The sun may have set on the British Empire, but London is still a world leader in terms of culture and art; museums and architecture; music and fashion; not to mention pomp, pageantry and irrepressible pizzazz.
Despite being such an ancient city, London never grows old
Though the sword of Britannia may have grown rusty, London has held on to its reputation as one of the world’s hippest, most influential capitals, with new landmarks and trendy hotels, restaurants and clubs opening up all the time.
Steeped in history, with magnificent sights at every turn, from Big Ben to the London Eye, the Tower of London to the Tate Modern, London offers a mesmerising mix of old and new.
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford”; so said Samuel Johnson. And he was right. Despite being such an ancient city, London never grows old. With a history spanning two millennia, London manages to stay forever young and energetic.
Britain’s capital is home to the great art collections of the National Gallery, architectural icons such as Tower Bridge, and a rich royal heritage, which will be very much in evidence when the nation takes an extended weekend holiday from June 2 to 5 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
It is also a global hub of underground design and musical innovation. Of course, the West End’s bright lights draw the crowds with long-running mega-musicals and big-name dramas, and Soho still buzzes with a slightly sleazy charm, but there is growing taste for the offbeat, from cabaret and Charleston revival parties to dub step andburlesque.
It is a city of independent villages – for example, Chelsea or Greenwich have little in common with Shoreditch or Soho – and a metropolis of green spaces as well as towering buildings.
It is also a shopaholic’s dream and a sugar daddy’s nightmare, with the boutiques of Knightsbridge and Chelsea, the tailored suits of Mayfair, and the latest in street-style in Shoreditch and the East End. Street markets such as Columbia Road and Portobello, meanwhile, are experiencing a mini-renaissance.
With the Olympics taking place in London this summer, much of the East End, where the Olympic Stadium is being built, is undergoing a facelift. And as the centre of gravity moves east, so does the dining scene: Nuno Mendes’Viajante is the most creative eatery to open in the east, but manyskilful chefs are being attracted to gastropubs, cool cafes and tapas bars in the area.
London is moving heaven and earth to entertain as the Olympics approach, so revel in the choice of outstanding exhibitions, festivals and theatre productions.