Road.
West End of London began to grow as a major entertainment venue by the end of the 17th century. The earliest theater houses were built around this time. Since then many popular theater houses have come up in West End. The various districts of West End, such as Bloomsbury, Soho, Covent Garden, Westminster and Mayfair have several theaters. Some of these theaters are listed below:
- Duke of York's theater
- Dominion
- Aldwych
- Adelphi
West End Attractions
- The Royal Academy of Arts is one of the major attractions of West End in London. It is a distinguished art institution, which hosts exhibition programs of great artists. Governed by the Royal Academicians, Royal Academy has approximately 80 academicians who are masters in sculpture, painting and architecture. It is one of the most prestigious art academies of the world and is committed at keeping the culture and heritage of British and European art alive and thriving.
- George Gallery features the work of some famous international artists. More than 30 modern artists are associated with this gallery.
- Handel House Museum offers a visit to the house of the famous composer and musician Handel. The house features some exclusive works of the Handel. The museum hosts exhibitions, live shows and special events.
- The Trocadero Centre is a recreation center and there are parks, arcades, restaurants, cafes and bars located here. The place is ideal for people of all age.
- The Marble Arch, built of white Carrara marble, is another popular attraction of West End. The arch was planned by John Nash. There are three gallows where public executions took place in front of huge crowds.
- Wallace Collection is the perfect place for dining after exploring attractions of West End.
West End is a wonderful attraction of London which has a number of entertainment options under one roof.
There are a number of walks and tours that are available in West End to provide the visitors with a complete taste of London's illustrious theatrical history. Some of the most popular walking tours of West End include the following:
- Theatreland Walking Tour
- The Shakespeare City Walk
Backstage tours enable the visitors to get a complete glimpse of the following famous sites:
- Royal National Theater
- Shakespeare's New Globe Theater
- Theater Royal Drury Lane
Tourists can enjoy theater in one of the famous West End playhouses, as any tour of London is incomplete without seeing a play being performed at one of the great playhouses of the city. There are tickets available at discount rates, and the travelers can book them in advance before visiting the place. There are facilities of on-line booking.
