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Historic royal Greenwich<br />
<strong>London</strong>’s Compass<br />
Whether central, north, south, east or west, all of <strong>London</strong>’s regions have hidden gems to offer<br />
CENTRAL LONDON<br />
<strong>London</strong>’s heart is made up of many<br />
boroughs including Camden, Islington,<br />
the City Of Westminster, and the City<br />
Of <strong>London</strong>. This buzzing region has<br />
a dense concentration of offices,<br />
embassies, museums, theatres,<br />
nightspots, shops and state buildings,<br />
as well as the home of the Queen. It’s<br />
also famed for its entertainment and<br />
dining hubs, such as the West End.<br />
Hidden Gem: St. Paul’s Church,<br />
Covent Garden.<br />
Inigo Jones built this beautiful<br />
church, which stands at the western<br />
end of Covent Garden Piazza, in<br />
1633. It’s known as ‘The Actors’<br />
Church’ because of its close ties<br />
with the theatre community. Admire<br />
the many memorials to theatre folk<br />
and find peace and quiet in the<br />
courtyard garden. Mon-Fri 08.30-<br />
17.00, Sun 09.00-13.00.<br />
Bedford Street, WC2. 020 7836<br />
5221. actorschurch.org<br />
Ë Covent Garden. Map C6.<br />
NORTH LONDON<br />
More than 120 languages are<br />
spoken in this vibrant region, which<br />
is renowned for its culture and<br />
steeped in history. Areas of interest<br />
include Hampstead Heath and the<br />
spectacular views from Primrose<br />
Hill (p. 29).<br />
Hidden Gem: Highgate Cemetary.<br />
Built in the 19th century, this<br />
atmospheric graveyard is the<br />
everlasting home of some of the<br />
most illustrious personalities of the<br />
Victorian era and early 20th century.<br />
In the East Cemetery you’ll find the<br />
graves of George Eliot and Karl<br />
Marx (Mon-Fri 10.00-16.00, Sat-<br />
Sun 11.00-16.00. Admission £3),<br />
while the family of Charles Dickens<br />
are buried in the West Cemetery<br />
(accessible by tour only, daily Mon-Fri<br />
13.45, Sat-Sun hourly 11.00-15.00.<br />
Admission £7, child £3).<br />
Swain’s Lane, N6.<br />
020 8340 1834.<br />
highgate-cemetery.org<br />
Ë Archway. Off map.<br />
SOUTH LONDON<br />
This area is less built up than the<br />
north and loved for its open spaces<br />
such as Clapham Common and<br />
Richmond Park (p. 29). It’s popular<br />
for sporting attractions including<br />
the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis<br />
Museum (p. 36). It’s also home<br />
to the royal borough of Greenwich,<br />
the UK’s most famous maritime<br />
site (pictured).<br />
Hidden Gem: Dulwich Picture<br />
Gallery. England’s first public<br />
art gallery was founded in 1811<br />
and today holds one of the finest<br />
collections of Old Masters in the UK.<br />
The imposing building was designed<br />
by 19th-century architect Sir John<br />
Soane. Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun<br />
11.00-17.00. Admission £5, child<br />
free. Exhibitions £11, child free.<br />
Gallery Road, SE21. 020 8693<br />
5254. dulwichpicturegallery.org.<br />
uk t Herne Hill. Off map.<br />
EAST LONDON<br />
Once the heart of working-class<br />
<strong>London</strong>, the east has gone through<br />
a period of regeneration thanks to<br />
the recent <strong>London</strong> 2012 Olympic<br />
Games and Paralympic Games.<br />
Factories and docks have given way<br />
to a funky arts and nightlife scene,<br />
plus markets like Old Spitalfields<br />
(p. 64), and The O 2 complex – home<br />
to shops, bars, restaurants and the<br />
British Music Experience (p. 56).<br />
Hidden Gem: Columbia Road<br />
Flower Market.<br />
Whether you’re looking for cut<br />
flowers, plants, or just a stroll to<br />
soak up the atmosphere, there’s<br />
nowhere better on a sunny Sunday<br />
than this busy east <strong>London</strong> market.<br />
Arrive before 10.00 if you want to<br />
beat the crowds. Sun 08.00-15.00.<br />
Columbia Road, E2. columbia<br />
road.info Ë Bethnal Green.<br />
Off map.<br />
WEST LONDON<br />
Parts of this affluent area run<br />
alongside the western end of<br />
the River Thames and Regent’s<br />
Canal. Here you’ll find elegant<br />
districts including Chelsea and<br />
Knightsbridge. It’s also home<br />
to Notting Hill’s fashionable<br />
shops and restaurants, plus<br />
Portobello Road, site of the<br />
famous market (p. 65).<br />
Hidden Gem: The Bush Theatre.<br />
This fringe theatre in a converted<br />
library is highly acclaimed for its<br />
productions of new British and<br />
international plays. Times vary.<br />
Tickets from £10.<br />
7 Uxbridge Road, W12.<br />
020 8743 5050. bushtheatre.<br />
co.uk Ë Shepherd’s Bush Market.<br />
Off map.<br />
GREENWICH IMAGE © ISTOCKPHOTO<br />
8<br />
| visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013