London- the international city

London is a metropolitan city. It is popular for a number of reasons. It is the capital of England. As England is a major power in the West, London assumes importance. It is also a major tourist center. Most of the tourists congregate in central London. West End is in Central London. In West End you will find a number of theaters, shopping malls, watering holes and dining places etc. the Westminster is close from here. It abounds in Royal Palaces, the Royal Borough and the famous Hyde Park where different cultural events unfold and political parties meet. The Globe Theatre is another important place. The Piccadilly Circus ranks among the busiest places in the world. The London Tower Bridge is a famous attraction in London. It has two leaves or bascules. The bascules rise by 80 degrees to let river traffic to pass through.

East End is another popular suburb. East End houses immigrants from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean Islands and other European countries. The population in East End is mostly working class. All these diverse cultures make London truly metropolitan.

There are five airports in London. Of these Heathrow is the main international airport. It is one of the busiest airports in the world. Traveling from London to Paris has become easy after the opening of the Channel-Tunnel for traffic. The double-decker is the trade mark of London and it lends charm to the downtown London. London has one of the busiest suburban, underground train network known as the 'tube'. It also qualifies as the finest underground train network

This is a country of soccer fans. There are eleven professional football clubs in London. The Wembley Stadium has then distinction of holding a number of international football tournaments. Lords cricket ground is regarded as the Mecca of cricket. Every batsman wants to score a century on this ground. Wimbledon is one of the Grand Slam events. It is the dream of every tennis player to win the Wimbledon. All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Clubs conduct this tournament.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are among the most famous music performers in the world. There are at least over 30 theatres most of which are located in West End.

Prominent theatres include the National Theatre and the Globe. The Royal Shakespeare Company performs in London regularly . The must-see museums are the British Museum which houses antiques, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Madame Tussaud~s famous for its wax statues of world-famous celebrities. Christie's, the famous aution house started in London, operates from Sothe Kensington and King Street.

With so much going for it, it is not a wonder that London continues to allure people from all over the world.