Welcome to London

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Welcome
to London
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London_Guide
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Getting into London
Out and about in London
Paid attractions
See it for free
Entertainment
This guide is produced by:
London by night
Open spaces
London markets
London bites
At the airport
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See it all...
London just isn’t what it used to be. It’s better and it’s
changing. A blend of old and new, pace and buzz alongside
peace and tranquillity and an amazingly diverse cultural scene
makes London totally unique.
There’s so much to discover: more than 30,000 shops; world
class galleries and museums; dramatic new landmark buildings
and an endless choice of restaurants, bars, clubs and live music
venues and of course theatre.
This guide provides some useful information about getting the
most out of London, with useful tips about where to go and the
best ways to get around. Find your way around with the maps of
central London and the Tube. Many of the attractions / locations
have a grid reference, e.g. The British Museum (A4) to help
you find them on the central London map, or a number, e.g.
Science Museum (68) for the larger map.
London boasts a staggering 238 tourist attractions that are free to enter. These
range from The British Museum, showcasing some of the world’s oldest artefacts, to
The Tate Modern, showcasing contemporary and recent artists.
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Getting into London
Getting
into London
By Rail
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted
airports all have an express rail service
into the centre of London.
Heathrow Express runs
between Heathrow Airport and
Paddington Station.
The train departs every 15 minutes
and will take about 15 minutes
to travel in to central London.
Gatwick Express runs between
Gatwick Airport and Victoria
Station (D2).
The train departs every 15 minutes
and takes 30 minutes to travel
into Central London.
Stansted Express runs between
Stansted Airport and Liverpool
Street Station.
The train takes about 45 minutes
to travel into central London.
For more relevant information you
can either call the numbers listed
below or visit the websites:
www.heathrowexpress.co.uk
or call: 0845 600 1515
www.gatwickexpress.co.uk
or call: 0845 850 1530
www.stanstedexpress.co.uk
or call: 0845 850 0150
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Getting into London
By Underground
By Taxi
A regular service on the Piccadilly Line
runs from Heathrow Terminals 1,2 & 3
and Heathrow Terminal 4.
Taxi services are available at each
airport, so look out for information
within the Arrivals hall. London Taxis
operate from all Heathrow Terminals
with a journey time of approximately
1 hour into central London.
This service stops at many of London’s
best known locations such as Hyde
Park Corner (C2), Knightsbridge
(C1), Piccadilly Circus (B3) and
Covent Garden (B4).
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By Coach / Bus
The A2 bus service – a double decker
bus runs from the Central Bus Station,
located close to Heathrow Terminals
1,2 & 3, to various stops in central
London, close to major hotels.
The journey time is approximately
1 hour 40 minutes. Regular coach
and bus services also operate from
both Gatwick and Stansted.
For the easiest way to get around
London visit www.tfl.gov.uk and
click on Journey Planner.
When travelling on the tube, pin your head to the window and try to catch a glimpse
of any of London’s disused tube stations; there are around 40 in total with Aldwych
the best known.
Open-top sightseeing buses are a familiar sight in London and, as their name suggests,
a great way of seeing the sights. What many people do not know, however, is that
you can get on and off as many times as you like so you can really make a day of it.
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Out and about
With London’s endless choice
of theatres, sports and music
venues, you won’t be short of
entertainment. This is the place
to be if you’re looking for
world-class art, exhibitions,
music and more.
70 museums are free to enter and
all have thousands of exhibits.
The British Museum (A4), V&A (76),
Natural History Museum (62) and
Science Museum (68) can each take
a day to explore, but you will still be
inspired if you only have a couple of
hours to spare. As well as famous
permanent exhibits, look out for
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topical displays featuring a variety
of special interest subjects.
‘Interaction’ is the key to many of
these, so don’t just stand and stare.
The chances are you already know
about London’s more famous
attractions such as the British
Airways London Eye (C4), the
Tower of London (75), Madame
Tussaud’s (55) and they are well
worth visiting if you’ve never been
before. You can also branch out and
visit some less well known attractions.
Places like Kensington Palace (50),
Dali Universe (C5) and the
Photographers’ Gallery (B4)
also have much to offer.
Kensington Palace
British Museum
The Natural History Museum
If you need more information when you are out and about, look out for the City of
Westminster's i+ information kiosks, four of which are located on Oxford Street.
These will provide you with travel, news and weather updates along with
information on attractions and restaurants nearby.
