Stay in London for New Year’s Eve

London is undoubtedly one of the best places to be on New Year’s Eve. With entertainment options ranging from an extravagant New Year’s Eve party to a romantic river cruise, New Year’s Eve in London promises to be spectacular and full of adventures. 

With a number of restaurants, clubs, bars and pubs, theatre shows and music events, London will celebrate throughout the night across the capital. For those not very eager to mix with a jolly crowd, house parties are another option. Many prefer to spend the New Year’s Eve in someone’s home, being among friend and family. 

London clubs can be an especially enjoyable experience for those free spirits who like to party. Clubs often have a theme for the New Year’s Eve to add some spice to the colourful party. Tickets might be pricy, but keep in mind that most places – pubs, restaurants and New Year’s Eve theatre shows will charge an entrance fee. Be cautious and plan your visit in advance. Stay at central London hotels to make sure you will get back safely. 

For those looking for a romantic New Year’s Eve dinner in London, choose from luxurious river cruises along the River Thames. You will definitely get the best view for the fireworks! The crowd usually marches through the traditional London areas to the River Thames, where the fireworks or the lighting display at the British Airways London Eye take place. 

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are now firmly established as amongst the best in the world, providing a stunning backdrop to New Year’s Eve celebrations and winning global media coverage which helps promote London as the most exciting city in the world

Underground or Overground? How to Get Around London

London: a vast city famed for is ancient history, buzzing nightlife, rich mix of international culture, its food, the fog and its great big London Eye. Visitors wanting to make the most of their stay in Britain’s banging capital are going to have to find a way to get around, but there’s plenty of transport choices for the travelling tourist.

Unfortunately, walking won’t get you very far in London. The city stretches over 609 square miles and, unless you plan on visiting only a very small area, using your two legs alone just won’t suffice.

For fitness freaks, using a bike to get round can be an option. It’s clean, cheap and good for you, but you’ll have to contend with London drivers, heavily traffic and, quite possibly, heavy rain. There are certain areas of the city which are ideal for exploring by bike, such as the paths along the Thames river, the Canals, Lee Valley and of course London’s many parks, but as an overall transport solution for the causal tourist, only the fit and brave need apply.

If you don’t mind the rush hour crush and you can read a simple colour coded map, then London’s aptly named underground train system, ‘The Tube’, will take you to many of London landmarks. The system has recently been improved with the introduction of the ‘oyster card’ – a credit card like device to which you can add money and then use to travel throughout the underground system, simply swiping as you go. This system is not only convenient, but also offers significant savings compared to buying single journey and return paper tickets.

For those places that the tube doesn’t yet reach, (the tube network is far less extensive south of the river compared to north), the bus routes reach deep into almost every part of the sprawling city. The much loved traditional “route master” buses, which could be boarded or exited by jumping on or off from the ever-open rear door, have now been retired from service, but London’s buses live on in the form of a modern fleet that still celebrates the red Double Decker bus, which is a trademark of the city.

If you prefer your transport non-public, then the classic London black cab can be hailed at all hours and will whisk you away to anywhere you want to go. They’re convenient and cool, and you’ll get to talk to a real life London Cabbie – but it will cost you more than the bus or the tube. If you need a car for more than just a quick journey, then you can always get your own motor. Car rental in London isn’t as expensive as you might expect and cars can be booked in all London airports, as well as in dozens of rental outlets across the city.

Perhaps the best way to navigate around London is to use a combination of transport methods. London’s fleet of buses, cars, taxis and the tube will allow you access to everywhere in the city, bringing all the delights of the capital within reach of the travelling tourist.

London Calling! Travel To London And Discover Ten Breathtaking Places

If you are planning on spending a vacation in London, make sure you take full advantage of this gorgeous city with all that it has to offer. The city of London is full of an exciting Array of places to go and things to do and see, for people of all cultures and ages. Being one of the biggest cultural capitals in the world, this city offers sightseeing opportunities and tourist attractions like nowhere else. Travel to London involves experiencing the city in all its splendor and fantastic sightseeing. Here are ten of the best sightseeing places in the city of London:

1. The British Museum: Founded in the year 1753, the British Museum had a collection of over 71,000 unique items that had all been contributed by Sir Hans Sloane. In the 1800’s, this museum gained in popularity and began to flourish, which in turn increased its inventory of items to more than seven million. The museum’s charter declares that it should be open free of charge to all those curious people who are interested in learning more. So, come spend a day wandering through the eternal, labyrinthine corridors, exploring and discovering some of the greatest works of mankind’s cultural accomplishments and some take in some of the greatest relics of the Egyptian and Greek empires.

