Stopover guide

Many passengers visiting London from European countries fly to Luton Airport, often taking advantage of the cheap air fares offered by the many budget carriers that serve the airport. The entire area is loaded with world-class attractions including the massive allure that the capital itself presents. London is home to unforgettable sights such as Big Ben, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, while the shopping, food and nightlife options are the envy of the world.

Attractions:

Buckingham Palace is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and is the official home of the country’s most important resident, Queen Elizabeth II. The palace is loaded with amazing art collections and the gardens offer quiet respite from the madding streets of the city.
Hyde Park is London's best known public park, with swimming and boating on the Serpentine, the often noisy Speaker's Corner and the plethora of colourful displays and events that are held here throughout the year.
The Natural History Museum is one of London’s must-see attractions; a huge and impressive structure situated in the affluent Kensington neighbourhood, the museum offers quality interactive exhibits and millions of interesting artefacts.
The Tower of London was once the main bastion of London and to this day it is still the protector of the Crown Jewels.
Lying in close proximity to one another, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square are superb hangouts that are ideal for people watching.

Eating and Shopping: Oxford street is the undisputed main shopping thoroughfare of London and the country, with a huge assortment of tourist shops and boutiques as well as mega-music shops, department stores and book emporiums. Camden Market offers a more bohemian experience, while those with money to burn might like to try head to the affluent Mayfair area, New Bond street and Knightsbridge, where Harrods and Harvey Nichols reside. Other shopping haunts include Carnaby street, for fashion and souvenirs, and Tottenham Court road and Charing Cross for electronics.

The West End offers the biggest choice in dining and entertainment, with a myriad of theatres and fine restaurants, while Covent Garden offers a more laid-back entertainment experience and boasts some quality themed pubs, bars and clubs. Soho and Mayfair are also popular areas, the former being known for its bars and music stores, while the latter has a string of upper crust restaurants.

Day trips & tours: there are many fine daytrip destinations situated near to Luton that are worth visiting. The charming county town of Aylesbury, to the west of Luton, boasts some outstanding architecture and many stately homes, while farther west of Luton is Oxford, home to the UK’s oldest university. The university town has fine medieval architecture and dazzling colleges abound, of which Magdalen College is the most famous.

South of Luton is the Roman town of St Albans, with its huge array of Roman remains including a bath house, an open-air theatre, beautiful gardens and the intricate mosaics at the Verulamium Museum. North of Luton is Milton Keynes, a popular tourist haunt, best known for its excellent shopping facilities at the huge Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, Europe’s longest under-cover shopping area.

Luton and London Tourist Information Centres

Tourist Information Centre
Luton Central Library
St George's Square
Luton
Tel: +44 1582 401579B
Fax: +44 1582 487886
Email: tourist.information@luton.gov.uk

London Tourist information
City Information Centre
St Paul's Churchyard
London
EC4M 8BX
Tel: +44 207 332 1456

Britain Visitor Centre
1 Regent Street
London
SW1Y 4XT
Tel: +44 207 808 3838
Website: VisitLondon.com