London Hotels & Travel Destination Guide

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Country Code: GB
Source: Fastcheck Arrival Guides

Population:
7.2 million

Currency:
British pounds, £1 = 100 pence

Opening hours:
Monday-Saturday 9.00-17.30. Many department stores stay open till 18.00, some till 19.00 or 20.00 on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Larger shops are also open 10.00-18.00 on Sundays.

Tourist information:
Britain and London Visitor Centre (BLVC).
Address: 1 Lower Regent St, SW1.
Opening hours: Mon 9.30-18.30, 9.00-18.30 Tue to Fri and 10.00-16.00 Sat & Sun.
Jun.-Sep: Sat & Sun 10.00-17.00.
Tel. +44 (0)20 8846 9000

London

In the sixties it was “Swinging London” Some thirty years later it was “Cool Britannia” And since then…. Well, London is still the place to be! Its vibrant culture just keeps expanding and developing, and you can feel the buzz as soon as you arrive. And there’s more to come. Thanks to London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics, the city will change and reinvent itself at a pace not witnessed since the days of Queen Victoria.

London City

London is changing and it’s changing fast. Look across the skyline and you will see not only the familiar landmarks - Big Ben, St Paul’s and Buckingham Palace - but also extraordinary new buildings such as the Swiss Re Tower, known as the “Gherkin” because of its shape, and the new County Hall, like the head of an alien in a space helmet, quietly gazing over the river Thames. Take a ride on the London Eye, the world’s largest observation wheel offering a spectacular view over the city. Take in over 55 of London’s most famous landmarks.

But these changes are also visible in almost all of London’s neighbourhoods. It used to be easy to divide the city into the wealthy west stretching from Belgravia to Chelsea, and the working-class and immigrant populations in the east. To some extent that is still true today, but Clerkenwell, Islington and other eastern neighbourhoods have gentrified, attracting a more affluent population.

At the heart of London is Soho and its mix of narrow streets and alleys, trendy shops, elegant bars, and theatres. Notting Hill, well-known from the movie of the same name, attracts ever increasing numbers of visitors. Despite this, it has managed to retain its character of an eccentric village where some people still get the Sunday papers in there pyjamas.

And there’s more to come. Over the next two decades, London will see new development on a scale not witnessed since the days of Queen Victoria and will build up even more momentum for regeneration, thanks to London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

Stroll down famous Oxford Street, the home of the chain stores, with one exception. Selfridge’s is London’s best department store. Close to Oxford Street is fashionable Bond Street in Mayfair, where more and more interesting shops have opened over the last couple of years. New Bond Street boasts a concentration of some of the biggest designer shops in the world, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Donna Karan and Versace to name a few. Bond Street also houses Sotheby’s auction house and a number of antique stores.

London may be a city, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing nature and wildlife, there are plenty of green and open spaces to enjoy. With eight Royal Parks you’re spoilt for choice and can enjoy everything from boating lakes, golf courses, outdoor theatres and relaxing on deckchairs.

Some of the most known parks are; Green Park, between Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent’s Park, with it’s Open Air Theatre, St James’s Park facing Buckingham Palace and Richmond Park, the former hunting park of King Charles I featuring roaming deer and other wildlife.

Things to See and Do in London

Few cities have as many sights as London. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St Paul’s Cathedral … it’s impossible to pack all of them into a guide of this length. But they are all worth visiting. Here are a few of the most famous and popular tourist attractions in London.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the Royal Family since 1837, but it first opened its doors to the public in 1993. The State Rooms contain some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings, sculptures and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Enjoy a walk in the Palace’s 39-acre garden with its superb views of the Garden, front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.
Address: The Official Residences of The Queen, SW1.
Underground: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300.
Tickets: £15.50.
Internet: www.royal.gov.uk

Tower Of London
Construction was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world. Here you can see the priceless Crown Jewels, the Medieval Palace and the infamous Bloody Tower.
Address: Tower of London, EC3.
Underground: Tower Hill.
Phone: +44 870 756 6060.
Tickets: £16.00.
Internet: http://www.hrp.org.uk/

British Museum
The British Museum is regarded as one of the biggest and finest museums in the world. It attracts 6 million visitors each year. Highlights are the Assyrian treasures, the Egyptian mummies and the spectacular, light-filled Great Court.
Address: Great Russell Street, WC1.
Underground: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square,
Goodge St.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 8000.
Tickets: Free admission.
Internet: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/

