London

There is never a bad time to visit London. However, if you only have a couple of days to see the sights, try not to follow my example and land in the middle of a nasty snowstorm.

So with the first day of my trip spent indoors with lots of hot drinks and for the most part, in the vicinity of an open log fire - I know, there is a lot worse things one could be doing - the Saturday, my second day, would have to be crammed with as much London culture as possible. Well, eh, without the jellied eels and 'Roll out the Barrel' medleys, of course.

Still bitterly cold, but dry and sunny, I began my assault on the city at a very gentle pace, visiting the Portobello Markets near Notting Hill in the west of the city.

The market runs the length of Portobello Road and the stalls range from antiques, fashion, second hand goods, and the old reliable fruit and veg. It's a very trendy part of the city, so well worth a visit even if you're not in buying mode. And the streets that run across Portobello Road are also full of great designer shops and top-notch eateries.

The entire afternoon could have easily been spent rambling, moseying, browsing, eating, haggling and star spotting (I'm sure I saw Jason Donovan, does he count?) but in terms of the bigger picture, these markets are a mere needle in the haystack that is London City.

Not to be confused with the City of London, which is the financial area away to the east. In fact, London is like a combination of villages sprawling for miles either side of the meandering River Thames. The opening credits of 'EastEnders' will give you some idea of the scale of the city, and that's only one half of the city, innit?

So away from the markets, down the road to Kensington - keeping it nice and posh - and on to Hyde Park. It was still a few miles to my planned destination but the thoughts of getting on a bus or 'Going Underground', as Paul Weller might say, were enough to keep me in amble mode.

Again, despite the wintery conditions, the park was a hive of activity with joggers, dog walkers and tourists making the most of this oasis of green amidst this urban sprawl.

A very pleasant half-an-hour later, now on Picadilly, and I get a rush of blood to the head and decide to take an hour or so to pick up some Christmas presents. So standing on the periphery of one of the best shopping quarters in the world, I ventured through the Burlington Arcade in search of the welcoming windows of Regent Street.

The dapper designer clothes, posh Polo paraphernalia and ridiculously priced Rolexes put a bit of a dampener on my shopping excursion. I reckoned the only thing I could afford in the Arcade was a shoeshine but the old Adidas were well beyond smartening at this stage.

So on to Regent Street, around by Oxford Circus and finishing up on the ever-trendy Carnaby Street, the hour soon turned into two, only pausing briefly to check my email in the magnificent Apple Store.

Again, a full day would be required to do the shops justice and with only an hour of winter daylight remaining, I had a rendezvous planned with one of the newer attractions down by the river.

Still shunning the lure of public transport, I shuffled down Pall Mall, across Trafalgar Square and past Downing Street, coming to a halt on the icy Westminster Bridge to marvel at the fantastic House of Commons and the Big Ben clock tower, before coming to my final destination, the London Eye.

Although the Eye is one of the newest landmarks in the city, it has already become an iconic landmark in the capital and is the UK's most popular paid for attraction, visited by over 3.5m people a year.

And after five long hours on my feet, traipsing the streets of London, what better way to relax than this 30-minute flight - yes, it's called a flight - around the city's skyline, timed to perfection as the city went from light to dark and then light again.

Nightlife in London
While a night out in the glitzy West End is the classic London experience, each area within city limits has its own particular charm and corresponding social scene.

I spent the first night drinking surprisingly good Guinness in The Castle bar on Portobello Road before indulging in a tasty and thrifty dinner in the nearby Thai Market restaurant.

With only 'Sister Act' and 'Hairspray' available in the West End, a night out in Covent Garden was preferred, starting off with a dinner in the very agreeable Bella Italia restaurant before an Australian Bar, aptly named Walkabout, was visited for last orders. The night probably should have ended there but my arm was twisted to pay a visit to the O Bar in Soho to ring in the early hours.

Things to Visit in London
The London Eye - To get the optimum panoramic view of the city, take a 30-minute flight on the ferris wheel by the river. While you're down there, you may as well pop onto the London Cruise, a 40-minute circular sightseeing cruise on the Thames complete with live commentary.

Westend Show/Theatre - 'Joseph', 'Les Miserables', 'Cats', etc, etc. All the classics are here. Just don't blame me if you can't get the show tunes out of your head for the remainder of your holiday in London.

Tate Modern/Saatchi Gallery - The city is full of fascinating museums and galleries. The Tate and Saatchi are two of the best.

Madame Tussauds - One for all the family. The most famous people in the world made out of wax. What more could you ask for? Some of them are more realistic looking than the celebrities' current forms, with all that botox and stuff knocking around these days.

Tower of London - Jam-packed full of history, many an Irishman has passed through these gates over the centuries. A fascinating place, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7.

Premier League Football - Football fans are spoilt for choice with five Premier League teams from London. Who you choose really depends on the type of person you are. Arsenal - lovers of total football, the Gunners play the game the way it is meant to be played. Tottenham Hotspur - if you're used to getting your hopes up only to be disappointed time after time, then White Hart Lane is the place for you. Chelsea - Fancy a game of football while living it up with the London fashionistas? Get yourself down to the Bridge. Fulham - Do you like to watch football with the sound turned down? A bit harsh, perhaps. Craven Cottage tickets are the most accessible for the day-tripper, even if the atmosphere is lacking somewhat. West Ham United - following your tour of the Queen Vic and Albert Square, get down to Upton Park under lights, if for no other reason than to hear the best version of 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' that you're ever likely to hear. As football songs go, there are few better.

Getting There: Ed Leahy flew with bmi to London. bmi has up to six flights a day from Dublin to London Heathrow from as little as €35 one way, including taxes and charges. Fares also include a 20kg baggage allowance. For more information, visit: www.flybmi.com.

Ed Leahy

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