2. The London Eye: Drawing nearly four million visitors each year, the London Eye has become one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in the world today. This gigantic wheel stands almost 135 meters over the entire city of London and is presently considered to be one of the tallest observation wheels in the world. This wondrous creation of modern engineering permits tourists to view all of London with an entirely new perspective, allowing them to see parts of the city that are generally not visible from the ground. Visiting the London Eye has been described as an ‘enchanting and inspiring experience’ and no vacation to London is complete without visiting this monument.

3. Saint Paul’s Cathedral: Saint Paul’s Cathedral offers a captivating picture of the British Empire of the yesteryears and is a historical accomplishment of the reconstruction that took place after the great London fire of 1666. Famous for hosting royal birthdays, weddings, celebrations and even funerals of some of the greatest leaders in Britain, the Cathedral attracts millions and millions of tourists every year.

4. The National Gallery: Situated in the very center of Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is home to some of the finest works of art in the world. Some of these pieces date back to the 13th century. Construction of the gallery commenced in the year 1832 and ever since it has collected many great pieces of art, which include works by Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Renoir and many more. A visitor can probably spend days trying to view all of the contents inside the gallery.

5. The London Zoo: The London Zoo, which is in Regents Park is one of the most popular zoo’s in the world and houses as many as 12,000 different species of animals. Considered to be a must see, visitors travel from all parts of the world to see the animal shows that are held daily.

6. Tate Modern: One of London’s most contemporary galleries, the Tate Modern consists of great collections and diverse exhibitions of modern art. Appealing to both, children as well as adults, connoisseurs as well as novices, the Tate Modern houses grand collections of artists like Matisse, Andy Warhol and Bacon.

7. The Tower of London: Constructed with white stone that was imported from France, the Tower of London or the ‘Bloody Tower’ has been known to imprison, protect and even execute the wrongdoers in the past.

8. The Natural History Museum: An enigmatic gothic building that is home to some of the largest collections of dinosaurs in the world, the Natural History Museum consists of exhibitions that dominate the huge halls and tower.

9. The Madame Tussaud’s Experience: A museum that is filled with life-like waxworks and animated displays that demonstrate the dark side of British history.

10. Westminster Abbey: It is a medieval work of monumental significance and the burial ground for some of the most famous kings, statesmen, musicians, scientists and poets since the 11th century. The Westminster Abbey offers some of the most intriguing literary works and artistic talent in the way of paintings, murals and tombs.

Guide to New Years Eve events in London, UK

So it is December 31st and you find yourself in my beautiful home city of London. So where do you go, what do you do, and how do you best enjoy the experience? Here is my locals’ guide, to New Year’s Eve events in London, and I hope you find it useful.

First it’s only fair to admit that it will be cold in London on New Year’s Eve. Perhaps not quite so cold as in our northern neighbour, Edinburgh, where Hogmanay celebrations are taken very seriously too, but still chilly enough to take care if you are planning to celebrate outside. Alcohol tends to lower the body temperature, and every year, London’s Ambulance service is called out to revellers suffering from hypothermia, so if you are going out here on December 31st, wear a hat, warm boots, and a scarf, and perhaps bring a flask of hot coffee as well as the more traditional New Years’ drinks.

Having said that, there are few sights more beautiful than standing on the banks of the River Thames at midnight watching our annual London Firework Display. The display starts as Big Ben finishes chiming the midnight hour, and lasts for about 10 minutes, with the fireworks being set off both from barges and boats on the River, and from the magnificent London Eye. If you can get yourself the best vantage point somewhere between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars, it is truly a memorable and beautiful sight. Be sure to come early though, as upwards of 350,000 regularly stand out on the River banks watching the display, so if you want the best view, don’t leave it until the last minute to come outside.