Houses Of Parliament
The neo-Gothic brilliance of the Houses of Parliament is impressive. It was built by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in 1840. Together with its clocktower, Saint Stephen’s Tower, the clock itself, Big Ben, the best-known of London’s many symbols.
Address: Parliament Square, SW1.
Underground: Westminster.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7219 3000
Tickets: Free admission.
Internet: http://www.parliament.uk/

London Eye
137 metres in height, this smart-looking observation wheel, with 32 capsules each holding 25 people, gives a superb view of London. A “flight”, as a turn is called, takes 30 minutes. Address: Riverside Building, next to County Hall, Westminster
Bridge Road. SW1.
Underground: Westminster, Waterloo.
Phone: +44 870 5000 600.
Tickets: £14.50
Internet: www.londoneye.com

The Victoria & Albert Museum
The V & A, as it’s commonly known, has breathtaking collections of almost everything; from Islamic art to iconic clothing by Vivienne Westwood. But it is the always stunningly designed exhibitions that truly set the V & A apart.
Address: Cromwell Road, SW7.
Underground: South Kensington.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7942 2000.
Tickets: Admission is free but tickets for temporary exhibitions vary.
Internet: www.vam.ac.uk

Tate Modern
Housed in a former power station, Tate Modern is both imposing and impressive even before you enter it. Since opening in 2000, TM has become one of London’s lead attractions thanks to high-profile exhibitions of artists like Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Frida Kahlo.
Tickets: Free admission to the collections, Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions vary.
Address: Bankside, SE1.
Underground: Southwark, Blackfriars.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7887 8000.
Tickets: Free admission to the collections, Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions vary.
Internet: www.tate.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe
The Globe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare and the theatre where he first staged many of his plays. It burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. Now, almost 400 years later, it has risen again almost on the same spot.
Address: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1.
Underground: Mansion House
Phone: +44 (0)20 7902 1400
Tickets: £6.50. Ticket prices for plays vary.
Internet: www.shakespeares-globe.org

Dining in London

It may surprise you to hear that Britain´s favourite food is … Chicken Tikka Masala! The popularity of Indian cuisine, or the British version of it, means that you will find Indian restaurants in practically every neighbourhood in London. Traditional English restaurants are much rarer (if you want roast beef or saddle of mutton the best bet is still Simpson´s-in-the-Strand, 100 the Strand, WC2, tel. +44 (0)20 7836 9112). although English cuisine has seen a revival and a renewal in the restaurants and recipes of celebrated chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Fergus Henderson.

Between the curry and the Welsh rarebit, just about every other cuisine in the world is represented in London, and often at a world-class level. This is particularly true of major cuisines such as Italian, Chinese, French and Indian.

Locanda Locatelli
Undoubtedly one of the best Italian restaurants in London at present. Locatelli’s culinary style can be described as rustic regional food delivered with urban panache. One of their best dishes is the tagliatelle al ragù di capretto, handmade tagliatelle with kid goat ragù.
Address: 8 Seymour Street, W1.
Underground: Marble Arch.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 9088.
Internet: www.locandalocatelli.com

J Sheekey
Situated in the middle of London’s Theatre land, this has long been the before-and-after-theatre restaurant, discreet and also very elegant. It’s also
London’s best restaurant for seafood - dressed crab with grated egg and parsley, delicately flavoured sea trout, shrimps with brown butter. J Sheekey attracts a lot of A list celebrities these days, so booking is absolutely essential.
Address: 28-32 StMartin’s Court, WC2.
Underground: Leicester Square.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7240 2565.
Internet: www.caprice-holdings.co.uk

Shepherd’s
The interior of this power restaurant (near the Houses of Parliament) resembles an old fashioned club and the food consists of traditional English dishes such as juicy marinated lamb, Cumberland sausages, fish cakes and an impressive assortment of pies.
Address: Marsham Court, Marsham Street, SW1.
Underground: Pimlico.,
Phone: +44 (0)20 7834 9552.
Internet: www.langansrestaurants.co.uk

Haandi
One of the best and certainly most luxurious of London’s many Indian restaurants, it’s also conveniently close to Harrods’s, Harvey Nichol’s and Sloane Street. The cuisine is a modern take on traditional dishes from the Punjabi region of North India.
Address: 7 Cheval Place, SW3.
Underground: Knightsbridge.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7823 7373.
Internet: www.haandi-restaurants.com

