London pocket guide

Slide 1: booking has never been so quick Flashbooking free pocket guide of... LONDON London, the capital city of England, originally occupied just the left bank of the river Thames. The city now boasts 32 districts and 7 million inhabitants. Its residents come from the four corners of the globe, speak a total of over 300 languages and represent all the world’s religions. London is a city with many hearts, which the visitor can find both fascinating and at the same time disorientating. LONDON AT A GLANCE - TRANSPORTS - DON’T MISS THE CLASSICS! - TO WALK - SHOPPING AND MARKETS - EAT AND DRINK - RESTAURANTS - GOING OUT - USEFUL EMERGENCY NUMBERS - HOTELS AND HOSTELS

Slide 2: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 2 » LONDON AT A do: pop in at any newsagent and The road which, runs along the river the background to send home! ask for the LONDON A-Z, a pocket- from Westminster to The City, is the Number 10 Downing Street, is GLANCE… sized map book. It will help you most important in London. This road located a short distance away and is The city’s many centres are in a finding your way around the chaos! bears two names, at its starting the official residence of the British state of constant change, both For now have a look to some tips point, it is referred to as the Strand, Prime Minister. architecturally and socially. London for you! For your convenience we whilst in The City it has the name is a busy and complex city, an divided the city in 5 big areas which Fleet Street. In order to protect the 3. The elegant districts of West intricate web of buildings, spaces contain the highest concentration of city and its port, the Norman kings End, Mayfair, Belgravia and and people; where there is the London’s major sights of, as we like built the Tower of London. The Kensington stretch to the north building, which also served as a and west of Westminster, and prison, and home to the English contain numerous spacious parks: kings from William the Conqueror to St James, Hyde Park, Kensington James 1st , now houses the crown Gardens, Regent’s Park, Soho and jewels. Bloomsbury. These districts are criss-crossed by 2. Buckingham Palace, the official large busy streets where shopping London residence of the Queen, is a ‘must’: Piccadilly, Bond Street, stands at one end of St James’ Park. Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Regent’s Street, Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Haymarket. ever present risk for the visitor of to say, ‘the best of’: 1.Westminster; 4. In the eastern part of the city, in getting lost. London is vast and 2.Trafalgar Square; 3. Whitehall, the boroughs of Newham, Tower would require months in order to Soho, South Kensington; 4. Hamlets and Southwark, the area of explore it in-depth! But don’t worry! Knightsbridge; South Bank. the old docks serves as a reminder A list of things to see could also 1. The area of Westminster, a short of the poverty of this zone of the be misleading, given the richness distance up-river, began to develop city. The residential districts stretch and diversity of what the city has in the 11th Century, shortly after throughout the city towards the green to offer. You can also can count on the Norman conquest. Home to The park’s grounds stretch from slopes of Hampstead, Highgate and valid public transportations: buses, Westminster Abbey, the coronation Parliament to Trafalgar Square, St John’s Wood and onwards to tube…or why not? Experience a ride site and the final resting place for home to the tall column, which Wimbledon and Richmond parks; on the famous cabs! In any case, for England’s Kings and Queens, which commemorates Lord Nelson. Take ideal for those who love long walks. a few days in London, organize your today functions both as an official the typical picture on the bronze time and your ideas. First thing to church and a national museum. lions with the National Gallery on 5. South Bank an area of incredible Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com

