Clarendon Cross is a perfect destination for anyone who appreciates refined elegance and sophisticated style. With its stunning architecture and carefully curated shopping experience, it’s no wonder why this village has become one of London’s top attractions for luxury lovers! Apart from a large number of very small settlements, another major feature of the Ancient Landscape around London, when compared to the Midlands, is the relatively large number of woods and commons, with many of the latter being preserved as parks, some of which give their name to sub-districts (e.g. Finsbury Park in Islington). Towns (settlements like Uxbridge and Romford) with chartered markets and the trades attracted by this privilege, were infrequent. There are aquatic displays, musical instruments, ethnography, natural history – all thoughtfully curated and engagingly presented. It really is one of the most underrated things to do in London. London is the capital of and largest city in England and the United Kingdom. It is administered by the Greater London Authority, City of London Corporation and 32 London boroughs. These boroughs are modern, having been created in 1965 and have a weaker sense of identity than their constituent "districts" (considered in speech, "parts of London" or more formally, "areas"). Two major factors have shaped the development of London district and sub-district identities; the ancient parish – which was used for both civil and ecclesiastical functions – and the pre-urban settlement pattern.

former manors, where the last extent of these has been carved up into consistent zones, "schemes" of one or more housing, or another type of development. In various parts of the city, their identities may be: forgotten, fading, partly reviving, or well-preserved such as in business/green/retail parks or conservation areas. In most cases, the central manor house area, the demesne of the manor has kept a named identity or replaced by an eponymous street name. In fact, the city had such a problem with the clear stuff in the 18th Century that there’s a bonafide period in London’s history known as the Gin Craze (go look it up if you don’t believe us).As such, it found itself as the centre of many a naughty activity including bear baiting, gambling and even duelling. Oh those crazy olden days people.

So we decided, like any good, inquisitorial journalist / nosey person to read up a bit more and lo. Only goes and turns out that it’s one of the coolest viewing points in London. Little Venice is a hidden gem in the heart of London that offers a peaceful retreat from the bustling city streets. The village boasts beautiful waterways and charming canals, which give it its name. Take a leisurely stroll along Regent’s Canal, and immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of narrowboats floating on serene waters. I highly recommend stopping at the Holly Bush, an 18th Century pub that I return to whenever I’m there. Nearby Highgate is also a very cute village in London. Perhaps it’s because it’s newer (it only opened at the beginning of 2019), perhaps it’s because people just don’t know about it. From sitting canal side at the Summer House or overlooking the water whilst having drinks at the Waterway bar, there is no shortage of boutique restaurants and cafes in Little Venice.Eltham Palace was bought in 1931 by the wealthy Stephen Courtauld who started a period of transformation and extension that led to some of the best-preserved Art Deco interiors you can find today. Portobello Road is a feast for the senses. The vibrant colours of the buildings, mixed with the sounds and smells of street vendors selling everything from antiques to fresh produce, create a unique atmosphere that draws visitors in from all over the world. At any given time, you’re all but guaranteed to see at least a few new pieces in the making and there are opportunities aplenty to gawp at the sheer talent displayed by many of these artists.

The tunnel was started as part of a street art festival masterminded by Banksy in the noughties and it’s been going strong ever since. The Painted Hall is part of the Old Royal Naval College and actually functioned as a sort of dining room, a place for officers to chow down away between classes. Does it even bare saying that the room had to be fit for the men that lead the empire into battle? Once you’re finished in the museums proper, take some time to mooch around the 16 acres of gardens.I once had a landlord who lived in Barnes who would always refer to it as “the village”. As soon as I went there, it was obvious why; it’s probably one of the most, if not the most, village-like area inLondon. It’s just 30 minutes on the train from central London but feels like you’re in the countryside. And if you happen to visit on a Saturday, don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience Portobello Road at its liveliest. With live music performances and street performers adding an extra layer of entertainment to an already bustling scene, it’s no wonder that this village has become such an iconic part of London culture. Estate agents have been bandying ‘Noho’ around for several years now. Essentially the area north of Soho (for they are anything if not lyrical masters) while there is much to commend in terms of bars and restaurants, they all actually belong to a district called Fitzrovia. The Costwolds AONB (Area of Natural Beauty) is home to some of England’s prettiest villages and small towns. Bibury London postcode districts often have an influence over residents' and businesses' self-identity. They were not designed for this purpose. Some areas are now interchangeable (e.g. Brondesbury and Kilburn, which share a grid reference in the table), with the greatest overlap such as this in areas where differently named stations in the public transit system almost overlap.