Los Angeles  - California’s glitzy palm tree-lined megalopolis.

There is nowhere quite like Los Angeles. It’s a land of bronzed beach babes, face lifts, theme parks and Hollywood glamour offset by an exciting grittiness that gives the sprawling region a unique charm. Beyond the concrete city, Los Angeles county encompasses a whole area of eclectic neighborhoods to explore, each with their own vibe, as well as spectacular landmarks (both manmade and natural) and beautiful Californian beaches.

In the words of Missing Person’s song lyrics, “Nobody Walks in LA,” so it’s advisable to hire a car. Make sure it comes with a satellite navigation system so you can find your way around the dense network of traffic choked freeways – they’re intimidating at first but you’ll soon get the hang of it. A detailed street map may come in handy too.

Movie Magic

For movie buffs and theme park fiends, the first stop should be Universal Studios where you can re-live your favorite movies from past and present, meet your favorite characters and watch death-defying movie stunts. If that’s not enough, move on to Warner Bros for the VIP Tour which takes you behind the scenes of moviemaking. You can head to Hollywood and snap your favorite movie star’s handprints on the famous Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, marvel at Grauman’s now state-of-the-art Chinese theatre and see with your own eyes the famous Hollywood sign on the hills. And then of course there’s Disneyland where your childhood dreams come true.

Shopping and Star Spotting

To get a feel for the high life in LA, spend a day schmoozing around Bel-Air, Brentwood and Westwood in the west. Set aside a few hours for the Brentwood’s Getty Center with its superb architecture, beautiful gardens and Renaissance art collections not to mention the stunning panoramic views of the twinkling city in the sunshine. You can then hit up Beverley Hills for a touch of star spotting and some serious retail therapy, or at least window shopping, along Rodeo Drive where the who’s who of the fashion world all have glitzy boutiques.

If you’re in the area on a Sunday, put the LA Farmer’s Market on your to-do list where you’ll find some of the best fresh produce in town and rub shoulders with the city’s top restaurateurs doing their food shopping.

Downtown Culture

LA’s once shabby downtown area is now a hip and happening neighborhood. Even better, you can ditch the car for a few hours and explore the area on foot. Check out the Museum of Contemporary Art, City Hall (aka the Daily Planet Building in Superman) and Frank Gehry’s spectacular 2,265-seat Walt Disney Concert Hall (home to the LA Philharmonic) whose spectacular façade of curved metal sheets call to mind a flurry of music sheets. You can also soak up the hustle and bustle of Chinatown and take in some of the city’s best independent galleries on Chung King Road.

Sun, Sea, Sand and Fresh Air

Beach lovers should escape the skyscrapers and smog and head for Santa Monica or Malibu. Malibu has a distinctly Italian Riviera feel, while Santa Monica has a more bohemian beach vibe, albeit an affluent one. It’s worth cruising by Venice Beach too if only to gawk at the oiled up bodybuilders, street performers, inline skaters and other strange goings on along the boardwalk.

If you don’t make it to the beach, Griffith Park, north-west of downtown LA, is five times larger than New York’s Central Park and its natural mountainous scrubland is a popular spot for hikers and cyclists.

If you’ve got a car then you can’t leave LA without cruising down the famous Mulholland Drive that follows the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains up to the Hollywood sign, with great views of San Fernando Valley and the LA Basin. If you have the time, do it twice, once in the light of day and once at night when the city comes alive with twinkling lights.

Where to stay: LA certainly isn’t short of hip hotels but these are the cream of the crop:

Chateau Marmont: This classic turreted castle in West Hollywood dates back to 1929 and features 63 luxury guest rooms, suites, penthouses and four bungalows, all set in a beautiful leafy garden. It’s a tranquil retreat, www.chateaumarmont.com

Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills: Ideally situated close to Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, this five star establishment has a fourth floor terrace pool, stylish rooms, state-of-the-art amenities not to mention the complimentary limo service that takes you to Rodeo Drive. www.fourseasons.com/losangeles

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa: If you want to escape the madness of the city, this fabulous country estate resort close to the Topatopa Mountains has 308 opulent guest rooms and suites, an on-site spa and golf course. The hotel also offers a range of activities and excursions from fishing to wine classes. www.ojairesort.com

How to get there

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 17 miles southwest of downtown LA. British Airways, Virgin, United Airlines and American Airlines all fly direct from London to LA.

Visa Requirements

British citizens holding a UK passport don’t require a visa to visit the US as a tourist but the duration of the stay must be 90 days or less. However you are required to apply for travel authorization before you arrive in the US. You can register online at the Electronic System for Travel Authorization website (ESTA) https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Useful links:

www.universalstudioshollywood.com

www.farmersmarketla.com

www.moca-la.org

www.getty.edu