So what do you do before midnight? Well London is a vibrant city, full of pubs, bars and clubs, most of which are open all day with our new licensing laws, and, obviously will have extensions far into the night on New Years’ Eve. I am not going to recommend you one pub over another, as there are just so many to choose from, and each will appeal to different people depending on their personalities, likes and dislikes. I would give a special mention to “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese” on Fleet Street though. Built originally in the 13th century, the pub was all but burnt down in the Great Fire of 1667, and rebuilt that same year, and prides itself on being the oldest pub in London, and one which keeps it’s traditions and atmosphere. If you can get in here on December 31st, you will enjoy real old English hospitality. Please be aware that most London pubs, especially in the centre, will sell tickets for New Year’s

London is Great Visit It!

One of the world’s most popular Cities, London is a fantastic location for any length of visit – great sights, great food and great hotels.

With so many attractions to see and do, you really will have difficulty fitting even only the major attractions in one visit. The first port of call for most visitors is Buckingham Palace, the residence of the Queen and the Royal Family. Their official home, it is open to the public throughout the year and hosts various events, most notably the Garden Parties, in which a variety of people are invited to attend to indulge in lavish food and drink, listen to live music and generally have a great, relaxing day. Second on visitors list is often the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Whilst not open to the public, a photograph opportunity is a must here – the staggering architecture of the iconic Houses of Parliament with the world famous Big Ben clock make for a great back drop to any photograph. For something a little more current, the London Eye is a great visit. Standing at over 135m tall, the London Eye is effectively a gigantic Ferris wheel, built at the turn of the millennium and remains as one of the Britain’s most popular tourist attractions. These are just three of London’s many attractions. Visits to Madame Tussauds, the main shopping areas and theatre districts are highly recommended. It’s impossible to see them all, so jump on an open top bus tour and view as many as you can in one go.

Whatever your taste, London caters for all culinary delights. From French to Cantonese, Thai to Mexican (and not forgetting English!), you can guarantee you will find the food you love in London, whatever your budget. For a taste of Brazil, ’Guanabara’ in Bloomsbury is definitely worth a look, whilst ‘La Roche’ in Covent Garden is highly recommended for its Moroccan cuisine. If you’re travelling with a young family, you cannot go wrong by trying a Garfunkel’s. Situated all over London, they offer high quality food, at affordable prices with something for everyone. Of course, if you’re travelling with a loved one and your budget is a little wider, a visit to Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Le Cercle’ is highly recommended. Of course, you’ll be expected to pay over £100 per head quite easily, but if you can afford it, it’s well worth booking a table.

With something for all budgets, you can guarantee you will find accommodation to suit both your needs and your budget. For recognised comfort and price, the various Travelodge’s situated around London should definitely be looked at. Various types of rooms for all budgets, the hotels are often located near the major tourist attractions, or at the very least, near to a transport link. For more luxurious London Hotels, book in to The Bentley. With some rooms costing £1,500 per night, you’ll need an expanding budget, but with luxury at your finger tips, it’s well worth the money.

Everyone who visits London has their own ideas of what they want to do. There are hundreds of attractions in the City, and many sights worth visiting just outside. You’ll find it impossible to see everything in one trip, but give it a go – it’s the only way to see London!

Enjoy the Amazing London River Thames on a Rib Voyage

Experiencing a London RIB voyage is the perfect way to relax while learning a lot about the area of the Thames. You are choosing the most unique and informative way to experience the London River Thames in a purpose built rigid inflatable boat. This is by far one of the most affordable and totally safe ways to see everything this area has to offer.

You can rest assured knowing that you will always be required to have an experienced and professionally trained guide on board as you cruise through the water at a comfortable speed. You get to see all of London’s most popular tourist attractions with an added bonus. You get to explore parts of the river that are inaccessible to larger luxury boats when on a RIB voyage.

Some of the most popular tourist attractions that are visited while cruising the River Thames on a RIB Voyage include the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London, the London Bridge, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the House’s of Parliament.

It is always recommended that you and your family, friends, or coworkers bring comfortable clothing to wear such as trousers or jeans, and of course the necessary amount of life jackets are always required. You can also bring waterproof jackets and goggles (if they are not offered to you by the company you booked your RIB voyage with).

