London

London has no obvious centre, because it grew out of two formerly distinct cities. The City of London was the site of the original Roman settlement and, later, commercial and trading centre. Meanwhile, Westminster became the seat of government after transfer of England’s administrative capital from Winchester in the 11th century. Over the centuries, they fused, and engulfed surrounding villages and hamlets. Not until ‘Green Belt’ legislation of the 1950s did expansion slow. Today, 33 London boroughs and the City of London cover an area of nearly 385 sq km (148 sq miles), but contain a great deal of open parkland, common land and even woods. A wide range of guided walking, bus and car tours is available in London.

Central London

Roughly bounded by the Underground Circle Line, this area includes the West End, Westminster and the City. The West End contains many of the principal theatres, cinemas, restaurants, cafes, hotels and nightclubs, as well as the best-known shopping areas, like Oxford, Regent and Bond Street, as well as Covent Garden.

Places of interest include Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the buildings of the Horse Guards and Downing Street in Whitehall, and the Tate Britain gallery on Millbank. The London Theatre Museum is in Russell Street.

The Royal Opera House, home of both Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, is in Covent Garden. Backstage tours are available. The London Transport Museum is also in this area, whose former fruit and vegetable market is now filled with cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops.