Shakespearean theater and Handel oratorios, the roof-rattling Proms concerts, Andrew Lloyd Webber-ish extravaganzas, magnificent opera and contemporary dance theater -- if you're into the arts or the glamorous late-night scene, London will definitely fill your fancy.

The arts may still be underfunded but they have at least acquired some shiny new buildings and renovated homes. The Royal Ballet now has a permanent home inside the world-renowned Royal Opera House. The Donmar, Almeida, and Royal Court theaters have all been renovated to reveal their stripped-down, intimate structures. And there are new studios and a renovated theater for contemporary dance at The Place.

But the biggest story is south of the river. Architects Herzog and de Meuron's magnificent transformation of the Bankside Power Station into the Tate Modern has given London a flagship contemporary art gallery to rival the best in the world.

London is the party capital of Europe. The draconian liquor laws are soon to be relaxed, and though the tubes inconveniently stop running around midnight there is a good network of night buses. Not everyone likes a loud, smoky bar. Thankfully, nightlife in London is diverse enough that whatever your pleasure, there's always somewhere to go. If you prefer a romantic evening at the opera, wine-soaked experimental jazz, Camden's rough indie guitar sounds, or a few cocktails in a sexy bar, our listings provide a sampling of the best the capital has to offer.

Once 2 AM arrives, much of the bar scene moves on to clubs, where you can dance until 9 AM. Whether you're into twisted disco, deep house, jazzy breaks, or hip-hop, the multi-dance-floor clubs will have a room to suit your musical tastes.