London from a different perspective

Once you have reached the centre of London, you should remember the following:
1. Always respect the Look right! plaques, because they help you find your way in a city where traffic seems to flow ... on the wrong side of the road.
2. The tube is more than just the metro or what the Americans call the subway, as it is the generic name for the network of trains connecting various areas of the city.
3. The London black cabs are a symbol of the city. They are very expensive, because their drivers are more than just your average taxi drivers. They have studied and memorised more than 25,000 London streets and they will always know the shortest and straightest way to your destination. This 'class" takes them about two to four years to complete, so that graduating means just as much as a college diploma to them.
4. If you don't take a taxi, you can ride one of the so-called Bendy Buses, 18-metre long buses, which can carry up to 140 people (60 people more than the regular double-deckers). Or you can choose the Routmaster Buses - Heritage Buses (the famous double-deckers, genuine London symbols, on the 9 and 15 routes), which arrive every 15 minutes, between 9.30 and 18.30.
5. Once you're on the bus, leave your luggage in the special place. Drivers do not have to stop in every bus stop, so you need to signal if you want to get on/off. Always get on in the front and get off through the doors marked Exit.

A peek through the London Eye
If you don't have too much time or if you have already been sightseeing, an interesting suggestion is the London Eye - once the world's tallest observation wheel and currently the fourth-tallest structure among London buildings, with 40km panoramic views on a clear day.

You can see the Parliament Palace, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden and even Windsor Castle. Basically, you can see the entire London in half an hour. The only dilemma is whether you should go by day, for a 360 degree view of the city, or by night, to enjoy the fairytale lights.

London Eye has 32 glass capsules and can carry about 800 passengers through a full rotation. Moreover, you can enjoy the splendid panorama by dining in the glass capsule, For the gourmet, culinary delights are a must (English cheese, teas, wines and expensive champagne).

The price of a London Eye ride varies depending on the season, age and dining options. The minimal price is 15 pounds for an adult and can reach 33 pounds.

Tea at the Savoy...
Tea at the Savoy Hotel is an exquisite indulgence, but also a must. The ritual combines British tradition with the elegance and sophistication of one of London's most upscale and sumptuous hotels. Tea is served every day between 14.00 and 18.30, in the exquisite Thames Foyer, decorated with art deco mirrors. You should definitely try the delicious sandwiches, the cakes and the special tea biscuits, with cream and strawberry jam.

... or at the famous Tea Houses
Here you will need a car to take you to the outskirts of London, at the Palladian Castle, in the village of Woburn, in Bedfordshire. Here you have the chance to savour traditional English tea. The world-famous Victoria & Albert Museum and the St. James - Fortuna & Mason restaurant organise exhibitions about this tradition, in a gorgeous setting, with English furniture and paintings of British landscapes. Actually, in almost every house from the outskirts of London, tourists can find a garden corner or a room where they can take tea.

Five "cool" bars...

Ice Bar, Pigalle Club, Loungelover, Lucky Voice, Trailer Happiness... five bars connected to the pulse of London.

It is nice to start the evening in Ice Bar, for a cocktail with lots of ice, served on ice tables, in ice glasses, on - obviously - ice chairs.

However, if you are looking for a sophisticated and elegant place, a vintage bar, basking in the glow of the '40s, then Pigalle Club is the ideal place. Not that Loungelover is anything less than perfect, like the nearby Les Trois Garçons. You will find here surprising cocktails such as Eastern Promise (petals of Sputnik rose, Russian vodka and lychee liquor) or Thai Breakers (coriander, ginger, passion fruit, coconut liquor and kalamansi).
Lucky Voice is the best place for karaoke fans.

It has nine salons and offers guests a list of more than 5,000 classic hits, which they can listen in a private both, while enjoying a Ginseng Margarita, a Love Hotel or a Lucky Destiny. However, since it's one of the most popular London bars, you will absolutely need a reservation.

The night can climax at the Trailer Happiness, the self-titled "retro-sexual paradise for cosmopolitan kitsch and faded glamour", near Portobello Road. The cocktail menu will be a hit with the connoisseurs. Try Scorpion Bowls or Zombie, based on rum.

The taste of London
A festival that is worth seeing is Taste of London, dedicated to foods and drinks that can be tasted outdoors. More than 50 top restaurants use this opportunity to take their food to Regent Park. Taste of London celebrates good taste, promoting British cuisine and London's über-chefs. You get the chance to see the most respected members of British Airways Culinary Council (Jancis Robinson, Michel Roux, Nicholas Lander, Mark Edwards, Shaun Hill) and to have a memorable culinary experience.

London events
 - April - Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta and the Royal Ballet perform at the London Coliseum.
 - May - To celebrate the centennial of Ian Fleming, Sebastian Faulks is publishing a new James Bond novel. The London Imperial Museum's For Your Eyes Only exhibition opens.
 - June - The Architecture Festival
 - July - The British Museum opens a new exhibition dedicated to the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
 - September - The Mark Rothko exhibition at the Tate Modern will be a hit among fans of abstract expressionism.
 - October - National Portrait Gallery shows the work of the famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.
 - November - The British Museum opens Babylon: City of Wonder, an exhibition showing the history of Iraq under the emperor Nabucodonosor (604 - 562 before Christ).
 - December - Westfield London from White City opens (a shopping centre with 250 shops, 14 cinema halls, gyms and more entertainment attractions).

London tries to take its visitors by surprise even from the first steps, in Heathrow international airport. Terminal 5, to be used exclusively by British Airway, will be inaugurated this month. Company officials say it will manage around 30 million passengers yearly.

The terminal is five times the size of Terminal 4 and will have six lounges: The London Room, the First Lounge, two Club World lounges, Club Europe Lounge and a Spa Elemis. Together, these lounges that will be called 'galleries' will host almost 2,500 people.

For landscaping, the airport will use 20,000 trees and plants. Also, more than 100 stores and restaurants will welcome the passengers.