London has become a 24/7 city as it teems with life with its clubs, pubs, theatres and places of interests. It has become a "must see" city - cultural and educational by day, upbeat and global by night. The popular city of "London" technically applies to Greater London. For specifics, the City of London is the square mile financial district of Greater London and is just one of the thirty-three boroughs of Greater London. However, for the rest of the world, London is London.
The city is currently busily preparing for the coming 2012 Summer Olympics. Hotel reservations as early as now are trickling-in in many London hotels within the area. The upcoming Summer Olympics is only one of the many reasons why you should visit London. It is a city steeped with history and rich in culture that a tour of the place is worth your while.
The Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace is iconic of London. No London tour will be complete without experiencing the free display of Royal pageantry at the Buckingham Palace, the Royal London residence of the Queen. It is also the seat of the administrative headquarters of the Monarchy. The State rooms, where the Royal family entertains their guests for official functions, are open from the months of August to September. If you are keen on having a closer view of this fine example of Georgian architecture, it's best to book your London accommodations early.
Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament is a sight that should not be missed and can't be missed. The four-faced free standing clock is 150 years old and not everyone knows that the tower has cells for imprisoning Parliament members. Not anymore though as the last recorded case was in 1880.
Pictured in every other London postcard, The Tower Bridge was inaugurated in 1894 and is a sample of both architectural and engineering genius. The bridge is a combination bascule and suspension bridge structure to allow the passage for water vehicles on the River Thames. The two towers of the bridge are not up for purely aesthetic reasons but to counter and balance the horizontal and vertical forces of the whole structure.
Feel free to drop by the Tower of London to take a peek at those Beefeaters! Other spaces and places that you should include in your itinerary is a trip to the British Museum, Madame Tussauds, Trafalgar Square, Tate Gallery of Modern Art, The Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery and the numerous parks and gardens in the area. Don't hesitate to ride the new symbol of London known as the Eye of London!
You should not the miss a trip to any of the famed London markets. There is bound to be a market near your hotel. Covered, outdoor or street market, the concept for these markets had its origins back in the middle ages. A London market experience is a must as wholesale and retail sales of just about any item-foods and good - are available. Some of the more notable markets are: Borough; Covent Garden; Camden; Portobello Road Market (Notting Hill!) and Columbia Road Market.
West End is UK's Broadway. No visit to London would be complete without a West End experience. Currently showing are: Chicago, Oliver! Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies (sequel to Phantom), Stomp, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and more. Restaurant hop and sample the different cuisines that London has to offer. Feel the pulsating beat at Egg, Fabric, Cable Club, The Forum, Cirque and more.