London is changing and it’s changing fast. Look across the skyline and you will see not only the familiar landmarks – Big Ben, St Paul’s and Buckingham Palace – but also extraordinary new buildings such as the Swiss Re Tower, known as the “Gherkin” because of its shape, and the new County Hall, like the head of an alien in a space helmet, quietly gazing over the river Thames. But these changes are also visible in almost all London’s neighbourhoods. It used to be easy to divide the city into the wealthy west stretching from Belgravia to Chelsea, and the working-class and immigrant populations in the east. To some extent that is still true today, but Clerkenwell, Islington and other eastern neighbourhoods have gentrified, attracting a more affluent population. At the heart of London is Soho and its mix of narrow streets and alleys, trendy shops, elegant bars, and theatres. Notting Hill, well-known from the movie of the same name, attracts ever increasing numbers of visitors. Despite this, it has managed to retain its character of an egocentric village where some people still get the Sunday papers in there pyjamas. And there’s more to come. Over the next two decades, London will see new development on a scale not witnessed since the days of Queen Victoria and will build up even more momentum for regeneration, thanks to London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

Population:7.2 million

Tourist Information:
Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC).
Address: 1 Lower Regent St, SW1.
Tel. +44 (0)20 8846 9000 (main call centre).

Selfridges
Yes that’s right. Selfridges department store now has an oasis in the middle of all the shopping hoopla. A place with soothing bubbles for the soul. Is it a day spa? No, it’s the Moët and Chandon Champagne Bar.

T
Stylish hybrid bar that also has a café, deli and restaurant. Owned by Jamie Ritchie, who also runs the Rhodes + Mann art gallery a few blocks further east, T is a good starting point for a Shoreditch bar hop.

Drunken Monkey
Chinese inspired bar mixing classic details with a futuristic aesthetic. The food here is very good, especially the dim sum dishes.

Ye Olde Mitre Tavern
The history of this pub can be traced all the way back to 1546. It is mentioned in William Shakespeare’s Richard II, and Queen Elizabeth is said to have danced here. Small rooms with beautifully aged wood panelled walls and worn oriental rugs.

The Argyll Arms
One of the best pubs in the Oxford Circus area. Stylish Victorian bar, beautiful windows and good crowds around lunch and after work.

The Prince Alfred
Considered to be the best preserved bar from the Victorian era. It opened in 1862 and hasn’t changed a bit.

Lonsdale
A must for those out to spot London’s hottest celebrities – football players from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is much more than a club. It’s a brand, producing dance compilations, tours, T-shirts, etc. Snobby clubbers tend to sneer at the very mention of it, but this is one of the few clubs with enough financial muscle to consistently be able to hire the best DJs, and the sound system is probably the best in London. Which is why MoS is always packed.

Opening Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9.00-17.30. Many department stores stay open till 18.00, some till 19.00 or 20.00 on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Larger shops are also open 10.00-18.00 on Sundays.

In London you need to be strategic about shopping. It is easy to wear yourself out trying to take in the large number of shops and boutiques. Two good tips are to focus on one area at a time and to wear comfortable shoes. These three shopping districts are recommended.

Oxford Street and Mayfair
Oxford Street is the home of the chain stores, with one exception. Selfridges is London’s best department store (see section on Department Stores). Close to Oxford Street is fashionable Bond Street in Mayfair, where more and more interesting shops have opened over the last couple of years. Visit Gucci’s shoe brand Sergio Rossi on 15 Old Bond Street.

Soho and Covent Garden
Soho is a maze. You never exit where you think you will, and you never really know where you’ve been. But the area has fun shops; prepare to shoulder an ever-increasing number of shopping bags. Many of the shops around Covent Garden cater to teens, especially those interested in skate and street fashions. On Neal Street, the sneaker shops line up, and the Seven Dials shopping mall houses even more of the same. This area is also home to high-class jeweller Laura Lee. Paul Smith, by far the most successful British fashion designer, opened his first shop in Floral Street in Covent Garden in 1979 and now has a whole string of shops there. Another shop worth mentioning is Aram, 110 Drury Lane, which has five floors with furniture classics by names such as Eileen Gray, Charles and Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto alongside the latest pieces by Ron Arad, Jasper Morrison and Philippe Starck.

Chelsea, South Kensington and Knightsbridge
This is the area mostly known for its high end fashion-shopping. On Sloane Street in Knightsbridge you’ll find Prada, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Dolce et Gabbana, Fendi and many more. But in recent years it has also attracted a lot of excellent furniture and interior design shops. Amongst the best are B + B Italia’s cathedral-like shop at 250 Brompton Road in South Kensington, designed by the famous minimalist architect John Pawson. Nearby is The Conran Shop at 8 Fulham Road, founded by Sir Terence Conran and one of the first lifestyle shops in London. If you’re feeling hungry, have some oysters in the Bibendum Oyster Bar, located to the left of the main entrance. Make sure to visit David Gill at 60 Fulham Road. He’s the first stop for London’s leading interior designers and displays exquisite pieces such as ceramics by Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso, mirrors by Line Vautrin and silver furniture by Bonetti. A bit further down the road, at no 175- 177, you will find Kelly Hoppen, currently Britain’s leading interior design guru with several books to her name.

