Area: London's 33 boroughs, including the city of London, are spread over an area of 1572 sq kms.

History: London has no known founder, although historic record points to King Lud of Ludgate Hill fame. Although London was first said to be inhabited by a Celtic community, it was the Romans who actually developed the square mile now known as the City of London. Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror and Queen Elizabeth I are considered the main architects of this city.

Location: London is located in the South East coast of England in the United Kingdom (UK), with an underground land link to mainland Europe.

Weather: While London's weather has an unwarranted ill reputation, it is generally warmer than Continental Europe in winter, and even if the weather is poor, it does not last very long and there is always plenty to do. 5 day forecast

Climate: England has an extremely variable temperate maritime climate and is subject to rainfall and frequent weather changes. Temperatures range from 0 degrees (Celsius) in winter to a high of 32 degrees in summer. July is normally the warmest month in England.

Seasons: London enjoys four distinct seasons - Spring runs from March to May, Summer from June to August, Autumn (fall) from September to November and Winter from December to February.

Time zone: London runs to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Transport: London offers a variety of public transportation and you can choose between the underground tube (consisting of 12 lines) over-land trains, public buses, London's famous black cabs or minicabs. Walking and cycling are very pleasant options and the various boats that cruise the River Thames.

Transport for London ..for train time guides, bus timetables, downloadable maps and the latest traffic information visit the official site of TfL.

Download a tube map

Cultural mix: One in every four residents of London is from an ethnic minority; more than 200 languages and the cuisine of 70 countries are represented here.

Currency and credit cards: The Sterling Pound (£) is the UK's official currency, and is further divided into 100 pence (p). All banks operate from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm, Mondays through Fridays, with fewer hours on Saturdays. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Dress code: There are very few dress formalities in London, however, important business meetings call for a suit and tie, or the female equivalent of corporate attire. The more upscale restaurants and hotel dining rooms expect you to dress appropriately.

Languages: While English is the official language, several European languages are very widely spoken in and around London. Given the size of the large multicultural population, many other languages are also used in everyday life.

Visa regulations: Please check with your travel agent, the British Consulate in your own country and/or other concerned authorities for current update on visa regulations for various nationalities, using the following 2003 rules as a guideline:

Useful Links
British Tourist Authority
London Chamber of Commerce & Industry

London has countless festivals and events, and is a year-round tourist destination, with very few of its attractions closing or reducing their hours during the winter months.

While the actual dates of many important events are timed to match the season and the calendar, they may change slightly from year to year. The information below provides a guideline to the city's many celebrated events:

The City's New Year's Day London Parade, comprising 10,000 or more musicians and 1 million viewers is a spectacular procession led by The Lord Mayor of Westminster - from Parliament Square to Berkeley Square. Shrove Tuesday is marked by pancake races in Covent Garden and in early April, more serious racers take part in the London Marathon. London displays her colours for the FA Cup Final in mid-May, and the riotously colourful Chelsea Flower Show is held in the last week of May.

June is marked by the Queen's birthday parade - Trooping the Colour and tennis at Wimbledon. The world's biggest military tattoo, the Royal Tournament, is held in July, followed by Notting Hill Carnival in August. Horseman's Sunday, in late September is held at Hyde Park, with more than 100 horses receiving blessings, followed by horse jumping at Kensington Gardens. October ushers in the cultural Trafalgar Square Festival, the Horse of the Year Show and the Opening of Parliament, when the Queen rides from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in a royal coach.

Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th is marked by several bonfires all around the city, followed by The Lord Mayor's Show held in late November, complete with floats, bands and fireworks. London is lit up throughout December, after the Lighting of the Christmas Tree on Trafalgar Square. As the nights grow darker and colder in November-December, London receives the bright lights of the Annual Film Festival.

Public holidays

Useful Links
We have provided a number of links below to help you find out more about London's activities and events calendar. If you are unable to find the information you require, perhaps we can be of assistance. Please email us on info@jumeirah.com.

WhatsOnWhen
...what's on when in London. Search the city's events by month, by interest or by location.

TimeOut London
...from the award winning series of guides to the world's major cities, Time Out's London Guide offers an exhaustive and lively insight into the city.

The Greater London area is bursting with attractions for visitors of all ages. With 30 historic gardens and 123 historic buildings, London also has more than 200 museums, 600 cinema screens, and 108 music halls. Within an hour of London are 95 golf courses, 2,000 tennis courts, 7 ice rinks, and 6 race courses.

