Great Cities of Europe

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Text File | 1995-11-30 | 17KB | 574 lines

<F16>London</F> <L7><F14>Basic Information</F> Documents Required: United States citizens require a valid passport. American Consulate: 24 Grosvenor Square, W1; 171/ 499-9000. Currency: The unit of currency is the pound sterling (ú), divided into 100 pence (p). Banks: All banks are open Monday to Friday 9:30A.M.-3:30P.M. Customs: There are no restrictions on the import or export of currency. Items exported for personal consumption are not restricted. Climate: London weather is rarely extreme, but it is unpredictable. Average daytime temperatures range from 43 degrees in winter to 79 degrees in summer. The temperature only occasionally goes below 32 degrees or above 86. Tipping: Unless a service charge has already been added, tip 10 to 15 percent in hotels and restaurants. Taxi drivers also expect about 10 percent of the fare. Tourist Information: London Tourist Board information centers are found at: Harrods (basement), Knightsbridge, SW1. Heathrow Central Underground Station, Heathrow Airport Liverpool Street Underground Station Selfridges (basement), Oxford St., W1 Victoria Station Forecourt, SW1 West Gate, Tower of London, EC3 (summer only) Airports: London has two international airports: Heathrow, west of the capital, and Gatwick, to the south. From Heathrow, take the Underground (Piccadilly line) or a taxi to the city center. From Gatwick, your best bet is the Gatwick Express, a train run by British Rail, that delivers you to Victoria Station. Getting Around: London Regional Transport's network of buses and underground trains (the latter is often referred to as "the tube") is extensive and efficient. By tube: The Underground is the easiest and fastest way to get around the city. Trains run from about 5A.M. to midnight; no service to some stations on weekends. By bus: London's red buses are slower than the tube, but offer a good view from the upper deck. By taxi: Drivers have to pass an examination to prove their knowledge of the city before they get a license. Vacant cabs have an illuminated yellow light on their roof. You can easily hail them in the street. By car: Driving in London is not as aggressive as in most large cities, but driving on the left side of the road can be daunting. On-street parking in central London is extremely difficult. By rail: British Rail offers fast inter-city service between major towns throughout the United Kingdom. Postal and Telephone Service: The main post office is at Trafalgar Square. To call London from the United States, dial 011-44, then the city code (central London is 171, city outskirts are 181), and the local number. Public Holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), August Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (December 26). Electric Current: The electric current is 240V, and plugs have three square pins. <F14>Time Line</F> Beginnings of the City 55 B.C. First of Julius Caesar's cross-channel campaigns against the Celts. 43 A.D. Roman invasions. Defenses on the Thames overrun. 410 Romans leave Britain. Medieval Period 600 Anglo-Saxons control the region. 605 Bishopric of London established. 9th century London suffers repeated Viking invasions. 1066 Norman invasion. William the Conqueror crowns himself King of England. 1215 Signing of the Magna Carta, which places limits on the power of the monarchy. 1216 First meeting of Parliament. 1348-49 Black Death kills half of London's population. Rise of Parliament 1509-47 Reign of Henry VIII. The English Church separates from Rome. 1558-1603 Reign of Queen Elizabeth I. England's status as a seafaring nation is confirmed with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. 1649 Rift between Parliament and the Monarchy results in execution of King Charles I. 1666 Great Fire of London leaves over 100,000 people homeless. 1689-1703 Reign of William and Mary of Orange, who launch a constitutional monarchy. 1721 Robert Walpole is the first politician to occupy 10 Downing Street. 1760-1820 Reign of George III. Imperial London 1801 First census of London registers a population of more than one million. 1814 Opening of the British Museum, London's first public gallery. 1837-1901 Reign of Queen Victoria. Britain is at the height of imperial power. 1901 London's population exceeds 7,000,000. World Wars 1914-1918 WWI brings England's imperial dominance to an end. 1931 Economic depression in England. Over three million people are unemployed. 1940-41 The German Luftwaffe bombs London for 57 days, killing 30,000 civilians and destroying 130,000 houses. 1945 WWII ends. Clement Atlee replaces Winston Churchill as Prime Minister, and the Labour Party comes to power. Today 1960's London seizes the spotlight of popular culture with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. 