London

London - darkometer rating : 4 - The capital city of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the nation's hub in many ways. It is one of the premier city holiday destinations in the world in general, but it also has several sites that are of special interest to the dark tourist (including two that are top-notch in their respective categories). > More background info > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > photos More background info : London is one of Europe's mega-cities, a metropolis of enormous proportions, with a population of currently nearly 9 million (15 million when including the wider metropolitan area – more than any other European city). It’s the the seat of political and financial power (so a real powerhouse in every sense of the word). It also has a very multicultural population and is in general culturally a melting pot of the highest order. This is where it all happens, all the theatre, music, etc. – and it's heavenly for culinary multiculturalism too. Yet it can also be painfully expensive for a visitor. And it’s somewhat demanding too. London seems to split people's opinions. It appears to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. I'm in the love-it faction – and I have loved London since my very first trip to Britain (when I was still a teenager – on a school trip). I do understand the misgivings some people (including my wife) have about London as regards the stressful, hectic nature of this busy place, the confusing navigation, the distances, the grime. Also there is a certain arrogance that non-Londoners often perceive in Londoners. But that's nothing that should deter (or even affect) the international traveller.