#2 London – The Second Most Visited City in the World

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“By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show”

-          Samuel Johnson

London is largest financial hub of the world rivaled only by New York. London boasts of the highest GDP among all European cities and over 65% of Fortune’s Global 500 companies are headquartered here.

Tourism to London, with over 14.7 million international visitors is an unparalleled industry. London, the capital of the United Kingdom is next on our list of most visited cities of the world. Certainly not a surprise, is it? With the largest urban zone in the European Union, the city is one of the major gateways to Europe. The city is truly cosmopolitan, in the sense that the city effortlessly blends various influences from across the world. A global hub for business, trade, and finances, arts and entertainment, media and fashion, and healthcare, and travel and tourism, London is also a premier higher education destination with 43 universities, 12 arts and culture higher education institutes, and 395 public libraries. The city boasts of over 200 museums, over 900 bookshops, 200 festivals, sporting arenas including the Wembley Stadium (largest football stadium in the world), and 105 cinemas.

Fast Facts

City	London
Country	United Kingdom
Area	659 sq miles
Population	7,556,900
Districts	32 Boroughs
Average Summer Temperature	41°F
Average Winter Temperature	62°F
Currency	Sterling Pound (GBP)
Dialling Code	Country 44 City 020
Major Airports	Heathrow (LHR), Stansted (STN), Gatwick (LGW), City (LCY), Luton (LTN)
Geographic Coordinates	51°30’29″N 00°07’29″W
Time Zone	Greenwich Mean Time
Official Website	london.gov.uk

From Londinium To London

The origins of London are traced back to the port of Londinium, founded by the Roman Emperor Claudius in 43 AD. By the seventh century, the Saxons established Lundenwic to the west of the original township of Londinium. The Norman Conquest in the early second century left a legacy of growth and development. In 1190 London elected its first mayor Henry Fitz Aylwin. With Queen Elizabeth I ascending the throne the city grew to become the focus of international attention. The Royal Exchange was established and by 1600 the East India Company was formed. The later part of the century was not a very pleasant one. London experienced civil unrest & plagues, and was ravaged by the Great Fire of 1622.

Robert Hooke, the Surveyor of London supervised the Great Rebuilding of London and Master architect Christopher Wren rebuilt the city by putting up some of the city’s best known landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the neighborhoods of Mayfair and St James.

Queen Victoria came to power in 1838 and the industrial revolution triggered off a period of expansive growth in terms of the city’s transport and industries. The London Underground was flagged off in 1863 and the city became the center of a growing colonial empire. Bombed by the Germans during World War I, the city’s economy suffered great losses. During World War II, UK Prime Minister, Winston Churchill directed UK’s war strategy from London. A period of austerity and rationing followed only to be broken by the Olympic Games of 1948 which brought the city back to limelight. In the 1950s and 60s, London became the hub of international culture and politics, fashion, music and creative enterprises. Today the city has made a remarkable name for itself in the fields of education, politics, finance and trading, media and fashion.

On the Banks of the Thames

One of the most significant cities in the history of the world, London, spans across both banks of River Thames. London is located to the south east of England in the United Kingdom. It is London’s merit as a port that has been the key factor in the growth of the city’s phenomenal clout in both political and economic terms. London is an ever-expanding city and is made up of Kent, Surrey, and Berkshire to the south bank of the Thames and by Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex to the north bank. The expansion of Greater London has now been arrested by the designation of the Metropolitan Green Belt. London Metropolitan Region, however, covers the entire commuter belt and Greater London.

When in London, you are likely to find people referring back to the weatherman but carrying umbrellas and sunglasses. Yes, the rains are unpredictable but the city rightly boasts of a milt equitable climate most months. May through August, London experiences all the glories of the legendary British Summers. Spring and Fall are pleasant and quite colorful. Typical tourists prefer to avoid the Winter months from November through February.

Getting To and Around London

With over 14.7 million tourists getting to London each year, most of the city’s air traffic is handled by the two major airports – Heathrow Airport and the London City Airport.

The three other airports are Stansted, Gatwick, and Luton. Heathrow is the world’s busiest airport going by the number of international arrivals.

The sprawling city is well-supported by an excellent public transport system. Going by speed and spread, the London Underground, called the Tube is your best bet. The black cabs are a good option as the drivers are well conversant with the various parts of the city. Take a red Routemaster if you are not in a hurry and do travel by the Tram when in London. The best mode of getting around, though, is to hire a bicycle. You may have to brave the traffic, though.

The Sights and Sounds of London

London is one of the best-loved tourist attractions of the world. While most agree that it takes a lifetime to soak in the splendid sounds and cities of this city, tourists are often at a loss to choose from among the architectural marvels, museums, galleries,  parks and gardens.

The Buckingham Palace, the official residence and office of the British monarch is the city’s biggest attraction. The Queen’s Gallery is home to some of the most prized artworks of the world including paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt. Do try to make the Queen’s Guards smile. It is almost a ritual. The Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben are the iconic structures that are quintessentially London. Visitors are allowed to attend the House of Commons proceedings but it is advisable to arrange for a ticket while planning a trip. Do remember to pick up the ubiquitous Big Ben replicas. Indeed your trip to London is likely to be incomplete without a few of these.

The Tower Bridge is the next stop for most London tourists. Built in 1894, it is a delight to watch the 1000 ton bascules being drawn. If you do find yourself in time for the Tower Bridge Exhibition, we guarantee you a very pleasant afternoon. No matter what intrigues you – historic drama and treason or the Koh-i-noor and the British crown jewels the Tower of London is the place to head. Art lover or not, the National Gallery is definitely one London attraction you can afford to miss. Very few galleries across the world can boast of being home to over 2300 paintings including the works of Monet, Rembrandt, Turner, and Da Vinci.

