The West End is a must for any visit to London - You won't be able to move for the history, attractions and entertainment in this part of London! Although you may notice that many shops and restuarants are geared towards serving the needs of the city's tourists, everything runs like clockwork, open late and with a cheery smile.
You are located right in the center of London, so reaching the markets and culture of Camden or Brixton should take no time at all. A win-win situation!
West End Panorama
Where to begin? History-wise, the West End was reportedly a favourite of rich businessmen, developers and their families as the smoke from the City of London (to the East) did not drift in this direction.
It has a wondrous literary and political past - Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky touted their communist wares in cafes in Soho in the early 20th century and of course Oscar Wilde dined and revelled at Cafe Royale, Regent Street with Dylan Thomas and George Orwell finding inspiration in Fitzrovia. You're right in the heart of Theatreland so take your pick from the plays and musicals - you could easily squeeze in two or three in a week long stay.
Soho is a curious place too - tattoo parlours, kitsch sex shops and bohemian cafes mix with wholesalers, fabric shops and a smattering of brave chain stores. There's some great patisseries round here and interesting newsagents and independent shops still find a way to survive.
Of course, the West End moniker also includes the lively Covent Garden with its markets, outdoor cafes and street performers as well as Leicester Square playing host to fairground attractions and red carpets for film premieres.
Check out one of the many cinemas: visit Odeon Leicester Square for a price or the Prince Charles Cinema for older titles and musical "Sing-alongs". Then there's Piccadilly Circus, with the closest we've got to Times Square/ Tokyo-style lights, makinga great night time photo opportunity.
Lastly, there's the shopping. Selfridges on Oxford Street was opened after an American millionaire called Gordon H. Selfridge came to London in 1909. The retail spirit lives on in Bond Street, Seven Dials, Carnaby Street and Regent Street.
Theatreland, West End
If the open top bus doesn't take your fancy, grab a map and start walking. It really is quicker to walk, for instance, between Covent Garden and Leicester Square than mess about changing Underground lines. And even if you get lost, chances are you'll find yourself down fabulous back streets, lined with bookshops and old pubs - accidental detours in this part of the city can be more fun than whatever activity you had planned!
It is a pleasant walk from the West End, steeped in great architecture and smaller sights, down through Green Park to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben - but do allow the extra time in your itinerary for this.
You are also well placed to jump on the Central line eastbound all the way to Stratford and the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Park. The journey should be less than 30 minutes, crowds permitting.
The Northern line will take you up to Camden, Regents Park and Hampstead in the North and down to the lesser known delights of south London such as Waterloo for the National Theatre, Borough and Clapham.
London's West End is home to world-famous, high-quality restaurants, but there are tons of insider haunts that are worth a visit if you want to get the full London experience.
MEATliquor has been a massive hit recently - it's a classy burger joint in Marylebone (just off Oxford Circus) with a no-reservation rule - you could find yourself waiting in line with London's celebrities.
The Hawksmoor in Covent Garden (with another branch in Spitalfields) is a great bet if you love steaks - it's widely regarded as the best steakhouse in London but can be quite pricey when wine and sides dishes are included.
You can also try Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's hotel in an Art Deco setting or if you fancy an Indian, try the Michelin-starred Benares in Berkeley Square which promises to offer a 'contemporary British twist' to its dishes.
After you've finished eating, don't forget to catch some jazz at Ronnie Scotts or check out some burlesque dancing at The Box in Soho. Charing Cross Road is also great for art, history and war bookshops as well as specialist musical instrument shops so it's worth a look down there.
For retro and vintage shopping, try Pop and Rokit on Seven Dials, just north of Covent Garden as well as charity shops like Oxfam in the area.
Shopping in the West End
Head to Oxford Street and you'll find everything you could possibly want - from toiletries, to groceries to double-decker-bus fridge magnets. The area around the Strand also has plenty of banks, fast food restaurants and shops.
For a higher-end department store outing, there's always Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols (both further afield in Knightsbridge) and the old fashion delights of Fortnum & Mason only a stroll away in Piccadilly.
+44 (0) 845 680 0 679
Worldwide Free Call Back
Download the BLL brochure
Use the contact form
Skype us now
Send us an email
.png&width=120)
Customer support
"One of my favorite attractions in London is actually the Harry Potter Museum (part of the Warner Bros Studio Tour until March 2013) since I'm a big fan of the books and films". Read more from the team
#Location of the week: #Vauxhall. Discover the #history, Tourist #Attractions, Insider #Tips and #Eating Out http://t.co/lRjQxjxl #stay #ukFri 21 Dec 12 @ 17:32
