Anyone who visits London for the first time is sure to concentrate on eternal sights like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the British Museum.
But what if you’ve already explored the U.K. capital several times and are looking for something completely new to reignite your flame for one of the world’s great cities?
With 32 boroughs (27 more than New York City!) and more than a hundred neighborhoods, there’s an awful lot of London to explore beyond well-trodden tourist areas like Westminster, Covent Garden and The City.
Listed from west to east, here are eight neighborhoods that will give you a whole new perspective on jolly old London:
Long before it shot to global fame via the Ted Lasso television show, Richmond was known for its Georgian homes, riverside walkways, historic pubs and the factory where disabled military vets make red poppies for Remembrance Day.
Richmond Green has evolved from medieval jousting to modern-day weekend cricket matches, while Twickenham on the other side of the river is ground zero for English rugby. At the top of Richmond Hill, sprawling Richmond Park is one of London’s largest green spaces. And nearby is Kew with its celebrated Royal Botanic Gardens.
Getting there: District Line, London Overground or South Western Railway from Waterloo Station.
This south bank neighborhood was renowned for a rundown riverside park, abandoned power station and not much more until the early 21st century when the colossal electricity factory was redeveloped into a vibrant retail, eating and entertainment venue surrounded by hotels and modern housing.
While retaining Victorian and Edwardian landmarks, Battersea Park has undergone its own renaissance by adding bicycle and Segway rental, ziplines and a tree-top adventure course, and bungee jumping over the Thames.
Getting there: Northern Line, Southern Railway from Victoria Station or Thames Clippers ferry from central London.
Once upon a time, the neighborhood on the south side of London Bridge was one of the city’s most vibrant areas, home to Shakespeare’s original Globe Theatre and Southwark Cathedral, one of England’s classic Gothic churches.
Southwark fell on hard times in the 20th century, renowned more for its shabby docklands, dingy streets and drab industrial buildings.
Its remarkable renaissance started with Sam Wanamaker’s reconstruction of the Globe Theatre in 1997 and continued with other iconic structures like The Shard skyscraper and a reworked Borough Market that now revolves around gourmet food experiences rather than wholesale produce.
Getting there: London Bridge or Southwark Bridge; Northern or Jubilee Lines.
One of the epicenters of British publishing and a longtime bastion of wholesale trade, this under-the-radar
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Demand for travel is high and rates are even higher – an average of $1,600 per night for hotel bookings during 2023/24 festive season. Happy (but stressed) travel advisors and suppliers are delighted to see you swarming back, often in record numbers. The only challenge is meeting your expectations, something that has never been more difficult. Fifty-seven percent of you say, “Creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price.” Making sure you have a bon voyage these days takes more time and creativity, even if it’s often hidden behind those smiles. Welcome to the post-Covid travel industry.
American Airlines is making it easier than ever to fly to Europe next year, launching four new routes to major European cities in the airline's largest transatlantic expansion since the pandemic.
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I live on a cruise ship for half the year with my husband and it's often as glamorous as it sounds. After all, I don't cook, clean, make my bed, do laundry, or pay for food.
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Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
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For the sixth year in a row, Finland has claimed the top spot in the World Happiness Report. The annual report, compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, surveys residents in over 150 countries to determine which nations are the happiest.
In Willemstad, the capital city on the island of Curaçao, the waterfront is dotted with buildings the color of tropical fruit: mango orange, banana yellow, kiwi green. Paired with the bright blue water in nearby bays, it’s almost a full kaleidoscope of color. Originally, the structures were limestone white, but an 1817 law forbade white facades on buildings to protect islanders’ eyesight from the bright reflections of the Caribbean sun – but locals joke that it was a money-making bid on behalf of the island’s only paint supplier.