10/20/2008 12:00:00 AM
By Yety Akinola
Known as LDN by its inhabitants, London is the capital city of England. There’s no doubt about it, if you can handle carrying an umbrella 24/7. (You never know when it will rain). And you’re a wizard with maps, then you’re a prime candidate to take the trip to British Isles.
London, as the heart of England, is the centre of thousands of years of English history. From its cobbled streets to its Royal family, London has to be the first point of call, when in England. Here is a summary of the uber trendy hang outs, the little cocoons of heaven (amazing shopping haunts), the best/most pocket friendly eating establishments, (the credit crunch affects us all) and the best places to visit. Basically we’re providing you with a pocket size guide to one of the fashion capitals of the world.
(Big Ben, London. Pic courtesy of Rozanne Gelbinovich)First things first, travel tips. Navigation is the key to an amazing trip away. Public transport can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The underground is probably the best way to get around, no matter where you’re going. It’s fast and relatively cheap, and unlike getting the bus on cold nights, it has heating. With helpful websites like www.journeyplanner.org, going to the West End to see ‘The Lion King’ or visiting the V&A museum after a leisurely shop in Harrods, Knightsbridge, (both highly recommended). Soon become second nature, as the site provides a step-by-step guide to getting to your destination.
The streets of London have a wide variety of bars, pubs and restaurants to eat and be merry in. Whether your there for a week or a weekend, a visit to the ‘Cha Cha Moon’ in Covent Garden is a must do. A chic, cheap fusion of Chinese and Japanese cuisine is available from 12 – 11pm (Monday – Thursday) and 12 – 11:30pm (Friday & Saturday). The service is efficient and the food comes before you know it. A little tip from us to you, get there before 6:15 pm on a weekday. Otherwise long queues are on the menu.
Places to go, people to see, a visit to London has to include a visit to Oxford Circus to shop in the day, a trip to the o2 arena, for a ski lesson in the afternoon. And a night out at the Proud Gallery in Camden Town. The domain of the super hip and cool, the Proud Gallery is a space dedicated to cheapish drinks, great live music and interesting art. A great atmosphere for a random night out, with DJ’s playing old school, indie and urban music. You may even bump into a celeb or two!
Enjoy your trip.
