Central London

City of London (the "Square Mile")

The City of London is the principal financial district not only of London, but of the UK and Europe. The City also has its own police force, the City of London police.

The West End

To the west and north of Trafalgar Square is the West End, the main shopping and entertainment district in London. Most of London's major theatres are located here, as is the Royal Opera House.

Shopping (Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street)

Oxford Street is one of the best known shopping streets in the world. Running from Tottenham Court Road in the east to Marble Arch in the west, via Oxford Circus where it crosses Regent Street, it is home to many large department stores and shops (Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer).

Covent Garden

Soho and Covent Garden are lively areas with a huge variety of shops, restuarants, cafes and bars. Further west are residential areas broken up by areas of green parkland, such as Hyde Park, Kenssington Gardens and Regent's Park.

West London

West London includes many of the traditionally fashionable and expensive residential areas such as Notting Hill, made famous by a film of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Nearby is the famous antique market at Portobello Road. Kensington and Chelsea are the most expensive places to live in the country. The area is also famous for the Kings Road, a distinguished and attractive shopping street and thoroughfare.

Further to the west, at White City, near Shepherd's Bush, is the principal operating centre for the BBC while in the extreme west, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, lies Heathrow Airport.

East London

The East End ( The East End of London)

The East End was formerly the centre of London'd docks and heavy industry. The area was heavily bombed during World War Two (1939-45).

The East End has many of places of interest including many of London's markets, (for example Columbia Road Flower Market, Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Market, Petticoat Lane Market).

The East End is an area of uncertain delimitations. It abounds with legend, sentimentality and cockneys.

A large majority of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in the Old Park in Stratford in East London. Events were also held in other venues across London and the UK (England, Scotland and Wales).

Docklands

Docklands is a thriving and vibrant area with a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs and wine bars.

South London

South London is a multi-cultural area of nearly 2 million people.

London Eye

South London includes the historic towns of Greenwich and Wimbledon

Greenwich is on the banks of the Thames where the river broadens into a wide meandering reach of muddy water. It is an historic neighbourhood and boasts a fine park and the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It is also has a popular market.

Brixton, Camberwell and Peckham are home to many families (and their descendants) who immigrated to London from the West Indies during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, sometimes known as Afro-Carribeans.

North London

North London includes suburbs such as Hampstead and Highgate which retain a village atmosphere.

North London is more hilly than the south, and many of the hills give excellent views across the city. Large parks include Hampstead Heath, which includes Parliament Hill, noted for its fine views over the city, and the Hampstead bathing ponds; and Alexandra Park, site of Alexandra Palace.