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Bloomsbury is an area of central London in the south of the London Borough of Camden, developed by the Russell family in the 17th and 18th centuries into a fashionable residential area. It is notable for its array of gardened squares, its literary connections (exemplified by the Bloomsbury Group), and its numerous hospitals and academic institutions.
The ongoing celebration of London's dazzling history combines with 21st Century hospitality to engage and entertain visitors from around the world. From the arts to sports; from fashion to film to finance, London offers the world traveler a multitude of options. The only problem is choosing what to see first!
Some seven million Londoners live in the greater London area, a parcel of land that covers more than 609 square miles. Actually, The City Center of London is just 1 mile square, but fans out into many picturesque villages, boroughs, and corporations that add to its historical significance and its charm.
As Europe's largest city, London is host to more than 25 millions visitors a year; yet, it is never too crowded to be enjoyable. There is always time for tea and a leisurely stroll through London's famous parks and gardens. Popular destinations abound, including theatres, concert halls, shops, restaurants, sports venues, world famous landmarks, and hundreds of restaurants with cuisine from around the world. Festivals and musical, theatrical, and sporting events occur year round.
London offers the best of British food, fashion and cultural pursuits, but its multicultural population gives it an international flair, as well. Nearly 40 ethnic groups with populations of 10,000 or more call London home. Together with a multitude of visitors from around the globe, they give the city its vibrant mix of languages, dress, festivals, and lively street life.
Family activities hold a top priority in London. A fondness for children is reflected in the wide variety of attractions that will appeal to any youngster. Among these are zoos, rides, arcades, museums, theatres, and musical attractions, to name a few.
Millions of visitors from around the globe can attest to the continuing popularity of shopping at Harrods, visiting the Tower of London, seeing London Bridge, and touring Buckingham Palace and the Parliament building. Relive the glory days of the vast expanse of the British Empire, while enjoying the animals native to those regions at the London Zoo. Spend a day strolling through the British Museum and marveling at some of its 6 million exhibited items; tour Westminster Abbey, and the Royal parks and gardens.
Evenings begin with dinners at fabulous restaurants found in dozens of ethnic neighborhoods across London and continue with an evening at the theatre or the London Symphony and perhaps a late night stop in a neighborhood pub for a snack and a local brew before the last bell sounds.
Numerous guided and self-guided tours emanate from London to the surrounding countryside, serving destinations such as Greenwich Observatory, Stratford-on-Avon and farther on to western England, Scotland, and Wales. Many visitors also plan a quick round-trip on the "Chunnel", the undersea rail service connecting England with France. No visit to London would be complete without a ride on the famous "double-decker" buses.
The Princess Diana Memorial Walk charts a 7-mile path that links a number of London's parks. It begins in Kensington Gardens and continues through Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James' Park, taking in Spencer House and Buckingham Palace along the way.
It would take a lifetime to see everything that London has to offer. Perhaps that is why so many visitors regard each trip to London as a "once in a lifetime experience" and return often to continue their explorations of its many facets.
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