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Out and about
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top attractions
1. British Airways London Eye
The London Eye (C4) is the world’s
highest observation wheel and
offers passengers amazing views
of the city. Waterloo
2. Madame Tussaud’s /
The Planetarium
Mingle with the likes of Kylie
Minogue, David Beckham,
Jerry Springer, Brad Pitt and many
more in the waxwork world of
Madame Tussaud’s / Planetarium
(55,52). Baker Street
3. The London Dungeon
If you’re brave enough, head
deep into the heart of London to
discover the world’s most chillingly
famous horror attraction, the
London Dungeon (51).
London Bridge
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Out and about
4.
7.
The Tower of London
Discover The Tower of London’s
(75) 900 year history as a Royal
palace and fortress, prison and
place of execution, mint, arsenal,
menagerie and jewel house.
Tower Hill
Dali Universe
The Dali Universe (C5) is an
innovative and interactive
permanent exhibition, dedicated
to the awe-inspiring works of
Salvador Dali. Waterloo
5. The Original London
The West End &
Westminster Abbey Tour
Discover historic hot spots including
Westminster Abbey (D4) and
Buckingham Palace (C2) on
the West End & Westminster Abbey
Tour. This is a must for a true
exploration of London.
Victoria
Sightseeing Tour
This is the largest tour operator of
its kind, showing visitors the very
best of the capital from an open
top double-decker bus, and you can
hop on and off as often as you like.
Various
6.
The Houses of Parliament
Summer opening is from July.
Visits are by guided tour only and
include the main chambers of the
House of Commons and the House
of Lords (D4). Westminster
8.
9.
Hampton Court Palace
Explore the magnificent State
Apartments of Henry VIII, 60 acres
of riverside gardens and the worldfamous maze at Hampton Court
Palace (6).
Hampton Court
10. Kensington Palace
Houses of Parliament
For 300 years Kensington Palace
(50) has been home to royalty,
including Diana, Princess of Wales.
See the State Apartments and admire
the ceremonial dress collection.
High Street Kensington
Hampton Court Palace
The Tower of London
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Out and about
See it for
With 238 attractions that are
free to enter, there’s nowhere
else in the world where you
can see so much for so
little. So get out there
and start exploring.
free...
The British Library (36) houses one
of the greatest collections of the
written word in the world. On
display are Magna Carta (1215)
and Shakespeare’s First Folio (1623)
and much more. Euston
Kenwood House (7) is one of the
finest examples of the work of Robert
Adam. This stunning villa contains a
spectacular library, fine neo-classical
furniture and private collections of
paintings. Archway/Hampstead
St-Martin-in-the Fields Church,
overlooking Trafalgar Square (B4),
was designed by James Gibbs and
built in 1726. It houses a café in the
crypt, an art gallery in the court yard,
and the Brass Rubbing Centre. (B4)
Charing Cross
The National Archives (11). Explore
the dark vaults where all the nation’s
secrets are kept. Documents include
the Domesday Book, illuminated
manuscripts, Bligh’s account of the
mutiny on the HMS Bounty,
Shakespeare’s will and more.
Kew Bridge
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Out and about
The Bank of England Museum (32)
traces the origin of the Bank from its
foundation by Royal Charter in 1694
through to the present day as the
nation’s central bank. Bank
The Museum of Childhood (10)
is one of the largest and oldest
collections of childhood items in the
world. Items span the ages from the
16th century to the present day.
Bethnal Green
The Museum of London (A6)
illustrates over two thousand years
of London’s social history, from
pre-historic time to the 20th century.
Barbican (A6)
Leighton House (9) is the home
of classical painter, Lord Leighton.
Be dazzled by the gilt mosaics
and Oriental tiles of the Arab Hall,
evoking the world of the Arabian
Nights.
Holland Park
The Science Museum (68). See,
touch and experience the major
scientific advances of the last 300
years at the Science Museum, the
largest museum of its kind in the
world. Change your sex, age 30 years
in 30 seconds or experience some
virtual reality.
South Kensington
Sir John Soane’s Museum (A5)
Sir John Soane was the architect of the
Bank of England and his own home,
now known as Sir John Soane’s
Museum, as well as Dulwich Picture
Gallery, England’s first portrait gallery.
Sir John Soane’s Museum (A5)
Holborn (A4)
Dulwich Picture Gallery (2)
West Dulwich
Bank of England
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Entertainment
Encore!
For entertainment you’re spoilt for choice. London’s cultural
centres have exciting programmes of music, theatre and dance
and the latest and greatest bands flock to top music venues in
the capital.
The West End is the heart of
London’s Theatreland and home to
most of the top musicals and shows,
with well over 100 productions
running each week. There are
evening performances Monday
to Saturday and most shows have
two matinees per week.