Here is a listing of important venues and the most popular attractions in the London metropolitan area:

Landmarks: Westminster Abbey is one of the world's most visited churches and the host to several coronations, marriages and burials of British monarchs with highlights that include: Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Royal Tombs, Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor, and the Coronation Chair. Begun in 1078 and constructed over several centuries, the Tower of London is the world's most famous fortified complex and also the storehouse of the Crown Jewels and regalia, as it has been for nearly 700 years. The Banqueting House, a part of the Palace of Whitehall is famed for its Reubens' painted ceilings. London Aquarium, opposite the Big Ben, is where you can encounter sharks, seahorses and piranhas, or touch rays, starfish and crabs. The London Dungeon in Southwark provides a realistic account of the city's 2000 year history including the Great Fire of London, Jack the Ripper and the Judgement Day Execution Barge. Westminster Cathedral, the headquarters of England's Catholic Church, is famed for its unusual architecture, mosaics, marble decorations and the biggest nave in the UK. St. Paul's Cathedral has the world's second largest dome and is a magnificent sight when viewed from the Thames River.

At Madame Tussaud's, you can choose to be interviewed by a reporter or made up by a stylist, apart from taking in realistic wax replicas of some of the world's most famous people - from Henry VIII to Jennifer Lopez. The Parliament Building's highlight is the whispering alcove, where whispers can be heard anywhere under its dome, simply by pressing your ear to the wall. The Science Museum has 10,000 exhibitions ranging from 1392 and still chimes on the hour, to the launch pad of Apollo 10.

Museums: The Bank of England Museum, also known as 'Old Lady of Threadneedle Street Museum,' displays ancient gold bars, pikes and muskets used in defence, and documents related to George Washington and the Duchess of Marlborough. British Museum, the world's oldest museum, houses the Assyrian treasures, Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, and the Portland Vase. Dickens House, the former home of author Charles Dickens, survives as his museum, and the Freud Museum is dedicated to psychologist, Sigmund Freud. The Natural History Museum's displays include dinosaurs, the mammal balcony at the Blue Whale exhibit and a moonlit rainforest.

Outdoor attractions: Trafalgar Square is at the heart of visitors' London and home to Nelson's Column. The London Eye is a modern day Ferris wheel with 32 glassed-in carriages that rotate upwards with continuous commentary. On a clear day you can take in all of London's landmarks right up to Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle. The Cutty Sark Clipper Ship in Greenwich has a collection of figureheads and maritime records, and is open for leisurely exploration. The Royal Botanic Gardens, founded in 1761 and covering 288 acres, has living collections of more than 40,000 varieties of plants, 7 spectacular glasshouses and 2 art galleries, along with a Japanese rock garden. The London Zoo houses more than 12,000 animals with a special 'Animals in Action' section where the inmates show off their skills.

Palaces and State homes: Buckingham Palace, the residence of Queen Elizabeth II, dates back to the early 19th century and the visitor tour takes in 19 state rooms, the Throne Room, Picture Gallery and Ballroom. You can also watch the famous ceremony of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, which starts at 11.30 am, and lasts for 40 minutes inside the palace railings. Clarence House, now the Prince of Wales official London residence, and the former home of the Queen Mother, has guided tours for five rooms which house her collection of art, furniture, Faberge jewels, English porcelain and silver. Downing House at No 10, Downing Street is the official residence of the Prime Minister and No 11, next door, is the home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Kensington Palace, the former residence of Queen Anne, King George I, King George II, Queen Victoria and more recently, Princess Diana, houses the State Apartments and the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, including dresses worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. Windsor Castle, the world's largest and oldest inhabited castle, has been the home of the Royal Family for more than 900 years and is spread over 13 acres including St. George's Chapel, Albert Memorial Chapel, the Drawings Gallery, and Queen Mary's Dolls' House.

Useful Links
The Royal Family
The official website of the British Monarchy.

London Art Galleries & Museums
... a simple but effective site with links to London art galleries and museums.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
... nominated a World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas of London.

The South Bank
'The New Heart of London'. Use the 'Visit Planner' to organize your time at London's most exciting district.

London is where you can shop till you drop - whether it is for haute couture, toys, antiques, accessories, souvenirs, gourmet food, furniture, music or more.

Department stores: London has over one dozen department stores, with some of the biggest and best located around Regent Street, Oxford Street and in Knightsbridge. The most luxurious department stores are Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty and Selfridges, with serviceable mid-range stores including Debenhams, Marks & Spencers, Peter Jones and John Lewis.

