London At A Glance (2)

Oxford Street
London's not very prepossessing High Street, just north of Soho, lined with department stores and all the big names in retail.

Westminster and Whitehall
Just south of Trafalgar Square on the river stands the seat of central government in the UK: the sub-Venetian grandeur of Whitehall, the golden Victorian pinnacles of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, beside the crowning Gothic glory of Westminster Abbey.

Victoria, Belgravia and Pimlico
A bustling transport hub, Victoria disturbs the creamy stuccoed dignity of Belgravia and Pimlico. Highlights include Westminster Cathedral and the Brit art and Turners on the river at Tate Britain.

Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Hyde Park
West of Belgravia and almost as affluent, Knightsbridge and South Ken boast luxury shopping a go-go and three wonderful old museums - of Science, of Natural History, and of the decorative arts at the V&A - all on th edge of the city's most famous park.

Chelsa
South Kensingston's naughty neighour has grown out of its swinging, punk rock days to become a chi chi shopping strip along the King's Road backed up by a clutch of venerable visitor attractions.

Marylebone and Regent's Park
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson might still feel at home here, snooping round the Wallace Collection and glorious flower gardens of Regent's Park, or observing the animal antics in London Zoo. Less so perhaps in the new fashion parade of Marylebone High St.

Bloomsbury and Fitzovia
The academic heart of London: home to the British Museum and on the other side of the Tottenham Court Rd, the offices and playgrounds of London's advertising and media gurus.

Holborn and Clerkenwell
The most famous way through Holborn's courts of law was Fleet St. Once the busiest news mill in the world, it's all quiet now, though a buzz can still be heard in Clerkenwell, just across the Farringdon Rd.