London Olympics 27.07.12-12.08.12

London, due in part to its excessively high cost of living, is not as popular among tourists as Paris, its neighbour across the Channel. However, if you happen to be in Paris for a few weeks it is worth the while to make a short visit to London by taking the Eurostar train (and give yourself that "Been there, done that" feeling!) The train trip now takes only 2 1/4 hours (yes, two hours 15 minutes only!). The cost? From 88 euros if booked 3 months in advance (at this cheap fare the two-way tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable so be warned) to the normal fare of over 500 euros for a return trip.

The Victoria and Albert museum seen from the inside (above) and from the outside (below). Click to enlarge. (Photos courtesy of K. Paterson)

The Boris bikes.

If you are a history buff London is just the place for you. Nowhere in the world is history so omnipresent - museums on almost every subject under the sun (eg. there is a Sherlock Holmes Museum and a Handel House Museum) as well as historic houses and monuments.
Established in 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum in Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London is the world's greatest museum of art and design.
And after the museums what about a visit to the Spitalfields Market (more here), which also has an international food village to compete with that at Camden and satisfy all your palatal needs.
Old shops die hard in London. I was dumbfounded by a shop that sells nothing but umbrellas. And what is even more astonishing is that it has been doing that since 1830 - yes, just selling umbrellas for the last 180 years!
Only in London perhaps is this possible. And I heard there's another shop in London that sells only pipes. Is this an indication, in the case of one, of the weather conditions in London and in the other, of the pipe-puffing Londoners?

What's new in London:

1. The Shard (photo on left), standing at a height of 310 m in the London skyline, will soon be the focal point of the London Bridge area. It is due to be completed in May 2012.
Also known as the Shard London Bridge, it replaces Southwark Towers, built in 1976. It will house offices and have top-quality restaurants as well as the five-star Shangri-La hotel. It will also have a gallery offering 360° views.
2. The Boris bikes came into existence on 30 July 2010. Named after mayor Boris Johnson and run along the same lines as the Velibs of Paris, it is a common sight in the streets of London.
3. The Tea Building

LINKS TO INTERESTING PLACES IN LONDON
Victoria and Albert Museum British Museum Tate Modern Portobello Road market Covent Garden Piazza Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Westminster Abbey Spitalfields market National Gallery Buckingham Palace Soho and Chinatown Greenwich London underground Canary Wharf and Docklands	Tower of London Harrods Fortnum and Mason Official London City Guide London Net English National Opera Madame Tussaud's London Zoo London Aquarium St. Paul's Cathedral London Dungeon Latest tips about London Tower Bridge Books on London for visitors

Click here for more photos and text on Visiting London (2).