Specialty stores: Hatchards has a fine collection of books, Wedgwood is noted for their fine porcelain, Moss Brothers is known for men's formal attire, dress tartans and riding clothes, and Hamleys is the world's largest toy store.

Main markets: Covent Garden, once a fruit and vegetable market immortalised in 'My Fair Lady', is now a car-free piazza surrounded by boutique gift and clothes shops, and a covered market selling antiques and bric-a-brac. The huge Camden Markets stretch from Camden to Chalk Farm tube stations and feature the Camden Canal Market selling bric-a-brac, furniture and designer clothes, the Camden Market with its leather goods and army surplus gear and the Electric Market with its music and 1960s clothing. The weekend Portobello Market is London's most famous street market, stretching from Notting Hill to the Westway flyover, with antiques, jewellery, ethnic knick-knacks, second-hand clothes and fruit and vegetables.

Flea markets: Brick Lane Market in the East End, runs a flea market on Sunday mornings, covering everything from nails to watches. The Kensington Market is ideal for new age accessories and unusual crafts such as tattoos, body piercing and body painting. Brixton Market at the end of Victoria Line is a cosmopolitan market that offers an eclectic mix of reggae music, wigs, homeopathic cures and halal meat, fruit and vegetables.

Useful Links
Harrods
... the most famous store in the world? No visit to London would be complete without a look at this most luxurious of British institutions.

Harvey Nichols
... another glamorous Knightsbridge store. 'Harvey Nicks' is unrivalled for its range of chic designer label fashion.

Fortnum & Mason
... purveyors of food and wine to the Royal Family.

Hamleys
... 'The finest toy shop in the world'. Thousands of toys and games over seven floors will capture the imagination of children both young and old.

Heals
... this stylish store on the Tottenham Court Road has been in business for nearly 200 years, offering beautifully crafted furniture, amongst a vast array of home accessories.

London offers unlimited opportunities for rest and recreation, be it water sports in the Docklands, walks, cycle tours, roller-blading or horse riding through Hyde Park. If you would prefer something a little less energetic, why not enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea over cucumber sandwiches followed by dinner and the theatre.

Afternoon Tea: A London tradition for more than 150 years, the ritual was officially launched by the Duchess of Bedford in 1830 when she ordered a little something to ward off pangs between lunch and dinner. Highlights of this late afternoon meal, served all over London, include scones, wafer thin cucumber and watercress sandwiches, light sponge cakes, seasonal fresh strawberries and cream in season, and freshly brewed pots of tea.

Hampstead Heath is one of the few places in London where you can forget that you are in the middle of a busy city. The Heath has plenty of woods, meadows, hills and Georgian cottages and the beautiful Kenwood House with its romantic grounds.

London for FREE: A number of London's most famous attractions do not charge an entrance fee and welcome visiting families and individuals: The British Library houses the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623, King John's Magna Carta, Handel's Messiah and original Beatles manuscripts. The National Gallery is home to the Leonardo Cartoon by Leonardo da Vinci and the Hay Wain by Constable. The National Portrait Gallery charts British history through portraits of eminent poets, statesmen and sportsmen. Tate Britain is a 100-year-old classical building that houses sculptures, drawings, oils, water colours and works by William Blake. Tate Modern in the former Bankside Power Station, displays 20th century art.

London for Free
... you don't have to spend a fortune when visiting London.

London Pass: You can purchase a London Pass that is a combination travel card for use on public transport and also allows you free entry to 50 city attractions that include: The Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum, Cutty Sark, Florence Nightingale Museum, Jewel Tower, Kew Gardens, London Aquarium, London Zoo, Tower of London and Windsor Castle, among others.

London Pass
... save money and time with the London Pass. This visitor pass offers free entry to over 60 London attractions, free public transport (within Zones 1-6), and more...

Theatre:
London hosts innumerable shows covering musicals, comedies, dramas and classics. Most of the theatres are centrally located around the Leicester Square and Covent Garden areas. Several kiosks in the heart of the theatre district also sell discounted tickets.

Useful Links
TicketMaster
... if there is an event in London, and you require a ticket, purchase it online or telephone +44 20 7316 4709.

London Theatre
... everything you need to know about theatre in the Capital is here at the official site of the 'Society of London Theatre'.

English National Opera
The home of the English National Opera. As an opera fan this should be the first site you visit on the Internet.