The 30 best Hotels Hostels in London

About London

The English capital awaits us just one step thanks to the increase of low cost companies. It is the perfect destination for a weekend away to disconnect from everyday routine thanks to everythins offered by the English capital.

Moving around

In spite of the immensity of the city of London, it's easy to move around thanks to the public transport. Its 13 Tube lines will take you everywhere. You can also travel by bus to enjoy the sights of the city at the same time. Some of the lines operate 24 hours. With Travelcard tickets you'll get better fares and Oyster card prices are lower than in the box office. Many Londoners prefer to move around by bike. With Barclays Cycle Hire you can hire a bike in any of the stations scattered through the entire city. It's easy, you just need a credit card.

Out & About

One of the strong points of London is that the entrance is free in many of the main attractions. There are so many things to see in the city that you won't know where to start. You can try and spot all the stops in your itinerary from the top of the London Eye. On the shore of the Thames, you can admire the Palace of Westminster, also known as The Houses of Parliament, with its impressive and well known Big Ben which will give you the time so you won't miss tea time. If you want to visit Buckingham Palace, you may want to do it during the traditional Changing of the Ward, which lasts 45 minutes. With the countless museums of the city, such as the British Museum or Tate Modern, you can spend a cultural vacation but, if what you want is a little more excitement, your meeting point will be Piccadilly Circus and its huge variety of restaurants, pubs and shops. From here, you can also take a look at Trafalgar Square or the Soho where you can also find Chinatown. London is a hotspot for musical and artistic activity, it's the cradle of garage music which you'll be able to enjoy in several places. The trendiest neighborhood is still Soho, in the West End. On the other hand, the East End is full of small and alternative art galleries as well as big ones.

What's going on in

The London Parade takes place on January 1st when music bands march throughout the city cheering up the first day of the year. The City London Festival is an annual art celebration that takes place in July. During Notting Hill Carnival in August, London becomes Rio de Janeiro for several days. And, of course, in June, the British celebrate the Queen's Birthday. In 2012, London will dress up to host the Olympic Games. In March, takes place the traditional Boat Race in the Thames between Oxford and Cambridge universities. In April, London Book Fair is held, one of the most important literary fairs in the world. Then, in July, music lovers have an appointment in Hyde Park to see the best bands of the moment play live in the Wireless festival.

Shopping

In London, you can buy almost anything. You can't leave the city without taking English tea in your suitcase. Oxford Street and Regent Street are probably two of the main shopping streets of the city; the original Harrods store is located in Knightsbridge; in Covent Garden you'll find the most fashionable shops while Bond Street is riddled with luxury stores. If what you're looking for is something a little bit more alternative, then your destination is Camden Town. Most of its shops sell gothic clothes and accessories or are tattoo studios but you can also find all kinds of curious stuff and food stands. The best day to go is Sunday. Portobello Road Market is one of the most famous markets in town and there you can find antiques, furniture, etc.

What's cooking?

The traditional tea ceremony is still part of the British way of life. Some of the typical dishes of the islands are: Roast Beef, Fish and chips, Steak and Kidney Pie, and, for dessert, the delicious Apple Pie. The best places to eat are Covent Garden district with its wide variety of restaurants and the Soho, where you'll enjoy a good dish of Chinese food.

Weather

The weather in London is pretty cool and damp in winter and a bit warmer in summer although the climate is pretty unpredictable. It can happen that you go out in a bright, sunny day and then, all of a sudden, it starts to rain. The best way to enjoy London is to always be prepared for any unexpected change in the weather.

Practical information

European Union citizens just need an ID card to go to London. It's a pretty safe city full of surveillance cameras on the streets but, as always, you'll have to be wary of pickpockets if you don't want to have an unpleasant surprise. British currency is the Pound. Other details you have to keep in mind to spend a perfect vacation is that sockets in the UK have three pins (don't forget your adapter at home) and cars drive on the left (look twice before crossing the street).

So...

There's so much to do in the city that it's difficult to decide where to start. Whether if you choose the traditional sights or if you prefer to create your own tour to visit mythic places such as the birthplace of celebrities like Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor or David Bowie, there's no doubt that you'll enjoy every single moment of your stay in this great city.