Westminster is a district in central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and much of the West End shopping and entertainment district. Life here will always grant you the best convenience, whether it is shopping, eating, or visiting beautiful landmarks - there will always be something for everyone.

1. What makes Westminster unique?
2. Westminster’s Economy
3. Westminster’s popular attractions
4. Nightlife in Westminster
5. Food in Westminster
6. Shopping in Westminster
7. Travel in and around Westminster
8. Explore Nearby Boroughs from Westminster

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1. What makes Westminster unique?

Did you know many of Britain’s greatest authors, poets, and playwrights are buried or have memorials in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. Some of the most notable names include Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Thomas Hardy, George Frederic Handel, Rudyard Kipling, Jane Austen, William Blake, the Bronte sisters, Lewis Carroll, Lord Byron, and more. In addition to serving as a site for royal coronations and burials, Westminster Abbey has famously been the location for 17 royal weddings - including the 2011 marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

The City of Westminster has more than 11,000 listed buildings of architectural or historical importance. The area also has a substantial residential population. By the 20th century, Westminster had seen rising numbers of residential apartments with wealthy inhabitants. Hotels, large Victorian homes and barracks all lie near Buckingham Palace.

2. Westminster’s Economy

The City of Westminster is home to a large number of companies. Many leading global corporations have chosen to establish their global or European headquarters in the City of Westminster. Mayfair and St. James's within the City of Westminster also have a large concentration of hedge funds and private equity funds. The West End is known as the Theatre District and is home to many of the leading performing arts businesses. Soho and its adjoining areas house a concentration of media and creative companies. Oxford Street is a leading shopping destination in the world.

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3. Westminster’s popular attractions

Westminster offers an abundance of fun activities and unique places to visit. Among them, you will find:

• Number 10 Downing Street. Home of the Prime Minister that does not allow public access. This is great when you are taking a walk and happen to walk on this street.
• Fortnum & Mason. Founded in 1707 as a grocery store, this is one of the largest department stores in London and still specialises in groceries as well as other items.
• Churchill/Cabinet War Rooms. An underground complex where the British government gathered itself during World War II.
• Tate Britain. The Grade II listed building that houses 66,000 works from the 1500s to date.
• St. James’s Palace. One of a few royal residences that is open to the public for tours.
• St. James's Park. Fifty-seven acres of greenery built by King Charles II. It has a lake with two islands and a squadron of pelicans that have lived in the park for 400 years.
• National Gallery. The UK’s main depository of artworks where there are about 2,300 paintings, sculptures, sketches, and more from the mid-13th century to the present along with special exhibits.
• Westminster Abbey. One of the most important buildings in Britain that was constructed in 1042. It is here that King William I was crowned and it has been the site of coronations, marriages, funerals, and other important state events ever since.
• Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. Home to the government since it was the palace of Canute the Great. Here, you can tour the building and even sit in the public galleries during sessions of the House of Commons.
• Buckingham Palace. Home to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, this palace was built by the Duke of Buckingham. Most tourists are content to view it from outside, especially when it’s time for the changing of the guard.

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4. Nightlife in Westminster

One of the most important areas in London, let alone the country, Westminster is better known for its iconic landmarks and the politicians that grace its historical streets. And when you're not perusing nearby sites for chatting shop about the UK's affairs, there's a great range of pubs and bars in which to refuel. From Whitehall's traditional wooden boozers through to more modern additions near Victoria, we've rounded up this central London area's best drinking spots.

Counting Big Ben and the House of Parliament as neighbours, Red Lion’s walls have heard many political secrets in their time. The traditional boozer is packed with quirky features, from chandeliers’ portraits. This is a perfect place to grab that pint of ale, one of their British pies and see how some of the most important people in the country drink at this exclusive pub.

Bringing village vibes to Pimlico, The Marquis of Westminster is a homely pub perfect for a lunch pit-stop. The menu is more British than a plate of fish and chips, with comfort food in the form of dish finger sandwiches, cheese burgers, and sausages and mash. Another place you can visit is The Feathers. Consists of cheerful British boozer that churns out crowd-pleasing grub and cask ales, this is a perfect location for you to hangout with friends and family. It's also got all the hallmarks of a Westminster pub, with open fireplaces and leather chairs.

If you are looking for a not-so quiet night, Munich Cricket Club is a perfect place. The Bavarian-inspired spot is a nonstop party of oompah bands, steins of beer and some impressive German cuisine.

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5. Food in Westminster

Food in Westminster offers various choices, with mouthwatering meals and dessert. You will be spoilt with an array of restaurants, coffee shops, and tea rooms that will be suitable for every occasion, mood, and budget.

For Michelin-starred dining, head to Quilon. The dishes, largely inspired by the cooking of India’s south west coast, are delicately composed with an unmistakably personal touch. Try the signature halibut curry, or go for the deliciously spiced Mangalorean chicken. Fancy a beer? There’s a whole tasting menu dedicated to pairing it with food.

