Our walkabout through the vastness of London continues unabated with alphabetic precision. The boroughs, plentiful as they are, represent the best possible approach to tackle this prominent world capital. Too many trips to London have been marred by haphazard, sloppy touring, with sprints between the major monuments. As tourists check the Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace off their list, they desecrate what should be a precious experience and with it, lose the soul of the city.
London, like New York City, Paris and Tokyo, is much more than a cavalcade of familiar sights. Indeed, the very heart of the metropolis is in her neighbourhoods. The boroughs are the thing. On that note, on with our nifty guide, which includes the best possible deals on London hotels. Tally-ho!
The bustling inner London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a hotbed of young, single and upwardly mobile professionals. The posh home to Chelsea and Fulham football, the borough boasts some of the best restaurants in the city. If history is your bag, the area has it in spades, with Fulham Palace and the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Diverse Haringey is a borough of contrasts. On the one hand, it contains some of the most wealthy neighbourhoods in all of England. Others however, could not be less fortunate. More than half of borough residents have ethnic roots outside of the United Kingdom, which ensures that Haringey is one of the most diverse in the country. One common allegiance people have however, is to Tottenham Hotspur football.
To visit Harrow is to walk on streets former Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill and Jawalarhal Nehru knew well as young students. Harrow School is one of the best public schools in the country and boasts impressive alumni. Though within close proximity of urban London, many streets in this historic borough feel very far from the city.
For parks and recreational pursuits within greater London, Havering is impossible to beat. A good half of the borough is under protection and contains three large parks that support a myriad of wildlife. Avid shoppers will love Romford Market, where hawkers have sold wares since the thirteenth century.
Another borough on London’s periphery and therefore a member of the famous Green Belt, Hillingdon is perhaps best known as the home of Heathrow Airport. Despite the immense construction site, the borough is actually a lovely haven for visitors, with loads of parks to explore. The picturesque Colne Valley is a favourite spot.
Hounslow is a location scout’s dream. The borough is blessed with an abundance of heritage architecture and English countryside views. As a result, a visit here almost feels like a step back in time, or at the very least, a scene in a Merchant-Ivory film. The best of the River Thames is here in Hounslow, with stately manors and villas on the shores.
The home of Arsenal and some of the most rabid football fans in England, Islington is a colourful borough. A hive of liberal expression, Islington has all the attractions you would expect with such a reputation: live theatre, superb nightclubs, restaurants and what else, but scores of antique shops.
Perhaps the borough with the most expensive real estate in the city, if not Europe for that matter, Kensington and Chelsea is cosmopolitan, comely and acceptably snooty. Attractions of note include Harrods, the world famous department store and Kensington Palace, the former home of Lady Diana. The borough may be most famous however, for the neighbourhood of Notting Hill.
The borough with the most historical significance could very well be Kingston upon Thames. It boggles the mind to consider that over a thousand years ago, royal coronations took place here. The old section of the borough contains a market that has been in operation since the thirteenth century. Though not quite as old, Chessington World of Adventures is the London theme park of record.
Try to forget the high crime rate and population density and remember Lambeth’s other notable features. Wonderful ethnic restaurants and shops for one, not to mention the best urban music scene in London. The Oval Cricket Ground is smack dab in the heart of the borough and superb city views, as well as vertigo, are available at the London Eye.
With a laundry list of former and current household name residents, Lewisham is a great place to escape to a tony pub for a bite. The borough radiates a cozy vibe and much of what was a glorious merchant past is evident in the architecture. If you want some action, you can always visit the first-rate aquarium or place bets on the greyhounds at the ironically-named Catford Stadium.
Choose which borough suits your needs and budget before your visit London.
Our handy London borough guide comes full circle in our third and final installment …
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