On our travelling trip around Europe, in collaboration with our partner Altido, after touching Lisbon and Edinburgh comes to the enormous London.

It is difficult to describe such an extraordinary and multifaceted European capital as London. Yet, finding an adjective that can fully capture the true essence of this City is a mission impossible.

With over 8 million inhabitants of different nationalities, cultures and religions, over 300 languages spoken and a mayor of Pakistani origin, London is the epitome of multiculturalism and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

"Seeing London, I have seen all the world can show"

In the 1700s, the literary critic Samuel Johnson expressed it this way, and he had a point. In London, you will find everything you are looking for, and if you don't see it, it probably doesn't exist 😊

The British capital thrives on contrasts that coexist peacefully; perhaps more than any other city in Europe, it manages to reconcile the ancient with the modern, old traditions with the most unbridled fashions of the moment.

Creativity

London has always been a workshop of creativity in constant movement, already a hub of international fashion in the 1960s, when the miniskirt was born in the skilful hands of designer Mary Quant.

The miniskirt is a garment that has marked the history of fashion and costume, symbolizing female emancipation and fully interpreting the spirit of female rebellion in the struggle against masculinity and objectification of the body.

The liberation of women's legs profoundly marked an era and became a global phenomenon.

In the United Kingdom and particularly in London, Swinging London also saw the light of day, a set of trends that developed in the mid to late 1960s.

These trends aimed at a cultural revolution associated with optimism and hedonism and led to new creations in music, fashion, photography, film and pop art, some of its main workshops being King's Road, Kensington and Carnaby Street.

It is in this very central area, close to King's Road, one of the major creative centres of London fashion, where there is still Mary Quant's clothing shop (creator of the miniskirt), that we find an interesting solution proposed by our partner Altido.

An unbreakable bond

This spirit of innovation, creativity and rupture has always coexisted with the Solemnity and sense of belonging that binds British subjects with their Crown.

The Royal Family has passed unscathed through the scandals that have characterized it over the decades, from the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 for marrying Wallis Simpson, through the shrouded in mystery death of Lady D in Paris in 1997, to the departure from the Royal Family of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in 2020.

Despite all this, the British Monarchy continues to enjoy excellent health in the eyes of its subjects.

Royal Family over the centuries has created a sense of continuity and unity that the people have clung to in times of war and taken pride in times of peace.

In the past few days, from 2 to 5 June, the 70th anniversary on the throne of the stainless Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated, beloved by her subjects (The Platinum Jubilee), able to remain steadfast in a cauldron of cultures and traditions.

Among the places to visit in London that help understands the bond between the Queen and her subjects are Buckingham Palace, the Official Residence of Queen Elizabeth II.

Raise your hand if you've never witnessed the iconic changing of the guard parade! If you've missed it, you can see it every day until the end of June and then every other day at other times of the year.

Just a 10-minute walk from the Royal Residence, in the central Trafalgar Square, we find ALTIDO's second proposal, a perfect accommodation solutionfor a group of friends on holiday in London.

A green oasis

London is also the City of Parks, extensive green areas for long walks, reading a good book or dining in the open air, in dreamy scenery, in the company of swans, ducks and lots of squirrels.

Among the most famous parks, one cannot fail to mention St. James's Park, Kensington Garden, Holland Park and, above all, Hyde Park, which is part of the Royal Parks with its 142 hectares and is one of the largest and best known green areas in London.

A feature of this park is the 'Speakers Corner', a small corner where every citizen, especially on Sundays, can go up on a platform and make speeches or recite poetry.

Culture lives here

If you are passionate about art, science or history, London will make you fall in love with many of the most important museums in the world.

The British capital is among the most expensive in the world, but its Museums are free. Don't forget to tip your guides 😊

We recommend the Tate modern if you are fascinated by contemporary art; the National Gallery houses a rich collection of more than 2,300 paintings from various periods and schools from the mid-12th century to the beginning of the last century.

If, on the other hand, your passion is classical art, don't worry, there is the British Museum or Tate Britain for you.

The oldest underground network in the world

The London Underground, called the 'Tube' by Londoners, is the oldest underground network in the world and the most extensive in Europe. The Tube, which opened in January 1863, is the best way to get around the City.

Suppose when you enter some stations, you have the feeling that you have stepped into an art museum. In that case, it is not because you have taken a wrong turn: it is the 'Art Underground' project that enriches Londoners' daily commute with contemporary works of art. 

A further unique feature of the London Tube is that since 2015, the London Night Tube has been open at weekends, offering the possibility of moving H24 from Friday evening to Sunday.

We have tried to offer you a glimpse of this beautiful City, a 'boundless world' that, despite being visited numerous times, you always leave feeling that you don't know it completely.

Hear that sound in the background, sharpen your ears because London Calling. Don't waste time... The Music of the Boss is waiting for you.