Fringe theatre in the capital is
thriving with a variety of exciting
venues and wide-ranging events, so
why not discover some of the fringe
and off-West End venues, where you
can enjoy quality theatre away from
the hustle and bustle.
Located in picturesque Highgate
Village, the 130 seat theatre
Upstairs at the Gatehouse is above
a 14th century pub and presents
classic revivals, musicals and
contemporary drama. The King’s
Head Theatre in Angel, situated at
the back of the King’s Head pub,
presents a wide range of
productions, some of which have
transferred to the West End, and
supper is served at the tables in the
theatre before performances.
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Entertainment
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A hub for stand-up comedy, London
attracts the best up-and-coming
talents and presents more live comedy
than any other city in the world.
Across London you will find a
number of large comedy clubs
attracting some of the biggest names
on the circuit as well as countless
pubs hosting weekly comedy nights
featuring established comics and
open mike spots for newcomers.
Covent Garden
Some of the larger venues such as
The Comedy Store are extremely
popular so it may be advisable to
book in advance.
For those who are fanatical about
film, check out the Odeon in
Leicester Square (B4). This hightech cinema hosts many star-studded
British premieres and is a great place
to see the latest films.
The Prince Charles Cinema is just
around the corner and it’s the place
to go for low price cinema tickets.
For more information, live listings
and event bookings go to:
www.visitlondon.com
The West End
Everyone knows that London is home to some of the finest theatre in the world.
What few people know is that you can pick up discounted tickets for top shows on
the same day as purchased at tkts booth in Leicester Square. It’s open from 10am to
7pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 3pm on Sundays.
Leicester Square
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London by night
Top DJs and late licences are
the perfect ingredients for a
good night out. If you fancy
some late night culture before
hitting the dance floor, you
can visit some of London’s top
museums and galleries.
The Langley is a bit hidden but if
you make the effort to uncover this
bar in Covent Garden (B4) then you
will be rewarded. Venture beyond the
glass door, down the spiral staircase
and at the bottom you will see a
sleek, cool bar and a lively crowd,
and the bar is open until 1am.
style you can sit back in the cosy
chairs and listen to chilled out
music until 3am.
If you want a taste of Latin America,
combined with some generously
poured cocktails, then go to Cubana
on South Bank, a popular bar and
restaurant with a late Happy Hour
on Monday and Tuesday until 10pm.
Notting Hill Arts Club is something
of a jewel in the capital’s crown,
despite surprisingly few people
knowing about it. The hippest of
the hip in the music and club scene
know and it's well worth a look-in
any night of the week.
Discreetly located on London's
Greek Street (A3) is the friendly
Soho Wine Bar. Laid out labyrinth-
Take a break from giant superclubs
and look out for smaller venues
where you can combine drinking
and dancing and the priority is
having a good time.
The most unlikely venues for London bars include a former Victorian Toilet (Public
Life, Spitalfields E1); a Turkish baths (Bar Sia, 105-109 Broadway, Wimbledon SW19);
a dairy (Old Dairy, Stroud Green Rd. N4); a chapel (Union Chapel, Compton Terrace
N1) and a fireplace shop (CVO Firevault, 36 Great Titchfield St. W1).
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London by night
Lounge Lover, Shoreditch
Tate Modern, South Bank
Lounge Lover, A former meatpacking factory, 1 Whitby St. has
been transformed into an exotic
lounge-bar incorporating the
baroque lounge, decadent and
flamboyant and the red lounge,
vibrant with colour and light with
40s/50s retro furnishings.
Promoter of young British artists,
the Saatchi Gallery (C4) opens
until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
The Royal Academy of Arts (B3)
opens its Friend’s Room to relax,
have a drink and listen to a live jazz
trio on Fridays until 10pm.
Late Night Culture
If you’re in London on business or
don’t seem to have enough hours
in the day to explore as much as
you’d like, take in late night opening
at some of London’s top galleries
and museums.
Tate Modern (B6) is open until
10pm every Friday and Saturday
night. There’s a programme of talks,
films and events running throughout
the year, and evening tour and meal
packages are available.
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There’s Late View at the V&A (76)
every Wednesday and the last
Friday of every month (excluding
December). The evenings feature
events and tours with lectures, live
jazz or classical music in the galleries,
and buffet suppers in the restaurant.
The National Portrait Gallery (B4),
with portraits in all mediums, from
oil and watercolour to sculpture
and drawings, is open until 9pm
every Thursday and Friday. There
is a programme of lectures every
Thursday at 7pm and a varied
live music programme every
Friday from 6.30pm.
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Open spaces
Open spaces...
