London plays a vital role in UK cultural activity and has long been a major destination on the international art scene. The city is home to excellent training schools, renowned production teams and a range of famous stages. In particular, the UK has a revered literary history and a long tradition of the finest dramatic coaching.

The city's generous display of visual arts, at venues including the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery, includes some of the most breathtaking collections anywhere on the planet. As the centre of the UK's film and television industry, London boasts regular film festivals, pop-up cinemas and film collectives. Major blockbusters have red-carpet openings here too. For example, a number of James Bond films have premiered at the Royal Albert Hall, right outside the RCM's front door.

From the Theatre Royal to the National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe to the Old Vic, you can enjoy stage musicals, modern theatrical masterpieces and timeless classics at a huge range of venues. West End productions are recognised as the best of English language theatre, equalled only by Broadway in New York. Local dance companies, such as the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet, perform throughout the year, while touring troupes, such as Cirque de Soleil, visit frequently.

The Switch House at the Tate Modern - one of the world's finest modern art galleries

London enjoys a broad selection of monuments, museums and visitor attractions. The Royal Palaces, Tower of London and Houses of Parliament are popular destinations, offering a fascinating glimpse of history. More modern attractions include the London Eye and The Shard, which contains bars, restaurants and the highest viewing platform in the city.

London's parks and open spaces, both large and small, can be tranquil oases amid the fast pace of urban life. Some offer fantastic views of the skyline, while others have become well known for the attractions they contain. Hyde Park is home to the Serpentine Galleries, plus it often hosts large-scale events. The adjoining Kensington Gardens surround Kensington Palace, an official Royal residence. Elsewhere, St James's Park provides spectacular views of Buckingham Palace, Regent's Park contains London Zoo and Richmond Park in south London is famed for its resident herd of deer.

For those interested in museums, London has many to offer. Perhaps the most famous are those near the RCM in South Kensington: the Science Museum, V&A and Natural History Museum. Other examples include the British Museum, National Maritime Museum, Design Museum, London Transport Musuem and Imperial War Museum. Several of London's most important historical buildings have their own museums too, such as Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.

The spectacular entrance hall of the Natural History Museum

Home to the RCM, South Kensington is one of London's most important cultural quarters. A centre for learning and tourism, it attracts a wide variety of people and businesses. Small shops, restaurants and cafés are in abundance. The lush greenery of Hyde Park is a only stone's throw away, as are Kensington Palace and Gardens. South Kensington station provides quick access to many parts of London. Clustered around the station you will find plenty of local amenities, including several banks and other useful services. 

Nearby neighbourhoods are within easy walking distance and provide yet more choice for shopping, food and entertainment. Kensington High Street is home to a number of popular retailers as well as the Design Museum. In the other direction lies Knightsbridge with its more lavish facilities, including top restaurants and the famous luxury department store Harrods.

The appeal of South Kensington lies in the variety of its attractions and its proximity to other notable areas of west London, including Chelsea, Hammersmith and Notting Hill.

South Kensington enjoys a parkside location and is home to some of London's best known attractions

The area is well served by places to eat and drink as well as essential services

RCM students in South Kensington

The West End is London's premier destination for tourism and leisure. Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown and Leicester Square are all located here. The West End is synonymous with stage productions. The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Royal Ballet and English National Ballet all have their performing homes in the area, not to mention the huge selection of theatre and stage musicals available every day.

Buzzing Soho is full of places to eat and drink. Famous for its nightlife and its LGBT-friendly venues, Soho's atmosphere is just as characterful during the day, with coffee shops, market stalls and an excellent selection of places for daytime meals.

The West End also boasts world-renowned shopping locations. Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Piccadilly and Bond Street are home to flagship stores of major brands, luxury boutiques and budget retailers.

Interspersed among these attractions are some of London's best loved museums, galleries and landmarks. Towards the edges of the West End you'll find Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham and St James's Palaces, several Royal Parks and, just across the river, the Southbank Centre. For many people, the West End is the heart of London life.

Covent Garden is a popular leisure destination and home to the Royal Opera House

The National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-fields face onto Trafalgar Square

The hustle, bustle and bright lights of Piccadilly Circus

Together, the Southbank and Bankside form one of the most culturally rich parts of London. Stretching from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, they bring together the London Eye, National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, numerous pop-up markets and food vendors, an array of other museums and attractions, as well as a huge selection of places to eat and drink. The Southbank Centre – Europe's largest centre for the arts – acts as centrepiece, housing the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Rooms and the Hayward Gallery.

The Southbank is particularly popular at night, when the riverside location provides unbeatable views of the London skyline. The lights of tall modern buildings and historical monuments reflect in the water, punctuated by iconic bridges stretching across the Thames. During the day, particularly at weekends, the area is extremely lively. Street performers are a regular sight, a famous skate park teems with life in the undercroft of the Southbank Centre and temporary stages are periodically erected for festivals and special events.

Crowds on the Southbank outside the Royal Festival Hall

View at night from the Golden Jubilee Bridge, with the Southbank on the left

The new Switch House at the Tate Modern on Bankside - one of the world's finest modern art galleries

Shepherd's Bush lies between Hammersmith and Notting Hill, benefiting from the amenities of both, but also enjoying its own range of leisure facilities and a growing student population. The area is served by more than 15 bus routes, while local Overground and Underground stations offer fast, convenient rail travel in all directions. Prince Consort Village is only a short bus ride or 10 minute walk along Goldhawk Road.

Local attractions are conveniently clustered around Shepherd's Bush Green. The Bush Theatre is one of west London's most notable, championing work by new writers to repeated critical acclaim. The neighbourhood is well known for live music venues too. The Shepherd's Bush Empire regularly attracts some of the world's most recognised rock, pop and dance performers, while the independently owned Bush Hall offers a more intimate alternative, attracting less well-known acts as well as big name artists.

There are several cinemas in the area, including one inside the sizeable Westfield shopping centre. Here you'll find a selection of retailers large enough to rival shopping in the West End. Shepherd's Bush also has a vibrant market scene and a large number of local restaurants serving international cuisine at affordable prices.

Fresh produce on sale at Shepherd's Bush Market

Westfield is one of London's premier destinations for shopping, dining and entertainment

Hammersmith is a major west London hub on the banks of the River Thames with excellent local amenities and leisure facilities. Major high street retailers are surrounded by eating and drinking establishments of all kinds. Hammersmith boasts important entertainment venues too. The Apollo is famed for large comedy shows and major live music events, while The Lyric Hammersmith is regularly lauded as one of the UK's leading producing theatres.

A large bus and London Underground station lies at the heart of Hammersmith, making travel particularly convenient. Bus services run across west London, including directly to Prince Consort Village and the RCM. Four Underground lines run through the neighbourhood providing convenient access to central London, South Kensington and other destinations, including Heathrow Airport.

One of Hammersmith's greatest assets is its riverside location. Picturesque pathways line the Thames, dotted with places to relax with friends on a balmy summer evening. Along with the historic Hammersmith Bridge, they're also fantastic places to watch the annual Boat Race, in which rowing teams from Oxford and Cambridge universities speed along the river to huge cheering crowds.

RCM alumnus Gustav Holst taught at St Paul's School in Hammersmith, where he wrote a number of his most famous works, including The Planets and St Paul's suites.

The waterfront is a great place to relax and the river is popular with rowers

Picturesque Ravenscourt Park is popular with locals

Historic Hammersmith Bridge stretches gracefully over the Thames