Los Angeles Holiday Guide

The climate is sunny and dry year-round, peaking in the mid-80s (30C) during July and August, occasionally dropping to the low 50s (10C) during December and January. The summer months are the busiest and most expensive for holidays.

Though it may be colder over Christmas, it's a good time to visit - if just to catch a glimpse of snow on the distant mountains while walking around the city in a T-shirt, smiling at plastic snowmen decorating the sun-drenched streets.

Most visitors on holiday here head to Tinseltown for the allure of the movies and the thrill of its theme parks. To combine the two, visit Universal Studios, reliving your favourite movie scenes and just maybe catching a glimpse of a new film in production.

The truly smitten can take a tour around star-heavy Beverly Hills and Bel Air. If you fail to see any real legends, try the Hollywood Wax Museum, where you can mingle with more than 200 plastic celebrities.

Venice Beach boasts miles of silicone implants and muscle, while Santa Monica is better for clean sands and palm-fringed promenades. With a pretty pedestrian shopping arcade, cafes and 17 movie screens, this area is a favourite with visitors and locals alike.

Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo beaches are party places for surfers and volleyball players. For a less urban experience head north to Leo Carillo, Malibu and Zuma.

Los Angeles is home to the world-famous J Paul Getty art centre, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum.

For a break from the bustle of city life, take a trip north to Pasadena. This quiet college district has a small-town atmosphere, with impressive architecture, good shopping, the lovely Huntington Botanical Gardens and great restaurants.