London The West End

See a world-renowned musical at one of over 30 major theaters in the area (the Broadway of London), head to Chinatown for some dim sum, or venture into the side streets of Soho for vintage and vinyl. If it’s nightlife you’re craving, Old Compton Street has plenty of bars and nightclubs, while Covent Garden is the place to nurse a glass of wine on a terrace along cobble-stone streets. Oxford Street, Leicester Square, and Shaftesbury Avenue contain taxis and tour buses, unnecessary pomp and circumstance, and dirt and grime.

If none of this sounds like your cup of tea, you can always cruise the posh streets of Mayfair and Saint James’s, which offer a more distinct—if more expensive—taste than the more touristed areas of the West End. Wind your way among upscale arcades, world famous galleries, and designer shops, or spend a little time in central Trafalgar Square to bask in the glory of Britain’s days as an imperial power. The Tube is best for getting in and out of the West End. Use Charing Cross for Trafalgar Sq.; the stops are often only a few blocks apart. Once you’ve made it, buses are the best way to get around; stops can be found along any major thoroughfare.

More Neighborhood Overviews in London

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