London/West End Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
The West End is an extensive part of Central London, the traditional counterbalance to "the City", the financial and business district housed to the East... London has no centre as such, rather possessing a number of centres, each with their own unique character and function. Although not possessing an exclusive hold, the West End is widely-considered the best of London with regard to the arts (museums, theatres, cinema), shopping and entertainment. It is also very much the night-life hub of London. For this reason, most travellers to London spend the majority of their time within its various - and numerous - districts.
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Districts
The West End of London has no clear or official boundaries, but is a large area roughly bordered by the City to the east, by the Euston Road to the north, by Park Lane and Hyde Park to the west, and by the River Thames to the south.
- Soho
- Chinatown
- Covent Garden
- Oxford Street
- Regent Street
- Leicester Square
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Mayfair
Understand
The West End is that part of central London north of the Thames that witnessed the first major expansion of settlement in modern times (17th and 18th centuries) out of the traditional walled city of London (the "Square Mile"). This was in keeping with tradition: long before the complete revival of the old Roman walled city further donwstream, the Saxons and Vikings had created a flourishing area of settlement in the area by the Strand.
Later, it was in part because of the influence of royal Westminster that saw settlement creep westwards from the city in the Middle Ages, confirmed with the explosion of population and urban expansion in the early modern period.
The area west of the city being highly desirable for its much healthier environment and cleaner air (the prevailing wind is from the west), the West End (as it became known) became the focus of aristocratic square development, the growth of smart shops and places of entertainment.
Get in
The West End is served by the following tube stations:
- Covent Garden
- Picadilly Circus
- Leicester Square
- Charing Cross
- Embankment
Get around
See
There are many shows being shown at West End theatres, and films being shown at a variety of cinemas, both mainstream and arthouse.
Do
Buy
Regent Street and Oxford Street are very close to the West End.
Eat
There are a great variety of restaurants, many centred around Chinatown
Drink
There are many places to drink, including pubs and clubs on or near Leicester Square, around Piccadilly Circus and Old Compton Street
Sleep
Get out
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