Open space accounts for 30% of the London area and the city
contains 143 registered parks and gardens. Short walking paths
and nature trails can be found in places like Hampstead Heath
(5), Battersea Park (35) and Mile End Park (57) and at the end of
an exhausting day walking, they’re a great spot for a picnic –
weather permitting!
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Open spaces
Just south of the River Thames is
Battersea Park (35), featuring a
Japanese Pagoda which was a gift to
the nation. This gorgeous park is home
to a children’s zoo, and it plays host to
community events, charity races and
open air cinema. Or head further out
to the Royal Botanic Gardens at
Kew (16) which grows more species in
its 300 acres than any other garden in
the world. Experience the magnificent
conservatories which cover four acres
and display plants ranging from the
rainforest to the desert.
Something for the kids
Across London there are a number of
smaller parks to enjoy. Coram’s
Fields (40) in Bloomsbury provides
hours of fun for little ones and some
peace for parents with a large sandpit,
play areas and a small zoo. Victoria
Park (24) in the East End has a
number of play areas for children, a
paddling pool and an enclosed area
with deer and birds.
boating and swimming and Rotten
Row, the world-renowned riding
track and first public road to be lit at
night in England. This park is one of
the best places in London for jogging,
combining easy access with famous
views. On Sundays at Speaker’s
Corner (B1), you can catch London’s
most vocal orators as they share their
opinions with the world.
Regent’s Park (65) is a stunning John
Nash creation with an open air theatre,
rose garden, a lake with islands, a
heronry and waterfowl collection. It is
home to London Zoo (53) and is the
largest outdoor grass area for sports in
central London and one to note if you
are feeling active. A little further out is
Maritime Greenwich. Created in
1433 and inscribed as a world heritage
site in 1997, it’s the oldest Royal Park in
London and home to the Royal
Observatory (67). It has impressive
views towards the National Maritime
Museum (61) and across the Thames
to Docklands and the City of London.
A Royal oasis
Some of London’s best known parks
are Royal parks right in the heart of
London and they’re perfect if you’ve
only got an hour to spare or want a
place to relax between shops or sites.
Hyde Park (B1) is particularly famous
for the Serpentine, a lake used for
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St James’s Park
Kew Gardens
One of the world’s most interesting international amateur sporting sites is to be
found at Hackney Marshes, where on some days over 100 football matches are
played on 87 full sized pitches from nine different leagues. Some of our most
famous footballers including David Beckham have played here.
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London markets
Bargains galore!
From porcelain in Portobello Road to
jellied eels in the East End, all sorts of
London markets give your browsing
ability a workout. Huge antique
emporiums, funky street markets and
cool designer studios ensure you are
spoilt for choice.
The East End of London is synonymous with
street trading so it’s best to make your trip on
a weekend to take advantage of the markets.
On both days, Spitalfields Market sells organic
food and on Sunday you’ll find books, music,
art and crafts and handmade homeware.
Cutting-edge, keenly priced independent
retailers have also made Spitalfields and
nearby Brick Lane their home, including new
name designers and vintage fashion houses.
One of the better known markets in
London is found in Camden from
Thursday to Sunday. It is formed from
five connecting markets selling clothes,
food, artwork, antiques and music. It
has earned a reputation for being a
good place to source unusual items,
particularly quirky clothing ideal for
clubbing. You’re guaranteed to
pick up a bargain whether it is
enticing international food or
a variety of jewellery.
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London markets
Another equally famous market is
Portobello Road. The content and
quality of the stalls reflects its location
in the heart of fashionable Notting
Hill. Expect to see quality antiques,
vintage clothing, accessories and
organic foods. Every Friday to Sunday
the area is busy with people keen to
search the racks of clothes and the
market is popular with everyone.
If you want some taste bud tickling,
head to Borough Market (37) in
Southwark, one of the largest
and oldest food markets in the city,
from Thursday to Saturday. It has
reinvented itself, offering a gourmet
paradise with products from all over
Britain and the continent.
Smithfield Market (A6) is another
one for foodies. As well as meat
and poultry, products such as cheese,
pies and other delicatessen goods
are available, as they have been for
over 800 years. This one is for early
risers though, opening from 4am
until 12pm Monday to Friday.
Borough Market
Spitalfields Market
Borough Market
Columbia Road – The Sunday morning flower market (8am-1pm) is well worth
getting up early for, but not just for the fresh blooms on sale. Behind the stalls, the
street itself is lined with lots of funky interiors shops, a perfumery and some great
cafes for brunch.
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London bites
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A world of international cuisine awaits you at Selfridges. Choose from 18 restaurants
featuring food from Italy, Lebanon, India, South America, England or Japan, with a
range of drinks from coffee to fresh juices and cocktails to champagne.
