The English capital is a cosmopolitan city and a major commercial centre. Those who like its style return to London time and time again, for there is always something new in a city which makes space for culture, sport and shopping. England excels at all three.
Londoners have been taking the train for over 180 years, and railways have shaped the modern metropolis. No other European city can boast a dozen main-line termini. Among London’s finest are Paddington, Marylebone and St Pancras. St Pancras is the London station from which Eurostar trains depart for Paris, Brussels, the Rhône Valley and Provence. In the winter sports season, there are even direct trains from St Pancras to the French Alps.
If you are planning journeys within Britain, check carefully from which of the London stations your train departs. It can be complicated. The direct daytime trains to the Scottish Highlands, for example, leave from Kings Cross station while the overnight services to Scotland all leave from Euston.
London has enough famous sights to fill a lifetime. But, if you are keen to understand England and the English, it’s important to explore beyond the city. There is some great countryside within easy reach of the capital, among them the Weald, the Cotswolds, Chilterns and the Thames Valley. An excellent network of local and regional trains make these areas easy to reach. Loco2 can sell tickets for almost any journey within Great Britain.