London

Cinema

Every cinema chain has at least one outlet in central London, most of them clustered around Leicester Square. This is where all the big British premieres take place, and you may well find as you pass that one or other of them has been roped off for legion of minor Hollywood stars and B-list hangers on to be the first (in Britain) (not counting all the people who illegally downloaded it months ago) see some blockbuster. These central London venues charge more than any other cinemas in the country, and are not internally any better. In fact several of them are well below the standards you may come to expect from modern multiplex cinemas. Go once for the faint aura of glamour that might be hanging around from the last premiere, but otherwise head a little out of town. The Cineworld at Canary Wharf is reasonably quick to get to by tube or Docklands Light Railway, and charges the same as Cineworld cinemas throughout the UK. There are also a number of art-house cinemas in or around central London.

Listings for all cinemas, independent or chain, central or in the outskirts, are in Time Out, or on the internet at the Ents 24 website.

Pubs and bars

London pubs and bars come in all shapes and sizes, from the trendiest west end bars, through slightly bizarre hangouts such as the Swedish bar Garlic and Shots, to traditional Camden pubs with sunday lunch and gigs in the evening. In between there is the usual range of chain pubs like All Bar One and Wetherspoons. All price brackets and tastes are catered for. The best place to find your perfect pub is online at Fancy a Pint, a comprehensive list of pubs in central London with descriptions and reviews.