The latest edition of the Lonely Planet Guide to London says that London has become “dynamic and forward-looking” full of great places to visit, eat and stay, chic inner-city neighbourhoods, excellent architecture and is therefore richly deserving of its Olympic success. Previous editions of the London LP have criticised London for being the home of dirty pigeons, lager louts and hotels so awful “they made Fawlty Towers look like a documentary''. London, according to the LP appears to have become revitalized and buzzing. Did you notice?
The LP describes the following areas as being “new hip” neighbourhoods such as Haggerston and Borough/Bermondsey, with their foodie markets and creative communities. Hhhmm. Where is Haggerston?
The Guide says eating out in London is as “diverse, stylish and satisfying” as anywhere in the world and singles out the “dazzling” eating of Marylebone High Street and the culturally diverse Stoke Newington.
The downside: the London LP criticizes decaying districts like “unattractive” Victoria and “plain” Pimlico, while Chelsea has “lost much of its stylish oomph” and Mayfair has become “the first port of call for tabloid paparazzi”. They say that overpriced attractions such as the London Dungeon – “a camped up gothic gore-fest rather more underwhelming than even sceptics might suspect” and “overrated” Madam Tussauds. And here's what all Londoners already know: the Underground remains “horrendously overpriced and crowded in the rush-hour” while the new “Bendy-buses … lack style and grace” and have fewer seats.