Since the 18th century England has been the cultural center of Europe. What they thought was lacking in their cultural heritage, the British imported through study travels abroad, the grand tour, or just by importing important artifacts. The London museums thus gathered an enormous wealth of artifacts both from their own history as of the shared history of the entire western civilization, plus a load of oriental treasures form their colonies.
Next to its museums, London has quite a collection of buildings that played an important role in the history of architecture. Not just classical buildings like the St Pauls cathedral or the Bank of England, but also the Neogothic House of Parliament and the High-Tech Lloyds building, but numerous other public and private buildings, houses and palaces have influenced architects around the world. There’s no other country were architectural style is a matter of Royal concern.
Two types of tourists visit London — the first, the obvious tourist who comes to see the Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London, London Bridge, the Museum, Hyde Park and other tourist attractions.
There are people who visits the City year after year; the one who has already seen the usual tourist attractions, and will not see them again; the one who does not have business to transact, yet the one London beckons to unfailingly. His attractions are the theatres, book shops, cinema-plexes and shopping centers. As per English “standards of culture”, a visit to the theatre is “a sign of good breeding” not to mention impeccable taste. After the event, the applause is appropriate without being boisterous and the smiles in moderation.
The musicals and the bookshops certainly top the list of the second type of tourist. Imagine having to make a choice from 40 musicals And of course, continuing unabated are the evergreen hits “Phantom of the Opera”, “The Mousetrap”, “Les Miserables” “Miss Saigon”, Watching it is fast paced enchantment, with a change in setting every few minutes.
As for bookshops, those lined on either side of Charing Cross road are an absolute “treat” for the book lover. Topping the list is the Foyles, a huge book shop across three storeys and one that calls itself the biggest one in the world, or Waterstones with its multiple branches in London. Borders are another treat opposite Foyles. Watkins is one which specializes in philosophy, mysticism and the occult and has books on these subjects from around the world. And then of course there are the other ones that specialize in women’s writing, second hand books, out-of-print books, military history and so on.
Numerous cinema houses dot the Tottenham Court Road area, and one can be rubbing shoulders with celebrities at any given moment. Oxford Circus will satisfy the avid shopper. Malls like Selfridges, Marks and Spencers and Debenhams will stun any person with their array of goods. In another direction at “Kinghtsbridge” is the most sophisticated mall in London Harrods where royalty once did its shopping. Spread across five-storeys, it’s perhaps the last word in quality, style and taste.
London is host to diversity and is a melting pot of culture. The avid London lover will say: “If it is a holiday, it must be in London”.