Apartments and Bed and Breakfast in London
The boroughs of London each have their own charms so, depending on your planned itinerary, you can choose to stay in whichever area suits you best. For easy access to all parts of the city, book a modern apartment next to the transport hub of
Kings Cross St Pancras Station. Alternatively, you could choose a traditional Bed and Breakfast in the East End or rent a
funky artist’s loft in Notting Hill. Here on Wimdu.com we have an impressive selection of accommodation in London to suit every taste and budget. If you are looking for a touch of luxury, take a look at our selection of designer apartment in Kensington & Chelsea. For large parties you could consider renting this stunning
church conversion in Camden Square. If you want to be right in the heart of the city but don’t want to pay the typical high prices, you will find a selection of basic studios in Soho, cozy rooms in Islington and budget apartments in the City of Westminster available on
Wimdu.com. To get a taste of real British hospitality head out further from the center and
rent a room in Stratford near the
Olympic City and the huge
Westfield Shopping Centre, or stay in a welcoming home in historic Ealing. If you’re visiting London for an event at the
02 Arena or the
ExCel London Convention Centre, Wimdu have a selection of trendy riverside apartments conveniently located in North Greenwich, Canary Wharf and the London Docklands.
More about London:
London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and for good reason. With so many world-class attractions, historic landmarks, and a rich and varied culture, it is bursting at the seams with stuff to see and do. It’s the home of the
Queen of England, the black cab,
Cockney rhyming slang and the iconic
red phone box. Some of the most recognizable fictional heroes also call London home, including characters as disparate as
Sherlock Holmes, Paddington Bear and James Bond!
Fun Facts:
London has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city, except for Paris.
In 1666, The Great Fire of London burned much of the city to the ground but only caused 8 deaths.
The London Eye is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe.
25% of the current population of London were born in another country.
Every week, the escalators in the London Underground cover a distance equivalent of going round the world twice!
Top Attractions:
Any visit to this capital city must include a trip to see
The Houses of Parliament and
Big Ben, the most famous bell in the world (Big Ben is commonly mistaken as the name of the clock tower which was recently renamed as
Elizabeth Tower to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II). Few leave without at least a photo of the changing of the guards at
Buckingham Palace. And not many pass on the opportunity to step foot in
Trafalgar Square, watch the red double-decker buses go by in
Piccadilly Circus, or take a stroll through
Hyde Park. From historical must-sees such as
London Bridge and the
Tower of London, to modern structures like
The Gherkin in the financial district of the City of Westminster or the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, London will keep your senses busy during your stay.
Shopping and Culture:
You can’t mention shopping in London without also namedropping Oxford Street, or talking about the alternative Camden Market, the world-class fashion boutiques of Chelsea and, of course, Harrods department store. London has many renowned markets such as the
Smithfield Meat Market, the Portobello Road Market,
Covent Garden and the Sunday Farmers’ Market in Marylebone. With the largest concentration of universities in Europe and hundreds of world-class museums, galleries and
UNESCO World Heritage sites, London delivers an impressive cultural experience for families, student travelers, business visitors and art connoisseurs.
The Tate Modern and the
London Eye draw thousands of tourists daily and the impressive permanent collections of the
British Museum and the
National Gallery, plus the free entry, make them some of the most popular attractions for visitors.
Eating and Drinking:
Traditional dishes from London include a meat pie with mashed potato, and
hot jellied eels. Many restaurants still serve jellied eels today but if you are not quite that adventurous London also has a huge selection of world foods, fusion cuisine and fast food on offer. Get your teeth into some good old ‘pub grub’ such as
Fish & Chips or Chicken Tikka Masala curry (the most popular British dish) in a traditional English pub or choose from hundreds of Asian restaurants in Chinatown. Probably the trendiest place to be at night in London is
Shoreditch in the East End which offers a plethora of clubs, bars and venues. Check out the
buzzing nightlife of Brick Lane or head on over to the upmarket restaurants in Canary Wharf and enjoy a romantic evening stroll along the River Thames. Of course, you can always catch the hottest theatre productions in the
West End, enjoy a concert at
The Royal Albert Hall, or dip and dive around the clubs and bars of Soho. If you are up for something a little ‘cheeky’, you might want to check out one of the
Cabaret or burlesque shows that are fast becoming a big hit on the London nightlife scene. If clubbing is for you then superclubs such as
Ministry of Sound and
Fabric and Heaven should be on your wish list. If you prefer a more sophisticated evening, then head on over to one of the many
Michelin-starred international restaurants in Islington, or the cocktail bars and gastropubs of Chelsea. Oh, and don’t forget to buy a tee-shirt from the very first
Hard Rock Cafe in the world which opened in 1971.
Getting around:
The largest airport in Europe,
Heathrow Airport, is but one of 5 airports servicing the city and you can arrive in Central London in just 15 minutes on the
Heathrow Airport Express service to
Paddington Train Station.
The Eurostar from Paris terminates right in the heart of the city at
St Pancras Train Station and London’s extensive transport network makes travelling around easy. Numerous bus services run round the clock for those wishing to take advantage of the buzzing nightlife. London transport can be pricey so it is recommendable to purchase an
Oyster Travel Card on arrival which grants users access to the major public transport systems at reduced prices. London’s 24-hour transport network is very efficient but if you are looking for a different way to travel, why not jump in a black cab or rent a bike from one of the hundreds of bike rental stands dotted around the city. Last but not least, you could also take a
Thames Clipper boat along the river for a more scenic way to travel through the city.
Guide written by Chun Tong Chung
$31USper nightBright and Colourful RoomBerlin, Germany