London Travel - A Foot In The Door

Much to its own surprise, London is still one of the world’s great cities. Endlessly diverting and diverse, it provides no room for complacency but plenty of hope and admiration. And it largely has visitors to thank for the fact. The Romans were the first, sticking around long enough to establish a vital western trading post for their empire. Then the Normans made it the capital of the country they had conquered. Later, as London built its own empire, successive generations of British, European and global immigrants created a unique, expansive city on the banks of the little river Thames.

Neither ancient nor modern, with Beefeaters in the Tower, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly and trooping the colour. There may have been an attempt to banish pigeons from Trafalgar Square; and St Paul’s is being given a good bath; but Nelson still tops his column, the cathedral looms over the water, Westminster shimmers at dusk, the buses (although not routemasters) are still red and many of the cabs still black. But this London has been joined by another in a different spirit, with equally distinctive sights. They’ve been called New London: the London Eye, Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge and even the ill-fated Millennium Dome. And just about every venerable museum and art gallery has enjoyed a designer makeover. Erudite and grand, while something of London stands still, it’s continually moving on.

A kind of quantum city. Boasting the busiest airport in the world, it’s a backward-looking, optimistic mongrel town, where dreams can turn sour or golden overnight. With magnificent trees, a tidal river and changeable weather, plus a thriving culture and driven soul, London is one of the most engaging and invigorating places on the planet.