Planning A Vacation Getaway In London

London is indeed one of the most popular choices when it comes to tourist destinations. This mainly explains why their airports are often considered as one of the busiest in the world since a lot of passengers come in and out. Interest springs from the fact that the city manifests a healthy fusion of the ancient times and the effervescent present. It likewise openly embraces what the far along future has to offer. London never loses its magnetism because of its ever-dynamic image that lures all people of varied backgrounds and interests.

Getting to London is very easy as they have five international airports ready to serve you. Once there, going around will not be much of a problem as there are different modes of transportation that you can choose from like taxi cabs, train, buses, and underground. You will never run out of places to visit and activities to do as each area offers something interesting so better arm yourself with enough energy to completely enjoy such a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza.

Social scenes are generally vivacious in North London where you can find attractive interior suburbs like Islington and Camden Town. Areas in West London, on the other hand, are high-end in nature, examples of which are Kensington and Belgravia. A lot of major attractions may be found there like the Royal Albert Hall and Kew Gardens. It is a first-rate place for shopping and appreciation of outstanding architecture. If diversity is what you desire, then East London is the best place to be. There you will find something trendy and modern as well as something historic and deeply cultural. Central London is quite easy to explore as the spots within it are in proximity to each other like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Aquarium, London Eye, Southbank, Tower Bridge, and Tower of London. Moving downward is an area influenced by different cultures and this is what South London is known for.

These only prove that in any area of London, there will definitely be a part where you can identify yourself with and enjoy. This furthers London’s welcoming appeal as it appreciates and promotes everyone’s individuality and uniqueness. If art, for example, is what appeals to you, art galleries are numerous and widely spread in different areas like the Tate Art Galleries, The Royal Academy, The National and the National Portrait Gallery, and many others. Each of these boasts of extensive and magnificent collections. Similarly, there are also several museums within the city like The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Science Museum, and Natural History Museum which are all located in the Kensington area. These and many others attract the attention of both young and old.

Performing arts seem to have successfully blossomed in London too. In fact, London is considered as its home base in England, specifically in West London. Thus, you need not be surprised when presented with so many options when surveying for a theatre.

Furthermore, if you aim for relaxation that is close to nature, parks are the best place to be. Fortunately, there is literally an abundance of green spaces in London. You may easily take advantage of the sunny days and lull your time off at places like St. James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Regent Park. A day or so away from the busyness and complexity of the modern world is definitely worth all your time. Just a simple walk or sport in these types of places will surely soothe your senses.

Of course, food tripping often comes with any great vacation. This is specifically apt in London as the food choices are as varied as the lifestyle and culture of the people living in it. Cuisines come from all parts of the globe. If you are a little concerned about the prices in most restaurants which are quite high, you may want to try out other options like ethnic eating places, good pubs, and convenience stores. Better yet, you may want to plan ahead of time for a picnic at the park of your choice.

With this wide Array of activities and places to choose from, a vacation in London will surely make time run out so easily. It will even be more exciting if you are going to enjoy such wonderful experience with your family and loved ones. Indeed, you can never go wrong in choosing London as your next vacation destination.

London’s Markets

Markets are an important part of everyday life in London, where produce is sold, goods are bartered and bargains are made. There are several scattered all over the city, all specialising in different wares. Here’s a guide to the main markets and what they have to offer.

Antiques

Bermondsey

Address: Bermondsey Square on Tower Bridge Road

Trading: 04.00 to 12.00 daily

Description: One of London’s oldest markets, Bermondsey is famous as a haunt of thieves, due to an ancient ruling (which, incredibly was only recently abolished) stating that the origin of goods sold before sunrise could not be brought under suspicion, therefore allowing stolen goods to be traded freely and without question. For this reason, the market has traditionally started very early in the morning. Get there early to find the best antiques.

