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London can be an expensive place to eat. If you are on a budget, be
on the lookout for small take away shops selling Chinese style
meals, as many of these shops have low prices and good quality
food..
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London Full-Day Sightseeing Tour
From Viator Tours
Private Tour: Tate Britain and Tate Modern
From Viator Tours
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Click the button above to link to Transport for
London's Journey Planner. Fill in the form for the best transportation schedule to your destinations in London.
When finished, close the window to return to ThereArePlaces
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Around the corner (southeast) from the Ritz (150 Piccadilly), you will
find Jerymn Street, a shopping lane that features several elegant menswear
shops, as well as other unique stores, galleries and restaurants.
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If you like "exclusive
shops", don't miss wandering through the
Burlington Arcade located
on Piccadilly just east of its intersection with Old Bond Street and Piccadilly. If you need more exposure to high-end
goods, wander down Jermyn Street a block southeast of the Ritz Hotel.
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_If it is a cold and damp
afternoon, consider stopping at one of London's "tea shops" for
"high tea". The mini-meal includes tea and usually finger
sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and other heart stopping
delicacies.
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If you like shopping for
books, you might consider stopping at
Foyles (113-119
Charing Cross Road - between Oxford Street and Shaftsbury), a large bookstore
featuring five floors that provides an outstanding range of books.
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The Tate runs a
boat that connects the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and stops at British Airway's
London Eye. The boat runs every 40 minutes. Click
here for more information.
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Mayfair - The West End
Mayfair is a compact, exclusive area comprised of expensive town
homes, interesting shops and delightful (but often expensive)
restaurants. The West End is "Tourist London" and derives its name
from its location to the west of the City of London. The West End,
especially the area around Leicester Square, is known as the center
of theater in London.
This section of our London, England City Guide describes the
best places to visit in Mayfair and the West End. Click the
links below to go directly to a specific place or just read the
page to explore this section of London.
Oxford Street,
Regent Street,
Shepherd Market,
Piccadilly
Circus,
National Portrait Gallery (and National Gallery),
Trafalgar Square
Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square
 One of London’s most famous attractions, Trafalgar Square was
created in the 1800’s to commemorate the victory of the British
fleet, commanded by Admiral Nelson in the Battle of Cape Trafalgar
(near Cadiz Spain). In the battle, an element of the British fleet
soundly defeated a French-Spanish fleet in what was the deciding
naval battle of the Napoleonic Wars.
Admiral Nelson died of battle wounds shortly after hearing that
victory was his. In a rather interesting move, his body was
preserved in a keg of rum, for the voyage back to port. Nelson’s
statute adorns a tall column in his honor that is the focal point of
the Square. Four massive black lions surround the base of the pillar
and together form a remarkable monument. Other statues scattered
throughout the Square commemorate famous members of the British
Empire.
Trafalgar Square was renovated and made pedestrian friendly during
the last decade and provides good photo opportunity (if you can
clear some space from the ever-present billions of pigeons).The
National Gallery and the Church of St. Martin in the Fields face the
Square.
If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, wander down Northumberland
Avenue (across from the south side of the Square) a few steps to 10
-11 Northumberland Street (not avenue) where you will
find the
Sherlock Holmes Pub . It has good “pub grub” and an upstairs
room decorated in accordance with Arthur Conan Doyle's descriptions
of Holmes's rooms at 221b Baker Street, down to the Persian
slipper stuffed with Tobacco.
Marble
Arch, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street
Oxford Street, traditionally London’s main shopping street, has
been taken over by chain stores featuring a broader variety of goods
than available in the past, though at the expense of some of its
character. If you are looking for casual "British style" clothing,
this is the place to shop. Be prepared for crowds most any time, but
If you shop on a Saturday, you might begin believing the claim that
this is the busiest street in Europe.
Oxford Street is a good but not great area for shopping since it is
similar to shopping at home. If you want to take a look at the shops
and where they are on Oxford street, visit this
UK-based website where you can view photos of the stores, arranged as
the occur along Oxford Street starting at Marble Arch.
