London Travel Guide and Hotel Reviews

Accommodation for visitors to London is often associated with plush hotels such as the Hilton and Dorchester, but such grand establishments are at the far end of the spectrum and can prove prohibitively expensive for most tourists.  If all you are looking for is a clean, affordable place to stay, with a decent bed, breakfast in the morning and a friendly environment, then the good old fashioned London bed and breakfast will be the perfect choice.

There are thousands of these smaller establishments in the capital.  They often advertise themselves as small hotels, are scattered across the city and can provide everything you need to make your stay in this exciting metropolis a happy and rewarding one.

London sprawls around the Thames in all directions, in contrast to cities such as Paris and Prague which have all their main attractions within a relatively small area.  The last thing you need to be saddled with is the necessity of getting back to the hotel for lunch or dinner when you have just got to the other end of town to see the Science Museum or London Eye.

Small establishments such as St Pancras or Kings Cross hotels offer the perfect accommodation solution to travellers who want to spend most of their stay here exploring the city rather than sitting around in a hotel waiting for the next meal.

There are other advantages to staying at a bed and breakfast in London.  One of the main ones is the friendly, homely atmosphere, with the owner preparing your breakfast and happy to join you for a chat and offer insider advice about your plans.  There is nothing like a native to give you the lowdown on where to go and what to see, a lot of which is not often included in the glossy guides.

Try a London bed and breakfast and see this great city in a whole new light.

Nights out in London can be exquisite, different and a truly delightful experience with some of the activities and things to do that are on offer.

A cruise on the Thames with fine food provided, live entertainment and stunning views is a perfect way to sit back and enjoy the beauty London has to offer, whilst the London showboat cruise allows tourists to enjoy famous songs from the shows whilst enjoying the beauty of the Thames.  Alternatively, a night out on the Party Bus London Nightclub Tour provides perfect entertainment around four of the top London hotspots.

Alternatively, there are many public houses and bars where tourists can spend the evening socialising and enjoying a few drinks with live entertainment or TVs showing live sport events, which are often the norm in bars and public houses in London.  It is also a cheaper option to simply take a stroll out along the Thames or enjoy Trafalgar Square in the evening, or take one of the cheaper cruises along the Thames, which are enjoyable.

Going out in London can be a memorable experience, with cinemas and theatres showing both recent and long running plays that are famous the world over. There is always something for holidaymakers to fill their time with during the evening whilst enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling and vibrant city.

Eating out in London is always a pleasure.  The sheer range of cuisine on offer reflects the multi-cultural diversity of this vibrant city.  A short stroll through the streets takes you past Caribbean restaurants, Indian, African, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Greek, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Eastern European, Scandinavian eateries – the list of foods on offer is endless.

Alongside these distinctive international cuisines, visitors also discover some very English dining options in London that are hard to resist.  Two traditional foodie appointments worth keeping during your visit are afternoon tea and Sunday lunch.

Afternoon tea

The quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea should be enjoyed if you get the chance.  Many of London’s grand old hotels offer lavish tea menus featuring the most delicate of finger sandwiches, lightest sponge cakes and pastries, moist scones, jam and clotted cream and a selection of artisan blended teas, all served on the finest bone china.  Take your pick from elegant Claridges, The Savoy, The Dorchester, or The Ritz.  For something a little unconventional with a creative twist, afternoon tea at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge is popular with the fashionable crowd.

Sunday lunch

Gastropubs are a relatively new English innovation combining the best of modern British cuisine with the enduring appeal of the great British pub.  Kill two birds with one stone and enjoy fine ales whilst selecting from an extensive gourmet menu.  These establishments often serve the best traditional slap-up Sunday lunches.  Popular London gastropubs include The Thomas Cubitt (SW1), The Anchor and Hope (SE1), The Duke of Cambridge (N1) and The Wells Tavern (NW3).

London is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.  Visitors love the culture, the history, nightlife, and art scene in this vibrant capital city. 

Museums

London’s museums are top notch.  The National Gallery and National Portrait gallery are home to world-class works of art, as is the Tate Modern.  The British Museum holds some of the world’s most important archaeological artefacts.  The Victoria and Albert is a quirky museum that is delightful to explore.

