Entertainment

In the U.S., the tourist office offers its monthly London Planner, with a complete listing of theater, art exhibitions and cultural events. Leading symphony orchestras include the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony.

London is a theater city without equal. Major companies are the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, famous the world over. The Half-Price Ticket Booth in Leicester Square offers discount tickets on the day of performance for many shows.

The very popular Globe Theatre, recreating the original venue for Shakespeare's play, will enjoy its second full season in 1998

Food & Drink

Britain has undergone a food revolution over the past 20 years. Thus, there has been a rise in the number of fine restaurants, not just in London but throughout Britain, that can compete with the best of Paris and New York. Overcooked veggies and a tough side of beef are as out-of-date as Carnaby Street fashions.

While you can still find such standards as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, steak and kidney pie, and pub fare, gourmets will seek out restaurants featuring "modern British cooking," a style that combines the finest British produce with the cuisines of France, Italy, Thailand, China and India. The practitioners are mostly young British chefs who have been winning accolades and Michelin stars.

Shopping

The main areas for shopping in London include Bond Street, Knightsbridge, Oxford and Regent streets, and Chelsea. Major department stores include Harrods in Knightsbridge and Selfridges on Oxford Street. Specialties include men's clothing, hand-painted china, pipes, linens and antique silver. Antiques centers include Bath, Brighton, Harrogate and villages in the Cotswolds region.