Too much to do in London!

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No well one can truly say they know London. To know London completely is impossible. London changes faster than pigeons descending into the fountains of Trafalgar Square. Home to inhabitants for over 2,000 years now London has grown from the protective circle of the tower to a sprawling metropolis, the ideal platform for constant illustrious activity.

Always where there is history there are tales to tell. Tourists are naturally drawn to the regular tourist attractions, yet it is the true travellers that seek deeper to find the gems of a 2,000 year-old town. It only takes a very small amount of investigating to find something more rewarding, more interesting, more inspiring in London, than the London dungeons (although it must be said - is a damn good laugh if you can bear the hour long queues!).

For instance, not even a minute's walk from the London dungeons is the Hay's Galleria. This gem is for some totally bizarre reason hidden from all guidebooks and tourist information - no doubt to preserve its lack of thousands of tourists making it a less exclusive haven. Please go there! It's a beautiful indoor/outdoor menagerie of a few select shops, with a vast concourse of cafés, market stalls, bands, presentations, and of course, it overlooks a beautiful part of the Thames.

Turn right from Hays Galleria and you find yourself in a Thames-side walkway next to the newest buildings in town. The architecture is phenomenal, and these lord-mayor buildings are still so new that you can imagine that the cellophane has just freshly been peeled off all the windows. You are welcome to enter the Lord Mayor's building (it's the one shaped like a golf ball), go to the top and marvel at the mind boggling roundness of it all - plus of course see the spectacular views of the HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Continue strolling directly into the I witness open-air gallery, before maybe snacking on a hot dog in the mini adjourned.

Walk past the green that previously hosted many Hollywood film premieres in giant marquees, the David Blaine in-a-box episode, plus many other varied events, and you are literally underneath Tower Bridge, keep walking and you are now in Shad Thames, a true delight of traffic-free, cobbled streets full of people, giving you a precise feeling of how the London streets felt hundreds of years ago. It is as if these streets have been restored from long ago, thus delivering to the traveller a wonderfully rich blend of old and new in the same vicinity. Circle around Shad Thames, past the ever-changing design museum and find yourself in Butler's Wharf, a charming quay-side collection of bars & restaurants all overlooking the Thames opposite the equally picturesque St Katherine's dock. Trust me when I tell you that Butler's Wharf is the ultimate in romantic settings.

Hays Galleria to Butler's Wharf is one walk of quite possibly hundreds to choose from, in fact - that's a whole day right there! There are equal delights even if you turned left out of Hay's Galleria instead, especially the clink Street prison Museum, Vinopolis (Wine Museum), Borough market, Southwark Cathedral, I could go on....

Great streets, great walks, great museums (forget the big ones - go to the children's museum in Bethnal Green for a real treat). It is frustrierend to think that the bulk of visitors to London wind up staying in some of the least interesting areas. Paddington and Bayswater are both great areas, being so close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (now home to the finally completed Princess Diana shrine). Kensington & Earls Court have their highlights too, but there is more to London than the tried and tested tourist routes.

I recently stayed in a five star hotel in the middle of the city on the weekend for less than one hundred pounds a night and what amazed at exactly how empty completely the city of London to what. I was in heaven! There I what's in the middle of one of the oldest cities around, and I had it all to myself! City hotels are notorious for being completely empty on weekends, hence the great rates. I am sure tourists pay over the hundred pounds per night threshold to stay 'trendy' Kensington etal, when they could easily stay next to Tower Bridge, St Paul of Millennium Bridge etc, for much less.

Needless to say that the city of London (the finance centre) is absolutely coloured with history, everywhere you go there are buildings proclaiming their 16th century origins and they are in abundance.

I was recently taken to what is supposedly one of the oldest London pubs in existence. Again, this pub is not only hidden from the guidebooks and the common information sources, it is also hidden from the public! I had to be taken there, as I would never have been able to find unless accompanied it. This pub is hidden from the world. It is sandwiched between two narrow streets and therefore completely obscured from any main thoroughfare. It has its own courtyard and as you stood outside supping a pint, it is as if you are in Victorian London.  Look down the misty streets and it is easy to conjure up to old bobby on the beat blowing his whistle, or Jack the Ripper lurking in the shadows. Oh - and there's a 150 year old tree growing through the building, to add to the oddity of the pub.

Hampstead is another great area waiting to be discovered. Covered in green spaces, Hampstead (North London) is perfect for the idyllic setting combined with the close proximity to the big-smoke. Steeped in its own folklore, Hampstead was home to Dick Turpin (apparently he was born at the Spaniard's Inn - hugely popular and famous pub on the Heath) of which his ghost still roams Kenwood house, and the surrounding woodlands. The high streets of Hampstead, Belsize Park and the immaculately kept Primrose Hill are possibly the last untouched by commercialism streets in London (no Starbucks here!). If you want breath-taking views of the city, historical sites detailing the 'first entry point into London', combined with al fresco dining, and an altogether more relaxed atmosphere, Hampstead is the place, and less than 15 minutes on the tube to the city centre! Now do you see why it seems frustrierend that tourists stay in less desirable areas when they could stay in an altogether more inspiring location, just as close to all the major attractions?

