London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, is one of the major global cities of the world. The city is spread over an area of approximately 609 square miles and houses a population of around 7.5 million. The Metropolitan Area Population of London ranges from 12 to 14 million and it has a population density of 12,331 per square mile. London is the major cultural and economic center of the world with an immensely diverse population in cultural and linguistic terms. This is more evident because about 300 languages are spoken in the city.Planning your trip to London :
Planning by length of stay - if you're only in London for a day, a weekend or a week use our SHORT STAY pages where we show you how to cram as much into your days as possible.
Weather - likely to make or break your visit. Although there are plenty of things to do in London in the rain, a week of low slate-grey skies and constant rain is not condusive to having a good time. The best season to come weatherwise is Late Summer or Autumn - latterly we've been having Indian Summers from mid-September to the end of October with clear blue skies and 20 degree temperatures. Eventually the weather breaks as the storm fronts move in off the Atlantic, then clears up for Christmas. February - April can be dire, and the heights of summer are very unpredictable. Consult the Meterological office here for facts and figures but beware predictions - they are so often wrong.When it's raining there are plenty of museums and galleries to visit - and the tube system is generally very good outside of rush hour. What you'll miss out on is strolling through London and seeing the many unique pleasures by the wayside.
Hotel Location Best to be near a tube station, buses can be slow and unreliable, and taxis expensive. The yellow circle line on the tube map marks the division between central and not-so-central London. Outside of that Zone your transport bill will rise - and once you're in LT zone three, considerably. The best restaurants are in Islington, Soho/Chinatown and the south west of London which is where the life is. The City is a dead zone evenings and weekends.
TRANSPORT All the airports have good rail links into the centre - Heathrow is on the tube, it takes about an hour and costs about £4. High speed rail links have been built to Heathrow and Gatwick and Stanstead, and as they are run by private companies they're very reliable and clean. However they are expensive and often not much quicker than normal trains - which are rarely advertised, but run in parallel - often on the same tracks.
London for Kids :
If you are traveling to London, the capital of England, for any length of time, whether it be a week or a day, you need to find some fun, child-friendly activities to keep your little people happy! It would also be helpful to know that many places in London that are open to the general public now have child-changing facilities so there won.t be any unexpected problems!
The first thing you should do is to take your kids on the different modes of public transport available in London. There is the underground ride, which can be exciting if it is any child's first time. You could also consider taking them on top of the one London's infamous red buses. Get a map of the city and get your children to try and make a route that you can travel along. This way it means that your children can get involved in the planning also and it will seem less boring for them.
As for the main sightseeing attractions in London, take them to fascinating and large attractions. Tower of London and Tower Bridge for example. They will not really care about the history of the famous landmarks, but the sheer size of them will amaze even the most grown up of kids!
If you have kids that are slighter older, why not consider taking them to the grue some London Dungeon! This can scare small children, but older kids, especially boys seem to love it! There iss the world famous waxworks - Madame Tussauds as well so your son or daughter can have their picture taken standing next to their idol!
London Restaurant Guide :
London is a cosmopolitan city where it is possible to sample cuisine from all corners of the world. There are establishments to suit every taste and pocket, from burger restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe on Piccadilly and Planet Hollywood near Leicester Square, to those serving exquisite modern cuisine such as Quaglino's near Piccadilly or the Blueprint Cafe at the Design Museum. Britain is famed for its pubs and London has literally thousands to choose from, where you can sample a pint of British beer, enjoy good-value bar meals and savour the friendly atmosphere.
So, here are some top restaurants in London, you can decide to dine in one of these fantastic restaurants or one of the other 100 more London restaurants.
Indigo is set in Convent Garden, right in the middle of London. It is an informal restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere with an inspired, yet modern European menu. During the day you can either have breakfast, lunch and also pre-theatre suppers and dinners.
The Langtry Restaurant is set in Knightsbridge, London and is a restaurant that is simply full of history. Again, part of a hotel, but this time the Cadogan Hotel, this restaurant offers a warm and intimate setting with foods that are imaginative yet delicious.
The Tamarind Restaurant is for those that want to experience Indian glamour mixed with 60.s modernism but in a subtle way. Situated in Mayfair, this restaurant offers everything that you would expect from the high class area.
If you are looking for a more cosmopolitan setting for your dinner, then why not come to the Artisan Restaurant in Mayfair? It is elegantly designed with beautiful chandeliers and dark wood features.
If you are traveling to London, the capital of England, for any length of time, whether it be a week or a day, you need to find some fun, child-friendly activities to keep your little people happy! It would also be helpful to know that many places in London that are open to the general public now have child-changing facilities so there won.t be any unexpected problems!
The first thing you should do is to take your kids on the different modes of public transport available in London. There is the underground ride, which can be exciting if it is any child's first time. You could also consider taking them on top of the one London's infamous red buses. Get a map of the city and get your children to try and make a route that you can travel along. This way it means that your children can get involved in the planning also and it will seem less boring for them.
As for the main sightseeing attractions in London, take them to fascinating and large attractions. Tower of London and Tower Bridge for example. They will not really care about the history of the famous landmarks, but the sheer size of them will amaze even the most grown up of kids!
If you have kids that are slighter older, why not consider taking them to the grue some London Dungeon! This can scare small children, but older kids, especially boys seem to love it! There iss the world famous waxworks - Madame Tussauds as well so your son or daughter can have their picture taken standing next to their idol!
London Restaurant Guide :
London is a cosmopolitan city where it is possible to sample cuisine from all corners of the world. There are establishments to suit every taste and pocket, from burger restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe on Piccadilly and Planet Hollywood near Leicester Square, to those serving exquisite modern cuisine such as Quaglino's near Piccadilly or the Blueprint Cafe at the Design Museum. Britain is famed for its pubs and London has literally thousands to choose from, where you can sample a pint of British beer, enjoy good-value bar meals and savour the friendly atmosphere.
So, here are some top restaurants in London, you can decide to dine in one of these fantastic restaurants or one of the other 100 more London restaurants.
Indigo is set in Convent Garden, right in the middle of London. It is an informal restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere with an inspired, yet modern European menu. During the day you can either have breakfast, lunch and also pre-theatre suppers and dinners.
The Langtry Restaurant is set in Knightsbridge, London and is a restaurant that is simply full of history. Again, part of a hotel, but this time the Cadogan Hotel, this restaurant offers a warm and intimate setting with foods that are imaginative yet delicious.
The Tamarind Restaurant is for those that want to experience Indian glamour mixed with 60.s modernism but in a subtle way. Situated in Mayfair, this restaurant offers everything that you would expect from the high class area.
If you are looking for a more cosmopolitan setting for your dinner, then why not come to the Artisan Restaurant in Mayfair? It is elegantly designed with beautiful chandeliers and dark wood features.
