The first step in enjoying London to the full is submitting to its chaos. Its baffling street plan appears to have been designed by a madman, its public transport seems to be run by lunatics, and the residents rush around as if the police were after them. But this is all part of its unique charm. Your best bet is to relax, stay out of commuters' way, and look up. For above the hustle of the street, the gorgeous façades of the city's past glory oversee it all.
The world's most visited capital feels a bit like a bubble – so compact that you can whizz from one end to the other on the constantly renovated Métro system, and virtually free of eyesores to detract from its centuries-old symmetry. Though you'll have no problems finding ways to spend money in Paris, the city is also surprisingly friendly to those on a budget from free merry-go-rounds and sledging for children during the Christmas holidays to the immensely popular Paris Plage in summer.
If you're looking to release the inner hedonist, you'll find nightlife that carries on through until morning and a gay scene that's unusually shameless. While the city has always been a bolthole for the unconventional, today it's also a major cultural centre, combining top-flight museums, galleries and concert halls with thriving alternative arts and music scenes. As one of the greenest cities in Europe, there are plenty of leafy spots in which to take a break.
