London vs Paris
London vs Paris, which is your favorite destination? If you still can not draw a line, here are the facts and differences between the two cities to help you make a choice.
While London is the capital of the United Kingdom, it is also the largest city in the country. The city stands on the River Thames in South East England, with its history stretching back to Roman times. Paris, on the other hand, is the capital city of France, located in the north-central part of the nation. It stands along the Seine River. Paris has a rich European history and is regarded to be a global centre for culture, fashion, art, and gastronomy.
London is among the largest metropolitan areas in Europe, as it covers an estimated area of 1,572 square kilometers. Paris covers an estimated 105 square kilometres. Although Paris is smaller in terms of area coverage, the city happens to be one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. Paris has a population density of 20,700 people per square kilometre.
Most people fail to acknowledge the cultural gap, and it can be quite a shock for them when they visit the two cities. These cultural differences mainly stem from the cultural difference between England and France. For instance, in England, a handshake is the standard way to greet a person. Language is not a significant factor as the British assume everyone speaks English. The French accept a handshake although a kiss is a conventional way of saying hello. If the whole kissing thing is not okay with you, you can brush your cheeks and kiss the air. In terms of the language, the French are quite protective of their language. Therefore, while in Paris, try to speak some French. The Parisians appreciate it when foreigners work to speak their language, no matter how rusty it might be. When meeting up with someone for a drink, the French urbanites will plan to meet and head to a cafe where they will drink their espresso as they enjoy their time.
France has always earned global recognition for the quality of its cuisine, and Paris gives you the chance to confirm this taste of greatness. Over the years, the restaurants in Paris have earned higher Michelin-Starsthan London's. Nonetheless, London's food should not be written-off. With an increased diversity among the people flocking to London, restaurants have been embracing food from various parts of the world. The vibrant cultural mix in London has led to delicious and innovative food scenes. London offers a wide array of food, such as cheap curries to fish and chips. Paris, on the other hand, brings quite a variety of bread and pastries, as well as baguettes.
Both London and Paris are known for their high cost of living, but London is quite more expensive than Paris. But note that groceries and other consumer prices are lower in London than in Paris. In other aspects such as local transportation costs and utility-bills, Paris appears to be quite cheaper than London. Paris will be a great option if you are looking for a pocket-friendly destination.
London seems to have an advantage in terms of leisure and entertainment spots. There are numerous fun things to do in London. For starters, London has 380 public libraries, while Paris has 69 of them. Concerning museums, London has 240 while Paris has 153 museums. Most football fans will find themselves attracted to London rather than Paris. London hosts six major football clubs that play in the top league, while Paris has only one major club, Paris Saint-Ger- main (PSG).
London's transport network is quite extensive. The British city has six international airports, namely: London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stanstead, and Southend. On the other hand, the French capital has three international airports which are: Beauvais, Orly, and Charles de Gaulle. Paris has more subway stations that are evenly spread compared to London's, which are less spread out. London has an estimate of 22,500 registered taxis while Paris has 17,000.
In terms of bus and train lines, London has twice as many as Paris. Nonetheless, Paris has been actively expanding its new tramway network.
Trust me; it is quite hard to decide on a London vs Paris vacation. In a 2018 report by MasterCard, London was the second city globally that recorded the highest number of tourists after Bangkok. Paris came in the third. Regarding tourism revenue, tourists tend to spend more in the English capital than in Paris.
When planning for a trip, one of the main concerns is whether the trip duration will be ideal and worthwhile. Both London and Paris have several attractions that would render any time short for an impeccable experience. If you are on a budget, as discussed earlier, Paris is less expensive than London. Based on your budget, this will, therefore, give you an extended period to explore the French city. In most cases, three to four days in Paris would be enough to skim through the city, while four to five days in London would be suitable to swindle across the streets.
Sites worth paying a visit in Paris include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and the Disneyland, among others. While in London, some of the top places to visit include the London Eye, Warner Bros Studio, and Big Ben. Locals from both cities are generally warm and welcoming, but it is easier to get acquainted-with a local in Paris than in London. People in London tend to hang-around in impenetrable cliques, making it difficult to interact as strangers. People in Paris are a little bit culture-sensitive but are also fun to get along with once you get acquainted. Despite the calmness in both cities, it is crucial to be careful of pickpockets and chuggersalong the streets.
As for London, the weather usually is mild; hence one can visit at any time of the year. However, autumn is the most appropriate period to jet-in. During this period, temperatures are warm and lovely. Additionally, that is when the city blooms with British events and festivals. The most appropriate time to fly to Paris is between June and August. Within these months, the weather is perfect, and the days have extended hours of sunshine.
