Los AngelesUnited States of America

There are few places on the planet with more iconic visage than Los Angeles. Whether it’s the spectacular golden sands of the beaches of Santa Monica, the lavish boutiques of Beverley Hills, or the epic, tree-lined boulevards that are so synonymous with the city, so much of the Los Angeles cityscape is already familiar to us from television and cinematic images alone. Los Angeles is so frequently used as a backdrop for television programmes and files, and with very good reason. This city has a glamorous beauty all of its own.

LA is truly a sprawling metropolis, spreading out over 10,518 square kilometres, with the famous Hollywood sign visibly looming over the city. The city features more than 80 different neighbourhoods that vary in character. Perhaps the most famous of these neighbourhoods are Bel Air and Beverley Hills, both of which blend wealth, glamour and some of the coolest cars that you could hope to encounter. Elsewhere, the Venice Beach region is known as one of the most eccentric regions of the city.

Other areas are more defined by their cultural aspects. The Griffith Observatory is one of the world’s top astronomy locations, while there are vast prehistoric remains located at the La Brea Tar Pits. If you want to find out more about US naval history, you should check out the monument at the USS Iowa. Santa Monica Pier is known for its riotous, party atmosphere, while animal lovers will relish the impressive Aquarium of the Pacific, which houses a multitude of marine life.

If you want to take in the most famous LA haunts, and taste a little celebrity culture, then Universal Studios is the obvious place to start. You can also go celeb spotting at the designer boutiques that are prevalent in Beverley Hills and Rodeo Drive. If you can’t spot any real life celebrities then having a wander along the Hollywood Walk of Fame will at least get you in touch with some of the stars, whose names are immortalised in a series of brass plaques on the sidewalk.

Los Angeles is synonymous with glamour and wealth today, but the city was originally a Mexican settlement. Historically, the city was central to the 1840s and 50s gold rush, but eventually became dominated by the film industry when major film studios moved into the city at the turn of the twentieth century.

The city of Los Angeles offers varied attractions and culture, and if you take the time to touch every base, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable trip.