Of course, Hampstead is one of London's many beauty spots, yet the city is not all about beauty. As with any home to approximately 10 million people, varied activity is valid. London events cannot help but affect all, every London has an opinion on the congestion zone, on the ill fated Millennium Dome, on Tony Blair, in fact on any topic you care to mention. Start a conversation with any London black cab driver - typically famous for their outspoken views, and you will into the debate of the day find yourself immediately thrown.

So, when visiting London do not even attempt to see it all - you cannot.

In a city where already this year a Roman road has been uncovered a mile below ground level dating back to 1 AD and where Paddington workers uncovered Brunel's first iron bridge - one they didn't know existed - London is forever creating wonders on a regular basis.


ENQ@VisitHotels.com
www.VisitHotels.com

MD of hotel booking agency VisitHotels.com previously in the travel industry for many years (sales manager of London hotels, and before that sailor of the seas on many of international cruise). Love to write, love to travel, love travelling to exchange experiences.

Using London public transport - Metro and buses travel passes

The London public transport system is for the leisure visitor one of its major assets and opportunities. An organization called transport for London coordinated to provide different means of transport; namely buses u-Bahn overground rail, Docklands light railway, inland waterway transport. This network covers the entire greater London area with a comprehensive network of services. The only within this area are Heathrow and London City Airport.

The territory is organized in six circular zones, that from the Centre ripple. Want that visitors to travel, and almost all accommodation is almost all places in zones 1 and 2, although Heathrow is in zone 6.
For simplicity, we focus on these inner realm, zones 1 and 2.
Public transport here dominated the London underground and London's famous red buses.

Each bus or train without pre-purchasing you can a ticket on board. The only tariff on a bus a flat rate is however far you travel. London underground-rate is determined on a journey through travel you by the number of zones. You can switch trains between the various lines within each individual journey.

Underground there is always a manned ticket offices and ticket machines. There is a ticket machine, where you can buy tickets at bus stops.

All u-Bahn lines and bus routes run between approximately 05: 00 and 24: 00.
There is also a rewarding network the night buses in Central London, which are both common and comprehensive enough to real value for the night owl.

Almost all travelers on London's public transport system numbers but not for individual trips. A booking system instead passes. The tariffs that set by transport for London make it much cheaper one of those cards to purchase than to pay separately for each journey.
For visitors is the easiest place to buy of the railways ticket a Metro ticket office or a local retail point. You will see signs in the Windows of shops, especially newsagents, advertising, sell the range of options at the same price as from the subways ticketing.

The most popular option for visitors to London is the one day or three-day ticket. This includes all public transport options within defined zones. The Heathrow Express train not covered by the pass. For the vast majority of visitors to London, this means a zone 1 & 2 Travelcard.
During the week there are two fare options, you have more when your travel card numbers before 09: 30, during the week uses.
Take children, (less than 16 years old) free buses. You can also a ticket for children for only 1 pound sterling cover all acquire zones.
When you purchase a ticket for only zones 1 and 2, you can use it for buses in all zones.

On buses, you simply show your card to the driver as you board. When you get through each input and ready your ticket for inspection point Board of a London long single deck 'Bendy' buses. Hit squads of inspectors descent on a bus sealing of all exits and demand a valid ticket will be displayed.
Need a barrier to entry on the subway and exit stations- and exit to win your ticket insert.

See also many references to the "Oyster card"-System. These are really aimed at residents of London. See yellow pads on buses and subway ticket barriers. Oyster cards are credit card size cards electronically loaded with electronic money or a season ticket. Say for example, you can load is removed if you this card access on a bus of the tariff swipe automatically from the 10 GBP value £ 10 on your map on your card.

The big attraction is the significant discounts on individual travel acquired in this way. Most London will have season tickets, which are kept in the Oyster card. The 7 day ticket is most attractive visitors. You can buy No 7-days ticket without an Oyster card.

Feature of oyster cards which advises the most visitors, especially foreign visitors, is the fact, have a 3 GBP refundable deposit for an Oyster card pay. If you no longer need to the Oyster card it hand and a form fill. Get there and then no money, a Sterling cheque to your home address at a later date is sent instead.

Current prices and maps are available at the url's listed below.

On the following pages explain current prices, maps and pictures of using London?s public transport:

London underground - prices, maps and travel passes

London bus ? prices, maps and travel passes

Bob Handford is an expert of his city, London and is the owner of the site London hotels Toolkit, aiming to provide practical information for independent visitors to London. You can contact Bob directly on the site.

