London stopover guide
London is England's capital city and it is a bustling, multicultural metropolis, offering an eclectic mix of fine architecture and historic sights along with modern conveniences and attractions. Famous landmarks, world-renowned art galleries, fine restaurants and diverse nightlife are just some of the many things that London has to offer.
Attractions:
- The Tower of London; this is the building where so many historical English figures met their demise.
- The Houses of Parliament is the seat of the British government and its buildings are rich with interesting histories.
- Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal Family. Visitors can observe the daily changing of the guard ceremony.
- Westminster Abbey is a magnificent protestant church where important services such as royal weddings, funeral and so on take place.
- The London Eye allows you to see London from an entirely different perspective.
- Trafalgar Square has been the scene of important historical events and is now home to a number of grand statues.
- Madame Tussaud’s Waxwork Museum offers figure of some of the world's most famous characters from the past and present, now immortalised in wax.
- The Tate Galleries display works by some of history's greatest names as well as exhibitions by contemporary artists.
- Covent Garden is one of the city's liveliest shopping areas and the scene of many street entertainers.
Eating and Shopping: eateries can be found throughout the centre of London and it's probably unfair to say that there is a general restaurant zone. Areas worthy of mention however would include Covent Garden, where English, French, Italian, Asian and American restaurants can all be found, and Soho, which offers a high concentration of restaurants, while nearby Chinatown offers some fantastic Asian establishments.
For shopping, Covent Garden is again a good place to head, offering a variety of fashionable and niche retail establishments. Oxford street is home to the city's greatest concentration of shops and it offers all the big high street names. The city's famous markets such as those on Portabello road and at Camden are also well worth a visit.
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Day trips and tours: travel just 30 miles west of London and you can visit Windsor Castle, a magnificent historic construction that serves as an out of city residence for the Royal Family. The castle is located on the Thames River and nearby is the equally historic Hampton Court Palace, which was once home to the infamous Henry XIII. Also within driving distance of the city is the seaside town of Brighton, situated 50 miles south; the town offers some of the best views of scenic Sussex. Other Sussex towns worthy of mention include Hastings and Battle, while Canterbury and Dover in Kent, to the east of London, are also notable and suitable for a daytrips.
London Tourist Information Centres
Bexley Tourist Information Centre
Hall Place
Bourne Road
Bexley
Greater London
DA5 1PQ
Tel: +44 1322 558676
Fax: +44 1322 522921
Email: hallplaceshop@tiscali.co.uk
Britain and London Visitor Centre
1 Regent Street
Piccadilly Circus
London
SW1Y 4XT
Tel: Personal visitors only
Fax: +44 20 7808 3801
Email: blvcinfo@visitbritain.org
Croydon Tourist Information Centre
Croydon Clocktower
Katharine Street
Croydon
Greater London
CR9 1ET
Tel: +44 20 8253 1009
Fax: +44 20 8253 1008
Email: tic@croydon.gov.uk
Website: www.croydononline.org/
Greenwich Tourist Information Centre
Pepys House
2 Cutty Sark Gardens
Greenwich
Greater London
SE10 9LW
Tel: +44 870 608 2000
Fax: +44 20 8853 4607
Email: tic@greenwich.gov.uk
Website: www.greenwich.gov.uk/
Harrow Tourist Information Centre
Civic Centre
Station Road
Harrow
Greater London
HA1 2XF
Tel: +44 20 8424 1102
Fax: +44 20 8424 1134
Email: info@harrow.gov.uk
Heathrow Airport Tourist Information Centre
Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3
Underground Station Concourse
Heathrow Airport
Greater London
TW6 2JA
Tel: +44 9068 663344 (Calls charged)
Hillingdon (Uxbridge) Tourist Information Centre
Central Library
14-15 High Street
Uxbridge
Greater London
UB8 1HD
Tel: +44 1895 250706
Fax: +44 1895 239794
Email: libraryinfoteam@hillingdongrid.org
Website: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/
Hounslow Tourist Information Centre
The Treaty Centre
High Street
Hounslow
Greater London
England
TW3 1ES
Tel: +44 845 456 2929
Fax: +44 845 456 2904
Email: tic@cip.org.uk
Website: www.cip.org.uk/
Kingston-upon-Thames Tourist Information Centre
Market House
Market Place
Kingston upon Thames
Greater London
KT1 1JS
Tel: +44 20 8547 5592
Fax: +44 20 8547 5594
Email: tourist.information@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Website: www.kingston.gov.uk/
Leicester Square London Information Centre
Leicester Square
London
Greater London
Tel: +44 20 729 22 333
Lewisham Tourist Information Centre
Lewisham Library Building
199-201 Lewisham High Street
Lewisham
Greater London
SE13 6LG
Tel: +44 20 8297 8317
Fax: +44 20 8297 9241
Email: tic@lewisham.gov.uk
Website: www.lewisham.gov.uk/
London City Information Centre
St Paul's Churchyard
London
Greater London
EC4M 8BX
Tel: +44 20 7332 1456
Web: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Richmond-upon-Thames Tourist Information Centre
Old Town Hall
Whittaker Avenue
Richmond upon Thames
Greater London
TW9 1TP
Tel: +44 20 8940 9125
Fax: +44 20 8332 0802
Email: info@visitrichmond.co.uk
Website: www.visitrichmond.co.uk/
Southwark Tourist Information Centre
Vinopolis
1 Bank End
Southwark
Greater London
SE1 9BU
Tel: +44 20 7357 9168
Email: tourism@southwark.gov.uk
Website: www.southwark.gov.uk/
Twickenham Tourist Information Centre
The Atrium, Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
Greater London
TW1 3BZ
Tel: +44 20 8891 7272
Fax: +44 20 8891 7738
Email: info@visitrichmond.co.uk
Website: www.visitrichmond.co.uk/
Waterloo London Visitor Centre
Arrivals Hall
Waterloo International Terminal
London
Greater London
SE1 7LT
Tel: +44 20 7620 1550
Email: london.visitorcentre@iceplc.com
