UPM SKYPE EXCHANGE 5

In December we run a Skype exchange with students at Madrid Technical University (UPM); here are the practical guides that we created for students in English & Spanish

 

How to Take Advantage of a Stay in London

London, considered by many with New York, Tokyo and Paris one of the four “alpha/global” cities, offers an infinite range of possibilities and opportunities and anybody would see his or her expectations fulfilled there. What follows is a possible brief itinerary to make the most of the cultural and leisure offer of an exceptional and outstanding city.



Diliff, The Palace of Westminster at night
seen from the south bank of the River Thames.



If only one aspect of London has to be singled out, it is undoubtedly its cultural attractions. The museums are varied and renowned, for instance, the British Museum, where we find relics and antiques, those from ancient Egypt standing out, like the Rosetta Stone. We must mention the Victoria and Albert Museum (the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design), the National Gallery (containing masterpieces of painters such as Caravaggio, Monet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh or Velázquez), the National Portrait Gallery, and the Natural History Museum. Finally, focused on entertainment, the wax museum of Madame Tussauds, in Marylebone, and the Science Museum are two excellent options.

Theatres are abundant in London. The most interesting ones are probably those located in the West End, mainly devoted to the performance of musicals. As well as the West End, this city has a lot of other emblematic places, such as Piccadilly Circus (recommended for going out),

Leicester Square

(with some of the major cinemas in the world), the cosmopolitan street market of

Portobello Road

, or the ethnic enclave of Chinatown.

If we are looking for a shopping street, we may make our way towards Knightsbridge, a road spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. On the other hand, if we feel like spending a day at a theme park, surely Thorpe Park, Surrey, is a good choice.

For strolling and relaxing, there are two prominent green spaces in London: Hyde Park and Regent’s Park. At the first one, we can visit Winter Wonderland, a place where we can do activities like ice skating during the Christmas season.

At O2 Arena and Earls Court Exhibition Centre, we can attend concerts and sport shows, whereas at restaurants like Boisdale, in Belgravia, we can taste top quality British cuisine.

To finish, we might say goodbye to the city with its impressive view from above on the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, situated on the banks of the River Thames.

 Juan Manuel Domínguez López