If you think of London as a staid, slightly unadventurous city, I humbly submit that this no longer is the case. On my most recent trip last fall, I found that London has lost a lot of its strictly British feel and has become more of a global city along the lines of New York or Hong Kong. For instance, true English pub grub is very hard to come by at your typical watering hole, but I enjoyed some great Korean food in Soho. In other words, it seems good ethnic food is easier to come by in London these days than good fish & chips.

That doesn’t mean London has lost its British soul, however. You’ll still find the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard pretty exciting if you’re visiting for the first (or even second) time. And the history behind the city’s museums, palaces, and Parliament buildings will immerse you in an appreciation for all things English.

Many of London’s neighborhoods have retained their typically British character, while others seem to have reinvented themselves. So, to help you decide where you want to base yourself on your next visit, here are some of London’s top districts with a sampling of what to do and where to stay in each.