Which is better, London or Paris! Well, both cities have their unique aspects. Therefore, it solely depends on what you are looking for, as well as your values.
A. Find the words from the text and fill in the crossword puzzle.
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1. a person who lives in a town: urbanite |
4. an impressive display of a particular type of thing: showcase |
6. in accordance with the highest standards; faultless: impeccable |
7. impaired by lack of recent practice: rusty |
ACROSS
2. a person who approaches passers-by in the street asking for donations: chugger |
3. a set of rails that forms the route for a tram: tramway |
5. full of energy and life: vibrant |
8. a long, narrow French loaf: baguette |
9. the art of choosing, cooking and eating good food: gastronomy |
10. a small close-knit group of people: clique |
B. Choose the correct alternative.
a. The transport network in London is ........ |
i. limited |
ii. widespread |
iii. ruined |
iv. luxurious |
Answer: widespread |
b. The number of museums in London is......... |
i. 69 |
ii. 153 |
iii. 240 |
iv. 380 |
Answer: 240 |
c. Paris is better and has more to offer than London in terms of .............. |
i. variety in cuisine |
ii. the number of museums |
iii. arts and crafts |
iv. transport |
Answer: variety in cuisine |
d. Which of the following is not the major attraction of Paris? |
i. fashion |
ii. cuisine |
iii. art |
iv. public library |
Answer: public library |
e. Which of the following is not the similarity between the two cities? |
i. Both London and Paris are the capital cities. |
ii. Both cities can be travelled all year round with nice weather. |
iii. People in both cities are friendly and welcoming. |
iv. Both cities are famous for viewpoints and museums. |
Answer: Both cities can be travelled all year round with nice weather. |
C. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. The French prefer handshakes to kisses. False |
b. People in London are easy to get along with. False |
c. The French enjoy talking informally in espresso bars. True |
d. London is almost fifteen times larger than Paris in terms Of geography. False |
e. The cost of living in Paris is almost the same as that of London. False |
f. If you are looking for a less populous city, then Paris would be a perfect suit. False |
D. Answer these questions.
a. What are the famous rivers in London and Paris? |
Answer: The famous river in London is the River Thames, and in Paris, it is the Seine River. |
b. Why do football fans prefer London to Paris? |
Answer: Football fans prefer London to Paris because London has more major football clubs than Paris. |
c. Which of the two cities was visited by more tourists in 2018? |
Answer: In 2018, London was visited by more tourists than Paris. |
d. What time of the year is suitable to visit London? |
Answer: The most suitable time to visit London is during autumn when the temperatures are warm and pleasant. |
e. Which of the two cities is cheaper to travel? |
Answer: Paris is cheaper to travel compared to London. |
f. Where do you think it is easier to catch a cab: In London or Paris? Why? |
Answer: It is easier to catch a cab in London because it has more registered taxis compared to Paris. |
Word Meaning
stretching /ˈstrɛtʃɪŋ/ |
extending, expanding, reaching |
Extending or expanding over a period of time or distance. |
gastronomy /ɡæˈstrɒnəmi/ |
culinary art, food culture |
The art and science of good eating; the study of food and culture. |
densely /ˈdɛnsli/ |
closely, compactly, tightly |
In a closely or tightly packed manner. |
acknowledge /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ |
recognize, admit, accept |
To recognize or admit the existence, truth, or validity of something. |
stem /stɛm/ |
arise, originate, come from |
To arise or originate from a particular source. |
assume /əˈsjuːm/ |
presume, believe, think |
To believe or accept something to be true without proof. |
appreciate /əˈpriːʃɪeɪt/ |
value, recognize, enjoy |
To recognize the value or significance of something; to enjoy or be grateful for something. |
rusty /ˈrʌsti/ |
out-of-practice, not fluent, awkward |
Not fluent or skilled in something due to lack of practice. |
urbanites /ˈɜːrbənaɪts/ |
city dwellers, urban residents |
People who live in cities; city dwellers. |
espressos /ɛˈsprɛsəʊz/ |
coffee shots, strong coffee |
Strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans. |
recognition /ˌrɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/ |
acknowledgment, appreciation, praise |
The action or process of recognizing or being recognized for something. |
cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/ |
cooking, food, dishes |
The style of cooking or preparing food that is characteristic of a particular region or culture. |
Michelin-Stars /ˈmɪʃ(ə)lɪn stɑːz/ |
Michelin Guide awards, Michelin accolades |
Awards given by the Michelin Guide to restaurants based on their quality and culinary excellence. |
written-off /ˈrɪtnɒf/ |
disregarded, dismissed, discounted |
To consider or treat something as unimportant or of no value. |
flocking /ˈflɒkɪŋ/ |
gathering, converging, assembling |
Gathering or converging in large numbers. |
embracing /ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ/ |
accepting, adopting, welcoming |
Accepting or adopting something willingly or enthusiastically. |
vibrant /ˈvaɪbrənt/ |
lively, energetic, dynamic |
Full of energy, excitement, and activity; lively and dynamic. |
array /əˈreɪ/ |
variety, selection, range |
