London

Cosmopolitan, fast moving London is one of the world's most exciting and successful capital cities. It's a dynamic place where old meets new, with hundreds of famous landmarks and institutions.

There's still space to relax in London's many parks, and an endless variety of shops, cafes and restaurants to choose from.

The sheer size of the city can be overwhelming. With a population of nearly eight million, and stretching for 30 miles either side of the river Thames, it's one of the largest in Europe. Londoners still tend to think of the city as a series of interconnecting villages, as indeed they once were, and the term "village" is still used to describe some areas such as Highgate and Blackheath.

Traditional attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral continue to draw in millions of visitors every year. In addition, the huge facelift that the city has undergone in recent years has resulted in a host of new ones. Tate Britain is the world's largest modern art gallery, and the London Eye is the tallest observation wheel. Two fantastic bridges have helped transform the south bank of the Thames into a magnet for visitors and tourists alike, and projects such as the pedestrianisation of Trafalgar Square have made this a real difference to the quality of life.

London is exciting. It has great energy, and you'll need some of your own to get round it all!