You can expect to be on a RIB voyage for around one to two hours on a weekday. If you or anyone in your party has an existing medical condition that may be affected by this experience then you should consult your personal physician prior to taking part in the trip. These types of boats can have unpredictable movements at times that can aggravate existing medical conditions. This is not a trip for pregnant women.

How to save money while visiting London – Part 3

Friends with Queen ‘Liz’? -Goodness me no! But if I was, I would surely not need to worry about cost-cutting and become lost within the layers of sumptuous slices of strawberry gateaux at high tea. Oh and a deliciously decadent lifestyle.

BACK TO PLANET EARTH WITH A BUMP! -(But it would be nice, right?)

Well, all of that aside, us ordinary, every day folk, know London, for as magnificent a city as she really is will need some careful planning if we are to make the most of our trip, especially working to a budget.

So, for the best money-saving, time-saving and sensible ideas, especially for those new to the United Kingdom, I have compiled a fool-proof guide to for a smooth-running vacation. (Packed with oodles of fun too!)

Here also are some simple, points to consider, also.

1, CHILDREN.

When travelling with young or even older children, we know that they are going to be super-excited, thus demanding we entertain them in one way or another. Even the best-behaved children in the world are going to want to see and do things that excite them, such as perhaps a circus, a show, a new movie or whatever.

London as you may or may not be aware has not only many tourist attractions but also can be pretty overwhelming, especially to those not used to large cities.

It is always better to plan which of these attractions particularly appeal to you and your family. Some of which are included in the list below.

Madame Tussauds,(-Waxworks Museum)

The London Eye,(-Ferris Wheel)

London Bridge,

The River Thames,

Buckingham Palace,

The British Museum,

Big Ben,

Kew Garden,

Trafalgar Square,

The Tower of London,

London Dungeon.

Now, most of the London tourist attractions are free, however you will still have some costs, say, for example, refreshments and souvineers which can be costly. If on a very tight budget, it may be worth, whenever you can buying refreshments at a local supermarket, rather than at the tourist attraction itself as you will find this much cheaper, especially if you have several children.

For some of the shows and other attractions you can purchase a ‘London Pass’ which will also help save you money when visiting several of the tourist ‘hot spots’.

The London Pass will give you;

Entry to your choice of 55 charging tourist attractions in London

Priority access at the busiest sights – you can skip the queues

A FREE guidebook full of need to know information

Optional FREE travel on London transport.

Excellent

Ten Spectacular Places of London

When you are planning a holiday in London, get sure you take complete benefit of this beautiful city with everything that it can offer. The capital of England is full of a thrilling Array of spots to go and historical treasures to visit, for people of all backgrounds and ages.
The first place you should visit is the British Museum. Its charter announces that it must be open pricelessly to all those interested people who pay attention to learning more. The next spot to see is the London Eye. This zest for tourists attracts practically four million tourists each year and has turned into extremely popular tourism attraction on the planet at present. Then you must take a trip to Saint Paul’s Cathedral. It is well-known for hosting noble birthdays, marriages, celebrations and memorial services of some of the most prominent leader in the UK. The Cathedral draws millions of visitors every year. You cannot miss visiting the National Gallery which is located in the middle of Trafalgar Square. This place is residence to some of the most excellent works of art on the planet. Another attractive place is the London Zoo. It is located in Regents Park and is considered to be extremely well-liked zoo on the planet and serves as a home to almost 12,000 various species of living things. Believed to be a zest, visitors come from all corners of the planet to observe the animal demonstrations that are held every day.
It’s not the end of the list of London’s attractions. Tate Modern is among London’s most up to date galleries. It consists of nice collections and various exhibitions of current art. Another must see place is the Tower of London. This building was erected with white rock that was brought from France. That’s why this tower is often called the ‘Bloody Tower’. It served as a prison the criminals in the past. A lot of pleasure you will get visiting the Natural History Museum, a mysterious gothic construction that is home to a number of the largest sets of dinosaurs on the planet. The Madame Tussaud’s Practice is a museum that is full with realistic waxworks and lively displays that show the gloomy side of British past. Tourist as well like Westminster Abbey, a medieval structure and the interment ground for a number of the most celebrated sovereigns, politicians, musicians, scientists.

The London Eye – not to be Missed

A trip on the London Eye

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