Slide 3: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 3 history that from a rural heaven of Kevin Spacey; www.oldvictheatre. The Travelcard is not valid during a colour. green fields has became home to com; ph: +44 (20) 870 060 66 28). public holidays, for night-time bus Taxis, called black cabs, charge Other interesting sites to see in journeys or before 9:30 am. The high fares; minicabs, which can this area: Jubilee Gardens, Royal Weekly Travelcard is valid 24 hours be pre-booked by phone, are less Festival Hall ( free performances in a day, 7 days a week, for travel in expensive and call directly to the the foyer every weekday lunchtime: the chosen zone. door. www.rfh.org.uk; reopens in Summer 2007), Hayward Gallery, the largest » DON’T MISS THE most versatile public art exhibition space in the country (www.hayward. CLASSICS! A mid-week visit to the British org.uk) and the BFI London IMAX Museum, in Great Russell Street, Cinemas that allows you to watch is highly recommended. Entrance 2D and 3D movies with ultra- is free and the museum houses realistic digital sounds and images the world’s largest collection of on its largest cinema screens in UK antique art. The museum also has (www.bfi.org.uk/imax; ph +44 (20) It is possible to view the city from 870 787 2525) one of the famous red double- decker buses. The buses leave » TRANSPORTS daily from Piccadilly Circus every half hour from 10am until 5pm. The The public transport network is faster, single-decker, red buses run the great national centres of art and enormous. London is divided into from Westminster to Victoria (line culture, a vibrant community of artists five circular zones and tickets are C1) from Monday to Saturday and of new generations and some of the valid for individual travel within operate a fixed- rate fare. finest achievements in architecture, each zone. Visitors usually limit themselves to travelling within the a large and well-stocked book and such as the London Eye (the world’s The London Metropolitan, the first three zones. It is recommended souvenir shop. Tube stop; Russell tallest observation wheel offering Tube, is the oldest underground to purchase a Travelcard, available Square on the Holborn Line. British spectaculars views across London; system in the world. The system from station ticket-booths. Once Museum ( Great Russell Street, www.ba-londoneye.com; ph:+ 44 operates every day of the year with purchased, the Travelcard permits WC1 ph: +44 (20) 73 23 82 99; (20) 870 990 8883), The Old Vic the exception of Christmas Day. the holder to travel anywhere within www.thebritishmuseum.as.uk) Theatre (one of the oldest theatres From Monday to Saturday the first in the city on which stage performed the chosen zone on all means train is 5:30 am, the last 11.30; on of public transport, including the Catch the Charing Cross line to great actors of the last century and it Sunday 7.30am /12:30. Each of the Docklands Light Railway and the Trafalgar Square in order to visit is now under the artistic direction of eleven lines has both a name and British Rail trains within that zone. the National Gallery. (ph. +44 Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com

Slide 4: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 4 (20) 7747 2885 www. For post-modern art you cannot every day EXCEPT Christmas Eve ph. +44 (20) 794 250 00 www.nhm. nationalgallery.org.uk ). It is miss the Tate Modern (Bankside, and Christmas Day when we are ac.uk) Tube stop: South Kensington advisable to divide the gallery tour SE1,ph: +44 (20) 788 788 88; closed. ( www.rbgkew.org.uk; email: on District, Circle and Piccadilly into various different days, in order visiting.modern@tate.org.uk ) info@kew.org or ph: +44 (20) 8332 lines. to see its vast quantity of European Admission to the gallery is free, but 5655 ) Many special activities and masterpieces. Entrance is free and donations from visitors are needed tours for children as the ‘Cactus » TO WALK the gallery houses a cafè, restaurant Trail, ‘Climbers and creepers’, etc. to support the gallery’s work…even - One of the most evocative walks in and a book and souvenir shop. Tube stop: Kew Bridge. with a coffee at the cafeteria! Tate the city, is a stroll along the banks of Covent Gardens: don’t miss this Tube nearest stops: Charing Cross, Modern is located on the south the River Thames, best undertaken typical London area! Covent Garden Leicester Square,Embankment. bank of the River Thames at either early in the morning or late in hosts events and celebrations in Bankside, near Blackfriars Bridge, all manner of ways all through the evening, when the light reflects The Victoria and Albert Museum opposite St Paul’s Cathedral and the year, and the daily routine off the water, the bridges and the has galleries housing paintings, next to the Globe Theatre. Tube includes street entertainment fronts of buildings. Depart from designs, sculptures and clothing. stops at: Southwark (Jubilee Line) performances seven days a week. Waterloo Station on the south bank Admission to the Museum is free and Blackfriars (District and Circle Many of Europe’s most celebrated of the river, an ideal view point to but some exhibitions and events Lines) approximately ten minutes theatres, museums, galleries and appreciate the city’s myriads of carry a separate charge. A café and other places of interest are here; colours. walk away. self service restaurant are located there is always plenty to see and in the gallery court yard. (www.vam. do in and around Covent Garden. » Other... What’s on now? See here: www. ac.uk; openings hours 10 - 5.45pm daily; 10am to 10 pm Wednesdays Visit Kew gardens: its historic coventgarden.uk.com/whatson.html green-houses, allow the visitor or our latest Flashnews! http:// and the last Friday of the month) to admire the vast assortment www.flashbooking.com/listnews. Tube stop: Cromwell Road on the of flora gathered from around do?news.html South Kensington line. By the way: Covent Garden is where the world. The Gardens are open you can find all the hippest clothes The Tate Britain (Millbank, SW1, shops! J ph: +44 (20) 7887 8000; www.tate. org.uk ; email: visiting.britain@tate. Animals are you thing in every org.uk ) houses London’s second sense? You can chose between great collection of art, after the the London Zoo ( Regent’s Park, - A visit to the South Bank Centre is a national Gallery. It hosts important NW1, ph: +44 (20) 772233 33 www. must. This complex houses cinemas, londonzoo.co.uk; Tube nearest museums, gardens, theatres, art contemporary art exhibitions. stop: Camden Town and then a 10 galleries and the Bramah Museum: Entrance is free. The gallery is min. walk ) or the Natural History a museum dedicated to coffee and located on the Pimlico tube- line. tea, which has a shop with the same Museum ( Cromwell Road, SW7, Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com

