L O N D O N
LONDON TRAVEL OVERVIEW
Famously referred to as ‘The Capital’, London needs little introduction.
In the wake of the might of the British Empire, London steadfastly remains one of the greatest — if not the single greatest — cities in the world. It is hard to imagine many other places which can keep up with the sheer atmosphere and scale of London, let alone the variety and quality of its offerings, even at this late stage in its historical cycle.
Perhaps Tokyo, perhaps Hong Kong, perhaps Paris, or perhaps New York City come close.
Yes, you pay for it, and London's value is in being there around everyone else, not the absolute value of your purchase, but as English writer Samuel Johnson famously remarked to his friend and biographer James Boswell in 1777:
‘If a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’.
Here's what we think should form the core of your experience:
British & English Culture & Museums in London
In contrast to almost everywhere else, London's museum offerings, which number amongst the most impressive in the world, are also overwhelmingly free to visit.
Part of your experience should be musing on the social implications of making this much culture available to the general pulic, for everyone, always, with no financial restrictions.
While this does lead occasionally to large crowds, we’d always argue that you can either go early or just put up with it, as it’s well worth it to be able to spend time with the treasures on offer. From fine art, to archeology from all over the world, to ecclectic collections, to thousands of years of history, it's hard to imagine anything not represented.
The West End is one of the world’s premier theatre destinations. Some of the very best productions originate here, and virtually all noteworthy visiting ones are performed here, with shows of all sorts playing seven days a week, year round.
Pubs | British & English Cuisine
Social media might have you believe otherwise, but London actually has some of the finest culinary offerings in the world, from all over the world, and many of these include incredible modern British cooking.
Explore everything from street food to haute cuisine, and then round it off with a beautiful traditional British meal made fresh with local ingredients, perfect simplicity, and exceptional comfort at a perfect local pub.
A perfect complement to the rain which happens much less frequently than one is led to believe – Rome, for example, receives significantly more precipitation than the old Capital of Dear Old Blighty.
British & English Style & Fashion | Shopping & Experiences
London’s visual identity is a byword for itself.
It’s easy to just say that anything you can imagine can be found here, but we’d like to suggest that you'll find London at its best when it's showcasing British, and old English style.
This is the place that invented 'the suit', afterall. Don't forget that despite the sun setting on the British Empire, virtually every world leader still wears the Savile Row suit in public. This is the visual language of power, and it was invented right here in London.
Both for ladies and gentlemen, at all levels of formality, and for both city and country living, this is the design language of the global capital that set the starndard for the rest of the world for centuries.
Many of London’s couture houses are amongst the oldest in the world, and we’d like to particularly draw your attention most importantly to how little some of these have changed.
In a world of turmoil and constant upheaval, knowing you could buy the same wool jumper 50 years apart from Cordings of Picadilly is a rare form of deep cultural stability & comfort.
Skip the Middleman. Meet the Best Guides in London
GGG MEMBERS SECTION
Our guides range from Blue Badge historians of Westminster Abbey to those who specialize in fine contemporary art, cocktail culture, royal scandals, or hidden Roman ruins beneath the City.
You might follow Shakespeare’s path through Southwark, explore Soho’s music history, or take a private car through neighborhoods few tourists reach.