Resort Guides
London
Overview
London is one of the world's most remarkable and exciting cities. It has something to offer every type of traveller. This vibrant metropolis embraces the diverse cultures of its population, reflected through its cuisine, shops, music and colourful festivals.
There is so much on offer in London it is hard to know where to start! London is home to countless historical and modern attractions, from the London Eye and Big Ben to the National Gallery, Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.
With free admission to many top attractions, there's no better place to soak up some culture. London boasts four World Heritage Sites and over 200 attractions are free to enter.
Central London encompasses most of London's main attractions, theatres and restaurants, and most places within this area are in walking distance of each other. With a basic city map, you'll be able find your way around easily and take in some sights on the way.
Location Information
London is the capital of England, United Kingdom.
London is supported by five main airports - London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and London City.
All London airports have easy connections into central London by coach, train and taxi.
City Information
Top Ten Attractions in London:
1 - National Gallery: Houses one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world. With paintings ranging from 1250 to 1900, the collection includes work by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Cezanne and Van Gogh.
2 - Tate Modern: A converted power station in the Southbank area of the city, this impressive building is Britain's home of Modern Art. Home to works by British artists but also international artists such as Picasso, Dali and Matisse the Tate Modern also has fascinating exhibitions and contemporary installation art. The giant Turbine Hall is where some of the world's most influential Installation Artists get to showcase their works and is well worth a look.
Entry to the gallery is mostly free, making it one of the must-do activities in London, with only a small charge for some major exhibitions.
To get there you can take the London Underground to Southwark or London Bridge on the South side of the river, or alternatively you can cross the famous Milennium Bridge by foot from just beside the landmark St Paul's Cathedral leading to the door of the Tate Modern.
Opening times are:
Sunday – Thursday, 10.00–18.00
Friday and Saturday, 10.00–22.00
3 - London Eye: An exciting experience for everyone as the world's largest observation wheel - even when scared of heights, it's a safe and enjoyable trip and gives fantastic views of the London skyline.
Centrally situated close to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye is closest to the Waterloo tube station (5 minute walk in the direction of South Bank) but also not far from Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster stations.
For the Christmas season there are special "flights" with mulled wine or during the year you can enjoy an exclusive glass of Champagne as you enjoy the vista on the 30 minute flight.
4 -Natural History Museum: As well as the permanent dinosaur exhibition, the gallery boasts a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world.
5 - London Theatre: No trip to London could be complete without a trip to the West End to see a show, there are the long running well known shows such as Chicago, Mamma Mia and Les Misérables but also new shows added all the time, this year has seen the successful launch of Sister Act the musical.
We can offer packages including accommodation and theatre tickets (with a London Eye Pass also included) or if you already have somewhere to stay then just book a theatre ticket/meal combination with us and get the best rates for the best shows in London.
Popular shows for children and young people include The Lion King of course as well as Billy Elliot, Grease the musical, we Will Rock You and Dirty Dancing. Read more...
6 - Science Museum: See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years at the largest museum of its kind in the world.
7 - Tower of London: Discover its 900 year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.
8 - Tate British: Tate Britain holds the greatest collection of British art in the world including works by Constable, Gainsborough, Gilbert and George, Hockney, Hodgkin, Hogarth, Moore, Rossetti and Turner.
9 - The Victoria & Albert Museum: The V&A celebrates all things art and design, and is home to 3000 years worth of amazing artefacts from many of the world's richest cultures.
10 - Tower 42: Amazing experiences don't come any more special than this. Really! Don't take our word for it, have a look at the views in this Panoramic view finder and see for yourself... all of London's most important monuments at a glance. Share the most stunning views of London from atop the tallest building in the City with someone special to make a night to remember.
In the Vertigo 42 Champagne Bar & Restaurant you can enjoy a glass of something fizzy and decadent or a top quality meal - or both together! With Champagnes ranging in price from reasonable by the glass right up to a Vintage Krug "Clos du Mesnil" Magnum, the bar offers something for all tastes. Wines and soft drinks are also available. See the Champagne and Food menu here...
To get to the Tower, take the Underground to Bank or Liverpool Street stations and walk in the direction of the huge building dominating the area.
Drinks and dinner in Vertigo 42 is by reservation only and dress code is Smart Casual.
Opening times are:
Monday - Friday, 12.00 - 15.00
Monday - Saturday, 17.00 - 23.00
"Please sir, can i've some more?"
We all need to eat. Thankfully Londoners have taken this into consideration and opened some of the best restaurants serving great food and at reasonable prices too.
There has never been a better time to eat out in London, here are the ActivityBreaks.com Top Food Picks for London:
Brick Lane (in the East End of London) is famous for it's vast selection of curry houses along one street - most offering a free round of drinks to welcome you in the door.
London's Chinatown is in the Soho area of west London in the surrounding Gerrard Street (Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are the closest Underground Stations).
Some of the best British pub food in London is found at The Chamberlayne Pub & Steak House in North-west London with dishes at great value prices served in a busy yet cosy environment. See also 'Geales' in Notting Hill and 'Anchor & Hope' near Southwark and Waterloo stations.
Meson Tres Barriles is a charming, authentically Spanish tapas restaurant in the Spitalfields market area of East London (Liverpool St Station) mixing great food and wines with a warm and friendly staff and atmosphere. Read more...
Photo credit: All Images from Flickr (top to bottom) David G, Irrational Cat
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