Slide 5: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 5 theme, located below Tower Bridge. Burberry, Aquascutum,Church’s,80 » EAT AND DRINK stop) offer traditional English meals We suggest you take a ride on the Jaeger, Country Casuals, Dickins from 6 euros. It’s been running world’s biggest observation wheel and Jones and Hamleys are all London offers international cuisine since 1890.Try that old British as first thing to do when in Town! located in Regent Street. from around the world. With the atmosphere! Open Mon-Sat 11am- - Exploring the English countryside, Covent Garden is the place to go to creative and refined high-quality 11pm; 12pm-10pm on Sun. especially along the West Coast, is find oriental handcrafts and food. of its chefs, London has become possible either by car, boat, on foot the mecca of gastronomy. Global or using public transport. The Charing Cross bookstores offer Food, modern European and Cal/ rare and antique books covering Ital ( a mix of Italian and Californian) all topics (Leicester Square tube- » SHOPPING AND are the terms used to describe stop). this phenomena. There is food MARKETS from every continent and country London can satisfy the shopping from Peruan to Lebanese If you tastes of everyone. Naturally it helps are a Far East Food Fan (Thai, to know where the best places to Indian, Vietnamese, Pakistan, etc), shop are located. There are shops consider going to South London to which offer end of line and designer Southall, Wembley (Ealing Road) or sales; articles of fashion from past Want to cherish a London sunset? Tooting. Relax with a chilled drink at the collections and second hand shops, Remember: the majority of the National Film Theatre at South which are now very much in vogue. restaurants serve lunch from 12.30 Bank: the outdoor terrace is just The various flea markets are a to 2.30pm and dinner from 7pm to perfect for long lazy afternoons. (on veritable treasure trove: Bermondey The large department stores are 11pm. The pubs open from 11am Waterloo Bridge) Market (Tower Hill tube-stop, original but the visitor can find to 11pm Monday to Saturday and bus route 78), Portobello market the size of these shops a little from 12 to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm in Portobello Road ( Notting hill disorientating: Harrods, Harvey on Sundays. » RESTAURANTS Gate or Ladbroke Grove tube- Nichols (Knightsbridge tube-stop) Fancy, chic dinner? Try the Gordon stop),Camden Lock (Camden and Liberty’s in Regent Street. If you are in Covent Garden vicinity, Restaurants: fantastic and excellent tube-stop). For Victorian Antiques. Most districts have their own fruit Frank’s Café in Neal Street can cuisine. Not cheap but fans say Camden Passage (Angel tube-stop). and flower markets. Brixton ( Brixton satisfy your hunger with cheap the food worths the bill! Reserve For fashion shops and boutiques: tube-stop) is the most interesting still generous meals for your after in advance! Smart with jackets Sloane Street.. Marks and Spencer and exotic in the south of London, shopping hunger! Open Mon-Sat preferred for gentlemen. Jeans, T- is located in Oxford Street. Marble with Afro-Caribbean food, fashion 7.30am-7.30pm. shirts or sportswear not accepted. Arch is home to Virgin, HMV, H&M, and music. All major credit cards. Smoking is Top Shop, Borders, Next, Gap and The Leadenhall Market has a The Gordon’s Wine Bar, 47 in Villers not permitted. www.gordonramsay. Muji. medieval theme (Bank tube-stop ). Street (beside Embankment Tube com Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com

