London & Partners

Crystal Palace Park
London’s Compass
View from Greenwich Park
Whether central, north, south, east or west, all of London’s regions have treasures to offer
CRYSTAL PALACE DINOSAURS IMAGE © VISITLONDONIMAGES/BRITAINONVIEW/PAWEL LIBERA
CENTRAL LONDON
London’s heart is made up of
many boroughs including Camden,
Islington, the City of Westminster,
and the City of London (the main
financial area of the capital).
This buzzing region has a
dense concentration of offices,
embassies, theatres, museums,
nightspots, shops and state
buildings, as well as the official
home of the Queen. It’s also
famed for its arts hubs such as
the West End.
Hidden Gem: Camden Passage.
This antiques village has operated
in a small Islington backstreet
since the 1960s and is still going
strong. Wednesdays and Saturdays
are the main market days, but
many shops are also open
throughout the week. Shop for
vintage clothing, jewellery, fine art
and antiques, and refuel
at the many independent cafés
and restaurants.
Camden Passage, N1.
camdenpassageislington.
co.uk Ë Angel. Off map.
NORTH LONDON
More than 120 languages are
spoken in this multi-ethnic and
vibrant region, which is steeped
in history, renowned for its culture,
and boasts excellent transport
links. Areas of interest include
Hampstead Heath (p. 55) and the
spectacular views from Primrose
Hill, next to Regent’s Park (p. 55).
Hidden Gem: The Spaniards Inn.
One of London’s oldest pubs, this
16th-century Hampstead hostelry
appears in Charles Dickens’s The
Pickwick Papers. Speciality beers,
great pub lunches and a sunny
garden await you at this historic inn.
Spaniards Road, NW3.
020 8731 8406.
thespaniardshampstead.co.uk
Ë Hampstead. Off map.
SOUTH LONDON
Otherwise known as ‘south of the
river’, this area is less built up than
the north and loved for its array
of open spaces such as Clapham
Common and Richmond Park.
It’s popular for sporting attractions
including the Wimbledon Lawn
Tennis Museum (p. 63) and World
Rugby Museum (p. 64). It’s also
home to the royal borough of
Greenwich, the UK’s most famous
maritime site (p. 47).
Hidden Gem: Crystal Palace
Park. This large, attractive park
was home to the Crystal Palace
building – which featured at the
Great Exhibition of 1851 – until it
was destroyed by fire in 1936. It
still contains the life-size dinosaur
models displayed at the Exhibition
– look out for these quirky pieces
of history lurking among the trees.
Daily 07.00-dusk. Free Admission.
Anerly Hill, SE20. 020 8778
7148. t Crystal Palace.
Off map.
EAST LONDON
Once the heart of working-class
London, the east is going through
a period of regeneration thanks to
the London 2012 Olympic Games
and Paralympic Games. Factories
and docks give way to a funky
arts scene, bars and clubs,
plus markets like Old Spitalfields
(p. 89), and The O 2 complex,
home to shops, bars, restaurants
and the British Music
Experience (p. 76).
Hidden Gem: Hackney City
Farm. Get a taste of the rural
life including coming face-to-face
with goats, pigs, sheep and more
at this urban farm. There’s also
an award-winning café on site
serving top quality Italian cuisine
and homemade ice cream. Tues-
Sun 10.00-16.30. Free admission.
Goldsmiths Row, E2.
020 7729 6381.
hackneycityfarm.co.uk
Ë Bethnal Green. Off map.
WEST LONDON
Parts of this area run alongside the
western end of the River Thames
and the Regent’s Canal. Here
you’ll find affluent, elegant districts
like Chelsea and Knightsbridge.
It’s also home to Notting Hill’s
fashionable shops and restaurants,
plus Portobello Road, site of the
famous market (p. 89).
Hidden Gem: The Puppet
Theatre Barge. This floating
venue, docked in Richmond in the
summer and Little Venice in the
winter, has been staging charming
puppet theatre shows for children
and adults for 30 years now.
Admission £10 child £8.50.
Petersham Road, TW10.
020 7249 6876.
puppetbarge.com
Ë Ë t Richmond. Off map.
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