London is one of the greatest cities in the world. Each nook and cranny, each towering building and narrow street, each old crumbling castle and verdant countryside celebrate the old and new. London is where Dickens thought of Oliver Twist, where Shakespeare had a Midsummer’s Night Dream, and where Mr. Bean stuck his head inside a turkey. London is where Detective Sherlock Holmes solved cases in Conan Doyle’s stories. It is where Harry Potter traveled by train, from London’s King’s Cross railway station to a magical world of moving photos and hypogriffs.
A Pretty British Penny
In London, nothing is certain except for expense. For five years in a row, London has consistently placed as one of the Ten Most Expensive Cities in the World. As rich in culture and tradition as London may be, it is even richer in tourist spending. Consider the following costs of basic goods and services in London, after conversion from British pound to U.S. Dollar:
Can of soda:$1.30 US
Loaf of bread:$.60 – $2.40 US
Downtown London bus ride:$4 US
Movie theater ticket:$14-20 US
Restaurant meal:$24-40 US
Rental of...