Portobello Road

Address: Portobello Road, Notting Hill

Trading: Saturdays, 06.00 to 16.00

Description: This area was a popular hippy hang-out in the 1960s and still has a bohemian feel today. The Saturday market stretches the whole length of the road and sells antiques and bric-a-brac as well as fruit and vegetables. The road itself is lined with antique shops, so it’s worth a visit any day of the week.

Bric-a-Brac

Brick Lane

Address: Brick Lane, Whitechapel, East End

Trading: 07.00 to 14.00 on Sundays

Description: In the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, this market is surrounded by Indian restaurants and sells all sorts of junk and jumble from tables and chairs to kitchen sinks.

Fashion and Music

Camden

Address: Camden Lock, Camden Stables, Buck Street and Inverness Street in Camden Town

Trading: Sundays, 10.00 to 18.00, although many stalls are now open throughout the week

Description: This is a lively and colourful part of the city with some weird and wonderful market stalls selling unique clothing and jewellery and alternative music.

Petticoat Lane

Address: Middlesex Street, Wentworth Street and around, Whitechapel, East End

Trading: weekdays and Sundays from 09.00 to 14.00

Description: Started over 400 years ago by French petticoat sellers, this market is still going strong today. The Lane was renamed by the prudish Victorians to Middlesex Street in order not to offend any delicate sensibilities, but the market retains its historic name. You won’t find many women’s undergarments any more, but most of the stalls still specialise in clothing.

Food

Borough

Address: Southwark Street, just south of the River

Trading: fruit and vegetable wholesale Monday to Friday 04.00 to 08.00; farmers’ market and fine food market Fridays 12.00 to 18.00 and Saturdays 09.00 to 16.00

Description: Traditionally a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, this market has been extended in recent years to include an excellent fine food market and a farmers’ market. It’s housed in a marvellous Victorian hall.

Leadenhall

Address: Gracechurch Street, next to Lloyd’s of London and near Bank of England

Trading: weekdays, 08.00 to 15.00

Description: Another great food market in an old Victorian building. It’s in the heart of the City, London’s financial district, and is busy with office crowds at lunchtime.

Billingsgate

Address: Trafalgar Way, Docklands, East End

Trading: Tuesday to Saturday 05.00 to 08.30, Sunday 06.00 to 08.00

Description: This is the UK’s largest fish market, where fish from UK seas and beyond are sold and transported to restaurants and shops all over the country. All sorts of fish and seafood are on offer, and stocks vary depending on daily catches.

Gifts and Other Goods

Covent Garden

Address: Covent Garden, opposite the Royal Opera House

Trading: daily, 09.00 to 18.00

Description: This gentrified old fruit and vegetable market is now a classy European-style square with designer shops and stalls surrounded by trendy bars, cafes and restaurants. It’s now more popular with tourists rather than locals.

Gabriel’s Wharf

Address: Upper Ground and Riverside Walk, beside the OXO Tower on the South Bank

Trading: 10.00 to 18.00 Tuesday to Sunday

Description: Surrounded by old warehouses with a bandstand at its centre where live jazz is often played in the summer, this pleasant market sells individually designed ceramics, sculpture, paintings and other arts and crafts as well as clothing, jewellery and accessories.

Greenwich

Address: King William Walk

Trading: 07.30 to 17.00 on Thursdays and 09.30 to 17.00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Description: Established in 1737, Greenwich is another of London’s oldest markets. It’s now a huge complex of stalls, shops, bars and restaurants, and every day there’s a different variety of wares for sale – antiques and collectibles on Thursdays; antiques and collectibles as well as arts and crafts on Fridays; and an additional food hall at weekends.

