Venice, Italy Hotels and City Guide

Venice - Entertainment

London Entertainment

London's enormous variety of entertainment makes choosing what to do the hardest part: each district warrants several days to do it credit, whilst it's hard to scratch the surface of attractions in the West End in a weekend.

London has a vibrant pub and bar scene, from real ale pubs still steeped in Victoriana to ambient lit, chrome-furnished cocktail bars; take in first-rate theatre, music and the arts that offers the culturally highbrow, lowbrow and much in between; learn the art of wine tasting or stick with the ever-reliable pub tour.

First-time visitors often head for the bright lights of Leicester Square, with its cluster of large cinemas, amusements, street performers, cafes and restaurants. Nearby Shaftesbury Avenue represents the heart of Theatreland – the West End alone has over 50 theatres that are no longer the elitist establishments of years past.

Classical, jazz, pop, rock, dance, rhythm and blues - the music scene in London is always at Europe's cutting edge. Grand venues like the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall offer truly memorable experiences, whilst world-class ballet and opera can be enjoyed in fabled venues like Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House. The South Bank is the leading arts area in the capital, with three world-class arts institutions for classical music, dance and theatre on the south side of the Waterloo Bridge.

Dance music's many genres are all well represented in the capital: the underground vibe is particularly strong at the many dark, thumping house and techno clubs. For a more mellow experience, Ronnie Scott's is a stalwart of London's jazz scene.

The slickest comics come to London and a night of laughter is assured at venues like The Comedy Store near Piccadilly and Lee Hurst's Comedy Backyard; whilst many new stand-up talents have emerged from the frequent pub comedy nights held all over the capital.

Sports fans can watch international soccer at the newly remodelled Wembley Stadium (opening 2006), rugby union at Twickenham, with Test and county cricket matches played out on the historic fields of Lord's in leafy St John's Wood, and at The Oval in Kennington. The world's richest tennis tournament takes centre stage in London at Wimbledon during June and early July. Thoroughbreds contest several major prizes at Kempton and Sandown Park racetracks, with the nearby Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot the top events of the Flat racing season.

Jogging is a popular pursuit in the city's parks, whilst a decent network of leisure centres just about copes with London's increasingly health-aware population (witness spring's London Marathon).

London Shopping

From the steadfastly traditional brands to the most contemporary; from quaint antique and book sellers to grand department stores; from luxury boutiques to lively and friendly markets, London offers a definitive shopping experience.

With over 30,000 shops to choose from, including over 80 major street markets, London asks the question 'if you can’t find it here it's not worth having'.

Shopping zones in London can be roughly divided into seven main areas: for major department stores and boutiques, Oxford Street and Regent Street make prime starting points: Oxford Street being the major artery of the West End; possibly the most famous shopping street in London, and the busiest street in Britain. It has one of the highest concentrations of large shops in the world - more than 300 shops sell thousands of lines of goods from inexpensive gifts to haute couture, whilst Regent Street is home to stylish outlets such as Liberty, Austin Reed and Benetton.

Covent Garden offers an eclectic and upmarket range of specialist stores, cafes and bars which makes for delightful browsing and people watching; further west is bustling Knightsbridge and Sloane Square, with designer clothing vies with the landmark stores of Harrods and Harvey Nichols; luxury items and designer fashion are featured on Bond Street and Burlington Arcade, whilst the King’s Road, Sloane Square and Fulham Road offer contemporary fashion and more designer stores; Kensington an assortment of high street stores as well as antique goods and a popular clothing market.

Other renowned, specialist shopping streets include Hanway Street for music; Charing Cross and Cecil Court for books; Savile Row and Jermyn Street in Westminster for bespoke suits and shirts; and the Tottenham Court Road for electronics. Whilst in central London don't miss the definitive 'one-stop stores' such as Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, which supply the services of personal shoppers.

The world of the London markets are as far removed from any quaint notion of the provincial stall as it is possible to get – energetic, diverse and with an overall stamp of quality. From the retro clothes and clubwear of youthful Camden Market, the pot pourri on the Portobello Road, historic Carnaby Street and Petticoat Lane; to luxury foods at Borough, Old Spitalfields and Smithfield Markets – shoppers with a taste for the unique or unusual have much to enjoy in London.

General shop opening hours are 9am to 6pm or 7pm Mondays to Saturdays – with midday openings on Sundays and late closing on Thursdays (8pm).

Note: Non-EU visitors are entitled to claim back VAT tax on purchases taken home. The UK VAT rate is 15.5% - to qualify for a refund you have to make the minimum purchase set by the store.

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