London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and as the 2012 Olympic Games demonstrated, it is also hugely passionate about its sport, boasting an array of world class venues.

Its attitude to rugby is no different and tickets for certain matches at the world famous Twickenham Stadium can be tough to get your hands on, such is the enthusiasm for the game.

With a population of 8.5 million, London is comfortably the largest city in the UK and provides a valuable driving force to Britain’s economy, culture and political identity.

As with other host cities, it is a good idea to try and enjoy an extended stay as it’s simply impossible to see everything in one day.

Twickenham

Twickenham has been the home of English rugby since 1907, with the first international seeing England beat arch rivals Wales 11-6 in January 1910.

The stadium plays host to national team matches, as well as the English leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series and club rugby finals.

The stadium is located in a reasonably pleasant area of Southwest London, quite near Heathrow Airport.

There are three tiers of seating all the way around this wonderful stadium, which with a capacity of 82,000 is the largest in the Six Nations competition.

Even if you happen to be sat in the upper tier, the stands themselves are reasonably steep and close to the pitch, meaning you can still get a good view of the action.

The concourse running throughout the bowl of the stadium at each level means you could, if you fancied it, walk around the entire ground. This is a source of plenty of fun and games when the sevens are on, but with a full house expected during the Six Nations, it is probably not advisable.

If you arrive early or happen to be staying nearby, the World Rugby Museum in the East Stand is well worth a visit.

London really isn’t a car-friendly city for visitors and parking spaces around the stadium are often scarce, so if possible, leave it at home.

The best way of getting around the labyrinth of the city is by train or Underground, with Transport for London’s journey planner offering great advice on how to get to your destination.

On match day a majority of fans will take the train, and there are several options to choose from.

Twickenham Station is around 15 minutes walk from the stadium and is served by regular departures from London Waterloo and Reading.

It’s worth bearing in mind that Twickenham is not the biggest of stations, meaning fans are likely to be held in a queue outside on the return journey.

Additional trains are laid on for fans on match days but they are still often crowded, so it’s worth arriving well ahead of kick-off if you want a bit more space.

Alternatively, fans can jump off at Richmond, which is on the same line as Twickenham and is also served by the District Line of the London Underground.

The walk to the ground is around half an hour from Richmond station, which is usually served by special buses on match days.

Between the two stations is St Margaret's, which is also served by trains from London Waterloo and is about a mile away from the ground.

Coach travel is another option for those coming from outside of London, with National Express offering services to Twickenham from a wide range of locations across the UK. 

The sights and attractions in the capital are almost limitless, with the city home to various cultural and historic attractions.

Soak up a bit of history by heading to the Tower of London, where you can catch a glimpse of the crown jewels and learn more about what was once Britain’s most notorious prison.

If 1,000 years of culture still leaves you wanting more then there’s the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, all of which ooze with history and are still important parts of wider British culture.

London is also a city bursting with some world class museums and galleries, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern and the Science Museum.

Alternatively you could always hang out with your favourite celebrity at Madame Tussauds, which boasts lifelike waxworks of some of the most recognisable figures from the past and present.

And if you’re a fan of a view, the London Eye offers some of the best in the entire city.

Visitors to Twickenham will have little trouble in finding a place to whet their whistle.

The options on where to get a pre-match tipple largely depend on where you get off, with Twickenham and Richmond often both having a lively atmosphere.

For those getting off at Twickenham, the Cabbage Patch, The London Road and Misty Moon are all popular choices with fans while the Royal Oak is only a 10 minute walk from the North Stand.

The White Swan offers a pleasant riverside setting and is also a popular haunt for fans as is the William Web Ellis near the station.

Fans getting off at Richmond have the options of the Orange Tree and Sun Inn, while those at St Margaret's can enjoy the highly recommended Turk’s Head pub on Winchester Road.