Landmarks

London has some of the most famous landmarks in the world.  The Tower of London is the home of the Crown Jewels and is said to be haunted by the spirits of people who were executed there.  St. Paul’s Cathedral is a beautiful structure and visitors can climb to the top of the dome for spectacular views.  The London Eye towers over the city and tourists can ride the third tallest wheel in the world.  Visitors also love to tour the royal residence of Buckingham Palace.

Hotels

Hotels in London come in a variety of types and price ranges.  Many visitors choose to stay somewhere that is close to a tube station for easy access to all the sites.  For this reason, St. Pancras hotels are a good choice.  The St. Pancras station gives visitors a way to get around the city quickly.  It also has trains to take tourists around the country and through the Channel Tunnel to France.

London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and as such it can be a place thronging with crowds of people, making car travel through its streets difficult and exhausting. To remedy this, the London Underground rail system – known simply as ‘the Tube’ – was established in the 19th century. The earliest railway system of its kind, it runs today with the same popularity and ease of access as ever.

Complimentary maps of the London underground system, with details of the different lines, stations and train times, can be picked up in any of the Tube stations. Otherwise, a copy can be downloaded and printed from the Tube website.

The trains involved in the underground system have their destination on the front of the train, so if travelling, be sure to look for this to make sure it will reach the correct destination. Try to reduce the time you spend travelling within rush hours – early morning or evening – as the trains can become very crowded at these times.

Iconic to foreigners and fiercely loved by the locals, London is a city that is both historical and fast-moving and futuristic.  There is so much to see and do in this ever-expanding capital city that one or two carefully planned trips will be needed – but be warned – it is not cheap.  Like any other UK city, it is worth checking ahead for weather reports, as adventures to all the city art galleries and museums are fine on a rainy day, but a picnic in Hyde Park and a wander round London Zoo will not be as fun without the sun.

Fortunately, the underground system in London is there to take you to all the main places of interest fairly easily.  However, if you do not mind walking long distances and a bit of map reading then London by foot will provide some great sights.

Of course, The London Eye, the Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden, Madame Tussauds, Oxford Street and Big Ben are all very popular attractions, but this city deeply steeped in history possess fantastic hidden gems too.  Spending an afternoon at Camden Lock, or walking through the markets and sampling your pick of the fusion food is a great experience.  The London Dungeon is a strangely alluring experience for London trippers while Kew, or Kensington, Gardens provide a relaxing and light experience.

The West End is abuzz with plays, operas and alternative entertainment, but be sure to book any tickets in advance.  Many nearby restaurants will have offers that you can take advantage of, but when it comes to food then London is the place to be.  China Town is great for all tastes oriental, or for great Bangladeshi food then take the underground to Brick Lane.

There is accommodation for all tastes and prices.  There are of course, hostels galore, but boutique or themed hotels are great for a bit of fun during your stay.  Venture a little further out to the end of one of the tube lines and you could well find yourself a B&B for as little as 30 pounds a night.

One of London’s hippest, quirkiest art galleries, Arthouse aims to bring art to the masses with a unique combination of museum-quality exhibitions and salesmanship.

Arthouse plays host to dozens of local and international contemporary artists working in a variety of media including hand blown glass, bronze sculpture, original works, limited edition prints, and more.  Some of the gallery’s other specialties include handcrafted silver jewellery, art for children, and one-of-a-kind vintage jewellery. They also offer a professional framing and restoration service.

The displays feature some of the most well-known contemporary artists in the world.  Recent exhibitions include pieces by Gary Benfield, Carol Gillan, Derek Hare, Iain Faulkner, Paul Karslake, Shirley Hughes, Quentin Blake, and many more.

The gallery was established in 2004.  It caters primarily to in-house visitors who wish to purchase works they see on display, though the organisation’s website also carries an extensive catalogue of works available for purchase.  There’s an attractive 0% Interest-Free financing programme on pieces priced over £500, gift vouchers, regular sales, wedding registry, and a home consultation service, so Arthouse really does strive to make modern art accessible to everyone.

Arthouse welcomes new submissions from unknown artists, so adventuresome visitors can contact the gallery to schedule a review of their work or to arrange an electronic transfer of sample images.

