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An English summer

Familiar sights A river cruise on the Thames is a great way to see London

The city of London draws visitors like a magnet thanks to its rich history and varied attractions, but the English countryside has always held a special charm. Summer is the best time to visit England, but then, English weather can be most unpredictable.

If you are lucky to encounter fine weather, there is nothing more pleasant than discovering the city by foot. The London underground is extremely convenient. All you need to do is hop onto it or use the city bus to see the attractions.

While it is typical for a first time visitor to make a pilgrimage to the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace or the Parliament Square to see Big Ben and the Prime Minister’s Residence, it is amazing what the city has to offer if you care to step off the beaten track.

Simply walk through Oxford Street or Covent Garden and discover how full of life they are. At any point of time, there are at least three or four mimes as you enter Covent Garden. Within are jugglers and comedians. You could even listen to a opera singer as you have a bite in one of the coffee shops.

If you love trinkets and art, Covent Garden is just the place for you. A river cruise on the Thames or simply walking along its banks ,you would come across mimes in their bizarre costumes., painted from head to toe, unmoving,letting you mistake them for a statue. But go too close and you can be in for a surprise.

If you are too tired walking around the city and spotting the familiar sights of Trafalgar Square or London Bridge, and would rather have a feel of the countryside, take the tube to Hamstead. Here at the sprawling Heath gardens, you get the feel of countryside, right at the heart of London.

Inside the Heath is the Kenwood Estate, which is open to the public. The estate gives an idea of how the nobility lived. Walking through the woods in the estate, you encounter squirrels that are really massive. Quite fearless, they are happy to check you out if you choose to stand still and observe. Plenty of birds hop by, picking up worms from close to your feet! In the quiet wilderness you can almost picture the lord and lady of Kenwood walking their dogs.

While the estate has a fairly large pond with Mallard ducks and swans, the Heath also has a small lake. The woods in the Heath not only make it as one of the finest walks in London but also a great place for picnics.

Step off Heath gardens and walk through Hamstead’s narrow streets and you come across more history. For, here is located John Keats’ house where he spent two years during which he wrote the ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ under the plum tree in his garden. But he is not the only one. D.H.Lawrence, J.B.Priestely, John Constable, all hail from Heathside.

Essentially a Georgian Village, Hamstead Heath retains its tall houses in its original detail displaying the superb iron work. The streets, Well Walk and Flask Walk, too pack in history. During the 18th century, therapeutic spa water from a well located on the street was packed in flasks for visitors and also sent to London.

While history is very much part of London, not to forget are its famous theatres. At any point of time, there are at least half a dozen good plays staged. Famous ones such as "The Lion King" continue to run year after year to packed houses. We saw the spectacular performance of "The Lion King" where the characters literally come alive on stage. It is a good idea to catch at least one of them during your visit.

Just as attractions are aplenty with only time a constraint, the variety of cuisine is equally numerous. The streets are lined with pubs where you can taste a typical English meal of Shepherd’s pie, sausages and such. Nesting along these are a range of eateries offering from Japanese food to Italian to tandoori delights besides the ubiquitous Chinese though Chinese is best tasted in China Town which has a row of Chinese restaurants.

Your trip of course is not complete unless you have taken a peep at the Bloody Tower and eyed the Kohinoor Diamond or spotted the residence of Sherlock Holmes on Baker Street.

London is a place where you can spend a week and still come away feeling you’ve barely started.

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