Harrods
You can buy virtually anything here: furniture, home electronics, pets, books. But Londoners tend to concentrate on two things – food and clothes. The food hall is legendary, with its old style decor and its enormous sections for bread, sweets, vegetables, meats coffee and tea. And the fashion departments are some of the best in town, with clothes ranging from traditional to distinctly cutting edge.

Harvey Nichols
The emphasis here is on fashion, so it’s no small surprise that it’s a favourite among London’s fashionistas. Harvey Nix as it’s known locally, stocks not only the best of the well-known designer labels but also collections from new, young talent.

Selfridges
Selfridges has gone through many transformations over the years and has now emerged as the quintessential London luxury department store, combining tradition with innovation. Don’t miss Superbrands, the new menswear department on the first floor, with clothes from all the leading brands and with a football-inspired interior.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the Royal Family since 1837, but it first opened its doors to the public in 1993. The State Rooms contains some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings, sculptures and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Enjoy a walk in the Palace’s 39-acre garden with its superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.

Tower of London
Construction was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world. Here you can see the priceless Crown Jewels, the Medieval Palace and the infamous Bloody Tower.

British Museum
The British Museum is regarded as one of the biggest and finest museums in the world. It attracts 6 million visitors each year. Highlights are the Assyrian treasures, the Egyptian mummies and the spectacular, light-filled Great Court.

Houses of Parliament
The neo-Gothic brilliance of the Houses of Parliament is impressive. It was built by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in 1840 and together with its clocktower, Saint Stephen’s Tower, and the clock itself, Big Ben, it’s the best-known of London’s many symbols.

British Airways London Eye
137 metres in height, this smart-looking observation wheel, with 32 capsules each holding 25 people, gives a superb view of London. A “flight” as a turn is called takes 30 minutes.

Tate Modern
Housed in a former power station, Tate Modern is both imposing and impressive even before you enter it. Since opening in 2000, TM has become one of London’s lead attractions thanks to high-profile exhibitions of artists like Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Frida Kahlo.

Shakespeare’s Globe
The Globe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare and the place where he first staged many of his plays. It burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. Now, almost 400 years later, it has risen again, on nearly the same spot.

The Victoria and Albert Museum
The V and A, as it’s commonly known. has breathtaking collections of almost everything; from Islamic art to iconic clothing by Vivienne Westwood. But it is the always stunningly designed exhibitions that truly set the V and A apart.

Locanda Locatelli
Undoubtedly one of the best Italian restaurants in London at present. Locatelli’s culinary style can be described as rustic regional food delivered with urban panache. One of their best dishes is the tagliatelle al ragù di capretto, handmade tagliatelle with kid goat ragù.

J Sheekey
Sited in the middle of London’s Theatre land, this has long been the before-and-after-theatre restaurant: discreet and also very elegant. It’s also London’s best restaurant for seafood – dressed crab with grated egg and parsley, delicately flavoured sea trout, shrimps with brown butter. J Sheekey attracts a lot of A list celebrities these days, so booking is absolutely essential.

Shepherd’s
The interior of this power restaurant (near the Houses of Parliament) resembles an old fashioned club and the food consists of traditional English dishes such as juicy marinated lamb, Cumberland sausages, fish cakes and an impressive assortment of pies.

Haandi
One of the best and certainly most luxurious of London’s many Indian restaurants, it’s also conveniently close to Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Sloane Street. The cuisine is a modern take on traditional dishes from the Punjabi region of North India.

Bar Italia
This Soho institution is charming and a bit chaotic. According to people in the know, this is the best cafe north of Milan.

RIBA Café
This hidden gem is worshiped by its faithful. Situated at the Royal Institute of British Architects. In the summer time, coffee, sandwiches, and the light lunch menu are best sampled on the roof terrace (make reservations in good time).

Lisboa Patisserie
After an early shopping round on Portobello Road come here for Portuguese pastries.

London is served by four major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. The high-speed Heathrow Express train is £14 and takes 15 minutes to Padding Station. Gatwick is 28 miles from London, and a 30-minute train ride on the Gatwick Express gets you to Victoria Station for £12. The Stansted Express connects Stansted Airport and Liverpool Street Station with a single journey costing £14. Luton Airport is 34 miles from the city and is served by several coach companies. The cheapest is Easybus, which sometimes offer £1 tickets.

Health:
There’s always one neighbourhood chemist that’s open 24 hours. Since all medication is readily available, either over the counter or on prescription, there’s no need to stock up. Apart from individual chemists, Boots the Chemist is the main point for anything pharmacy related, but the Superdrug chain is also a good option. Medical or dental care – 24 hrs If you need urgent medical and dental care, call NHS Direct, tel. 0845 4647. They can give you free medical advice and direct you to the nearest hospital with 24-hour accident and emergency departments.

Currency: Pounds

Emergency Number: 999

Electricity: 240V AC, 50Hz

Language: English

Telephone: Country code: +44

Transport:
Public transport in London mainly consists of buses and the vast Underground system (consisting of 12 lines). The ”tube” is legendary and the quickest and easiest way to get around, especially during rush hour. Unfortunately it only runs until midnight. All the necessary information can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/tube

Taxi Information:

Black Cabs
tel: +44 (0)20 7272 0272

Zingo Taxis
tel. 08700-700 700 (only inside London, requires a mobile phone).

Minicabs
tel.+44 (0)20 7387 8888

Ladycabs (female drivers)
tel. +44 (0)20 7254 3501