Hotels in London

Best time to visit London

Due to a mild climate and moderate temperatures, you can visit London at any time of the year. In the springtime from March – May, average temperatures will be 11 – 15 degrees Celsius and the days are long. From June – August, you can make the most of London’s green spaces, beer gardens, and rooftop bars. Average temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius, but on rare occasions it can go up to 30 degrees Celsius. Many of the outdoor music festivals also take place in summer. From September – November, the weather is mild, peak tourist season is over, and you can enjoy a variety of annual events such as Totally Thames festival or Halloween celebrations. In the winter months from December – February, average temperatures stay between 2 – 6 degrees Celsius. Christmas festivities, lights and decorations are an added attraction for residents and visitors alike.

Getting around London

London has an efficient and well-connected public transport system, including the London buses, London underground trains (the Tube), Dockland Light Railway (serving parts of East and South East London), River bus services, local trains, and London trams. The city is also well served by the London taxi (the iconic black cabs) and cycle hire schemes. An adult single ride ticket on the London Bus is priced at £3.50 GBP whereas you can use the Tube for a single journey within zone 1 at the cost £4.90 GBP. The Emirates Air Line Cable Car can get you from Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks in approximately 10 minutes.

Get the London Pass

It is worth buying the London Pass sightseeing card which offers significant deals and discounts, including free entry to 70+ tours and attractions, a free 1-day hop-on hop-off Sightseeing Bus tour and a fast track entry at popular attractions. The London Pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 consecutive days. An adult pass costs from £62.00 GBP – £169.00 GBP without travel and £75.00 GBP – £222.00 GBP with inclusion of travel deals.

Best places to stay in London

London is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. No matter what you are interested in, there will always be something interesting for you to see or do in London. From famous sites, to history, sports, shopping, and nightlife, the constantly evolving city of London can cater to the varied interests of every type of visitor.

Central London

At any accommodation you choose in Central London, you will be steps away from the city’s most popular attractions. If you are keen on value-for-money accommodation in Central London, book your stay at The Trafalgar Hotel in Trafalgar Square or the Amba Hotel Charing Cross at The Strand. You may also want to consider Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street or the Sofitel London St. James hotel at Waterloo Place for mid-range budget accommodation. For a truly unique experience, stay at The Courthouse Hotel, situated in an old courthouse, where you can dine inside 3 of the original prison cells. In addition to the old-world and one-of-a-kind experience, you are a stone’s throw away from the shopping paradise of Bond Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street. Visitors looking for the ultimate luxury should stay at 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences hotel which has its own butler service, Michelin-starred restaurant, spa and a stunning courtyard. The location is minutes away from Buckingham Palace.

Covent Garden

To enjoy a fantastic array of shops and restaurants and be in close proximity to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus, you can stay in the Covent Garden area. Stay at the chic Radisson Blu Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street Hotel or the Radisson Blu Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel on Great Russel Street. For a luxurious stay, you may want to consider the Covent Garden Hotel or the One Aldwych hotel.

Greenwich

A stay in the Greenwich area will allow you to explore London city from a different perspective and you can still reach Central London in under 30 minutes by public transport. Stay in one of the deluxe bedrooms of the glass-roofed extension at Greenwich’s first boutique hotel, the Mercure London Greenwich Hotel. You can also consider the Holiday Inn Express London – Greenwich A102(M) or the riverside Intercontinental London – The O2 with its spectacular spa and over 400 luxury rooms.

East London

A cool, upcoming area with convenient transport links to Central London, the East London area is usually the hub of business travellers heading to Canary Wharf financial district. The well-connected Liverpool Street station is close by. For good mid-range budget accommodation, book your stay at the Holiday Inn London – Whitechapel on Cavell Street or Hotel Indigo London Tower Hill. If you want your vacation stay to be in the lap of luxury, you may want to consider the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel on Prescot Street.

