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If you plan on visiting London they I suggest you take a look at my guide to London Hotels and accommodation. I have stayed in London on many occasions for both business and leisure. I thought that it might be helpful if I was to publish any related information I can offer to help make your visit to London more enjoyable... Here are some quick links About London -
Where To Stay In London About LondonLondon is one of the world's most fascinating cities, with visitors from every corner of the globe drawn to its wealth of cultural and leisure attractions. It is also one of the Europe's leading commercial centres where movers and shakers come to do business and clinch deals. The city groans under the weight of foreign banks, a throbbing stock exchange, a buoyant economy, five airports and many more... The time in London is GMT, i.e., five hours ahead of New York. Thus if it is 9:00 am in New York, it is already 2:00 pm in London. The telephone country code for England is 44. Money is the pound rather than the euro. Electricity in England is 240V. Most laptop computer and digital camera power supplies can function on this power. Many hotel rooms often are equipped with international style plugs. Where To Stay In LondonThere are so many London hotels to choose from. Firstly I would recommend that you pick your preferred area first and then your hotel. Although providing that your hotel is located within central London you will have no problems getting around London as the public transport (tube/underground and buses) is very good. If possible you should try to stay within any of the following areas. These include Bayswater, Bloomsbury, Soho, Covent Garden, Kensington, Chelsea, Hyde Park, Paddington, Marble Arch, Victoria. A good website I found called Discounted Hotels London, allows you to search hotels by area as well as rating. Another good website I would recommend to use when finding your London hotel is a website called BookTravelnStay. This site seemed to offer many London hotels ranging from budget to luxury ratings, in almost every area of London. Also, why not visit Cheap Hotels In Central London. This site offers 9 centrally located London hotels at very reasonable prices. You can also book you rooms online over the Internet which was good for me. Getting Around London The London underground is probably the most useful
transportation method for the visitors to London. There are 6 Zones
on the underground – Zone 1 being central London and increasing
the further out from the centre you travel. Fares increase according
to the number of Zones travelled. Underground traffic is heaviest between 0800 and 0930, and between 1600 and 1830. For more information visit www.tube.tfl.gov.uk, telephone +44 (0) 207 222 1234. Buses provided a quick and easy way to get around London, whilst giving you the opportunity to do a little site seeing as well. If you plan on travelling around London, it is recommended you purchase a Travelcard. This will allow you unlimited use on both the buses and underground. Travelcards can be purchased for 7 days or more at a time, but they require a passport sized photo. London Transport introduced night buses (marked with an 'N' on bus signs), which cover the late night time period when there is no underground service. Please note that the route of the Night Bus service is different to what routes are available during the day. The night service runs from 11:30pm until about 6AM. For more information visit www.transportforlondon.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0) 207 222 1234. London's famous black taxis seem to of been around forever. The licensed taxis can be hailed in the street or found at designated ranks. London taxis are a good option for groups of people sharing the fare, which can be steep. An alternative to the traditional black London taxis are minicabs, which offer space for more passengers than a black taxi. Minicabs do not have metres, they charge by the mile. It is advised to ask for the fare when calling for a minicab, and verify the fare with the driver before starting your journey. Dial-A-Cab are suppliers of licensed taxis to the public. Either book your taxi online or phone +44 (0) 207 251 0581. For more information visit www.tfl.gov.uk/pco/ or telephone +44 (0) 207 222 1234. Walking is probably the best way to discover London, if you have both time and energy. Although London is a very large city, you will be surprised to know how close many of the famous landmarks are with each other. Arranged walking tours are an ideal way to get to know London. What To Do In LondonShopping in London. London's world-famous January sales start as early Boxing Day on Dec 26. Whatever it is you're shopping for, you will find what you want in the maize of London shops. Oxford Street lays claim to being London's busiest street with more than 300 shops. Large department stores include Selfridges, Debenhams and John Lewis. Oxford Street is the place for high street fashion and many big names stores around Oxford Circus tube station include Top Shop and Hennes ( H&M). Regent's Street is situated just off Oxford Street and is home to a number of large outlets offering everything from toys and trench coats to fabrics and food. Large department stores include Liberty and Hamleys the famous toy store. Knightsbridge is probably best known for Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores. Like Bond Street, all the big-name fashion designers can be found in Knightsbridge. When visiting London, a visit to Covent Garden is a must. From the fashionable boutiques and unusual gifts of Covent Garden Market, there's nothing like it. To avoid the worst of the crowds you have to be an early riser and come between 9am and 10am - Saturdays and Sundays are bad no matter what time of day it is - when most of the other London shoppers are either in bed or having a breakfast. Nightlife in London. You will be amazed with London’s non-stop nightlife. Dance till dawn in one of the capital’s top night spots. In all areas over London you will find bars, restaurants and clubs. London Attractions. During your stay in London, why
not visit one of the many attractions that include historic royal palaces,
world-famous museums, galleries of international repute and much more.
An entertaining experience is guaranteed whenever you visit London.
Places of interest to visit include Buckingham
Palace, Houses
of Parliament, London
Eye , London
Zoo, Madame
Tussaud's, Tate
Gallery, Tower of
London , Westminster
Abbey plus many of London's Museums. A full guide for eating out in London can be found at www.london-eating.co.uk I hope you enjoy your stay in London. Stephen Jeffs
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