For what it concerns the food, the choice is among the widest and most varied…but, unfortunately, it is certainly not its strong suit.
If two of the most important parameters, which generally help to understand whether or not a place in the world deserves a short or long stay, have already been struck down, without any possibility of appeal, I firmly believe the truth lies in this famous aphorism: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”
Art and culture, exhibitions and shows, theaters and cinemas, museums (mostly free!), London is one of the most cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic cities in the world, an undisputed protagonist on the international artistic scene.
Ideal setting for literary works, from Sherlock Holmes to the famous platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station in Harry Potter, London is also one of the main capitals when it comes to fashion, design and, as a cherry on top, music!
The pedestrian crossings of Abbey Road, immortalized on the cover of the super famous album by the Beatles, always remind us, even with the continuous traffic and comings and goings of cars and people, that it is from here that the British Invasion of the mid-1960s began, when four boys from Liverpool made English music famous around the world.
The Marquee Club, the historic music club where John Lennon and his partner Yoko Ono performed, has always been a key venue, where countless rock, jazz and blues artists have played (just to name a few: the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, the Queens and Pink Floyd).
It has closed down many times (due to a troubled past) and reopened just as many times as it closed, but it is currently under debate whether it’ll reopen or not anytime soon.
The West End in London is a district which is famous for its theaters (first of all the Royal Opera House) and its central square, home to a well-stocked fruit and vegetable market.
It is here that you find traditional places where Londoners go for a pint with colleagues after work (what better way to socialize than a chat in British over a well-deserved pint?).
London is also the seat of the first Hard Rock Cafe, founded in 1971 from the idea of two young Americans who moved here to open a restaurant where the English could appreciate American culture, but the real reason for the success of Hard Rock, which makes it a valid reason for a visit, is the immense collection of objects (about 80,000 pieces) that belonged to great personalities of the music scene displayed at the various cafes, now open all over the world.
Artists of the caliber of Elton John and Sting performed at the famous London venue and among the most important objects on display are the guitars of Lennon, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash, together with stage clothes which belonged to artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince, as well as even some Beatles memorabilia.
London, just like New York City, is a city that never sleeps.
Among its many contradictions and frenzy, it is a city that truly has everything, which knows how to have fun and offers a thousand different nightlife possibilities and is able to satisfy all tastes, but which, at the same time, always works, a lot, an authentic beating heart that never stops.
The right way to end a day on a high note is certainly in the truest and most authentic Soho, where you can find the poshest private clubs in the city.
The Soho area allows to easily move on foot from one place to another and, close to Soho Square - one of the most beautiful corners of all of London with the splendid St. Patrick Church - you can go for a beer to the sound of jazz at the Scott Jazz Club, a true icon of the world of music, as it is believed to be the oldest jazz club in the world: its programming is often sold out but definitely worth a visit.
In the 60s, Soho used to be a meeting place for musicians and bands such as The Who but, above all, it is remembered as the place where Hendrix played his first official presentation to the press as an artist.
Carnaby Street was the epicenter of the ‘swinging London’ of those years, the cultural revolution whose main symbols were the Beatles, pop art and miniskirts.
There are still some good venues here guaranteeing live music gigs seven days a week and jams with free admission every Sunday and Monday.
The venues on Carnaby Street normally offer a relaxed atmosphere and concerts by international artists.
There is a bar offering blues live gigs too on the same street.
Jazz Club
London never disappoints.
