A guide to the area between Waterloo and Trafalgar Square

The axis between Waterloo and Trafalgar Square, both named after famous victories in the Napoleonic Wars, dissects the boundary between London's political and cultural hubs. Trafalgar Square sits at the heart of the famous West End, whilst the bustling South Bank, with its street performers, book stalls, concert halls and theatres, overlooks the Thames to the north of Waterloo. To the west is the seat of Britain's democracy, Westminster, where government ministries neighbour one other, and the nation's politicos scurry between lobbyists and power brokers, ensuring that both the cogs of government and the greasy pole of politics are well oiled. Here, the LIMUN Eye picks out a few spots worthy of a visit in the area.

The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

Situated at the top of Trafalgar Square, these two free galleries house some of the most famous works in the world. Appropriately, in The National Gallery you will find Hans Holbein's renowned trompe l'oeil, The Ambassadors, as well as the work of more modern artists such as van Gogh and Monet. The National Portrait Gallery has an equally eclectic collection, boasting works by artists such as Lucian Freud and Julian Opie, with his famous Blur album cover. The new Irving Penn exhibition promises to be worth a visit, with its iconic images of personalities as diverse as Francis Bacon, Alfred Hitchcock, Nicole Kidman and Rudolf Nureyev. The two galleries are open until 18:00 over the weekend.

The Mall and Whitehall

A short walk from Canada House, at the south of Trafalgar Square, you will find two of London's most prominent roads. Passing under Admiralty Arch, a ten minute walk down The Mall to Buckingham Palace takes you past the opulent Carlton House Terrace, where you will find the Institute of Contemporary Arts with its new Billy Childish Exhibition, and the elegant St James's Park to the south, should you fancy some space to relax in. Walking directly south from Trafalgar Square takes you down Whitehall, past the Cenotaph, the Household Cavalry, 10 Downing Street and the Foreign Office, down to Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament at the other end.

Gordon's Wine Bar

Claiming to be the oldest wine bar in London, this cellar bar sits on Villiers Street, between Charing Cross and Embankment. With the cheapest glasses priced at £3.95, this place might not be cheap, but the atmosphere certainly makes up for it.

The Chandos or The Lyceum

For the more spendthrift amongst you, these two congenial Sam Smith's pubs offer good drinks at sensible prices, with The Chandos at the north east corner of Trafalgar Square and The Lyceum a little further down the Strand.

The Whitehall Cafe

Whilst it might appear inauspicious from the outside, this little cafe, tucked between two pubs at the top of Whitehall, offers very reasonably priced freshly-made sandwiches, ranging from £2 to £4.50 in price. A broad range of choice is available, from smoked salmon to coronation chicken, and there is a seating area at the back should you want to shelter from the February chill.

The South Bank

Home to the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, British Film Institute and London Eye, this is a vibrant centre of culture. Those of you not keen on attending the LIMUN socials might try to get the £10 tickets available for critically acclaimed productions such as David Hare's appraisal of the credit crunch, The Power of Yes, at the National. It also hosts a number of chain restaurants, shops, street performers, and, slightly further down, the London Eye. Probably offering the best views over London, this 135m ferris wheel, erected for the Millennium, is likely to be very busy over this half term week, so booking the half hour 'flights' via their website, www.londoneye.com, is recommended. Although the £16 a head is perhaps a little steep, if the weather is good you can see right the way down to Canary Wharf in the east and Richmond Park in the west.