Think London, and traditional attractions spring to mind. Places like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and St Paul's are better than ever, but if you know where to look you'll find plenty of less well known spots just around the corner. Also picking the right spot for your stay in London will make for a more relaxing stay, try using our hotel comparison tool to select from a range of London Hotels based on your price range, duration of stay and star ratings.
| London never stands still and new icons are mushrooming up alongside the old... |
There are so many sites worth visiting across London that it might be worthwhile focusing on one area. Take the South Bank for example. It's impossible to miss the all seeing London Eye which towers above the river and just below you can visit the silent sharks in the London Aquarium. Stroll along the walkway however and you might catch talented street artists, bookstalls and young lads doing impossible jumps on their stunt bikes. Off to the right lie the funky boutique London Hotels and cafés of Gabriel's Wharf. Further along the river, Shakespeare's reconstructed Globe Theatre is well and truly on the map, but did you know that nearby hides a new theatre tucked away in the converted Menier Chocolate Factory?
Hotels in London offer literally hundreds of accommodation options and it is true to say that your budget may well influence the part of London you choose to stay in. Luxury London hotels at the very top of the range can cost thousands of pounds per night. Encouragingly, because the excellent Tube (London Underground) and bus network means that what you see will not be limited by the location in which you stay, you can base your hotel choices upon what you can afford. The west end is the most central area to stay from Covent Garden to Knightsbridge and through to the Oxford Street area.
Many London hotels do tend to have rooms that are much smaller than you would usually expect as hoteliers seek to maximise the number of guests. If cramped quarters are likely to be a problem, investigate room sizes before you book, however remember that you will most likely be out and about exploring the city for much of your stay. Pleasant places to find London hotels include Bloomsbury, which offers plenty of budget options, and Kensington, which has more mid range hotels and good dining options too. There are also good hotels near Paddington Station and near Victoria Station.
Of course, London can be expensive, but for those in the know you can keep the cost down. Instead of dining in pricey restaurants, why not head to Borough Market for a chorizo and rocket sandwich? Or pack a picnic and take the children to one of the many museums with free entrance - visit the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum or the Egyptian mummies at the British Museum, and the only cost will be your travel. Catch a bus instead of a taxi, and you can do your sightseeing from the top deck - did you know that you can check out your bus route online?
If you're planning a little shopping, Oxford and Regent Streets have flagship stores galore - take any teenagers to Topshop or Abercrombie and Fitch and your popularity rating will soar, whereas Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington might be good places to spoil yourself. Worn out by shopping, you could head for one of London's many green and soothing parks. In Hyde Park, you'll discover the imaginative Princess of Wales playground, whilst in Regent's Park you can visit the new walk-through rainforest at London Zoo.
London never stands still, and new icons are mushrooming up alongside the old. If you haven't visited for a while, prepare for a few surprises.
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