Selfridges, an enormous, traditional British department store, near
Marble Arch is a good place to start your trip along Oxford Street.
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Oxford
Circus, Bond Street
The Dover Street Market (17-18 Dover Street London W1S 4LT) is
one of the newest and most trendy retailers in London. The six floors
of shops in the building are the brainchild of Rei Kawakubo and Comme des
Garçons.
- He describes the shops as existing in an atmosphere of
"...beautiful chaos." If you have time and like shopping at trendy
boutiques, this is a must-see when in Mayfair.
- For more information see the
Market's website.
Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus
If you choose to explore Oxford Street for shopping, you might
consider turning onto Regent Street for even more shopping between
Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus. Visit this
UK-based website where you can view photos of the
stores, arranged as they occur along Regent Street to Piccadilly
Circus.
 If you explore Regent Street for shopping, you might want to
spend some time on Carnaby Street in Soho, if its tastes suit you
(in Soho - to the east of Regent Street south of Oxford) ). Soho
might best be described as "edgy". It is an area that mixes popular
restaurants and nightclubs with sex shops and a sometimes mixed
clientele. See this
website for more information on visiting Carnaby
Street.
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Green Park, Hyde Park Corner
Near Piccadilly Circus, this is a quiet little area in Mayfair between Piccadilly and Curzon Streets that provides great restaurants, outdoor dining when the weather permits, interesting shops and a great atmosphere. If you are in the area, wander its lanes and you will be glad you did.
Several of the cafes are breakfast shops and provide great breakfasts for a reasonable price (much more reasonable than you will pay at most hotels).
Shepherd Market (not to be confused with Shepherd’s Bush Market in another part of London) is quite small and can be toured in a matter of minutes. It is likely you will find a restaurant of pub beckoning to you, if one of the quaint shops does not get you first.
- For more detailed information about this enchanting, hidden
corner of London, see this
website.
If you enjoy Middle Eastern/Lebanese food, try Al Hamra at 31-33 Shepherd Market (at corner of Trebeck). Or, wander up Piccadilly towards the
Piccadilly Circus to dine at
Fakhreldine at 85 Piccadilly.
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Piccadilly Circus
 Piccadilly Circus is a London landmark that like many signature
locations, doesn’t offer much more than a dazzling view. Piccadilly
Circus reminds the traveler of Times Square or Ginza, due to the
preponderance of huge, glitzy, advertising adorning many of the
building in the intersections.
The most famous meeting space in the Circus is the statue
commonly known as Eros (not the original name nor intent of the
sculpture). Nevertheless, the Greek god of love attracts many
tourists and provides a good, identifiable photo opportunity.
 Five of London’s major thoroughfares converge at Piccadilly
Circus, which is a good jumping off point for Trafalgar Square, Soho, Chinatown or shopping on Regent and Oxford
streets.
Piccadilly Square is the home of the upscale Ritz Hotel, which
dates from 1905. Having afternoon tea at the Ritz is a
treat, but the dress code is formal and requires a jacket and
tie (jeans and sports shoes not permitted. Reservations
are required.
Another of famous landmarks in this area is the Fortnum and Mason's department store that has been
situated in the heart of Piccadilly since 1707. The store
features fine food, great restaurants and a wide-variety of
goods.
Charing Cross, Piccadilly
Circus, Leicester Square
These two National Galleries are next door to each other and
provide a thorough collection of English portraiture and European
art.
 The National Gallery bills itself as “...one of the greatest
collections of European painting in the world” and the public
seems to agree, as the this is the most visited attraction in
London. The Gallery’s collection includes over 2,300 paintings
created between the thirteenth and twentieth centuries. Visit
the
National Gallery web site for information on its hours of
operation and special exhibitions.
The National Portrait Gallery is just that, a gallery
containing portraits of over 1,000 British men and women, both
royalty and others, who are noted for their roles in the
country's history. Visit the
National Portrait Gallery web site for details and opening
hours and special events.
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Next: Other sections of our London Guide
Or, Return to our list of
London's best
Best Places to Visit in the
United Kingdom
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