From pub grub and ale to musical and theatrical performances worthy of the royals, London teems with age-old nocturnal tradition and ultime trendiness. Some 5,000-plus pubs and bars include everything from public houses to exclusive celebrity hangouts.
A traditional British pub awaits on practically every corner, among them Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of the city’s oldest. The George Inn ranks as London’s only surviving galleried coaching inn. Home to the first British Martini,
The Savoy’s American Bar opened in the 1890s. Trader Vic's pours tastes of the South Pacific, the Mandarin Bar skillfully mixes libations in stylish glassware, and Long Bar beckons with an 80-footer. Two prime areas for serious bar-hopping are Hoxton and Shoreditch, home to Bed Bar and the Troy Bar. Celebrities frequent The Blue Bar or The Met Bar. Greek Street has Soho Wine Bar, and Gordon’s Wine Bar, also in the West End, is believed London’s the oldest wine hangout. Entry to pubs is free, although charges may apply if live acts are performing.
London’s club scene, with more than 200 venues, has reached pinnacle levels, with even Sunday nights providing a notable variety of dance music. Globally famed club nights include the Ministry of Sound and the nostalgia of School Disco. Soho, for centuries the heart of London’s nightlife, teems with a glamour aura and thriving gay scene. The Lab Bar on Old Compton Street is known for cocktails, and The End is known for cool.
Trendsetters with eclectic musical tastes gather at Shoreditch’s Plastic People, or Cargo and Herbal around the corner. Fabric and Turnmills in Clerkenwell have top international DJs. In West London, Notting Hill Arts Club is somewhat of an undiscovered jewel. Also west, The Blag Club reflects the trend for “micro clubs” with two venues on Notting Hill Gate and Kensal Road. To the north in the Islington area, Canvas conducts club nights and a roller disco. Nearby, The Key’s underground nights have big name DJs. Camden’s Bar Vinyl, open days for snacks, also has DJs at night. Brixton’s Dogstar goes easy on the pocketbook, and Brixton’s big clubs include The Fridge and Mass, and the Gothic-style Bug Bar in the crypt downstairs.
London is home to four of the world's largest orchestras – the London Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The English National Opera performs entirely in English at The Coliseum. The Royal Ballet performs at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Theatreland, in London’s West End, is home to theater, musicals, ballet and opera. London theatrical life, buzzing long before Shakespeare, has more than a dozen West End musicals playing, many with matinees and discounted tickets. The National Theatre stages classics, musicals, new plays and entertainment within three auditoriums: Olivier, Lyttelton and Cottesloe. At Shakespeare’s Globe on Southbank, audience participation is encouraged.
Qatar Travel & Culture
Located halfway along the western coast of the Arabian Gulf, the State of Qatar acts as a bridge between East and West welcoming visitors from around the world. At the crossroads of economic, cultural and natural heritage, the strategic location of the country has attracted visitors to the region for thousands of years. Spend 48 hours in Qatar and let the country's harmonious blend of Arabian culture with modern luxury and innovation carry you away.
Dynamic Dubai - A whole world in one city
With the desert as a backdrop, Dubai has become a buzz of a city. Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, you see the transformation - a desert backwater to a lively, vibrant and dynamic place, and all in such a short space of time. There are new shopping centres which have recently opened such as Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall, which offer tourists a unique and world-class shopping experience. Shopping if in fact one of the many reasons that travellers come to Dubai as there are many bargains and specials to be found, especially during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Dubai for First-time visitors
While planning the next holiday to Dubai, travelers can select from a broad array of attractive hotels. Dubai is a well-liked selection for numerous visitors from around the globe.
