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London top

One of Europe’s great cities majestically straddles both sides of the River Thames. For many visitors, this capital of Great Britain is known for icons of tradition—Big Ben named for a 13-ton bell, the formidable Houses of Parliament, Tower of London notorious for grisly tales, and the Windsor family’s Buckingham Palace. But symbols of new London run rampant, and it’s hard to miss the contrast of old tradition cuddled up to 21st century innovation.

Think of London as a nation, not a city—consider its world influence, languages, great arts, theater, and multi-layered history. London teems with grit and sophistication—an urban culture you can see and feel. But its traditions are bending in the face of new generations. We’re talking 21st century London.

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For information about visiting London, go to www.na.visitlondon.com. For information about the Visitor Information Center in Leicester Square, visit www.londontown.com. For information about how to get around on London's underground system, check out www.tube.tfl.gov.uk.

 

British Airways London Eye top

Sixteen-hundred tons and what do you get? The highest observation wheel ever built. The Eye was sketched first at the kitchen table of a husband and wife architect team. Marks and Barfield pushed their impossible dream until they won the backing of British Airways. Their mission, "...to create an exciting new way to see and understand one of the greatest cities on earth." In March of 2000, mission accomplished! The Eye almost never closes, and over 200 workers keep it safe and waiting for visitors.

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For more information about the British Airways London Eye, visit www.londoneye.com.

 

The Tate Modern top

For dreams realized London’s millennium year 2000 stands tall. Two months after the London Eye welcomed the public, a major new Tate gallery opened. On its seven floors, the Tate Modern holds international modern and contemporary art, from 1900 to the present. The works often depict a passionate response to headlines of the day.

In the late 1930s, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso gripped the public with images condemning fascist General Franco’s regime in the Spanish Civil War. Weeping Woman, done in 1937, relates to Guernica, a series of his paintings that toured England to bring attention to the suffering of Spain’s war victims.

About the same time, a younger Spaniard, surrealist Salvador Dali was shocking the art public, with bold, startling pictures inspired by Freud and the new psychoanalysis.

Thirty years later, in the 1960s, Andy Warhol—the king of Pop Art—produced his version of objects from tomato soup cans to celebrity portraits.

Once you’ve seen the old timers, don’t miss today’s innovators. The no-holds barred contemporary exhibits are an ever-changing highlight at the Tate Modern.

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For more information about the Tate Modern, visit www.tate.org.uk/modern/.

VO For bonus fun, you can cruise from the Modern Tate to the original Tate Britain by way of a 220 seat catamaran. The boat also stops at the London Eye.

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The boat departs every 40 minutes. For more information about the Tate to Tate Boat Service, visit www.tate.org.uk/tatetotate/.

 

The Athenaeum Hotel top

After a full day in London, I like to wind down in a great hotel. The Athenaeum is another sample of the new butting up against the old. The 75 year-old structure was remodeled in the 1990s. It’s luxurious modern, and yet, so old British. To enjoy a proper cup of tea, figure on a few extra calories.

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For more information about the Athenaeum, visit www.athenaeumhotel.com.

 

The Tamarind Restaurant top

And don’t miss trying an Indian meal. You’ll find all kinds of good restaurants. We had dinner at the fancy Tamarind near the hotel. Featuring Tandoris meats, and complex, spicy Vindaloo dishes, the Michelen-starred Tamarind offers some of London’s best Indian cuisine. From Garlic or Ginger Chicken to an exotic pickled spinach, to traditional spiced lamb, the menu is packed with tough choices. Top you favorite with chutney, a Tamarind house specialty.

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For more information about the Tamarind, visit www.tamarindrestaurant.com. For a list of Indian restaurants in London, check out www.tandoori.co.uk.

 

London Theatre top

For London nightlife, the city is a theater-lover’s dream—the only questions being ‘what to choose’ and ‘will there be tickets.’ Take chocolates with you. In London, you eat chocolate at intermission. A sweet ending to a whirlwind look at Great Britain’s great city.

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For last-minute tickets, ask the concierge at your hotel or visit the half-price ticket office at Leicester Square. For more information on how to buy tickets, go to www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk. To find out what's playing in town, check out www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/london/shows and www.londontheatre.co.uk.

 



Interested in planning your vacation to London?
Start your trip at
Expedia.com/United Kingdom

 

Links

For more information about the British Airways London Eye, visit www.londoneye.com.

For more information about the Tate Modern, visit www.tate.org.uk/modern/.

For more information about the Athenaeum, visit www.athenaeumhotel.com.