How does the author describe London in 1999?

Modern day London is beautifully kept and very modern. The Company of Boys will rehearse for another week in London, and spend the remainder of their time performing two of Shakespeare's plays at the Globe. While in London, the Company of boys are housed all over the city. Half of the boys live in a London University hostel north of the Thames River, which runs through the center of the city. The other half of the boys are placed with foster families all around London. Nat stays with the Fisher Family who live in an apartment with a great view of the river. The Globe Theatre is on the south bank of the Thames River in an area called Southwark. This is where both the new Globe built in 1599 and the old Globe, a replica that opened to the public in 1999 stands.