1980's Thatcher rule, coupled with financial de-regulation in 1987, ushers in a period of economic prosperity. </F7> <L6> <F14>Hotels</F> Claridge's $$$ Brook St., W1 171/ 629-8860 The choice of glitteratti. Connaught $$$ 16 Carlos Place, W1 171/ 499-7070 Luxurious intimacy. Savoy $$$ Strand, WC2 171/ 836-4343 Wonderful views of the Thames. Lanesborough $$$ Hyde Park Corner, SW1 171/ 259-5599 Pure elegance and English formality in central London. Blakes $$ 33-35 Roland Gardens, SW7 171/ 370-6701 Carefully furnished by the owner, who is a designer. Gore $$ 189 Queen's Gate, SW7 171/ 584-6601 Charming but small bedrooms, near Hyde Park. Hazlitt's $$ 6 Frith St., W1 171/ 434-1771 Simple, and the bathrooms have free-standing Victorian tubs. Collin House $ 104 Ebury St., SW1 171/ 730-8031 B&B in central London. Ebury Court $ 26 Ebury St., SW1 171/ 730-8147 Full English breakfast included. <F14>Restaurants </F> Bibendum $$$ Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 171/ 581-5817 Combination of English and French fare, plus an oyster bar . Quaglino's $$$ 16 Bury St., SW1 171/ 930-6767 Nouvelle British cuisine. La Tante Claire $$$ 68 Royal Hospital Rd, SW3 171/ 352-6045. Haute cuisine, but unpretentious. Gavvers $$ 61-63 Lower Sloane St., SW1 171/ 730-5983. Prix fixe, with a good selection of house wines. Gay Hussar $$ 2 Greek St., W1 171/ 437-0973. Hungarian, known for its cherry soup and lemon cheese pancakes. Veeraswamy $$ 99-101 Regent St., W1 171/ 734-1401. London's oldest Indian restaurant, from 1927. Sweetings $ 39 Queen Victoria St., EC4 171/ 248-3062. No-frills seafood in a 150-year-old establishment. Poons $ 4 Leicester St., WC2 171/ 437-1528. One of Chinatown's best. Nontas $ 16 Camden High St., NW1 171/ 387-4579 Popular Greek restaurant with good lamb and fish dishes. </L5> <L1><F14>Sites</F> Whitehall Between Parliament and Trafalgar Square During the 16th and 17th centuries, Whitehall Palace was the home of royalty. Only the Banqueting House (171/ 930-4179), built by Inigo Jones between 1619 and 1622, survived the Great Fire in 1666. Today, government offices line the street. Buckingham Palace 171/ 930-4832. The changing of the guard occurs daily at 11:30 A.M., May to August (on alternate days, September to April, except when it rains). Hyde Park Hyde Park, together with Kensington Gardens to the west, is the largest of the three royal parks. On the northeast side is Speakers' Corner, where people are free to speak their mind--as long as they don't debase the Queen. Kensington Palace Kensington Gardens, W8 171/ 937-9561. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren as a royal residence for William and Mary. Tower of London 171/ 709-0765 Chiefly famous as a place of imprisonment and execution, the Tower has been used as a royal residence, a mint, an armory, and an observatory. Today, it is home to the Crown Jewels. Tower Bridge Only one hundred years old, but as famous a landmark of London as Big Ben. An exhibit on its construction and history is housed on the bridge. Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens) Kew 181/ 940-1171 Superb gardens and greenhouses. St. James's Park London's first royal park. John Nash remodeled it in 1828 to include trees, flowerbeds, and a lake. St. Paul's Cathedral St. Paul's was built after the devastating Great Fire of 1666. Almost 300 years later, it survived the Luftwaffe's bombs and became a symbol of hope to devastated Londoners. Trafalgar Square The crossroads of London and home to Nelson's Column, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the National Gallery, the Admiralty Arch, and countless pigeons. Westminster Abbey Broad Sanctuary, SW1 171/ 222-5152 Since 1065 (when its crypt and ground plan were laid), Westminster Abbey has been the scene of royal coronations, marriages, and burials. Houses of Parliament Parliament Square, SW1 171/ 219-4272 (House of Commons), 171/ 219-3107 (House of Lords) Tightened security limits public access to the interior of the palace. The most splendid views of Parliament and the tower of Big Ben are from Westminster Bridge. </L1> <L2><F14>Museums And Culture </F> British Museum Great Russell St., WC1 171/ 636-1555 Especially known for its large mummy collection and possession of two of the four originals of the Magna Carta. The manuscript room is thrilling. Courtauld Institute Galleries Somerset House, Strand 171/ 873-2526 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, including Manet's large oil sketch for Dejeuner sur l'Herbe and a Van Gogh self-portrait (with bandaged ear). National Gallery Trafalgar Square, WC2 171/ 839-3321 Founded in 1823 and recently expanded, the collection is a virtual catalogue of famous European art through the ages. National Portrait Gallery 2 St. Martin's Place, WC2 171/ 306-0055 Focuses more on the subjects than on the artists. Tate Gallery Millbank, SW1 171/ 821-1313 Dedicated principally to the British arts, the collection highlights the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Be sure to take in William Blake's watercolors, Constable's landscapes, and Henry Moore's sculptures. Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road, SW7 171/ 938-8500 The premier collection of decorative arts in the world. Opera Royal Opera House Bow St., WC2 171/ 240-1911 The place for opera aficionados. London Coliseum St. Martin's Lane, WC2 171/ 240-5258 Houses the English National Opera. Music Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, SW7 171/ 589-3203 A wide range of classical music. Ronnie Scott's 47 Frith St., W1 171/ 439-0747 Open late for jazz and dinner. Theater Royal National Theatre Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 171/ 633-0880 Several theaters within one building present a range of classical, modern British, and international works. Barbican Theatre Barbican Centre, EC2 171/ 638-4141 The London base of the Royal Shakespeare Company, complementing its Stratford-upon-Avon home. Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square, SW1 171/ 730-1745/2554. Controversial drama, and a studio space for new writers. For half-price tickets to West End shows on the day of the performance, queue outside the ticket booth in Leicester Square. Monday-Saturday, matinee tickets go on sale at noon; evening performance tickets are available from 2:30P.M.-6:30P.M. </L2> <L5><F14>Shopping</F> Antiques Rupert Cavendish 610 King's Rd., SW6 171/ 731-7041 Biedermeier and Empire furniture. Lunn Antiques 86 New King's Rd., SW6 171/ 736-4638 New and heirloom lace and linen. Julian Simon Fine Art 70 Pimlico Rd., SW1 171/ 730-8673 18th- to 20th-century paintings. Auction Houses Christie's at 8 King St., SW1; 171/ 839-9060 or 85 Old Brompton Rd., SW7; 171/ 581-7611 and Sotheby's at 34 New Bond St., W1; 171/ 493-8080 are perennial favorites. Bonhams Montpelier St., SW7 171/ 584-9161 Antique guns to vintage fountain pens. Phillips 101 New Bond St., W1 171/ 629-6602 Noted for jewelry and musical instruments. Books Charing Cross Road, near Leicester Square, features rows of bookstores, including Foyle's at #119, Waterstone's next door, and Zwemmer (dedicated to art, architecture, and cinema) at #80. Clothing Liberty 210-20 Regent St., W1 171/ 734-1234 Contemporary fashion. Droopy & Browns 99 St. Martin's Lane, WC2 171/ 376-4514 Tailored clothes reminiscent of the Edwardian era. Joseph 77 Fulham Rd., SW3 171/ 225-0364 Up-to-the-minute designer ware. Department Stores Fortnum & Mason 181 Piccadilly, W1 Founded by a footman to Queen Anne, and famed for its preserves, biscuits, and teas. Harrods Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1 The premiere department store, noted for its food halls. Marks and Spencer 173 Oxford St., W1 Even the Queen buys her underwear here. Markets Greenwich Market Greenwich Church St., SE10 Saturday-Sunday all day Crafts, plus antique books and furniture. Camden Markets Regent's Canal and along Camden High St., NW1 Saturday-Sunday all day Flea market with bootleg CDs, second-hand clothes, and food stalls. Bermondsey Bermondsey Square, SE1 Friday mornings London's largest antiques market. </L5> <L3><F14>Children </F> Little Angel Marionette Theatre 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross St., N1 171/ 226-1787 Unicorn Theatre 6 Great Newport St. 171/ 836-3334 Plays suitable for children on weekend afternoons. Ross Nye's Riding Establishment 8 Bathurst Mews, W2 171/ 262-3791 Horseback riding in Hyde Park. <F14>Night Spots </F> Pubs Black Friar 174 Queen Victoria St., EC4 The interior dates from 1905. Lamb and Flag Rose St., WC2 Dark, with low ceilings and wooden benches. Flask Flask Walk, NW3 Well-known neighborhood pub in Hampstead. Dove 19 Upper Mall, W6 On the Thames near Hammersmith Bridge. Wine and Cocktail Bars El Vino's 47 Fleet St., EC4 Brahms and Liszt 19 Russell St., Covent Garden Ebury Wine Bar 139 Ebury St., SW1 </L3> <L4><F14>London Excursions</F> Leeds Castle 36 miles southeast of London 622/ 76-5400 A circa 1120 medieval castle perched on an island in a lake. Henry VIII converted it into a royal palace, and Elizabeth I was a prisoner here. Bath 116 miles west of London The warm springs of Bath have drawn people since the Romans settled here in A.D.55. In the 18th century, the town became a destination for the rich and famous, and its distinctive neoclassical architectural style emerged. Cambridge 54 miles north of London Peterhouse was the first college established in Cambridge in 1284. The Cam river flows beside the campus. Canterbury 61 miles southeast of London Canterbury's cathedral dominates the city. Thomas a Becket was murdered here in 1170. Oxford 56 miles northwest of London A university town since the 1200s, Oxford's colleges and quadrangles dominate the city. The Ashmolean Museum includes everything from 7th-century Egyptian artifacts to Michelangelo and Raphael drawings. Stratford-upon-Avon 96 miles northwest of London Shakespeare was born and buried here. The Royal Shakespeare Company presents at least 12 Shakespearean productions in the town every year. Windsor 21 miles west of London William the Conqueror chose Windsor as the site of one of the nine castles that would encircle the city. The Royal Family still spends time at Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. </L4> (c) 1995 Leisure and Travel