London Accommodation & Cheap Lodging

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 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, 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. 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 their 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 where you'll find Selfridge's, one of London's best department stores. 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 bestknown 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.

Few cities have as many sights as London. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Towern, Hyde Park, St Paul's Cathedral to name but a few. They all fit into the tourist cliché, but they are all worth visiting and a "must" if you´ve never been to 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.

Tower Of London Construction begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world.

British Museum The British Museum is regarded as one of the biggest and finest museums in the world. It attracts 6 million visitors yearly.

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.

London Eye 137 metres in height, this smart-looking observation wheel, with 32 capsules each holding 25 people, gives a superb view of London.

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.

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.

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.

London Restaurants
It may surprise you to hear that Britain´s favourite food is - Chicken Tikka Masala. The popularity of Indian cuisine 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 in 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.

London Bars & 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, Hoxton/Shoreditch and Clerkenwell are the areas to visit. Here are a few selected bars and pubs, both classic and modern:

London Cafes In London 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 prefer your perfectly brewed cup of java in a more sober setting these are the spots to aim for.

Shopping in London means being strategic. 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.

Oxford Street and Mayfair Oxford Street is the street of retail chains, with one exception: Selfridge´s.

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.

Greenwich Market Packed with 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 the music performed by students from nearby Trinity College of Music.

Conduit Street and Bruton Street Just around the corner from Bond Street, these both streets have emerged as new contenders and among those who have opened stores here are Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto and Matthew Williamson.

Harrods You can buy virtually anything here: furniture, home electronics, pets, books, etc. Londoners tend to concentrate on two things though – 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.

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.

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 luxury brand.

For more detailed shopping information download our special London shopping guide below