CENTRAL LONDON ACCOMMODATION

Central London is 10 square miles and roughly follows the Thames from west to east.

THE CITY is the oldest part of London dating from pre-Roman times.  St Paul's, the Tower of London and the 'Golden Square Mile' (London's financial district) are all part of this area.  Downstream from Tower Bridge lies Docklands, with newly renovated riverside buildings replacing the old Docks. BLOOMSBURY centres on Russell Square and has long been the academic area, site of the British Museum, British Library, the University and teaching hospitals.  An area of gracious squares, elegant Georgian houses and many small shops and restaurants giving it a village-y feel.  Adjoining Farringdon, Clerkenwell and Islington are now popular and expensive residential areas, while Holborn is the centre of England's legal system (Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn). COVENT GARDEN AND SOHO, centred on Leicester and Trafalgar Squares, have long been London's entertainment centre with theatres, the Opera House, bars, cafes and restaurants.  MARYLEBONE extends from north of Oxford Street to Regent's Park - 'home' to Sherlock Holmes on Baker Street, Madame Tussauds and the lovely Regent's Park. MAYFAIR, ST JAMES'S and PICCADILLY have always been London's most expensive areas.  Home to some of the Royals (Clarence House, St James's Palace) and some of London's top hotels.  Beautiful town houses, little streets with speciality shops, boutiques and good restaurants.  Green Park and St James's Park make pleasant green spaces. KNIGHTSBRIDGE and SOUTH KENSINGTON to the south of the park are areas of elegant streets of period houses, with the famous museums, and shopping areas including Harrods and Harvey Nichols.  BELGRAVIA, centred on Belgrave Square, has some of London's most expensive real estate, while CHELSEA has always had an 'arty' flavour - in the 19th century it was London's 'bohemian' quarter.  Centred on Sloane Square and King's Road, it is now an expensive residential area popular with theatre and media stars.  KENSINGTON proper is the area west of Kensington Gardens centred on the old 'village' of Kensington with its Hight Street and Kensington Church Street - more good shopping, Kensington Palace and the lovely Holland Park.  Fashionable NOTTING HILL to the north has stylish cafes and restaurants; adjoining BAYSWATER north of the park has wide leafy streets, large houses and hotels. WESTMINSTER and VICTORIA contain Britain's centre of power in the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.  Quieter PIMLICO is a pretty residential area of white period houses alongside the Thames.  South of the river are SOUTHWARK and LAMBETH (the South bank) with riverside walks, theatres and concert halls (including the Globe), galleries (including Tate Modern) and the London Eye.

Travelcard: Zone 1 and 2 covers this area.