LONDON - THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD:: a guide for first timers

PLACES TO VISIT

The South Bank:: Spend a day walking from Lambeth Palace to The Design Museum

Neal St:: don't stray into Covent Garden, but here and Seven Dials is great for shopping

Islington:: two streets, Upper Street and Essex Road with dozens of bars and restaurants, shops, an antique market ...

The City:: do a guided walk on a weekend. There's 2000 years of history in one square mile

RESTAURANTS

... for those who enjoy pontificating on things they know nothing about, English restaurants are a bit of a joke. But if you've ever been to London you'll know the opposite is true. The restaurants here are excellent and every cuisine is represented. Avoid the West End tourist traps and you'll be fine.

FANCY

Baltic:: on Blackfriars Bridge Road - Polish vodka bar/ restaurant. expensive, a place to be seen

Maison Don Phillippe:: very tradititional smoky, noisy, packed, tapas bar, brilliant range of sherries served ice cold, as they should be

Morgan M:: on Liverpool Road, expensive but oh-so-very cool

Fredericks:: in Islington, been around for years and still going strong

CHEAP

Brick Lane:: several dozen Indian restaurants on one street

Taz:: Turkish/Anatolian restaurants, there are about 5 of them dotted around the Southbank near The Cut and the Globe Theatre

Moro:: in Exmouth Market. Superb modern tapas, spanish and morroccean influenced

Gastropubs:: great food in a pub!! What could be better?

The Windsor Castle:: in Notting Hill

The Drapers Arms:: in Islington - Barnsbury St, N1

St.John:: on Junction Road, N19, nearest tube is Archway

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

The National Gallery:: right on Trafalgar Square, this is a huge gallery with tons of great paintings from every age. It's free, of course, so go many times, you'll never see it all

... www.nationalgallery.org.uk

The Tate Modern:: This is the converted power station on the South bank. Even if you hate modern art go for the amazing architecture, the views from the top, the cafe and the bookshop

... www.tate.org.uk/modern/default.shtm

Victoria & Albert:: Arts and Crafts, which means everything. You could spend months in here

... www.vam.ac.uk

British Museum:: the plunderings of the Empire, including the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, ...

... www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk