London is famous for its museums and galleries, which range from vast traditional collections to state-of-the-art contemporary exhibitions (many of which are free). There are world-famous institutions like the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern and the Imperial War Museum; less famous but equally fascinating attractions include the Hunterian Museum (of surgery and anatomy), the Photographers’ Gallery, the Cartoon Museum, and countless other specialist collections.
The city also prizes its markets, some of which have been held in the same spot for hundreds of years. Great for both shopping and people-watching, favourites include Portobello Road, for antiques; Brick Lane, for bric-a-brac; Spitalfields, for fashion, art and design; and Borough Market, for food.
Sport is an important part of London’s culture. The city is home to many football clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers. Sports fans can go to major fixtures at Wembley Stadium, Lord’s and the Oval for cricket, Twickenham for rugby, and Wimbledon for tennis. The 2012 London Olympics also highlighted the city’s sporting traditions, and Londoners make use of a wide variety of sports pitches, courts and clubs.
It might be the largest urban area in the UK, but London contains a surprising amount of green spaces. Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Hampstead Heath, Clapham Common, Kensington Gardens and many others are wide open spaces where Londoners picnic, stroll, and relax on a sunny day.