What makes London great? Is it all the famous attractions? The mind-blowing museums & galleries? The architecture steeped in history and grandeur? Or perhaps it's the buzzing culture and nightlife? Eclectic restaurants and diverse nationalities? Actually it's all of the above. But most importantly, it's a city that holds something unique to everyone. From tourists to residents, London ignites a fire in most people; it engages with its visitors and offers something personal and enlightening, whatever you're looking for. It is – unarguably – one of the greatest cities in the world.
Last month, Cool Places decided to run a competition to find out what your favourite London experience is, and we were delighted with the responses we got – from personal memories like finding partners and family day trips to more cultural experiences like watching a musical in London's West End.
We've rounded up the most noteworthy and some of our personal favourites here, but don't forget to keep the conversation going by telling us you're favourite London experience on Facebook or Twitter #LDNEXP. There may not be a prize left to be won, but we'd love to hear your travel stories from the capital all the same, and we'll continue to publish the best ones And just in case you missed our tame celebrities' suggestions, you can still view them here.
1. Kirsty Knaggs (competiton winner)
"My favourite London experience is the Museum of Everything, art by the criminally insane, hermits & criminals etc."
2. Rose
"My favourite London experience is choral evensong at Westminster Abbey – majestic setting and magical sound"
3. Isobelle Forde
"My favourite London experience is people waching with a Fair Trade brew at Portobello Road Market, a real medley of independent shops and colourful stalls where something bizarre is usually going on"
4. Sue Matejtschuk
"My favourite London experience was an evening dinner cruise - the boat stopped under Tower Bridge and dimmed the lights, then played 'Land of Hope and Glory', it was magical!"
5. Eddy Keeling
"I met some Vietnamese boat people in a back street real London pub in the 1970's They were a lovely warm group of people with a sorry plight. It made me think how lucky I was. I often wonder what ever became of them"
6. Linda
"My favourite London experience is getting some Bees & Honey from a cockney cash machine"
7. Nicole Dunstan
"My favourite London experience is the excitement of seeing all the famous places and streets on the Monopoly Board"
8. Rebecca Beesley
"My favourite London experience is gazing up at the face of Big Ben in the moonlight from the rooftop of the Houses of Parliament; The size and grandeur suddenly becomes apparent..."
9. Lucy L Richards
"My favorite London experience is smelling freshly ground coffee as it fills the air in Spitalfields market as I watch the salsa dancers and feel the sun on my face before sampling the fresh oysters at one of the wonderful fresh food stalls"
10. Julieanne Reilly
"My favourite London experience is flying into Heathrow over the iconic patchwork quilts of green fields, watching the Thames winding its way through our city. There's nothing quite like it that says, welcome to London and welcome home..."
