Los Angeles

Downtown LA - at the heart of the city, a walkable and dynamic urban centre. It's home to world-class museums, concert halls, theatres and critically acclaimed restaurants. Easily accessible via the Metro, you'll also find a thriving nightlife and art scene plus countless shops and boutiques. Definitely worth a visit while you're here.

Hollywood - any fan of the movies who is visiting Los Angeles will recognise the Hollywood sign, perched high on the hills overlooking the city. Try a little Tinseltown glamour at TCL Chinese Theatre - home to many premiers, including the 1977 launch of Starwars, followed by a stroll along the nearby Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can also visit Universal Studios Hollywood here, LA's premier theme park, or the iconic Hollywood Bowl. This amphitheatre nestled in the Hollywood Hills was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America in 2018 by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Universal Studios - great for families with older children, Universal Studios provides the ultimate Hollywood experience with rides, shows and an actual working movie studio, plus fantastic shopping, restaurants and, of course, cinemas. Located in Burlington in the north part of the city, near Hollywood and Beverly Hills, this serves as a super-convenient base for a three night stop-over to pack in the theme park visit along with some star spotting.

Disneyland Los Angeles - located in Anaheim in the southern part of the city, Disneyland LA is popular with little and big kids alike and makes a fantastic experience for the whole family. It actually comprises two parks - the traditional Disneyland Park (Walt Disney's original vision) and the California Adventure Park, with themed rides for the thrill seekers among you! If this is the main draw for your visit we'd recommend staying next to the park.

Huntington Beach (or Surf City) - one of the best bases for a beach focused holiday, with bigger resort style hotels with lovely pool areas and great surf vibe. This also makes an easy base for a day visit to Disneyland.

Venice Beach - a little piece of Bohemia, this beach town is worth a visit for funky shops, street performers and colourful murals on Venice Boardwalk. You'll also find a skate park and the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym, both worth a little voyeurism for entertainment.

Marina del Rey - head here for exciting water activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, parasailing, sportfishing, sailing and powerboat rental. If you fancy something more serene you can take the waterbus for a unique water's-eye view of Marina del Rey - 8 stops offer the opportunity to shop, dine and sightsee.

The Griffith Observatory - found in Griffith Park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, the observatory is one of LA’s greatest cultural attractions, offering spectacular views from the Pacific Ocean to Downtown LA. The park itself is something to see, referred to as the Central Park of Los Angeles, but larger and less tamed than its counterpart.

Santa Monica - one of the most popular places to stay for the lovely beach resort atmosphere. West Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard is one of the most vibrant streets on the West Coast. Running from Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, through Beverly Hills, to Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, it's vivacious atmosphere is infectious and inclusive. The state beach, Santa Monica Pier, a variety of shops, restaurants and carnival attractions, and at night the Third St. Promenade bustles with activity from movie-goers and party animals to street performers.

Beverly Hills - home to many a Hollywood celebrity, Beverly Hills is synonymous with luxury, affluence and comfort. World-famous Rodeo Drive features more than 100 renowned high-fashion retailers and ultra-luxurious hotels. Other attractions worth taking in include the Greystone Mansion, used as a backdrop in many films, Beverly Gardens Park with its beautiful fountains and rose gardens, and Melrose Avenue. The latter a little less intimidating and a true shoppers paradise considered locally as having the best shops for every need.

The Valley - one of LA's entertainment capitals, the San Fernando Valley is home to the world's major movie studios, and more than a few celebrities! The Valley's central hub is Ventura Boulevard, a stretch of high end restaurants and shops which runs from Universal City to Thousand Oaks. You’ll find everything from live theatre and film festivals, diners and fast-food joints, to boutique shopping and traditional clothes stores, plus grocery stores, coffee shops and lots of retail park shopping.

Pasadena - famous for hosting the New Year's Day Rose Parade, Pasadena is just minutes away from Downtown LA. With a small-town charm and a bustling art scene it also has a variety of events, fantastic shopping and diverse dining options.