Duke of Cambridge
At the rustic Duke of Cambridge in Islington, there are no fast Asian fusion dishes - only slow and carefully prepared meals with organic ingredients. Most dishes go well with a pint of Saint Peter’s Organic Bitter.
Address: 30 Saint Peters Street, N1.
Underground: Angel.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7359 3066.
Internet: www.singhboulton.co.uk

Destino
A hip and very nice South American restaurant. Try the duck tortillas and grilled lamb in banana leaves.
Address: 25 Swallow Street, close to Regent Street, W1.
Underground: Bond Street.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7437 9885
Internet: www.destino.co.uk

Mr Chow
An institution and simply the best Chinese restaurant in London. The interior positively oozes discreet glamour, with smoked mirrors and walnut furniture, and the dishes are even better than rumoured: hand-pulled pasta served with minced pork and sweet bean sauce, Beijing Chicken with walnuts.
Address: 151 Knightsbridge, SW1.
Underground: Knightsbridge.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7589 7347.
Internet: www.mrchow.com/London.html

The Wolseley
Regarded by many as the best of the latest crop of new restaurants in London. Housed in a former car showroom, it has been turned into an elegant old-style “Grand Café.” The food is a mix of modern European and classic brassiere food: omelettes aux fines herbes with frites, marinated herring with potato salad.
Address: 160 Piccadilly, W1
Underground: Green Park
Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 6996
Internet: www.thewolseley.com

London Cafes

Every underground station has its cluster of coffee shops. Costa’s, Café Nero and Starbucks are all very well for a quick cup of coffee. But if you want to sit down longer, here are a few suggestions.

Bar Italia
This Soho institution is charming and a bit chaotic. According to people in the know, this is the best café north of Milan.
Address: 22 Frith Street, W1.
Underground: Tottenham Court Road.

Riba Café
This hidden gem is worshipped by its faithful. Situated at the Royal Institute of British Architects. In the summertime, coffee, sandwiches, and the light lunch menu are best sampled on the roof terrace (make reservations in good time).
Address: 66 Portland Place, W1.
Underground: Regents Park.
Phone: +44 (0)20 763 104 67.

Lisboa Patisserie
After an early shopping round on Portobello Road come here for Portuguese pastries.
Address: 57 Golborne Road, W10.
Underground: Westbourne Park.

Poetry Café
This café is a combined café/restaurant/bar and regular readings and performances are
organised every night. The menu varies daily but is always vegetarian. Regular poetry and jazz evening is held every Saturday, and on Tuesday it’s Poetry Unplugged open mike evening.
Address: 22 Betterton Street
Phone: +44 (0)20 7420 9887

The Café on the Square
After strolling around the National Gallerym, why not drop on at the Café on the Square. Located at the bottom of the central staircase and to the right as you face the National Gallery, this café offers an all-day menu and fully licensed bar.
Address: Trafalgar Square

Pret a Manger
When out and about, drop by one of the many Pret a Manger sandwich bars. The cafés individual style makes it very popular with Londoners. All food is hadmade and without chemicals, additives and preservtives. There is no ’sell by’ dates on the products as the company offer the leftover food to charity at the end of each day rather than keep it over.
Address: All over London
Internet: www.pret.com

London Bars and Nightlife

Londoners are not just into music. The truth is they’re mad about it and their sheer love and enthusiasm for music has played no small part in creating what is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant club scenes in the world, with venues ranging from mega big, ultra sleek designed clubs to small DJ bars.

There are trendy and classical bars everywhere in London. But if you want to do a hip barhop Soho and Hoxton/Shoreditch are the areas to visit. Here are a few selected bars and pubs, both classic and modern:

Selfridge’s
Yes that’s right. Selfridge’s department store now has an oasis in the middle of all the shopping hoopla. A place with soothing bubbles for the soul. Is it a day spa? No, it’s the Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar.
Address: Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1.
Underground: Marble Arch.

T
Stylish hybrid bar that also has a café, deli and restaurant. Owned by Jamie Ritchie, who also runs the Rhodes + Mann Art Gallery a few blocks further east, T is a good starting point for a Shoreditch barhop.
Address: Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1.
Underground: Old Street.

Drunken Monkey
Chinese inspired bar mixing classic details with a futuristic aesthetic. The food here is very good, especially the dim sum dishes.
Address: 222 Shoreditch High Street, E1.
Underground: Shoreditch.

