It’s undeniable: London is and will always be one of the world’s great cities. Ancient and contemporary. Traditional and cosmopolitan. A getaway for family fun and a great place for a night out. London, in short, is the ideal city for any traveller that wants a bit of everything. It’s one of Pearson’s premiere destinations for both business and leisure, and every day, our many airline partners offer several direct flights out of Toronto to the city, including Air Canada, Air Transat, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, with up to eight daily flights to London during the summer season. Here, a brief guide of things to do and see while visiting the U.K’s capital metropolis.
Soho: the mecca of pub culture
No doubt you’ve heard of this legendary neighbourhood, which became famous as the Rolling Stones’ 1960s stomping grounds. Today, its rollicking pub culture lives on. The district remains the best spot to watch waves of happy people spill out onto the street after last call. But it’s also now a bastion of innovative British cuisine, as cited by the Michelin Guide. Plus, don’t forget that Soho has been the heart of London’s LGBT+ community for decades—packed with entertaining bars and concert halls. Drag night, anyone?
Find serenity in Little Venice
It’s worth remembering that London was a city built on its stunning canals, rivers and ocean ports. Sitting just north of the town’s Paddington district is the charming, canal-rich Little Venice, where water is the way of life. Various aquatic services, including the London Waterbus, happily shuttle visitors through the neighbourhood’s leafy splendour. But if boats aren’t your bag, the neighbourhood is highly walkable too, and connects to treasured destinations like Camden Town and the London Zoo.
A sure thing in Shoreditch
Head to the East End if you’re an art lover in search of inspiration and colourful scenery. In Shoreditch, you will find a community of creatives running some of London’s most exciting galleries, markets and performance venues, plus an open-air salon featuring the city’s most provocative graffiti and street art. A collection of wonderful boutique hotels—guest lodges that will make you feel like a local—are also exciting places to launch your cultural adventure.
Behold Brick Lane’s beautiful buffet
Neighbouring Shoreditch is Brick Lane, the curry-filled dining experience of your dreams. London probably has the best South Asian cuisine outside of the continent, and this street likely has the best South Asian food in the city proper. It’s affectionately nicknamed Banglatown, after its thriving Bangladeshi residents, and that proud culture is on full display when you walk the length of this historic avenue. But if shopping is more your game, Brick Lane is also home to a bevy of vintage and vinyl stores, and plenty of other retail.