Slide 6: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 6 The Ivy restaurant in Covent Garden: Cargo, Cherry Jam, Cafè de Paris! one of the most renown restaurant The rest it’s up to you! in London but still affordable. Great variety of Vegetarian and Vegan Tickets for exhibitions and shows dishes. Average price 60 Euros. ( are bought well in advance from Address: 1, West Street, Covent the ticket booths located at Charing Garden. Nearest Tube: Leicester Cross Road and Shaftesbury Square; ph. +44 0871 22 38 001 Avenue. London is second to none www.the-ivy.co.uk) in offering classical music concerts. Don’t miss a concert at the Royal » GOING OUT London has a very active night life and going out in the evening is part of any London holiday. Every evening there are is a wide choice of entertainment from drag acts to comedy from dance clubs to Philarmonic Orchestra (www.rpo. classical music. Choosing is made co.uk ) easier by the publication of the magazines you can usually find for London’s world famous theatres free in the hotels halls. They give include Covent Garden, the detailed information on what the English National Theatre (www. city has to offer. nationaltheatre.org.uk ) and the An evening in the discotheque English National Opera (www.eno. usually follows a pre-chosen theme, org). with the show starting around 11pm. For a good night out go to Now you just need to find your Shoreditch, Notting Hill, Brixton, accommodation in town with Clerkenwell. The hottest clubs www.flashbooking.com are (for now!) the Fabric, Plastic People and Herbal. Where you can Flashbooking staff enjoying a night dancing the most wishes you a pleasant stay! recent beats. Recommend also: the Acquarium, Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com

Slide 7: Flashbooking - Your free London city guide 7 » USEFUL EMERGENCY NUMBERS samaritans.org.uk Disabled Living Foundation: (+44) 0207289 6111 Area Code: +44 (UK) 020 (London). Royal National Institute for the Blind: (+44) 0845 766 9999 www.rnib.org. International Free Call Centre: 155 uk Currency: British Pound Pregnancy Advisory Service: (+44) 08457 30 40 30 www.bpas.org Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50Hz. 3-pin plug. Main Tourist Office: Britain Visitor Centre, 1 Lower Regent St., Piccadilly Circus, London SW1Y 4XT EMBASSIES / HIGH COMMISSIONS / CONSULATES Banks open: 10 to 3.30 pm Mon-Fri. Yellow Pages: 118 247 US: +44 (0)20 7499 9000 (E) Wheatear Forecasting: (+44) 08706 004 242 Canada: +44 (0)20 7258 6600 (HC) Post Offices are open from 9am -5.30 pm Mon-Fri and till Australia: +44 (0)20 7379 4334 (HC) 12.30 on Sat. S. Africa: +44 (0)20 74517299 (E) Central Post Office: 24-28 William IV St, Trafalgar Square, Ireland: +44 (0)20 7235 2171 (HC) London WC2N Germany: +44 (0)20 7824 1300 (E) Royal Mail (+44) 0845 7740 740 www.royalmail.com Spain: +44 (0)20 7235 5555 (E) Police, Fire, Ambulance: 999 (free toll 24/7 ONLY for real Italy: +44 (0)20 7312 2200 (E) emergencies!) N.Zealand: +44 (0)870 0056962(HC) Emergency Dentist Service: (+44) 020 7837 3646 (for France: +44 (0)7838 2055 (C) children only) Guy’s Hospital: (+44) 020 79 55 43 17 Rape Crisis Federation of England and Wales: (+44) 0115 900 3560 www.rapecrisis.co.uk Samaritans for Psychological Problems 24/7: (+44) 0845 79 09 090; www. Flashbooking is a hostels and budget hotels booker that gives all independent travellers the unique opportunity to book their bed-nights online and worldwide with an immediate confirmed reservation. Come visit: www.flashboking.com and get: newsletter, travel guides, useful links, info on social project we sustain, events and more. © Trenet srl Budget Online bookings - Cheap Hotels and Hostels in London www.flashbooking.com