West End
West End is the western part of central London, west of the City of London. The fashionable neighborhood, which concentrated the cultural life of the British capital, was and remains the main antipode of the poor working-class East End. Luxury real estate, an abundance of fashionable stores and prestigious educational institutions have made the West End a true symbol of the sweet life and one of the most popular tourist destinations. Only here you can feel the lively rhythm of the multimillion-dollar city, get intoxicated by the atmosphere of financial success, as well as dive headfirst into the world of shopping and all kinds of entertainment.
Video: West End
West End neighborhoods and their landmarks
The bulk of London’s iconic attractions are concentrated within the West End, so if you’ve planned a sightseeing tour of the British capital but are limited on time, make the most of the West End. No one has complained about a lack of experience in the West End yet.
.Westminster
Westminster is the center of London’s political and business life. To be photographed against the backdrop of the legendary Big Ben, to see the building of the British Parliament, which was so spectacularly blown up by the character of the movie “V for Vendetta”, and to pay tribute to the architectural splendor of Westminster Abbey – all this can be done in this part of the West End.
Westminster is the center of London’s political life.
You should start your acquaintance with the district from Trafalgar Square, where three main streets of Westminster converge: Mall, Whitehall and Strand. And, of course, don’t deny yourself the pleasure of a stroll down Oxford Street. With 548 stores, the street is a sight in itself.
.Bloomsbury
.To sit on the benches of cozy squares and admire the unique Georgian buildings, check out Bloomsbury. The neighborhood is known for its elite educational institutions, including the University of London, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and University College London.
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Be sure to make time to visit the historical and archaeological exposition of the British Museum, which is famous for its unique collection of antiquities. It is the British Museum that houses one of the largest collections of graphics and prints by Renaissance artists.
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Ковент-Гарден
Between Drury Lane and St. Martin’s Lane stretches Covent Garden. The once scandalous quarter, whose main attraction was a fruit and vegetable market, has now become a mecca for shopaholics. Local shops, boutiques and malls beckon travelers with tempting collections and bright price tags of seasonal sales. And Covent Garden is also a paradise for connoisseurs of theatrical art. It is here that the Royal Opera House is located – the venue for opera and ballet performances. Another hotbed of culture and the main rival of the Opera House is the Royal Drury Lane Theatre, where the first performances were given back in 1663.
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When the soul is craving free entertainment, the West End is the place to go for street performances. However, you won’t find any truly roving troupes here. All local artists are licensed and rigorously screened.
After the spiritual food, it’s not a bad idea to take care of your stomach and have a drink or two in any of Covent Garden’s 60 pubs, the most colorful being The Lamb & Flag.
Kensington and South Kensington
The greenest neighborhood in the West End is Kensington. People come here to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, wander the neat lawns and take a catamaran ride on the waters of Lake Serpentine. On the territory of the neighborhood there are two famous London parks: Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The district is considered prestigious, so real estate here is expensive.
.Those interested in intellectual entertainment will have to go to the southern part of Kensington. On the territory of the quarter is one of the 20 most visited museums in the world – the Victoria and Albert Museum. The London Museum of Natural History also offers its guests an extensive exposition of 7 million exhibits. If botany and zoology aren’t your favorite fields of interest, take a stroll to the Science Museum on Exgibishen Road. This place is especially loved by families with children, as most of the exhibits here can not only be viewed, but you can also try to act them out.
South Kensington also has its own concert hall. Around 350 cultural events and theater productions take place on the stage of the Albert Hall each year.
Belgravia
Belgravia is a neighborhood for hereditary aristocrats and bigwigs. A place where insufficiently high ancestry can compensate for a solid bank account, it looks exquisite and predictably expensive. There are no significant attractions in Belgravia, so it is common to come here just to look at the prominent mansions of local residents.
.Soho
.A former slum area, London’s hangout spot, the neighborhood that never sleeps – this is stylish and rambunctious Soho. Here social statuses are erased, and nationality and sexual orientation completely lose their own importance. The district is literally flooded with nightclubs, cozy pubs and art galleries, where the most different layers of the population, from London bohemians to local oligarchs, have fun. This is probably the only place in London where the notorious British primness and restraint are outlawed. After a couple of beers and traditional Fish and Chips at one of the local pubs, check your wallet for any spare cash. If you have any, spend it in the many boutiques of Carnaby Street, the street that has dressed a generation of London hipsters.
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How to get to the West End
The following ways to get to the West End from London Heathrow Airport:
.- by train (transportation is provided by Heathrow Express). Trains run between the airport and central London between 5:00 and 23:30 h;
- by tube (the Piccadilly line approaches all airport terminals). The journey to the West End takes about 50 min;
- by bus. The terminus of National Express routes is Victoria bus station (Belgravia area). The traffic runs from 5:30 to 21:00 hrs. Travel time is 40-60 min; .
- by cab. There are always a lot of them at the airport. Each car is equipped with a meter, fixing the amount of payment.
