West End

West End is part of Central London in England and is considered as a center of entertainment in the city. Popularly associated with its theatres, the West End is also home to numerous nightclubs and pubs that provide a vibrant nightlife to the area. During the day, both visitors and locals enjoy varied activities such as dining, shopping, and visiting galleries and museums.

Sights & Activities:

Visitors who spend New Year’s Day in West End will surely be caught up with the festivities organized annually for this particular celebration. Thousands of performers take to the streets of the district for merry making to usher in another year. 

Most visitors who explore Picadilly Circus for the first time will surely be enthralled and perhaps get a bit dizzy with all the neon signs and video displays that lend a unique character to this particular road junction. It is also a shopping mecca, with several shopping malls located in the area. Another landmark not to be missed is the memorial fountain with Anteros, an aluminum statue that has commonly been mistaken to be Eros. The fountain bears the official title of the Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain and was built in honor of Lord Shaftesbury, a Victorian politician known for his philanthropic deeds during the later part of the 19th century. Another prominent structure located in Piccadilly Circus is the London Pavilion, a shopping center that started out as a music hall. It is now part of the Tocadero Centre.

Among the notable theatres in the area is the Criterion Theatre, the Piccadilly Theatre and the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket Theatre, the Comedy Theatre on Panton Street, and Her Majesty’s Theatre also located on Haymarket.

Most West End residents converge to Hyde Park to enjoy the outdoors. Over the years the park has also long been associated as a venue for public demonstrations.

There are also a lot of interesting sights to behold in Hyde Park Corner, the area forming the south east corner of the park. One of its most prominent landmarks is the Apsley House, the residence of the Dukes of Wellington. It is currently managed by the English Heritage and is open to the public who wish to view the family’s art collections. Across Apsley House is the Wellington Arch, built in the early part of the 19th century and topped by a quadriga bronze sculpture that is considered the largest in the world.

West End is also the location of some of the most impressive palatial structures in the city. Along The Mall is the Clarence House, which is the official residence of Prince Charles, and the St. James Palace. A short distance away is the Spencer House, while the Somerset House fronts the River Thames.

There are also several attractions in West End that are designed for the whole family. One is the Funland, located within the Trocadero complex in Piccadilly Circus. The establishment features amusement rides, bowling facilities, video games, and other attractions that will surely provide hours of enjoyment for adults and children.

Weather:

Rainfall during summer is not unheard of in the West End part of London. Most residents head out of their homes with umbrellas and coats all year through. The coldest month is February with an average temperature of 6°C. There is not much difference between the spring and autumn seasons, both experiencing mild dampness and chill that could see the sun coming out for a short while.