LA’s sprawling central district has reinvented itself as a cultural and leisure destination with a real heart.

Once known principally for its traffic fumes and soulless high-rises, Los Angeles’ central district was unloved and largely avoided by visitors. But thanks to an imaginative rebranding, this 21-square-kilometre urban sprawl has redefined itself as the downtown LA district and rekindled pride in its rich heritage. Look beyond the skyscrapers and the smog and you’ll find a cultural melting pot that’s putting the heart back into the city.The downtown LA district takes in sixteen separate districts, each with its own style and ambience. Chinatown is one of the most atmospheric spend time exploring the exotic shop displays and food markets of this oriental oasis, or head for Little Tokyo to feast on mouth-watering sushi and rice wine. If Mexican cuisine is more to your taste, the cantinas on Olvera Street will serve you crisp tacos and spicy burritos washed down with a refreshing beer straight from the bottle. Splash the cash in the stylish Fashion District or let your inner culture vulture loose in Bunker Hill, perhaps dropping into the historic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for some spiritual refreshment.Seen at close quarters, the ubiquitous skyscrapers of the LA skyline reveal a surprising variety of architectural styles, from the Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco glories of Union Square to Frank Gehry’s masterpiece, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, famous for its curving stainless steel façade. The home of the celebrated Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra is the city’s cultural pride and joy, with a world-class programme of classical concerts and celebrity recitals, as well as a rooftop garden where you can escape the urban jungle amid a riot of landscaped greenery. Don’t miss Gehry’s graceful rose fountain covered in a mosaic of Delft porcelain.The Natural History Museum is a popular family destination with lifelike dinosaurs to keep the kids happy for hours, while the California Science Centre offers an interactive view of the universe that breaks down scientific barriers and turns education into entertainment.