London Serviced Apartments

The jet-set lifestyle of the international businessman is steadily evolving. Whereas business travelers to London would in the past have been happy to check into one of the city’s up market central hotels, nowadays they have a choice. Hotels are all well and good for an overnight stay in the city: most will offer all the facilities you need, as well as comfortable surroundings associated with central London’s pricy hotels. However, the hotel environment can often be neutral and impersonal, especially for medium to long-term stays. Dull, lifeless rooms that are carbon copies of every other room in the establishment can make people feel hesitant to treat the room as their own and truly feel settled in their new surroundings. For those looking for a place to live and not just to sleep, short term serviced apartments in London grant you luxurious lodgings for prices that compare favorably with many of the city’s hotels.

Serviced apartments in London not only grant you a fitted kitchen – rescuing you from those ludicrously overpriced hotel restaurants – but many also have washer/dryer facilities and a host of other services that you would expect from a good hotel. The central locations of these apartments also plays to your advantage, giving you easy access to a host of bars, restaurants and clubs. For the business traveler, apartments located in the City and Tower Bridge areas give you a prime location, within walking distance of London’s old financial district as well as a host of exclusive restaurants and bars. Pleasure seekers would do well to seek out some of the chic serviced apartments in the boroughs of Knightsbridge and Chelsea – elegant traditional facades give way to lavish modern interiors, temporarily giving you the feeling of living in a stylish apartment in London’s most fashionable and exclusive areas – even if it is only for a short stay.

The advantages of serviced apartments don’t stop at simply having more control over your own facilities, and more space in a city notorious for its premium on living space. Many short term apartments are renovated to the highest specifications and designed professionally; and with a separate living space and kitchen you can have guests or clients over with no difficulty, whether for an impromptu meeting, brainstorming session or just to entertain.

Travelers these days expect more than just a room with a bed – London serviced apartments offer a ‘home-away-from-home’ feeling that hotels simply cannot match, and the added opulence and luxury of your surroundings will aid you, whether you work through the night, or spend your downtime relaxing in your elegant environs.

London: A favorite tourist destination – Part 1

I have lived and worked in the United Kingdom for over three years now. I have been in and out of London, mostly to do little bits and bops of boring paper work. I have also on the odd occasiondone some sight-seeing in London. I have done the London bus tour, which I must say is pretty good, and also done the walk down 10 Downing street where the Prime Minister lives. I have been to Camden town and seen the weird Gothic punks, and marvelled at the London architecture like Tower bridge and the Millennium dome.

I have to say London is not my favorite city in the world, but it is a good city to tour. First timers will love going round the city and seeing the sights and sounds, and also visiting the many museums and buildings on offer to see. People will find the pinch in their pockets though as London is very expensive, and customer service is not very good. It is a very small city in area, so it does make it very difficult for the tourist to get lost. People are generally always in a hurry and will push and make their way through to get ahead.

The part that I dislike most about London is taking the tube from one place to another. It is very expensive, the all day travel pass costs 6.30, smelly and very often crowed during peak hour. People are generally stacked like cattle at five ‘o clock in the evening when everyone is returning from work.

London is also very multi-cultural and diverse. Any nationality can be found there ranging from Nigerians to South Americans.

One of the best tourist attraction in London is the changing of the guards. I have not yet had the privilege of seeing this feat, but I was told it is one spectacular event.

London is quite a favorable tourist destination, because of the excellent transport system. Apart from the tubes which travel through inner and outer London, there is also the trains and buses, which are quite reliable and can be caught anytime of the day, well after midnight is a bit of a risk.

The underground in London is not a place to be taken lightly. The escalators are very steep and always remember to keep right pass left, or it may be the other way around, but people do get very angry when you do not obey this rule,as I have learnt the hard way.

London is also quite well known for Leicester Square where half price tickets are sold for the theatre. This place is also home to Chinatown in London, where you can get nice Chinese cuisine and also hosts a number of Chinese shops.

Piccadilly Circus is another attraction, and many stars have visited this spot, George Clooney being one of them.

One must look out for the pick pockets though as in any busy city, and also not be made to look vulnerable. London is a great city to sight see,and while I wait to have my next visit to this wonderful city, hopefully you will soon as well.