LondonisacosmopolitanmixtureoftheThirdandFirstworlds,ofchauffeursandbeggars,oftheestablishment,theavowedlyworkingclassandtheavant-garde.UnlikecomparableEuropeancities,muchofLondonlooksunplannedandgrubby,butthatispartofitsappeal.VisitingLondonislikebeingletlooseonagiant-sizedMonopolyboardcloggedwithtraffic.Eventhoughyouprobablywon¡¯tknowwherethehellyouare,atleastthenameswilllookreassuringlyfamiliar.Thecityissoenormous,visitorswillneedtomakemaximumuseoftheundergroundtrainsystem:unfortunately,thisdislocatesthecity¡¯sgeographyandmakesithardtogetyourbearings. ¡¡¡¡WhentoGo ¡¡¡¡Londonisayear-roundtouristcenter,withfewofitsattractionsclosingorsignificantlyreducingtheiropeninghoursinwinter.Yourbestchanceofgoodweatheris,ofcourse,attheheightofsummerinJulyandAugust,butthere¡¯scertainlynoguaranteeofsuneveninthosemonthsandthatiswhenyoucanexpectthebiggestcrowdsandhighestprices. ¡¡¡¡Greatchurches: ¡¡¡¡WestminsterAbbey
¡¡¡¡Arestingplaceoftheroyals,WestminsterAbbey,isoneofthemostvisitedchurchesintheChristianworld.It¡¯sabeautifulbuilding,fullofmorosetombsandmonuments,withanacousticfieldthatwillsendshiversdownyourspinewhenthechoirboyscleartheirthroats.Therollcallofthedeadandhonoredisguaranteedtohumblethegreatestegoist,despitetheweightyandornatememorabilia. ¡¡¡¡StPaul¡¯sCathedral ¡¡¡¡HalftheworldsawtheinsideofStPaul¡¯sCathedralwhenCharlestiedtheknotherein1981.ThevenerablebuildingwasconstructedbyChristopherWrenbetween1675and1710,butstandsonthesiteoftwopreviouscathedralsdatingbackto604.Itsfamousdome,thebiggestintheworldafterStPeter¡¯sinRome,nolongerdominatesLondonasitdidforcenturies-afactwhichirritatesthebonnieprince¡¯ssenseofarchitecturalharmony.Visitorsshouldtalklowandsweetlynearthewhisperinggallery,whichreputedlycarrieswordsspokenclosetoitswallstotheothersideofthedome. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
