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London is a two tier capital stretching from an inner city area out
into the suburbs (outer London). Across its centre, runs the River Thames.
This is a land-mark (water mark?) that divides not only the centre but
its extremities as well: South to North and North to South transitions
must be by way of the bridges and tunnels!
The bridges spanning the Thames from Waterloo Bridge in the Western
end along to Tower Bridge, at the Eastern end, define the city left to
right.
If you cross any bridge from the Northern bank - you are in South London. If you move above the invisible almost-horizontal line between Marylebone and Liverpool Street Stations, you are in Nothern London. Anywhere else and you are in London. The western end (The West End) leans towards entertainment and shopping - with the eastern end tilted towards business and commerce - (The City!).
The West End is bustling day and night. The East End tends to be busy by day and become a ghost town by night as the 'workers' depart.
First thing you do when you arrive in London is get a free tube map from most underground (tube) stations - ask for one at the ticket office - and buy a street atlas book called: The A-Z of London - available everywhere. Spend some time looking at the tube map. Remember that this map is a schematic representation and does not define distances between places or there physical locations in or around London!
The red line on the map is called the Central line. Use this line to cross london rapidly east/west from Lancaster Gate to The Bank (monument). Look at all the North / South intersections: you use these points to transfer to a Northern or Southern inner or outer London location. The yellow line is the circle line, you will use this a lot to get to the peripheral points of central London. part of it runs close to the river next to the Green Line called the district line.
You will use the tube more than any other form of transport in London... it simply is the best way to move around a congested city. Many of the tube stations within central London are closer together than you think so check the stations and their physical locations on a map like the A-Z book to se if a walk on a nice day might prove more rewarding. You can walk from St. Paul's Cathedral near Blackfriars Bridge (East) to Leicester Square (West) in 30 minutes at a good pace.
If for some reason you get really lost in London - look out for The
Post Office (now BT - Telecom Tower) Tower dominating the skyline (see
below). Head for this
and you will find yourself in a North East area of London within striking
distance of Oxford Street. Go South and left to encounter Oxford Street.
Go left (East) along Oxford Street to encounter Southern-aimed turn-offs
for Soho, Covent Garden, the West End and back to places you are likely
to know where you are!
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If you get lost and don't have a map on you, find a MacDonalds restaurant:
they often have free maps of London placed
in a little rack on thewall ready for you to take away.
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