"Paul's London England Page" London by Paul2001

London Travel Guide: 26,558 reviews and 43,852 photos

My first moments in London seemed very chaotic at the time. In hindsight the reason for this is rather simple. London was the first city that I had every visit on my own that was significantly larger than my hometown of Toronto.
Because of the apparent chaos of the city my initial impression of London was somewhat negative. It seem congested and filthy. Traffic was maddening. The tube stank and seemed oh so very old. The city infastructure was in decay. The fact were these are all actual characteristics of London at that time. It is not the prettiest city in Europe by any stretch of the imagination. However to talk of only its flaws is foolish. Any city of London's size has flaws and as far as cities go London is one of my favourite cities in the world.
For me London is a city of museums. There is not city in the world that is blessed with so many high quality museums(sorry Paris and New York). Furthermore because of its fascintating history few cities in the world can compare to London's wealth of historical sights such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Then there is the entertainment nightlife aspect of London. This is THE CITY to see a play and to go for a beer afterward. Therefore any first impression of London you might have might prove misleading as it is a city that has to be explored to be enjoyed.

My Return to London in 2010

Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

I revisited London in June 2010 after an enjoyable journey through Scotland. This time I arrived mentally prepared. Unlike my first visited, I was a very seasoned traveller. London is a piece of cake after such cities a Cairo and Mumbai.
Regardless I also noticed some considerable improvements in the city management than before. For starters the city is much cleaner than it was in 1989. The "tube" is much improved and I enjoyed traveling along it quite a bit. Traffic is still congested but like New York, you would be only asking for trouble driving here. The city is still expensive but most of the important museums are actually free (if you ignore the suggest donation).
Although I am sure there are criminal activities in London, I never found the city threatening.
I think London will make an excellent host for the 2012 and will be watching closely for landmarks I visited during my two trips there. Furthermore, I going to make a serious endeavor to journey back to London in the futured. I ignored it for too long.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Too much to do for one trip
Cons:Serious congestion problems
In a nutshell:A City that Never Ceases to Fascinate!

Last visit to London: Jun 2010
Intro Updated Nov 10, 2010
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Reviews (24)

A touristy pub Nightlife (1)

I visited more pubs in London that I cannot begin to remember the names of all of them. I do remember the Sherlock... more travel advice

Dillon's Bookstore (well, it used to be) - London

Dillon's Bookstore (well, it used to be) Shopping (3)

I stayed by this wonderful bookstore while visiting London. I love a good bookstore and once I entered Dillon's I found... more travel advice

A faded old hotel Hotels (1)

The Tavistock Hotel is emblematic of a problem that you will face when attempting to book a hotel room in London, that... more travel advice

Liberty is just right of centre - London

Liberty Shopping (3)

Although I like Harrod's, I loved Liberty. This is a much more upscale. For you Americans, the comparison would be... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (1)
The London Dungeon
Favorites (2)
See All Piccadilly Circus
Off The Beaten Path (2)
See All The Museum of London

Comments (28)

JensJensen Dec 9, 2007 at 4:45 PM Report Abuse

So many tips and pics worthy of a 5 star rating - Regards Jens
marielexoteria Oct 31, 2007 at 12:33 AM Report Abuse

Great page :)
shail83 Jan 31, 2007 at 3:10 AM Report Abuse

this is the best site for getting information about restaurants in London. please visit on this. http://www.lacartes.com
charlesracine Nov 28, 2006 at 10:53 AM Report Abuse

Good comments. Based on what I saw when I was there a couple of times it is worth a stop.
Nemorino Nov 23, 2006 at 3:18 PM Report Abuse

Detailed and insightful tips! Interesting to read about your development as a museum visitor. Ironic that the Imperial War Museum was once an insane asylum. Are they trying to tell us something about warfare?
fatdave Sep 23, 2006 at 12:14 PM Report Abuse

Dillons was taken over by Waterstones many years ago. It no longer exists as a brand, as far as I'm aware.
deecat Aug 16, 2006 at 6:31 PM Report Abuse

Top quality with helpful information, great insights, and rare honesty. I appreciate all those qualities. This is my 2nd visit here and well worth it. Your photos add a good deal, but it's your writing style that entices the readers. Thanks.
globetrott Aug 16, 2006 at 1:53 PM Report Abuse

an interesting page & great pics, Paul ! it is great to see this tiny tank of WW I, looks more like a toy than a tank...
andal13 Jan 21, 2005 at 8:43 AM Report Abuse

London is one of my "top list" places to visit someday... Interesting virtual-guided-trip, Paul; thank you.
scottishvisitor Nov 5, 2004 at 3:17 PM Report Abuse

Our school took a trip to London we had lunch in a box in Piccadilly Circus Great Experiance