Kensington & Chelsea

For a taste of London’s fashionable spirit, stay in the elegant neighbourhoods of Kensington & Chelsea. Popular museums such as V&A and the Natural History Museum are in this vicinity. Hotels in this area will give you quick access to world-class restaurants, designer boutiques and even some opportunity for celebrity-spotting. Consider the Egerton House Hotel on Egerton Terrace or Sydney House Chelsea on Sydney Street, just steps away from the museums and restaurants in South Kensington. For boutique accommodations, stay in a Victorian property at Number Sixteen hotel on Sumner Place.

North London

North London offers plenty of budget-friendly accommodation and is well connected to Central London by the King Cross St. Pancras station and Euston station. The Hotel Pullman London St Pancras and the colossal St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London are within easy access from both stations. You also have the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel London – Islington and the Premier Inn London Angel Islington.

Notting Hill

The lively neighbourhood of Notting Hill is only a few minutes from Central London and it is quite convenient to explore London while staying in this unique and charming area. Stay at the charming Portobello Hotel located on a quiet terrace backing onto Stanley Gardens, or enjoy boutique accommodation at The Distillery on the coveted Portobello Road. You can also consider the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel – London Hyde Park or the Grand Royale London Hyde Park on Inverness Terrace.

Cheap hotels in London

Most of the international hotel chains offer budget-friendly accommodation in and around Central London. The Premier Inn chain is the UK’s largest hotel chain and offers several properties with clean, comfortable rooms and efficient service, usually within a short walk from the nearest tube station. You can also look at the recently renovated London House Hotel at Kensington Gardens Square or Hotel Montana which sits right at the heart of King’s Cross. At Stratford in the East End, you have the Viking Hotel, while in the quiet residential area of West London, you will find the budget-friendly Chiswick Court Hotel on Bath Road.

London is a city unlike any other in the world. There is so much to see and do here that you may find it a little overwhelming to pick and choose a few activities. Depending on the length of your stay, you may want to include some of these top attractions in your London itinerary.

• Within Central London, you may find it most convenient to use the hop-on hop-off bus to visit London’s most famous landmarks such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Tower Bridge, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Coca Cola London Eye, and many more.
• Get a unique view of the city from the river and spot all the iconic landmarks, when you take the hop-on hop-off Thames River Cruise Boat tour. Your London Pass will typically give you a free entry to the same.
• In the Covent Garden area, shop for souvenirs at the Covent Garden Market or Seven Dials, enjoy a musical at one of London’s West End theatres, visit the Madame Tussaud’s museum, and spend an evening strolling through Trafalgar Square and Somerset House.
• Enjoy East London’s street art, take a walk through Brick Lane, and visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• In the Greenwich neighbourhood, visit the Old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich, which is home to the Prime Meridian Line. If you have more time, try and watch a show at London’s famous concert venue The O2.
• If you are in the South Kensington & Chelsea area, you should definitely visit the V&A Museum, Science Museum and Natural History Museum. Try not to miss the cutting edge contemporary art at the Saatchi Gallery.
• Take a keepsake photo near the famous Abbey Road crossing or shop at the Camden Town Market if you are in the North London neighbourhood.
• Browse around for antiques and souvenirs at the Portobello Market if you are staying in the Notting Hill area. If your London visit coincides with the August Bank Holiday, don’t miss watching the Notting Hill Carnival, which is Europe’s biggest street festival, celebrating everything Caribbean. From music, to dancing, great food, colourful pageantry, and more, this is a fun event not to be missed.
• You cannot leave London without seeing the Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place outside the royal palace around 4 times a week, typically at 11.00 a.m.
• See London’s iconic skyline from observation deck The View at The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building at present.
• Plan an outing to the ZSL London Zoo and Sea Life London aquarium.
• Visit the stunning gardens and world-famous hedge maze at the sprawling Hampton Court Palace.
• Plan a trip to the Windsor Castle to visit the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world with over 900 years of rich royal history.