City Profile: Guide to London

The city of London is the capital of England, at it's centre is a large urban metropolis dating back to Roman times. London is a leading city on matters of global, economic and social influence, it accommodates for a broad cultural mix of citizens conversing in some three-hundred languages.

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Culture in London

At the heart of the city there are Londoners varying in occupation and lifestyles, many of them wouldn't trade their home for anywhere else!

Culturally, London caters for all ages, tastes and interests, in particular students and young people. There is a carefully crafted mix of history alongside the contemporary.

With museums and monuments dotted around the city, there is always an exhibition to go to or a place of literary significance to visit. The National Portrait Gallery near Charing Cross is a free public gallery displaying works by Picasso and Monet.

A rich tapestry of entertainment awaits, in London's West End tourists revel in long-established theatres similar to New York's Broadway, these productions are some of the most elaborate shows in the world. There are also countless bars and clubs to visit in Leicester Square, and places like Camden Town to explore with its thriving music and fashion scene.

Shopping in London

If you have a passion for fashion and a need to buy all the latest products, London does not disappoint, Oxford Street is one of Europe's biggest retail shopping streets, and Westfield is mega-shopping centre in West-London.

The major brands are covered, while local markets provide an alternative and cost-effective way to shop for clothes, food and crafts. Camden Markets offer almost anything you could want to buy and it has a unique setting and feel. 

Eating Out in London

Whether your culinary palette consists of fast-food or gourmet cuisine, in London you don't have to choose one or the other. This city is a capital which has restaurants serving foods from all continents, at all hours of the day, ranging from bargain student prices to the one off special treat.

Home to great names in the kitchen such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey, England (London especially) is a nation of food lovers. Curry is consumed heavily at the weekend, along with fine-dining and an increasingly more continental cafe culture.

Transport in London

With 32 boroughs (or administrative divisions), London is a vast city with a lot to see, however, the question does arise how do I navigate around such a place?

Well, luckily there is one of the world's oldest tube (or metro) networks which links most regions of London to each other, unlike traditional trains, the London Underground Tube network allows members of the public to travel at fast speeds with departures at stations every few minutes.

Using the London Underground is a must during peak-times, as driving in the centre of the city can be congested and costly. By purchasing an Oyster Card, one can enjoy convenient 'Pay-as-you-go' journeys with the use of an electronic card.

There is an extensive bus network which serves all areas of London, stops are easily indicated for those unfamiliar with the city, some inner-city services run for 24-hours, others are not that flexible. Always check with Transport for London for timetables and warnings about engineering works.

Sport in London

London is the sporting centre of the country, boasting the national stadiums and grounds for a variety of sports.

And of course, the whole city is currently getting ready for the 2012 Olympics. The majority of events are being held in London and by 2012 the city will boast world class sporting facilities in a huge variety of sports. There are even chances for you to get involved through volunteering.   

The iconic Wembley Stadium is home to the England football team and also hosts dozens of domestic finals in football and rugby throughout the year. A number of the biggest football teams in England, including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, are also based in London. However, tickets are quite expensive and hard to get for such big teams, so you may wish to visit one of the dozens of smaller football teams based in the capital.

However, it isn’t just top class football that the city offers. Lord’s Cricket Ground is considered by many to be the home of world cricket and matches are regularly played there by both England and Middlesex County Cricket Club.

For two weeks every year the city goes tennis mad as the Wimbledon tennis tournament is played in South London. It is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four Grand Slams played by all the top players.       

London also boasts Twickenham Rugby Stadium which is the home of English rugby and the largest dedicated rugby union stadium in the world- holding 82,000 people.

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Universities in London

		LSE Founded in 1895, LSE is the leading social science institution in the world, with many of the world's leading experts attracting students from all over the world...
		University of the Arts The University of the Arts London is made up of six colleges spread throughout London that have joined together under one name...
		University of Greenwich The University of Greenwich dates back to 1890 and is located in the East End of London- an area which will play a large role in the 2012 London Olympics...

See All London Universities

See Student Accommodation in London

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