The Arthouse Gallery is located at 114 Station Road, North Chingford, London.  The space is easily reached by taxi or public transport and is within walking distance of many great London hotels.

One of the most multicultural cities of the world, London continues to draw immense numbers of tourists, from both Britain and internationally, who are eager to experience the UK capital.  Home to the Queen, a place of free art galleries and museums and host to the world famous West End theatre, there is more than enough to do, however long you choose to stay.

The city has a huge historical background with which to enthral visitors and while the traditional London attractions such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tower of London continue to appeal, there are some less well-known experiences that offer a rare insight into London’s past.  Take as an example the London Museum, located near the Barbican, which holds a fantastic collection of artefacts and items from across the ages, taking visitors on a journey from the first settlers, through disasters such as the Great Fire of London, up to the present day and the consequences of World War I and II.  There are guided walks through the city, such as Shakespeare’s Sonnet Walk or the Jack the Ripper tour, offering an extra special experience, not always included on the everyday tourist trip.

Though Central London continues to be thronged with visitors, areas on the outskirts are filled with rich experiences.  In Notting Hill market you have the chance to browse and find antique items in a quintessentially British environment.  The Greenwich maritime museum and surrounding area offer stunning sights of the Thames, a lush park to rival Hyde or Regents Park and a historical insight into maritime London.  With so much to do, both in the major tourist centres and off the beaten track, the adventurous traveller will leave London with a little more than the average visitor.

Travelling around London is much easier than one might imagine. The city itself has excellent transport links and public transport is a popular option. The two main airports are Gatwick and Heathrow, although London is also served by Stansted, London City and Luton airports. This makes arriving at the city itself very easy for those coming from another country.

Domestic travellers may find it easier to travel into the capital via train with Euston, Kings Cross and Victoria railway stations serving thousands of passengers each day. Alternatively the London underground, known as The Tube, makes getting from A to B a breeze. The underground map is really simple to follow, although it may take a little while to get used to.

Alternative travel into the city includes coaches. National Express offer coach services from all major towns and cities into London, meaning that getting there couldn’t be easier. Public transport in London is excellent, most trains and buses run on time and there is always the option of hailing a taxi if needed.

Hotels in London have friendly staff members that are always willing to offer advice on the best way to get around the city.  Many hotel staff are locals who have had to learn the best ways to travel. If you have never been to London before then it is worth asking their advice.

Booking London hotels and train travel can be performed quickly and simply online, and booking in advance often offers some great discounts.

London is the most internationally-visited city in the world, attracting some 15 million tourists every year. This enormous multi-ethnic city is home to famous clock tower Big Ben, the houses of parliament, Buckingham Palace, The British Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Tower of London. The most popular tourist hotspots include Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Leicester Square. The London Eye (sometimes referred to as the Millennium Wheel) is situated on the south bank of the River Thames and is a 135-metre high rotating observation tower. From the top it is possible to get a panoramic view across the whole city on a clear day. It is London’s top paid attraction and Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel.

Pleasure cruises on the Thames are also a popular choice for tourists, and provide a good opportunity to see many of the landmarks along the way, including the famous bridges, such as London Bridge and Tower Bridge. London’s theatre scene is constantly buzzing, and the West End in particular is the place to go if you want a decadent night of dinner at one of London’s many fine restaurants followed by a show. Big venues include the London Palladium, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Royal Albert Hall and the O2 arena in Greenwich. The best way to get around London is either by tour bus, by underground tube, or on foot. Traffic is always busy and so your best option is to purchase a Transport for London all-day travel card, which will give you access to most buses and trains throughout the city, from Docklands (the new business centre of east London) to Richmond Park in the south-west, and from Clapham Common to Hampstead Heath. Indeed London has some beautiful green areas, and three within the centre of the city include Green Park (near Buckingham Palace), St James’s Park and Regent’s Park. London has a huge choice of accommodation for visitors, from low-priced hostels (e.g., the Piccadilly Backpackers, rates from £12) to top-of-the-range hotels (e.g., the Milestone Hotel, close to Knightsbridge and the shopping delights of legendary department store Harrods and Regent Street and Bond Street).