London England Travel Guide

The square mile

Having survived the Great Fire in 1066, nightly bombings in World War II and recent terrorist attacks, London has earned and maintained its reputation for surviving hardships without surrendering its way of life. Street-corner pubs, world-class theater, friendly "bobbies" and a respect for tradition make London a complex city of contradictions that can take a lifetime to explore.

If your time in London is limited, these districts will give you a taste of London's diversity.

• Bankside - The southern bank of the River Thames is a haven for the arts with the Tate Modern, the Royal Watercolour Society and theaters like The Playhouse. Architectural delights span the three-centuries-old St Paul's Cathedral and the ultramodern Millennium Bridge.
• Knightsbridge - London's upscale shopping district is home to haute couture and high fashion designers like Burberry, Chanel, Gucci and Dior (to name only a few). Perhaps best known for Harrods, where the Queen herself shops, Knightsbridge is one the finest shopping destinations in the world.
• Mayfair - This upscale area of London is steeped in history and luxury hotels, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals. Berners, one of London's landmark hotels, will reopen totally refurbished in 2008. Piccadilly Square, Hyde Park, the Marble Arch, Saville Row and Grosvenor Square (home to the American Embassy) are just a few of the highlights this beautifully treed area offers.
• Soho - Once famous for its red light districts, Soho has cleaned up quite a bit over the last generation. Home to the world-famous Piccadilly Circus, the Trocadero Centre and pedestrian-only Carnaby Street, this is a must-wander area.
• Camden - Weekend markets have become so popular, traffic grinds to a halt - take the tube. Camden Lock, the main draw, is bursting with stalls and buskers (street entertainers). You can buy almost anything imaginable - from health food to vintage clothing, musical instruments to artisan jewelry.

Don't even think of renting a car to tour London. Not only are rentals expensive, you'll need nerves of steel and the instincts of a homing pigeon to find your way through the tangled streets. Between double-decker buses, spacious cabs and the expansive, well-run Underground (affectionately called "the tube"), you can get anywhere you need quickly, cheaply and in one piece.