A wide variety or selection of something. |
baguettes /bæˈɡɛts/ |
French bread, long bread rolls |
Long, thin French bread rolls with a crispy crust. |
utility-bills /juːˈtɪlɪti bɪlz/ |
household bills, service bills |
Bills or charges for essential services such as electricity, water, and gas. |
pocket-friendly /ˈpɒkɪt ˈfrɛndli/ |
affordable, budget-friendly, inexpensive |
Affordable or economical; not expensive. |
render /ˈrɛndə/ |
provide, offer, give |
To provide or offer something. |
impeccable /ɪmˈpɛkəb(ə)l/ |
flawless, perfect, faultless |
Without any flaws or mistakes; perfect or faultless. |
explore /ɪkˈsplɔː/ |
discover, investigate, examine |
To travel through or investigate a place or idea in order to learn more about it. |
swindle /ˈswɪndl̩/ |
wander, roam, meander |
To wander or roam around aimlessly. |
acquainted-with /əˈkweɪntɪd wɪð/ |
familiar with, aware of, knowledgeable about |
To be familiar or have knowledge of something or someone. |
hang-around /ˈhæŋ əˈraʊnd/ |
linger, loiter, stay |
To spend time idly or without purpose; to linger or loiter. |
impenetrable /ɪmˈpɛnɪtrəb(ə)l/ |
inaccessible, unfathomable, incomprehensible |
Not able to be understood, solved, or penetrated. |
cliques /kliːks/ |
exclusive groups, circles, gangs |
Small, exclusive groups of people who associate closely with each other and exclude others. |
culture-sensitive /ˈkʌltʃər ˈsɛnsɪtɪv/ |
culturally aware, culturally responsive |
Being aware or responsive to different cultural practices, customs, or sensitivities. |
chuggers /ˈtʃʌɡərz/ |
charity muggers, street fundraisers |
People who approach others in public spaces to solicit donations or sign up for charitable causes. |
jet-in /dʒɛt ɪn/ |
arrive by plane, fly in |
To arrive at a place by plane. |
blooms /bluːmz/ |
blossoms, flourishes, thrives |
To blossom or flourish; to be in a period of growth or abundance. |
tend /tɛnd/ |
be inclined, have a tendency, lean |
To have a tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or outcome. |
Extra Questions to Practice
Expandable FAQ Section
What are the capitals of the United Kingdom and France?
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The capital of the United Kingdom is London, and the capital of France is Paris.
Where is London located in England?
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London is situated in the southeastern part of England.
What river runs through London?
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The River Thames runs through London.
Which city is known as a global center for culture, fashion, art, and gastronomy?
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Paris is known as a global center for culture, fashion, art, and gastronomy.
What is the population density of Paris?
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The population density of Paris is 20,700 people per square kilometer.
What cultural differences exist between England and France?
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Cultural differences between England and France include greeting customs and language preferences.
How do people greet each other in England and France?
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In England, a handshake is the standard way to greet someone, while in France, a kiss on the cheek is a common way to say hello.
Which city has more Michelin-starred restaurants, Paris or London?
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Paris has earned more Michelin stars for its restaurants compared to London.
What kind of food can be found in London?
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London offers a wide variety of food, including cheap curries and traditional fish and chips.
What kind of food is popular in Paris?
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Paris is known for its variety of bread, pastries, and baguettes.
How does the cost of living compare between London and Paris?
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London has a higher cost of living compared to Paris.
What are some popular attractions in Paris?
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Popular attractions in Paris include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and Disneyland.
What are some popular attractions in London?
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Popular attractions in London include the London Eye, Warner Bros Studio, and Big Ben.
How many public libraries are there in London and Paris?
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London has 380 public libraries, while Paris has 69.
Which city has more museums, London or Paris?
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London has 240 museums, while Paris has 153.
How many international airports are there in London and Paris?
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London has six international airports, while Paris has three.
Which city has more subway stations, London or Paris?
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Paris has more subway stations that are evenly spread compared to London.
Which city recorded the highest number of tourists in 2018?
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London recorded the highest number of tourists in 2018.
When is the most appropriate time to visit Paris and London?
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The most appropriate time to visit Paris is between June and August, and for London, autumn is a suitable period with warm temperatures and British events.