If you have nothing specific planned out and want to experience a queer mix of olde worlde London and the charm of contemporary life in the city Trafalgar Square is your best bet. And if you are intrigued by the royal wedding gowns and by the magic of the British Royalty, mark Kensington Palace high on your itinerary.

London is the Mecca of museum-buffs. Not for nothing is Tate Modern the most visited museum of the world recording a footfall of over 4.7 million every year. The Natural History Museum gives you the perfect insight into Darwin’s ideas and other scientific developments in the natural world. Madame Tussauds, on the other hand, gives you the perfect opportunity to get your pictures clicked with your favorite world leader, sports icon, or movie star, or at least with their wax images. Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum for art collections from Asia and Renaissance Europe and the Science Museum on Exhibition Road for a collection of scientific marvels. To make it to the center of the globe, literally, head to the Royal Observatory of the National Maritime Museum through which the Prime Meridian passes.

 

I’m in London; What now?

We started to ask a Londoner what his favorite ‘London activity’ was. And take a guess what the answer was – ‘Living in London’. With the range of activities and entertainment options on offer, the reluctance to pick one is perfectly understandable. From listening to one of the heated debates at Speakers’ Corner to taking a trip across the city in the vintage Routemaster busses, attending a choir at Westminster Cathedral to discussing the weather at one of the ale clubs London can be quite a demanding vacation. The wise tourists save up for later trips and take their time to attend a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, or visit the original Hard Rock Café, catch up a Shakespearean play and simply shop for books. Speaking of which shopping is the favorite activity of most Londoners and with the fashion labels and brands on offer, we’re not inclined to blame them.

The Great River Race on the Thames, the London Literature Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, and the Wireless Festival make the city a hotchpotch of colors and culture. If you are the sporty kind join in the London Marathon or catch a cricket match at the Oval or the Lord’s. If you are in luck you may be able to catch a Wimbledon tennis match if you are visiting London in June or July. 

Take a ride on the London Eye; catch some spectacular views of the city on this giant Ferris wheel which takes tourists to a height of about 443 feet. Each ride lasts about 30 minutes. Located in the Jubilee Gardens of Lambeth the Golden Eye attracts over 3.5 million visitors every year.

 

Where to Eat

From Fish and Chips takeaways to dining in style – dining in London is an experience to be discovered and enjoyed. Try the quaint Oxford Street cafes or tea and scones at one of the bistros. Do not miss out on one of the city’s real ale clubs or the many fine-dining options either. Here’s our pick -

Cocktail Bar	Connaught Bar	16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL	0 20 7499 7070
	The May Fair Bar	The May Fair Hotel, 70 Stratton Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8LT	0  20 7915 3894
Ale Pub	Dog and Duck	18 Bateman Street London W1D 3AJ	0 20 7494 0697
	The Toucan	19 Carlisle Street, London W1D 3BY	0 20 7437 4123
Wine Bar	Gordon’s Wine Bar	47 Villiers Street,Embankment,London,WC2N 6NE	0 87 1971 6835
	Vinoteca	7 St John Street, Smithfield, London,EC1M 4AA	0 87 1971 4561
British	Harwood Arms	Walham Grove, Fulham, London SW61QP	0 20 7386 1847
	Hawksmoor Seven Dials	11 Langley Street London WC2H 9JG	0 20 7856 2154
International	Benito’s Hat	56 Goodge Street, London W1T 4NB	0 20 7637 3732
	Princess Garden of Mayfair	8-10 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZD	0 20 7493 3223
Café Food	Café Oscars	Ladywell Road 48, Ladywell, London SE13 7UX	07 590 690825
	The Rainforest Café	20 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU London	0 20 7434 3111
Vegan and Health Food	Blah Blah Blah	28 Clifton Road, London W9 1ST	0 20 7289 6399
	Vanilla Black	17 – 18 Tooks Court, London EC4A 1LB	0 20 7242 2622

 

Where to Stay

Luxury Hotels

London offers the best in class and comfort. One of the premier cities of the world, London is also home to some of the best luxury hotels.

The Ritz London, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

http://www.theritzlondon.com/

44 0 20 7493 8181

 

The Savoy London, Strand, London WC2R 0EU

http://www.fairmont.com/savoy

44 0 20 7836 4343

 

Boutique Hotels

For the aesthetically inclined and for those who like a laid back home-away-from-home here are some of London’s best boutique hotels.

41, 41 Buckingham Palace Road, London

www.41hotel.com

44 0 20 7300 0041

 

Sanderson, 50 Berners Street, Soho London W1T3NG

www.sandersonlondon..com/en-us/

44 0 20 7300 1400

 

Economy Hotels

London-on-a shoestring options are not uncommon. While getting a London pass with the Travel option allows visitors free access to over 55 attractions and free access to the Underground and city buses, the city also has a number of economy hotels that are designed to provide comfort at inexpensive rates.

Caswell Hotel, 25 Gloucester Street, Pimlico, SW1V 2DB London Westminster

www.hotellondon.co.uk

44 0 20 7834 6345

 

Jubilee Hotel, 31 Eccleston Square, Greater London

www.jubilee-hotel.co.uk

44 0 20 7834 0873

 

B & B Options

London offers great B & B options. A number of hostels and inexpensive hotels dot the city. With the Olympic Games coming up, though, getting a prior booking could save you a lot of hassle.

ABC Hyde Park Hotel, 121 Sussex Gardens London W2 2RU

www.abchydeparkhotel.co.uk

44 0 20 7706 4660

 

Notting Hill Gate Hotel, 7Clannricarde Gardens, Notting Hill, London W2 4JJ

www.nottinghillgatehotel.co.uk

44 0 20 7243 3203

Last Updated on: May 21, 2012