London is a one-of-a-kind, incredible city, traditional yet contemporary, full of history yet modern. It is a worldly city by any measure and it is a quintessential international metropolis. When walking around the city you might feel as if you are in the capital of the world, since the city is a Mecca of retail, finance, trade, transit, entertainment and new trends. London is also a symbolic city, one of the most renown worldwide. It is the home to the Queen, Big Ben, the tube or the double-decker buses.
Checking In
You have your choice of lots of hotels in London to check in to for business or just for your stay. From posh hotels like 41, which is adjacent to the Royal Mews of the Buckingham Palace road to the family-owned hostels, there is something for any budget. One of the best ways to find the best place to stay is through an online travel site like Expedia. You will usually find Expedia coupon codes in order to make your travel even more cost effective. One alternative to a hostel or a hotel is renting an apartment, which is a lot more comfortable, more affordable and they sure provide a unique experience in London. There are agencies that rent apartments in London, the best being London Connection.
The Sites
In London, there are hundreds of sites and activities that will satisfy all your curiosities. England has been one of the most important cities of Europe for 100s of years. The museums in the city have a renown cultural heritage and an enormous wealth of artifacts from British history, the entire western civilization and of course loads of oriental treasures from colonies.
The Design Museum is a must for everyone interested in modern design. Westminster Abbey is one of Britain’s grandest buildings and it is where many marriages, coronations and burials of the British monarchs take place. The National Gallery, situated in Trafalgar Square is one of the world’s most important and fascinating collections of Western European paintings. Its permanent collection consists of paintings from the past several hundred years. There you can admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Turner and many others.
The British Museum, which was founded in 1753, has collections of antiques from Western Asia, Greece and Rome, Egypt, Assyria as well as Medieval, Renaissance and Modern collections. Their collection consists of 6.5 million objects of all shapes and sizes.
At the Tower of London, you will find the Crown Jewels. The Tower of London is definitely a must see and it has been a witness of over 900 years of British history. Big Ben is the colloquial name for the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. You will find it on the northeastern part of the Houses of Parliament.
Eating Out In London
London is not just about sightseeing. Dining in London will be a very satisfying experience. Whether you want an a Chinese restaurant, an Italian restaurant or a Thai restaurant you will find everything. From inexpensive restaurants to afternoon tea to luxury dinner or Sunday roast, you will find in London anything the most demanding patron wants. Some ideas for dining are the Middle Eastern delights, like The Afghan Kitchen, romantic restaurant with focus on great-tasting food. In Dalston. you may find some of the oldest Turkish restaurants in London, like Tas or Mangal 2.
In London, you must stop for afternoon tea at The Ritz, which is extremely popular and bookings are made weeks in advance. Other nice places include The Metropolitan, The Ritz, The Fortnum & Mason or The Berkley.
