 About the city:
London , the capital city of England is also the largest and among the old cities in Europe. With over seven million inhabitants, it’s also the second most populous place in Europe, after Moscow. It has always been the city with great artistic and creative connections but lately it’s also known for its lively and multicultural environment. It has unique range of restaurants, clubs and historical centers that truly make it the coolest city on the planet.
London’s history dates back to 50 AD when it was founded by the Romans and they named it the city of Londinium. It is said that it became the capital of the Roman Province of Britania. After the fall of Roman Empire, the fortified City of London was reocuppied around the late 9 th century and started its role as England’s biggest city. By the 18 th century, London became the biggest city of the world. And over the years, London grew more in terms of its size and sourroundings, thus, making this city a truly magical place.
Tourist Attractions:
London is just full of places and sites to visit and explore. Tower of London is the most famous landmark in the history of London. This tower houses the Crown Jewels, prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh also known as the Bloody Tower. A 30 minute fully enclosed high tech capsule flight, 450 feet above the Thames River gives the passenger a London Eye. Have a taste of exclusive art by Picasso and Cezanne at the Tate Modern. And to have a royal experience, visit Buckingham Palace that has been the Royal London residence since Queen Victoria’s time. This grand place is surrounded by beautiful gardens and landscapes.
Trafalgar Square represents London with its 145 foot high monument having a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson guarded by lions. Explore the nature’s own Hyde Park, which is famous for its Speaker’s Corner, Rotton Row, and Serpentine Lake. To see all Hollywood stars up close and personal, there is no place like Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, which is a very popular museum with life like wax figures of stars. Trip to London can not be complete without visiting Harrods Department Store, one of the most popular destinations in the city not just for celebrities but for all travelers too.
Close Destinations:
The most famous neighborhood of London happens to be the name of a very popular movie too. Notting Hill is a trendy and a fashionable place with very unique fee of being a small but modern village like surroundings. Also to shop smart, visiting Convent Garden is a good idea. It’s filled with restaurants, markets and boutiques that offer all visitors wonderful shopping in the day and a magical theatre experience at Royal Opera House in the night. If planning to travel out of London to it’s near by places then the choice is vast with destinations like Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Cornwall, York etc.
Booking:
Flying to London can’t get as easy as this; take an option to book with travel agent or conveniently at home over the internet or even just by contacting the airline. All major airlines fly to Heathrow Airport in London. From India, airlines like British Airways fly direct to London, Air India operates a non- stop flight and also a flight with Lufthansa with a stopover at Frankfurt. There is also Alitalia that flies to London via Milan. Flight times may vary in the range of 8hours to 13hours.
Traveling with in London is a wonderful experience with so many ways of transport available. To explore the city in full fashion, walking proves to be a better idea equipped with London’s easy to understand map with highlighted sights to see. Otherwise, London has beautiful red Double Decker buses moving around the city and covering all the points of visit. Railways and water ways provide easy connection with other neighboring destination and its metro rail travels all over London city.
Accommodation:
There are more than 400 lodging places in London to choose a place of stay when traveling to this wonderful city. Hotels could be booked over the internet well in advance before traveling. Place to stay could be decided on the basis of the location, it could be near any four of the preferred airports or according to the class of the hotel or their special features. There are other options for stay too like bed and breakfasts and serviced apartments.
Hotel Rates and Charges:
Hotels, chosen according to the location or on the basis of their class, could be availed in comfortable price range. For a cost effective and comfortable stay, price range would be around $30 to $60. Whereas for a three star accommodation in the heart of London, price range might be around $50 to $110 and a four star stay could be in the range of $100 to $210. For a more luxurious and a five star hotel stay cost could be very well in the range of $200 to $400.
Lodging:
London hotels and all lodging places offer various guest services for making your stay very comfortable. Some of these services include Valet parking, safe deposit boxes, currency exchange, 24 hours Concierge and porter service, safe deposit box, post/parcel services. Almost hotels offer laundry/ dry cleaning, Medical services, baby sitting, children special menu, varied restaurants, lounge bars. You can also enjoy spas offering massages, facial treatments, barber/beauty services, health club with saunas, steam room, Jacuzzi, swimming pools, fitness center facilities, business center with meeting rooms and conference phones.
Apart from this rooms also provide certain services like mini bar with refrigerator, blow dryer, spacious rooms with big bathroom, work desk with necessary stationary, bath robes and slippers, coffee and tea maker, iron and ironing boards etc. With all the facilities provided by all the lodging places, tourist and visitors always have a most pleasurable and comfortable staying in London.
Amusing and amazing Facts about the city:
Many different phrases originated from London, during old times when unruly customers ordered ale by pints and quarts, the bartenders used to tell them to “mind their pints and quarts”, thus the phrase came “Mind your P’s and Q’s”. Concept of Honeymoon originated in London, some 4000years ago, as after marriage there was a concept for the bride’s father to supply honey beer to son in law for a month and that’s how the word “Honeymoon” came into existence.
London has many faces and many more different attractions that offer its tourists picturesque sceneries, historical monuments and luxurious shops to explore and visit. Each visitor takes a piece of London with them, which always stays in their hearts. |
