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Streets and Squares in London
Sightseeing in London, you’ll pass through the city's landmark streets and squares. Shopping is great in Oxford and Picadilly Streets, as the numerous shops there offer virtually everything. You can't omit monumental Trafalgar Square, one of the major tourist sites in London, where public celebrations and various events such as New Year's Eve are often organised. You can't leave London without seeing Parliament Square, either. The buildings around it are the most famous attractions of London: Westminster Abbey, Westminster Central Hall, St. Margaret's Church and naturally, the Houses of Parliament. Apart from seeing these great boulevards and squares, be sure to venture into the lesser-known alleys and small market squares where you can experience the real London.
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Haymarket
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Address: Haymarket
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Situated in the City of Westminster, between Pall Mall and Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket is a district of theatres. It is situated close to Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and St James’s Park. It is a stone’s throw from the best London’s theatres, with two theatres being located directly in the area of Haymarket: Her Majesty’s Theatre, built in 1897 and Theatre Royal Haymarket, created by John Nash in 1820. Admirers of the theatre had plenty of occasions to enjoy many famous performances, from 'Phantom of the Opera' to the hit of the 80’s – 'Live from Her Majesty', now remembered mostly because of Tommy Cooper – the famous comedian and magician's tragic death on stage. The theatres present both classical and modern works. Her Majesty the Queen has been among the most eminent spectators, visiting the theatre during Handel’s opera premieres. In the past, Haymarket had a bad reputation as a district of prostitution, but in recent years it became famous for quite different reasons. In the same area, visitors can enjoy the beautiful architecture of the Haymarket hotel, which combines classical design with contemporary elements. The facade is the work of John Nash, who co-designed Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. Besides its attractive architecture, the hotel offers a high scale ambiance and first-class accommodation, complemented by excellent facilities.
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Portobello market
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Address: Portobello market
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Portobello market belongs among London’s most popular tourist destination and is popular for its antiques and second-hand bargains. Its name commemorates the historical period when Admiral Edward Vernon captured the silver-producing town of Puerto Bello of the current Panama in the 18th Century. The place of the market has been a trade area since Victorian times and the architecture of the local buildings dates back to this period. The Portobello Road’s business flourished in the past and while in the beginning most of the products were accessible by price, later the stallholders increased the prices, so that the customers had to bargain. Nowadays the market is famous for its impressive mixture of cultures and nations, products and herbs, providing a really unique atmosphere. On the South end of the street you can find various antiques, in the Portobello’s middle part there are vegetables and in other end – some bric-à-brac. The market area is not as big as the antique sections of Paris' St Ouen, but if taken together with nearby Chelsea's Kings Road and South Moulton, it covers a significant area. In vicinity you will find beautiful areas, ideal for a walk, such as Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
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Bermondsey Antiques market
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Address: Bermondsey Antiques market
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Bermondsey Antiques market is a strewn area with lots of small stalls selling a great variety of items where almost anything you look for can be found. The best time to find the best deals is in the early morning when it is still dark, so bring a torch. The Bermondsey Antiques market was about to be redesigned, but fortunately it retained its old appearance, without losing its earlier charm. It is still a good spot to hunt for silver (the best is South Molton Street area – accessible by Bond St Tube). On the north side of the market, along Bermondsey Street you can see huge warehouses full of antiques that can be visited in the same hours, though more and more often they are sold and turned into lofts.
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Camden Market
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Address: Camden market
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Camden Market is one of the the top sites in London, especially for the bargain hunters. Practically everything is on sale here, including antiques, clothing, music, food and drinks, collectibles, rugs and ethnic art. During the week it is calm but tends to get a bit crowded on Sundays. The Camden Market offers a great opportunity to find quality goods for bargain prices. Some products cost less here than anywhere else in London, for example pieces of African art can be bought at a tenth of their price in the West End galleries and the rug shops are probably the cheapest outside the Arabic countries. Recently, also clothes from fashion designers can be found at the Camden Market, thus many young people come here to hunt for trendy club wear. The Camden Market is an attraction that can be included in your tourist trip and it might not take more than an hour of your time. You can continue along Stables Market to Chalk Farm tube station and reach the park of Primrose Hill, where people enjoy a walk and contemplate the panorama of London. Pass through the Regent's Park and there you will see the famous Mosque and Madame Tussauds.
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Spitafields
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Address: Spitafields
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One of the best places to find fresh fruit and vegetables is the old Spitalfields market, situated opposite Liverpool St Station on Bishopsgate. It has almost kept the original appearance, nevertheless it has recently started to transform into a bohemian and trendy weekend market. Comparatively calm during the week, it is more crowded on Sundays. There is a wide range of organic fruit and vegetables, art, books, vintage cars and a great number of merchants always ready to bargain. It is a good starting point for further exploration of the Huguenot architecture and the history of Brick Lane, together with its surroundings. Within close vicinity you'll find the Columbia Road Flower Market – the best place to pick up some flowers and have lunch. Especially recommended is the Meson Los Barilles, a Spanish restaurant with splendid cuisine, which is the favourite meeting spot London artists. They often have their studios in the area of Spitalfields. Unfortunately, there is a threat that the market will be demolished to make room for an office building, hotel complex and a shopping mall.
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Connaught Square
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Address: Connaught Square
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Connaught Square is named after the Earl of Connaught and represents one of the most remarkable sites in London. The square takes position close to other tourist attractions - just around the corner is the Marble Arch, to the north, there's famous the Hyde Park and a stone’s throw away you'll find the prestigious Mayfair and Oxford Street. Its historical background and architecture style date back to the early 19th Century.The square was the only one of this kind in the Bayswater area. Home to celebrities and wealthy VIPs, such as Ministers from Pakistan and Brunei, Connaught Square has become popular as the location of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s retirement residence, estimated at about 3.5 million pounds. Besides attracting tourists, the square also features a garage specialising in car accessories, offering everything a car enthusiast could possibly desire.
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Bloomsbury Square
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Address: Bloomsbury Square
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Bloomsbury square is another place you should visit while being in London. Its name derives from Blemondisberi, in other words 'the manor of W. Blemond', who was proprietor of the land in the early 13th Century. This rural area changed its status in 1661, when the 4th Earl of Southampton built a square around the house, lately renamed Bloomsbury Square. After the Bloomsbury Square was constructed, many more followed – Bedford Square in 1780 and the large Russell Square, laid out in 1800. The original buildings of Bloomsbury Square did not survive, for example rioters burned down the house of the Lord Chief Justice. Many famous residents lived in this area, most of them were members of the literary and artistic 'Bloomsbury Group'. Among the artists were Vanessa Bell, Dora Carrington and Duncan Grant, Lytton Strachey and novelist Virginia Wolf. Nowadays blue plaques in the area commemorate the members of the Bloomsbury Group.
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Russell Square
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Address: Russell Square
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Russell Square is an impressive site of interest and one of the largest squares in the city of London. Constructed in 1800, the square’s main attraction is the awesome Russell Hotel, which is situated on its eastern side. Dating from 1900, the Russell Hotel is decorated in the Victorian style and astonishes both with its facade and its interior. Red bricks combine perfectly with the terracotta structure and leave a long-lasting impression. Columns and large balconies stand for the stylish complexity and a great splendour emanates from the lobby and other halls. Crossing the square, you will see the statue in memory of the 5th Duke of Bedford (1765 – 1805), shown with a plough and sheep. From 2002, the Russell Square boasts a renovated outlook, topped off with a beautiful fountain.
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