The greatest city in the World

I've been to nearly all major, and several not-so-major cities in India. I've also been to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Phuket, outside the country. But all that became irrelevant when I visited London. You can travel to hundreds of places - but you haven't truly 'seen the world' till you see it's greatest city - London, England!

You know you are in London when:

• Your aircraft has to wait 20 min before one of the scores of 747's vacates one of the many boarding slots!
• Even though many people are employed, and working at breakneck speed, it takes a whole hour to clear immigration!
• The local train lines have names like 'Piccadilly' and 'Hammersmith' rather than 'Central ' or 'Eastern'!
• A family on the train is eating carrot cake!
• The ethnic mix of demography is by far the widest you've ever seen!
• You overhear more Hindi and Punjabi on the street, than you'd hear English in most cities abroad!
• The clock-tower has a name, and is famous!
• Any building you see, has a history (something woulda happened there in the last 400 years)!
• Any local passer-by would be nice enough to tell you about it!
• A park in the city is 53 acres, and is one of the smaller ones!
• 
• On the bus, someone points to a building and says 'Will Smith and Charlize Theron will be here later today for a premiere', and it's not such a big deal!
• Some soldiers still dress like this!
• 
• Some of them dont move a muscle, no matter how much of a commotion you create around them!
• You can wear a business suit all day (outside the office) and feel entirely comfortable!
• A 'gentleman's club' has gentlemen having a quiet drink, while being entertained by ladies on a stage, aided by a pole and Britney Spears' music!
• While being entertained, you can strike up a conversation about football clubs with the next gentlemen at the 'gentlemen's club', and hear about his divorce and 5-year-old son very soon!
• YOU KNOW YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS AS ONE OF THE BEST WEEKS OF YOUR LIFE, AS LONG AS YOU LIVE

Some other random tips to my friends goin there for the first time (as tourists):

• Plan a trip at least a week long, with at least 3-4 full days for leisure (if you are also planning business on your trip)
• Be prepared to spend. Like big. DO NOT CONVERT CURRENCY IN YOUR HEAD
• Don't go in a huge group. Preferably travel alone
• Buy an Oyster card (pre-paid for local public travel) as soon as you land
• Meet a good ol' friend asap. Let him/her explain how things work there, and your own dos and donts
• If good-ol-friend is 'your type', try and coordinate your travel plans with his work schedule etc.
• Read up before you go. Wikitravel is a good place to start (and not just for London)
• Carry some food. Ready-to-eat, or microwave-able. (and I'm usually the one who insists on the local cuisine wherever I travel)
• Carry plenty of formal or semi-formal clothing
• Book the cheapest hotel, even if it's some distance away from downtown. Gettin around London is very easy, and is a lot of fun. And hotels, in general, are expensive.
• Be mentally prepared to have the time of your life (else you might spoil it for yourself, and your companions)

I'm missing it already. Will visit again, as soon as I can :)