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Central London

Central London is located exactly where the name suggests, the center of London. It is filled with so many historic and monumental areas that visitors will have plenty to check out. There is no exact definition as to what exactly constitutes the area, but there is a lot to see and do.

Oxford Street

There is plenty of shopping in Central London and at the heart of it all is Oxford Street. Oxford Street is the most sought after shopping destination when visiting London. With so much to choose from and over a mile of shops, there are many major brand names along this famous street. There are approximately 300 shops on the street, making it Europe's busiest shopping street. Right in the center of Oxford Street is the Piccadilly Circus. This area is a located at the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is a large, round, open space that contains a number of different shops including Nike Town, United Colors of Benetton, and H&M. Oxford Street is also a site where numerous political demonstrations can be found as well as preachers loitering the street.

Public Squares

There are two main public squares in Central London that are huge tourist attractions. Trafalgar Square is one of the largest tourist attractions in Central London. Located in the center of Trafalgar Square is Nelson's Column. This column has four lions located at the base guarding it. Besides Nelson's Column, there are many other statues and sculptures in the square, including a few pieces of artwork. The other main public square in Central London is Leicester Square. The square is named after Robert Sidney, the second Earl of Leicester who bought four acres in 1630. There is a small park located directly in the center of the square where there is a statue of William Shakespeare from the 19th century with dolphins surrounding him. The square is also known to have the cinema with the largest screen and most seats with over 1600. There are multiple night clubs in the square as well.

Covent Garden Square

This former vegetable market is now a very popular tourist destination with many shopping areas as well as the Royal Opera House. This house was originally constructed in 1732 and seats 2,268 people. There are four tiers of boxes and balconies as well as the amphi-theatre gallery. Located at the center of Covent Garden Square is Covent Garden. This was the first modern square in London and was originally considered a piazza, because of the flat, open space. There is a market located on the south side for shopping. Located around the Covent Garden on the western side of the square is the church of St. Paul's.

Westminster

At the heart of Central London is the City of Westminster. It is located near the River Thames along the west bank. There are plenty of monumental landmarks here, making it one of the most historic areas in all of London. The Palace of Westminster is also known as the Houses of Parliament and is the meeting place of the two houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The other spots of interest in Westminster include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral. Buckingham Palace is where the office of the British monarch is located and is the official residence of royalty. Westminster Abbey is a large, gothic church right near the Palace of Westminster. This large collegiate church has a western facade. Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in all of England and Wales.

Soho

The best entertainment in Central London can found at Soho. There is nightlife, including sex shops that have been around since the 20th century. There are not nearly as many as there used to be, and Soho is now filled with nice restaurants and fashionable stores for shopping.

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Central London