Classic British cuisine can be found at Shepherd’s. This is a kind of place that owes itself to semi-discrete business lunches, with various booths allowing diners to tuck themselves away for an hour or two. The restaurant itself is set beneath a delightful art deco apartment block.

For a good old fashioned fish and chips, there’s only one place for it: the Laughing Halibut. Everything here is as it should be, with crispy chips that become gloriously sodden once doused in sauce, and succulent battered fish, all served a no-frills-takeaway environment.

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6. Shopping in Westminster

Westminster is a compact borough, making its transportation very convenient. That said, it can be an ideal place for serious shoppers, where you can easily move in between famous shopping places within the city. Downtown Westminster provides a unique shopping, dining and cultural experience within a historic, small town setting.

Main Street is pedestrian-friendly, with wide sidewalks and mature street trees, providing you with a relaxed atmosphere to embark on your shopping excursion. Here you will find local retail entrepreneurs offering fine hand-selected merchandise and imaginative store concepts. Our downtown merchants also are a cheerful bunch. They are waiting to assist you in selecting just the right gift for family, friends or yourself.

If specialty shopping excites you, then you'll definitely want to explore Downtown Westminster. With a broad mix of local retail and personal service establishments, including several regionally recognized specialty shops, Downtown Westminster is a shopper's delight. There is an assortment of art galleries, boutiques for women, gift shops, "Do It Yourself" stores for crafters and hobbyists, two jewelry stores, an old-fashioned toy shop, a comic book and game store, and many other shops for all to explore.

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7. Travel in and around Westminster

By tube

Served by the Jubilee, Circle and District lines, Westminster Tube Station provides a direct link from Westminster to all parts of the capital. From Westminster Tube Station you can take the Circle or District Line for around 8 minutes to South Kensington Tube Station and visit the Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum.

You could also travel 14 minutes on the Circle or District Line to Notting Hill Tube Station and visit Portobello Road Market. Hop on a tube on the Jubilee Line and travel 6 minutes to Baker Street Tube Station to mix with the stars at Madame Tussauds, or stay on the same line and travel 24 minutes to Wembley Park Tube Station to see a concert or major football match at the nearby Wembley Stadium.

By taxi

London’s black cabs present one of the most recognisable images of London, and you’ll see dozens of these during your visit to Westminster. Rather than flagging a black cab, you may like to book a taxi and you can do this by calling one of the local firms in the area, including Cars Connect and Millbank Cars in Page Street. Of course, a number of car-hailing services are in operation 24/7, namely Uber, Ola, FreeNow etc.

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On foot

Thanks to the borough’s niche size, you can walk to some of the capital’s other most famous areas and landmarks from this central base. Take a 12-minute stroll to Trafalgar Square and you’ll be able to see Nelson’s Column and view the artwork at the National Gallery, or take a walk of around 15 minutes to be entertained at the National Theatre.

After visiting some of the best known attractions in Westminster, you can complete your historic tour of London’s most famous landmarks, and another 16 minutes leads you to the most famous of them all at Buckingham Palace. For modern attractions, bars, restaurants, glitz and glamour and West End shows, you could walk for 17 minutes to Leicester Square, or head to Oxford Street in around 30 minutes to take advantage of the fantastic shopping.

Electric charging points

By 2009 Westminster City Council had electric vehicle charging points in 15 locations throughout the city (13 car parks and two on-street points). Users pay an annual fee to cover administration costs to register and use the points. By 2018 there were 60 electric vehicle charging locations.

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8. Explore Nearby Boroughs from Westminster

Westminster is an ideal base for you to start exploring the rest of London’s unique boroughs. Even though it is all a part of the same ceremonial county, Greater London, each district withhold different traditions and cultural heritage that is just worth exploring. From an array of iconic attractions, historic landmarks to stunning countryside, you are just a train ride away.

Camden

With just a 24-minute car drive, Camden is famous for its markets and alternative style of its residents, making it a perfect destination for a family trip or a weekend getaway.

Not to mention, Camden also includes the highest proportion of museums in London. Here, you will experience its unique historical heritage, breathtaking architectures, and also partake in its many leisure activities, from shopping, eating and entertainment. This is definitely a worthwhile trip for every visitor.

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Lambeth

Situated directly across the Thames from the House of Parliament and the City of Westminster, Lambeth is famed for its waterfront developments and an eclectic mix of exclusive landmarks. You can also experience some breathtaking views of its open spaces, cultural high points, markets, pubs, and wine bars, as well as its buzzling art facilities. The most notable is its world-class nightlife where you spend great time at some of London’s premium and legendary venues.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

With just a 21-minute car drive, Kensington and Chelsea is an area of historic and architectural interest. Renowned for its handsome residential streets and squares, it covers five square miles and boasts many embassies and London landmarks. 70 percent of this borough is in conservation areas.

Kensington Palace, where Queen Victoria was born in 1819 and lived until her accession in 1837. This being said, Kensington is one of the most affluent, posh and sophisticated areas of central London. It is an elegant but densely populated area, making it perfect for a Sunday walk or a trip with friends to