London Arts and Culture

You might wonder if the city that brought the world Shakespeare and Harold Pinter has lost its theatrical edge. Not to fear, however—the London theater scene is as vital as ever. From the perennial hard-hitters at the Royal Court to daring musical fare like Enron: The Musical, the London stage remains packed with the dramatic flare that put it on the map in the first place.

For those weary of Coldplay, who fear that the country that brought you the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash hit a roadblock, turn your ears from the arenas and put them to the ground—underground, in fact—to city hotspots where young bands committed to their fans are not interested in seeing their names in gaudy lights. There's that famed British wit making audiences chuckle from the gut in basements everywhere. And one can't neglect the elegant ballet that graces the stage of the Royal Opera House.

Cinema

London is teeming with traditional cinemas, the most dominant of which are Cineworld and Odeon, but the best way to enjoy a film is in one of the hip repertory or luxury cinemas. Time Out publishes show ...more

Comedy

The English are famous for their occasionally dry, sophisticated wit and often ridiculous ("We are the knights who say Ni!") sense of humor. This humor continues to thrive in the standup and sketch comedy ...more

Dance

As with everything else artistic in London, the dance scene here is diverse, innovative, and first-rate. Come for the famous ballets at older venues like the Royal Opera House or stop by one of the smaller ...more

Music

Clubs are expensive, and pubs close at 11pm. Especially during the current recession, fewer young people are willing to shell out the £10-15 it takes to get into a club, especially since beers cost ...more

Spectator Sports

The vast majority of games take place on Saturdays, although there is the occasional Sunday or mid-week match. The big three London teams are Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea, Stamford ...more

Theater

Ah, "theatre" in London. While in London, many people choose to see a show because the city is renowned for its cheap theater. Tickets for big musicals on the West End go for as cheap as £25 the day of ...more

Festivals

BBC Proms, Kensington Gore ( 0845 401 5045; www.bbc.co.uk/proms) BBC Proms is a world famous classical music festival put on by the BBC in the Royal Albert Hall. What in the world is a "Prom," you ask? ...more