The Argyll Arms
One of the best pubs in the Oxford Circus area. Stylish Victorian bar, beautiful windows and a good crowd around lunch and after work.
Address: 18 Argyll Street, W1.
Underground: Oxford Circus.

The Prince Alfred
Considered to be the best preserved bar from the Victorian era. It opened in 1862 and hasn’t changed a bit.
Address: 5a Formosa Street, W9.
Underground: Warwich Avenue.

Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is much more than a club. It’s a brand, producing dance compilations, tours and T-shirts etc. Snobby clubbers tend to sneer at the very mention of it, but this is one of the few clubs with enough financial muscle to consistently be able to hire the best DJs, and the sound system is probably the best in London, which is why MoS is always packed.
Address: 103 Gaunt Street, SE1.
Underground: Elephant & Castle.

Fabric
Fabric is loved and known throughout the world as something truly special. Housed in what was formerly a meat market, and divided into three spaces, it has a rough look but intimate ambience. But it’s Fabric’s music that really sets this place apart: underground and left-field dance music.
Address: 77a Charterhouse Street, EC1.
Underground: Farringdon.

Ye Olde Mitre Tavern
The history of this pub can be traced all the way back to 1546. It is mentioned in William Shakespeare’s Richard II, and Queen Elizabeth is said to have danced here. Small rooms with beautifully aged wood panelled walls and worn oriental rugs.
Address: 1 Ely Court, EC1.
Underground: Farringdon.

Shopping in London

In London you need to be strategic about shopping. It is easy to wear yourself out trying to take in the large number of shops and boutiques. Two good tips are to focus on one area at a time and to wear comfortable shoes. These three shopping districts are recommended.

Savile Row
A step away is Savile Row, synonymous with English customized tailoring. Savile Row is no longer the old fashioned gentleman’s club it used to be, thanks to a new generation of innovative tailors, including Richard James at number 29 and Ozwald Boateng at number 12a. For shirts, ties, hats and handmade shoes head for Jermyn Street in St James behind
Piccadilly.

Soho and Covent Garden
Soho is a maze. You never exit where you think you will, and you never really know where you’ve been. But the area has fun shops; prepare to shoulder an ever-increasing number of shopping bags. Many of the shops around Covent Garden cater to teens, especially those interested in skate and street fashions. On Neal Street, the sneaker shops line up, and the Seven Dials shopping mall houses even more of the same.

This area is also home to high-class jeweller Laura Lee. Paul Smith, by far the most successful British fashion designer, opened his first shop in Floral Street in Covent Garden in 1979 and now has a whole string of shops there. Another shop worth mentioning is Aram, 110 Drury Lane, which has five floors with furniture classics by names such as Eileen Gray, Charles & Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto alongside the latest pieces by Ron Arad, Jasper Morrison and Philippe Starck.

Chelsea, South Kensington and Knightsbridge
This is the area mostly known for its high end fashion shopping. On Sloane Street in Knightsbridge you’ll find Prada, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Dolce et Gabbana, Fendi and many more. But in recent years it has also attracted a lot of excellent furniture and interior design shops.

Amongst the best are B & B Italia’s cathedral-like shop at 250 Brompton Road in South Kensington, designed by the famous minimalist architect John Pawson. Nearby is The Conran Shop at 8 Fulham Road, founded by Sir Terence Conran and one of the first lifestyle shops in London. If you’re feeling hungry, have some oysters in the Bibendum Oyster Bar, located to the left of the main entrance. Make sure to visit David Gill at 60 Fulham Road. He’s the first stop for London’s leading interior designers and displays exquisite pieces such as ceramics by Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso, mirrors by Line Vautrin and silver furniture by Bonetti. A bit further down the road, at No 175- 177, you will find Kelly Hoppen, currently Britain’s leading interior design guru with several books to her name. There are also plenty of markets in London, some of the most known being Camden Market, Covent Garden Market and Old Spitalfields Market. If you have time to spare you should definitely visit one of these local markets, you won’t regret it!

Greenwich Market
Packed of unique arts and crafts, this market is well known for items that cannot be found anywhere else. Browse any of the 120 arts and craft stalls, enjoy the continental food court and take in some of the music performed by students from nearby Trinity College of Music.
Address: Colleage Approach
Phone: +44 (0)20 8293 3110
Internet: www.greenwichmarket.net

Conduit Street and Bruton Street
just around the corner from Bond Street, have emerged as new contenders and amongst those who have opened stores here are Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto and Matthew Williamson. Also, do not miss the seriously hip Dover Street Market near Dover Street.