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London bites
Whether you’ve been working,
sightseeing or shopping, going for
a bite to eat is a great way to
unwind. Chinatown, located in
the heart of the West End has an
amazing array of restaurants
offering Oriental cuisine.
If you’re looking for a value-formoney bite to eat, you won’t be
disappointed. Wander the back
streets of the West End and you’ll
find lower prices. You can even root
out places with a ‘bring your own’
beer and wine policy.
For smart, hip and reasonably priced,
not to mention tasty food, try
Busaba Eathai on Wardour Street
(A3), which does for Thai what the
better-known Wagamama did for
Japanese. Cafe chain Carluccio’s
has made a huge difference to the
London dining scene, serving good,
hearty food and terrific coffee.
Similarly, head to Brick Lane, near
Liverpool Street and fashionable
Shoreditch, for an unbeatable
selection of restaurants which serve a
wide variety of Indian food and many
offer authentic regional dishes.
For a taste of modern British cuisine,
head to the Court Restaurant in
Europe’s largest covered square at
the British Museum (A4). The
modern menu uses the finest quality
ingredients cooked with passion and
flair and champagne afternoon teas
are available each day. Coq d’Argent
on Poultry is one of Sir Terence
Conran’s restaurants, serving regional
French salads, grills and crustacea
in private terraces with a wine list
to complement.
Stanley’s Restaurant and Bar on
Little Portland Street specialises in
handmade sausages and a fantastic
range of draught and bitter beers,
and it is excellent value in the
West End.
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At the airport
At the airport
Value for money
Wherever you are flying, everyone can shop
at Tax Free prices at the airport. This means
everyone can enjoy great savings on a
whole range of world class brands.
If you are visiting the UK from
outside the EU and are entitled
to a full VAT refund on your
purchases, shopping at the
airport means you won’t
have to queue up and
wait for it – which
gives you even
more time
to shop!
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At the airport
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World Duty Free
In the World Duty Free shops everyone,
wherever they are flying, can save up to
40%* off the average UK High Street
price of fragrances.
You will also find many savings and offers
on products that are exclusive to World Duty
Free including sunglasses, confectionery,
watches and gifts.
Flying outside the European Union
You can buy anything in the store. Make
sure you look out for the tickets denoting
offers exclusively for you** and save up to
50% off the UK High Street prices of spirits.
Flying within the European Union
You can buy anything in the World Duty
Free store except for a small range of spirits
and tobacco, which are exclusively for nonEU passengers.
Countries within the European Union:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK.
From 1 May 2004 the following
countries joined the EU:
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Malta, Poland,
Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia
and Slovenia.
Shopping at Tax Free Prices is exclusively
after security control. The Tax Free Price is
equivalent to the selling price prior to the
addition of Value Added Tax at 17.5%.
Newsagents, bookstores, pharmacies,
duty paid liquor, duty paid tobacco and
certain products are excluded.*
*Savings compared to national
UK high street price, this being
the average of prices from a
survey of a number of high
street stores. Details of the
stores and individual prices are
available in the Duty and Tax
Free shop. Savings do not apply
to products for which no price
comparison is displayed. Duty
and Tax Free shopping is
exclusively after security control.
Duty and tax allowances
depend on final destination.
**Passengers travelling to a
final destination outside the EUyou may be requested to pay
tax on your purchases on arrival
at your destination and/or if
you bring them back with you
when returning to the UK.
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At the airport
Restaurants and Bars
There is a great range of well known, high quality restaurants and bars for you
to choose from throughout all BAA’s airports. Regular price and quality surveys
are carried out to ensure competitive pricing and the highest standards.
You will pay the same at the airport as you would in the same name bar or
restaurant when eating in on the UK High Street. For restaurants and bars that
are exclusive to the airport you will pay a price which represents an average UK
High Street price for a similar item.
Useful information
No sharp objects are permitted in
your hand baggage, so pack them all
into your hold luggage before
checking in. All sharp items in hand
baggage will be removed and
confiscated at security search and
anyone trying to take an illegal item
through security could be prosecuted.
For a full list of prohibited items,
ask your airline at check-in,
or visit www.baa.com
No baggage should be over 32Kg
in weight – or you will be asked by
staff to leave some items behind or
else buy another bag to split the
load. Passengers should check with
their airlines for the baggage
allowances specific to their flight.
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UK
Bum bag
USA
Fanny pack
SOUTH AFRICA
Moon bag
Never underestimate the importance of local knowledge.
Issued by HSBC Bank plc