In Brief London can be enchanting or frustrating, vibrant or drab. But residents and visitors alike are prepared to tolerate or ignore the city's shortcomings for its endless ability to entertain, surprise and reward. Recently, we've noticed that London has a renewed sense of its own importance-it feels reenergized. Bird's Eye View Draped in a huge, awkward sprawl across the lower reaches of the River Thames, London is Europe's biggest city and one of its most cosmopolitan, with a citizenry that reflects the far reaches of the once mighty British Empire. And its resident population is augmented by some 27 million visitors each year.
Locals use postal codes, which can be quickly learned.
London's layout reflects a city that has expanded in explosive bursts, engulfing villages and incorporating them into an amorphous whole-a gangling growth responding to the careless prompts of history. Local area names, often derived from the names of original villages, are useful labels for navigation. Visit these neighbourhoods and you have done no more than scratch the surface of London's incredible ethnic diversity. Across the river is the South Bank, with its arts venues and concert halls.