London, England - a short history 1529AD to the present

Since its inception as little more than a Roman Fortress London slowly prospered and expanded. How is their resistance, it survived the Norman invasion and the plague of the middle ages in the 1,500 years.

It is the biggest time prosperity, which during the time of Henry VIII, in the sixteenth century, - despite its shortcomings as a faithful Ehemann--lay the foundations for a massive global expansion in British influence and Empire started.

Lucky by-product of Henry's split with the Roman Catholic Church was the arrival in England of the Protestant Huguenot refugees from the nearby continent. England brought its immigrants and none benefits so more than of the Huguenots, which your secret Silk weaving skills from the skills with you. Silk cloth was a very valuable product and was a massive boost for trade and the wealth of the country - and London in particular.

The increasing population and wealth lead too much of the new building. Is an island UK gave an additional layer of protection from invasion. So was able to expand far beyond the original walled city without fear London and it did.

Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, tries to reduce this extension without impact. Indeed, their own encouragement gave too rich building in the form of Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, only new impetus to London's wealth and makes.

Limitations on building new feature many of the existing properties were updated bizarre upward floor beyond the original walls of jettied. This lead to situations where form arcs on the streets with the occupant in position to the upper floors of the houses almost touched, lean window from the top floor and shake hands with the humans!

After the civil war and the execution of Charles I resigned, a monarch had its position as Lord protector and England, Oliver Cromwell finally once again in the person of Charles II. During his reign, there was a dramatic development lead science of Sir Isaac Newton.

London experienced also the great fire of London in 1666, which destroyed most of wooden buildings in the old city of London. It destroyed the last remains of the plague which had decimated the range of the previous year, also, comfortable.

Sir Christopher Wren, who designed and built by Saint Paul's Cathedral, a grand design for the replacement of the entire environment developed to avoid the unsanitary conditions, the lead, the plague had. Such a dramatic change would require however wholesale acquisition of the country in the field and because of difficulties in the trace all the different owners ran time and new buildings were to put up. These were more refractory materials, in particular brick but still the higgledy piggledy lines of the old city. Thus the organic charm of the old city of London was not swept by Wren's grand vision, and yet joy survived visitors in the 21st century.

Until the seventeenth century, London had grown with on East-West lines along the Thames River, the river itself as the main highway. What minor inconvenience of the Thames which North South travel was portrayed by providing ferries, both relating to London Bridge and river at the Putney overcome. However, expanded to the North and South as London, showed the need for a rapid transport across the river and during this period was the beginning of the buildings of London's many bridges.

While Georgian London--then the center of a growing global Imperiums--even more expanded dramatically, with many of the fine and so today was looking terraces, admired built very quickly.

As the latest technology-the railway-developed there was pressure to keep this way from the Centre of London. Therefore present with railway station Termini, the originally on the outskirts of the city then halted, London is surrounded.

With no major railway line cut right through the city was left to the imagination of engineers an alternative offer. She did this by one digs a cutting to the railway, which then covered and relied upon was. Thus, the world's first u-Bahn (or u-Bahn) railway was created. This technique of "Cut and cover" as it was called, was itself created as such a success, the other lines in the same way. When the Railroad reached the outer areas of London, they were able to rise to ground level, which was considerably cheaper. This led in turn to the springing up of new suburbs to the new railway lines offered grouped fast, comfortable and safe transport to the Centre of London.

Finally "the commuters" was born.

The most popular suburbs were rigging in Lee from the smoke and pollution out of town in West London like you. In the 1930's many Americans owned, jumped many cleaner, new "high tech" industry-such as Gillette and Firestone--along the Great West Road, originally the old coaching road to bath, the Roman city in the West. Several studios in the western suburbs of London were built at this time.

World War two came directly to Central London with almost nightly raids by heavy bombers of the German air force. These were targeted mainly in East London, where the mighty pool of London docks and factories were. Many of these devices were incendiary, designed to maximize damage by starting massive fires. There is a famous painting of Saint Paul's Cathedral, surrounded on all sides by raging infernos, still intact and defiantly against the worst, which could be triggered at London.

Reconstruction and extension after the war, cause that the creation of the Green Belt: a fictional belt of undeveloped land in the area of London expansion further limit. With it's "green lung" - the massive Park - right in the Centre the surrounding green belt it plus the thousands of trees within, London, although it still retains a village feeling with every former village one of the largest cities of the world, now of the big city, still retaining much its own special character and charm devoured.

In the 1950s pollution, especially from thousands of household coal fires, combined mists coupled with London's famous fall colors to create "Smog". The Government into a clean air Act, brought in order to use processed coal-fuel-, force called, smoke-free clarified the smog.

