Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/604887
London | 9 lonDon "Legendary" is perhaps the best word to describe this enthralling and fast-paced city, a destination that has launched as many works of arts and words as it has armies and ships. An inspiration to writers, artists, and kings alike, the intrigue and history of London is utterly fascinating. With Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses of Parliament looming in the background of Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London keeping its secrets above the river, it's easy to see beyond the modern amenities and bustle of the city into Englad's deeply storied past. Magnificently curated museums in Mayfair, St. James, Kensington, and Covent Garden bring it even closer to the surface. However, part of what makes London so beguiling is the diversity of the districts found within the city limits. Elegant boutiques are easily found on the Oxford Street shopping boulevard, while quirky shops scattered throughout trendy Soho provide a hip counterpart. Theaters and fine dining are paired delightfully in musical West End; art and literature remain intertwined in Bloomsbury. Humble fish and chips are served in paper only steps from palaces like Windsor Castle—home to the British monarchy for nearly a millennia—and "the world's most spectacular botanical gardens," Kew Gardens. See it all from the London Eye, Europe's tallest observation wheel, or the cobblestoned streets of a bygone era. The main touristic attractions of uNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Tower of London—home of the Beefeater-guarded Crown Jewels and the Maritime Greenwich—and the innumerable museums, palaces, and squares only scratch the surface of the cultural riches London has to offer, with every visit bringing new discovery.