Recent figures indicate that London welcomes over 15 million overseas visitors every year, making it the second most visited city in the world. Unsurprisingly, there are many good reasons why it enjoys such popularity.
Firstly, there's London itself. Two thousand years of history are crammed into it; where else can you run your fingers along a section of Roman wall whilst looking towards what is currently the tallest building in the EU - namely, the Shard?
London has eight royal parks, three of which (Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy) boast their own herds of deer. There are numerous other parks, two botanical gardens and several heaths and commons. Both Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill offer fantastic views of London.
Many visitors to London will indulge in a cruise along the River Thames, but not so many know that you can also enjoy a trip along the Regent's Canal in a narrow boat. For the more adventurous, you can even paddle along it in a kayak!
London can now lay claim to the largest urban shopping centre in Europe: Westfield Stratford. For the more traditional shopper though, there is still the allure of Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
London certainly has its fair share of sporting tourists who come to see (amongst other things) premiership football, tennis at Wimbledon, rugby at Twickenham, cricket at the Oval and Lords plus the London Marathon and the Boat Race. In addition, both the Aquatic Centre and the Velodrome of the 2012 Olympics will be open to the general public in 2014.
Rainy days provide the perfect excuse to visit indoor attractions. If the Royal Family are your guilty pleasure then a visit to the Royal Mews or the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace would be perfect - although you are more likely to come face to face with a family member at Madame Tussauds!
London offers the visitor more museums than any other city in the world, and most of them are free. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is an absolute must. Many of London's art galleries are also free to enter, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery being conveniently close to one another on the north side of Trafalgar Square.
If you would like to experience theatre as it was in Shakespeare's day, then you should definitely pay a visit to the famous Globe Theatre. Those who prefer a roof over their head, however, should try and keep to the theatres of the West End! Whatever your preference, be it comedy, drama or musicals, you will find a production to suit your taste.
After a busy day's sightseeing, you don't want to travel too far to your bed. Luckily, there's a huge choice of accommodation in London: from inexpensive hostels where you can share a dorm for as little as lb10 per night to luxury hotels where you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous!
It's not uncommon to hear people say that they have 'done' a particular city. However, it's impossible to 'do' London as it's constantly changing. It's not just the pop-up restaurants, markets, cinemas and shops that make it so exhilarating, it's also the constantly changing exhibitions in the many museums and galleries.
Firstly, there's London itself. Two thousand years of history are crammed into it; where else can you run your fingers along a section of Roman wall whilst looking towards what is currently the tallest building in the EU - namely, the Shard?
London has eight royal parks, three of which (Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy) boast their own herds of deer. There are numerous other parks, two botanical gardens and several heaths and commons. Both Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill offer fantastic views of London.
Many visitors to London will indulge in a cruise along the River Thames, but not so many know that you can also enjoy a trip along the Regent's Canal in a narrow boat. For the more adventurous, you can even paddle along it in a kayak!
London can now lay claim to the largest urban shopping centre in Europe: Westfield Stratford. For the more traditional shopper though, there is still the allure of Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
London certainly has its fair share of sporting tourists who come to see (amongst other things) premiership football, tennis at Wimbledon, rugby at Twickenham, cricket at the Oval and Lords plus the London Marathon and the Boat Race. In addition, both the Aquatic Centre and the Velodrome of the 2012 Olympics will be open to the general public in 2014.
Rainy days provide the perfect excuse to visit indoor attractions. If the Royal Family are your guilty pleasure then a visit to the Royal Mews or the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace would be perfect - although you are more likely to come face to face with a family member at Madame Tussauds!
London offers the visitor more museums than any other city in the world, and most of them are free. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is an absolute must. Many of London's art galleries are also free to enter, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery being conveniently close to one another on the north side of Trafalgar Square.
If you would like to experience theatre as it was in Shakespeare's day, then you should definitely pay a visit to the famous Globe Theatre. Those who prefer a roof over their head, however, should try and keep to the theatres of the West End! Whatever your preference, be it comedy, drama or musicals, you will find a production to suit your taste.
After a busy day's sightseeing, you don't want to travel too far to your bed. Luckily, there's a huge choice of accommodation in London: from inexpensive hostels where you can share a dorm for as little as lb10 per night to luxury hotels where you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous!
It's not uncommon to hear people say that they have 'done' a particular city. However, it's impossible to 'do' London as it's constantly changing. It's not just the pop-up restaurants, markets, cinemas and shops that make it so exhilarating, it's also the constantly changing exhibitions in the many museums and galleries.
About the Author:
Planning a move to the city of London? Are you searching for London property and letting specialists? Would you like to find out more about the location? Get the inside scoop on places to go to in London city, and learn more on www.propertynewsfromlondon.co.uk.
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