City of the Week: London, England

First-time pond-hopping gals consistently ask the same question. Where, in Europe, should I live first? If you want to move to Europe but just aren’t linguistically-skilled or culturally-savvy yet, we recommend London. No matter your background, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, as it’s the largest city in the EU and, as a city, it’s the sixth largest economy worldwide. Additionally, its’ main transportation system— the tube—includes a rail network of 11 underground connecting lines, which even stretch through the English Channel for your next trip to Paris.

To begin your London overview, you’ll need a summary of the hoods first.

Like New York City or Chicago, London’s best experienced by foot and by trekking from neighborhood to neighborhood via the “underground” or “tube.” Neighborhoods include Bayswater, Bloomsbury, Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Holborn, Kensington & Earl’s Court, Knightsbridge & Belgravia, Marylebone & Regent’s Park, Notting Hill, the City of London, South Bank, West End and Westminster. You’ll probably want to begin exploration in the trendy West End area, as it spans several diverse neighborhoods and features Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Soho (the original one), and Covent Garden.

From here, you can head into Bloomsbury, Holburn, or Camden Town; however, the West End’s central location is also an excellent base for further exploration into Westminster, where you'll find Parliament, Trafalgar Square, the gothic Abbey, and the Thames River. Afterward, comfortably trek into Knightsbridge & Belgravia, and Chelsea, perhaps cruising through King’s Cross and Sloane Square, or Earls Court & Kensington, former London residence to Princess Diana (Kensington Gardens).

I lived in South Kensington in a romantic flat on Kensington Gardens, also an accessible point to Earl’s Court and the ethnically exclusive Notting Hill (FYI: check out Portobello Road Market).

See you Wednesday for more London!