Harrods
You can buy virtually anything here: furniture, home electronics, pets, books, etc. But Londoners tend to concentrate on two things - food and clothes. The food hall is legendary, with its old style decor and its enormous sections of bread, sweets, vegetables, meats, coffee and tea. And the fashion departments are some of the best in town, with clothes ranging from traditional to distinctly cutting edge.
Address: 87 - 135 Brompton Road, SW1.
Underground: Knightsbridge.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 1234.
Internet: www.harrods.com

Harvey Nichols
The emphasis here is on fashion, so it’s no small surprise that it’s a favourite among London’s fashionistas. Harvey Nix as it’s known locally, stocks not only the best of the well-known designer labels but also collections from new, young talent.
Address: 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, SW1.
Underground: Hyde Park, Knightsbridge.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7235 5000.
Internet: www.harveynichols.com

Selfridge’s
Selfridges has gone through many transformations over the years and has now emerged as the quintessential London luxury department store, combining tradition with innovation. Don’t miss Superbrands, the new menswear department on the first floor, with clothes from all the leading brands and with a football-inspired interior.
Address: 400 Oxford Street, W1.
Underground: Bond Street.
Phone: +44 (0) 870 8377 377.
Internet: www.selfridges.com

Liberty
The fashionable department store can be found on Regent Street and offers toys, jewellery, furniture, oriental carpets and much more. The lavish department store has recently launched a new boutique and luxery brand. Liberty of London is housed in Liberty’s newly redesigned central atrium and is stocked with leather accessories, scarves, jewellery and more.
Address: Regent Street
Phone: +44 (0)20 7734 1234
Internet: www.liberty.co.uk

London Hotels

No 5 Maddox Street
A new, very chic hotel right in the heart of London, with an entrance so unassuming that you would hardly think it is a hotel! The rooms, or rather apartments, are decorated in an elegant East-meets-West style. Subdued colours, bamboo floors and beautiful porcelain.
Address: 5 Maddox Street, W1.
Underground: Oxford Circus, Picadilly Circus.

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Sherlock Holmes Hotel
You would probably expect this hotel to be a throwback to Victorian times. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. This is a chic boutique hotel with a great lobby and bar, and the rooms are decorated in brown and beige, with pinstripe sheets and beds with leather headboards.
Address: 108 Baker Street, W1.
Underground: Baker Street, Marble Arch, Bond Street.

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Generator
Generator is a cut above the rest in the budget range, thanks to its industrial-style chic decor, exposed pipes, neon signs and coloured lighting. The rooms - there are 857 to be precise - are basic but clean and comfortable.
Address: 37 Tavistock Place, WC1
Underground: Russel Square

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The Hoxton
Owned by Pret a Manger founder Sinclair Beecham, this hotel works on budget airline principles, the earlier you book, the less you pay. If you’re lucky the price will be only £1/night! The hotel itself opened September 2006 and is close to Old Street tube and the City of London.
Address: 81 Great Eastern Street

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The Fox Club
Just off Piccadilly is the former home of the 18th-century courtesan Elisabeth Armistead. Mrs Armistead was the mistress and later wife of Charles James Fox, but also entertained many prestigious gentlemen at her home. The 9 individually designed bedrooms at the Fox Club are named after her famous lovers.
Address: 46 Clarges Street

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Luxury London Hotels

Sanderson
Perhaps the most outlandish yet beautiful of London’s new design hotels. Sanderson is the result of collaboration between hotel mogul Ian Schrager and the French design superstar Philippe Starck. The bedrooms are minimalist, almost dreamy, and the spa with its shimmering curtains is the best you will find in London.
Address: 50 Berners Street, W1.
Underground: Goodge Street.

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Good Value London Hotels

Portobello Hotel
Portobello has long been a favourite for actors, musicians and artists, enticed by the bohemian but charming take on old-style colonial elegance; oriental antiques, potted plants, ceiling fans and wooden shutters.
Address: 22 Stanley Gardens, W11.
Underground: Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate

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Cheap London Hotels

Mayflower Hotel
Following a complete renovation, the Mayflower Hotel has taken a top spot among London’s budget hotels. The decor is minimalist, with hints of the Far East.Wooden floors, teak furniture and ceiling fans.
Address: 26-28 Trebovir Road, SW5.
Underground: Earl´s Court.

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