London
When travelers come to London, they are first and foremost impressed by the size of the city. The Thames divides the metropolis clearly into a northern and a southern half. However, travelers will spend a long time looking for a historic center, which naturally causes confusion on the city map. Consequently, the metropolis can only be seen as a city of villages. Those who don't take on too much during a visit are well advised - if you concentrate on a few areas, you will get more out of the trip.
Traditional landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower attract millions of visitors a year. However, London is a rapidly changing city with new attractions all the time. Some time ago, almost all the major museums and galleries were completely refurbished. Thanks to grants from the National Lottery and the UK government, and projects carried out before the turn of the millennium, the Royal Opera House, the British Museum and the arts center on the Southbank have been completely renovated. Museums such as the Tate Modern and the London Eye Ferris wheel have also been built.
! Photo slider: © Visit Britain!
Demographically, things have also changed. Until the British economy took a severe hit in 2008, speculators were eager to buy up and adapt entire urban areas for higher-income groups. First in line were the pretty Victorian terraced houses in Notting Hill and Islington. Later, estate agents focused on Hoxton and Shoreditch in the East End, where investment bankers and artists now live side by side. Knightsbridge and Mayfair are of course still firmly in the hands of the upper class, while Chelsea and Notting Hill are known to be home to the trendsetters.
Like all European cities, London is a melting pot of cultures. Although there are no monolingual ghettos here, most districts have a clearly identifiable population from former colonies and other continents. Brixton is home to the Afro-Caribbean community, North Kensington to the Moroccan, South Kensington to the French and Mayfair to the Russian Nouveaux Riches. These constant foreign influences have had a positive effect on the city's gourmet scene, especially as English cuisine was not exactly known for its finesse.
Gaining a taste for it
Just 20 years ago, you had to search for a long time to find a decent restaurant in London. Today, the city is one of the world's gastronomic centers and the chefs love to experiment. Everyone is talking about "Fat Duck" inventor Heston Blumenthal. Gordon Ramsey at the Savoy Grill and Indian chef Vivek Singh at the Cinnamon Club are also worth a visit. Although some of their creations are daring, these innovative masters have had a very refreshing effect on English cuisine.
London has also long set the tone when it comes to fashion. Real English gentlemen dress on Savile Row. Conservative patterns are to the fore here. Since the "Swinging Sixies", however, the city has also been home to the latest craze. Just think of Twiggy and the Sex Pistols. If you want to stock up your wardrobe at home, you don't have to look far. Exclusive department stores such as Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols or Liberty's and stores on Oxford and Regent Street as well as on King's Road in Chelsea delight shoppers from near and far. If you want something classy, you should visit the boutiques in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. In Shoreditch and on Brick Lane you will find eccentric items, in Notting Hill and Marylebone something unusual.
Highlights
The Thames divides London into north and south and is the city's most notable feature. Even though traffic is now largely limited to individual barges, police boats and tour boats, a trip on the river offers a completely different perspective of the city. A trip on the Tate boat, which runs between Tate Britain and Tate Modern, is highly recommended. The Tate-to-Tate boat is less geared towards tourism and more of an authentic means of transportation, a practical (and equally enjoyable) way to get from A to B with ease. During gallery opening hours, the boat with its colorful dot pattern departs every 40 minutes for the 20-minute trip. Stop at the London Eye (opposite the Houses of Parliament).
www.tate.org.uk/tatetotate
DIPLOMATISCHE VERTRETUNGEN
in Germany:
British Embassy
Wilhelmstrasse 70/71, 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 204570
E-mail: ukingermany@fco.gov.uk
www.gov.uk
in Austria:
British Embassy
Jauresgasse12, 1030 Vienna
Phone: +43 1 716130
Fax: +43 1 716132900
E-mail: press@britishembassy.at
www.gov.uk
in Switzerland:
British Embassy
Thunstrasse 50, 3005 Bern
Phone: +41 31 3597700
Fax: +41 31 3597701
E-mail: info.berne@fco.gov.uk
www.gov.uk
Lage
Südostengland
Fläche
1.572 km²
Bevölkerung
8,674 Millionen
Sprache
Englisch
Religion
Around 60% Christians (predominantly Anglicans, followed by Catholics). 8.5% Muslims, 4.1% Hindus, 2.1% Jews
Weather
London liegt in der gemäßigten Klimazone. Dank des Golfstroms wird es im Winter nicht allzu kalt, es regnet jedoch häufiger
Beste Reisezeit
ganzjährig, beonders aber von Mai bis September
Klima
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperaturen | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 8 |
| Min. Temperaturen | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Regentage | 14 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 |
Zeitverschiebung
MEZ - 1 Stunde, UTC +-0
Währung
1 Britisches Pfund = 100 Pence
Visa
Deutsche, österreichische und Schweizer Staatsbürger benötigen kein Visum, ein gültiger Reisepass genügt.
Vaccinations
none
London specialties - far more than just "fish and chips"
London is now regarded internationally as a culinary Mecca. The capital has the gastronomic influences of former colonies to thank for this. London does not only have English cuisine on its menu. London is absolutely multicultural, which has naturally had an impact on its culinary landscape. Vietnamese, Pakistani, Turkish and Japanese cuisine are particularly well represented in London's cuisine. Indian food is also very popular in London.
Indian food is also very popular in London. There are particularly good Indian restaurants in the Chiswick district of London. The district is known for its excellent restaurants and is also worth a visit for those London visitors who don't necessarily want to eat Indian food.
not necessarily want to eat Indian food.
Going out in London - an indescribable experience
Even if the day in London has already sapped your energy, you shouldn't miss out on the city's nightlife: The variety on offer is hard to beat!
The best way to start the evening is in one of the numerous pubs or in one of the newer, trendy bars. Both options can be found throughout the city center, but the density is particularly high in the West End and in
Notting Hill. South of the Thames, in the districts of Southwark and The Borough, there are also more and more restaurants, bars and nightclubs in addition to the museums.
If you're in the mood for theater or classical music after an evening out, the West End is the place to be - but Covent Garden is also home to some major theaters and opera houses, including the Royal Opera House and the musical theater Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Art in London - culture at the highest level
Although the British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum and Tate Modern are justifiably popular, it pays to see the permanent and temporary exhibitions at other venues.
London tips - places worth seeing
Yes, there is Trafalgar Square, Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Greenwich. But no less worth seeing are the Serpentine Gallery, Tate Britain, the National Portrait Gallery, the Whitechapel Gallery, the Imperial War Museum as well as South Bank, Brick Lane, Notting Hill and The Royal Parks.
Shopping tips London - Exclusive and fashionable
A very popular activity for tourists in London is, of course, shopping. Especially on
especially on rainy days in London, the shopping malls in London are well filled and a popular destination
where you can easily spend the whole day. In the larger shopping centers
there are restaurants, cafés and a food court where you can eat and drink. The
most famous department store in London is Harrods, which is definitely worth a visit. The
prices are a little higher there as they mainly sell luxury items, but it's definitely worth a
but a tour is definitely worthwhile if you don't want to buy anything. You can always find a bargain in the large shopping malls in London such as Westfield London Shopping Centre, Brent
Cross Shopping Centre and many more. There are also large department stores that always have good offers.
Hotels
