LA is one of California's most exciting and vibrant cities, where you'll find an amazing diversity of culture and entertainment.
In a nutshell
Santa Monica is LA's oldest and largest beach resort with a wooden pier, funfair and great shopping.Long Beach has a 9km-long white sand beach. Pine Avenue, the centre of town, is lined with shops, cafés and restaurants, while Shoreline Village, on the waterfront, is a charming complex of eateries and boutiques. Newport is home to luxury mansions and a superb 5km-long beach where surfing is de rigueur.
For film-star glitz head inland to Hollywood, where you'll find the celebrity Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Studio Museum. Paramount Studios is the last major studio to be based here, while further north in Burbank, you can enjoy the rides and tour at Universal Studios. Shopping, bars and nightlife can be found on Sunset Strip, Robertson Boulevard and Melrose Avenue. Continue west and you'll hit the exclusive city of Beverly Hills. Here you can admire the designer boutiques on Rodeo Drive and take a tour of the stars' homes. Anaheim is home to fun parks filled with roller coasters, rides and other amusements at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.
Eats & drinks
In downtown LA, you'll find Chinatown and Little Tokyo for delicious Oriental cuisine, as well as El Mercado for authentic Mexican food. Santa Monica is renowned for its great restaurants - and seafood is only one of the specialities.
Getting around
A car is almost a necessity in LA, although the Metro network will take you between Universal Studios and Pasadena in the north.
Getting there
Virgin Atlantic flies to LA twice daily.
Additional info
Time Difference - GMT -8 hours.
Transfers
If you don't require car hire, transfers are available at the following price: £ 20 per person.
Weather and climate
