Planning A Trip To London
London is one of the most vibrant and gorgeous city in the world. Samuel Johnson once said “By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show” for there is in London all that life can afford. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and every year millions of people from all over the world visit London.
Being one of the most popular tourist destinations London offers a wide selection of hotels, luxury accommodations, hostels, guest houses and service apartments to suit every pocket. London offers some of the most gorgeous hotels in the world with great views.
Best Hotels to stay in London
Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa – It is located in the Chelsea – Knightsbridge neighborhood of London which is one of the most posh locations of London. It has a full-service spa, an indoor pool, a steam room, a sauna, and a fitness facility. The hotel offers easy access to key bus and train routes and is within walking distance to Sloane Square and Victoria Station.
51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences – Located just minutes from Buckingham Palace it is one of the finest hotel in the area. The decor of the rooms is modern and stylish and the food at their Indian restaurant is delicious. The main features of the hotel include spa, steam room, sauna, gym, limo car service and lot more. The nearest tube station is St James’s Park which is 3 minutes walk from the hotel.
Corinthia Hotel London is a 5 star hotel located near many famous landmarks of London. Huge staircase, high ceiling, beautiful chandelier and vast lobbies give it a grand and classy look. The hotel has London’s largest spa and wellness centre and its restaurant offer all day dining and it serves modern British food
The Grand is located just next to Trafalgar square and three blocks from National Gallery. The nearest tube station is Charing Cross which is just 3 minutes walk from the hotel. It has some excellent features including upper level Grand Gallery, high ceilings and state of art windows. They have opened a new restaurant named Boyd’s Bar and Brasserie that serves British cuisine. There are lots of other facilities available in Grand like- health club, wireless internet, meeting rooms etc.
Things to do in London
Visit Westminster Abbey – It is a Gothic church in Westminster and one of the most famous landmarks of London. It is located west to the Palace of Westminster (House of Parliament). Visitors can see the stunning medieval architecture inside the church as well as they can view hundreds of years old paintings, stained glass and textiles.
Take a ride on London Eye– London Eye is a giant wheel that carries 32 sealed egg-shaped passenger capsules and each rotation takes about 30 minutes. On a clear day you can see around 40km from the top as far as Windsor Castle where Queen lives. In order to ride on the London Eye visitors need to buy tickets. It is recommended to buy the “fast track tickets” online; even if a bit more expensive they‘ll help you to avoid huge queues. You can also buy regular entrances from the nearby counter.
Take a boat ride – Thames river cruise is very popular among the tourist. As Thames flow through the heart of the city so you would be able to see all the iconic structures – Tower Bridge, London Eye, Parliament House and many more. You won’t have to stay hungry during the tour as snacks and drinks are available inside the boat.
Visit National History Museum – Natural History Museum has one of the largest collections of natural history-related artifacts in the world. The museum is divided into four zones – Red, Green, Blue and Orange and each zone is divided into various sections. The entry to the museum is free and it is open every day from 10:00 – 17:50 except 24-26 December
Visit Tower Bridge – Tower Bridge is the iconic symbol of London and the most photographed and painted bridge in the world. Tower Bridge exhibition is located in the north-west tower allowing entrance to high level walkway between the two towers and then down to south tower into the engine room. The Victorian engine room once used to raise and lower the bridge for ships to pass. It has been maintained beautifully and visitors can see the immaculate chambers that are spacious and comfortable.
Take a tour of Madame Tussaud’s – It is a globally famous wax museum that houses wax models of famous people from all over the world. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in London and it receives 2.7 million visitors annually. Madame Tussauds is open every day except for 25th December. It opens from 9:00 every morning but the closing time varies depending upon the season.
The best time to visit London is the summer season when temperature varies from 18 °c – 27 °c and sunlight remains till 10 o’clock at night and sunrises at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Best places to eat:
Butlers Wharf Chop House –Set in a stunning location right next to the river Thames, it’s serves hearty British food. Their service is very good and their food is lovely but bit expensive. Wine lovers will enjoy the wide-ranging list that features English and Welsh wines. Their signature dish is Roast Shorthorn rib of beef, Yorkshire pudding and roast potato.
The Library– If you want to take your partner on a romantic dinner near Buckingham palace then it is the best place to take him/her. The restaurant specializes in seafood. One of their popular dishes is red mullet with rosemary-scented mussels. You can also try their black pepper tiger prawn with crusty French bread, Hastings Dover Sole or west coast scallops pea shoots, summer beets and pea puree. They are open daily from 19:30 – 22:00.
Brasserie Joël – This restaurant is opened by an award winning chef Joël Antunes and is located near Big Ben, London Eye and House of Parliament. The interior of the restaurant is casual and modern. It is a perfect restaurant to have a romantic dinner in one of London’s most posh location. It serves contemporary French cuisine like Oxtail tortellini, spinach and Swiss chard.
The best time to visit London is the summer season when temperature varies from 18 °c – 27 °c and sunlight remains till 10 o’clock at night and sunrises at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Author Bio: Sujata Ghosh loves to travel and writes about central London hotels. She has just found a great selection of cheap hotels in London city centre for her next trip. =)