In the 21st century of existence London is not on its laurels rest and, right now, posted re inventing itself. It already has the world's busiest airport in the West and is hard at work to stage ready the regenerating the eastern area of London Olympics in 2012.

Copyright 2006 Jon Michael and LondonVacationSecrets.com

Jon Michael is a lifelong resident in London, England, and his hobby is the hidden stories about this discover fascinating world class city. Look everything daily honing of his knowledge of London than a taxi to taxi drivers to add to and information about the real London no further. Check out Jon's site right now at: http://www.LondonVacationSecrets.com

Moving to London?

Moving is a harrowing experience in its own right, but when it comes to move bag in a new city in a new country of task statistics, far more than your old Kit packing and moving to a new suburb seem gigantic. Moving to London is no different, but it must not as scary and mammoth to be as it sounds.

London weather

If you are immigration to London, there are a few things you should consider when you plan your move. If you from sunny southern hemisphere country it will be a little difficult to adapt the weather at first. London weather is not very predictable, but fortunately it get warmer than many other parts of the UK during the summer. Between the winter months of November and February see zero temperatures are not uncommon and it is very wet and windy. In the summer and spring months are relatively mild but it rain open all year round. When packing for your move is important to take it the weather and the time of year, consider that you get. Just because you are coming from the sunny beaches of Australia, doesn't mean your not going, you will have in snow stepping, so make sure enough warm clothes and protective equipment, before you go.

The public transportation system

London has one of the major public transport systems in the world; the system is so refined that have, a car is unnecessary. There are various forms of public transport, by discipline, but London Underground is the most popular. Getting around London by tube quickly and easy access to the heart of the city allows without worrying about the cities of infamous traffic or getting lost. For someone who is new in London the pipe that is perfect form of transport, it is also the cheapest is very safe and very reliable. London is famous for its big red buses, that are popular forms of transport, in particular, when the pipe is moving at night. You are able, a bus card when everyone to buy travel centre or tourist office, which helps you to bus to decipher which bus stops must and when. Payments is directly to the driver for single tickets and day passes are also available the most useful if you want to spend the day sightseeing. The traditional Black cabs can register by phone or stopped on the road. Are the most expensive form of transport and most people only use once the tube and buses stopped.

The cheapest way to London is a ticket purchase, which can be purchased for a day, 3 days, a week, a month or a year and are valid on buses, tubes and overland trains. If you are above life and work in London a ticket is recommended for both simple travel and a few of your hard earned £ save. If you want to drive a car in London, you can usually your valid driver's license from your home country or a international drivers licence. After a year will be needed, to a UK driving licence request.

Places of interest

Just because you now living and working in the UK means not that you should take time to do all tourist things that London has to offer. London is one of the largest tourist cities of the world and because you stay there be so much more, will see quite a few while you have the unique opportunity as if they were for a two-week holiday - London visit so take the opportunity.

You can go to London, without witness the 40 minutes daily Changing of the Guard ceremony in the Queen's guard, accompanied by a band, Buckingham Palace for your layer arrive. Favorite local and tourists are the London Dungeon and Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum. Filled with Gothic horror torture chambers and memories of some of the cruelest scenes which stop heart London Dungeon atmosphere never fails to entertain visitors. The life size feature pop stars, actors, serial killer and political figures and a visit to this wax museum Madame Tussaud's wax works is not to be missed.

The 30-minute ride on the Millennium wheel / London Eye offers a panoramic view of the city and is close to attractions such as Big Ben, houses of Parliament and the River Thames. The architectural splendour, known as the London Zoo is another favourite under the London life and its main purpose is to species extinction threatened to save. It is not too many times before that you see giraffes, Lions, penguins roaming through the streets of London to take that on a day at the Zoo for the sheer joy. There are also a variety of botanical gardens, rivers and parks for those, long one of the liveliest cities in the world for a quiet moment in nature in the middle.

A visit to London's own Orient, Chinatown, is especially recommended for the bright colors, fabulous shops and Chinese cuisine. The Chinese new year celebration not be missed, and function, a big party, huge papier-mâché Lion through the streets and awesome Fireworks dance.

Apart from the Assembly of museums, galleries and theatres London home to some of the largest restaurants, pubs and nightclubs is guaranteed your evenings days have been moved as exciting and than yours. Are not shopping, while in this cosmopolitan city with places like Harrods and everything what Oxford Street you are sure keeps, guess about you imagination to find forgot.

Experience London

Just because you are going to be moving to London and life and you work like the average London let not the opportunity to this city its full potential while you slip to explore. When you first arrive in London you will undoubtedly overwhelmed - but life in London is an experience in itself, so let get bogged down by the routine of daily life, every opportunity to use, see and do as much as you can't.

If you the decision to live and work in the UK the hassles of visa application for foreign bank accounts and job hunting many arise made appear challenging, to say the least said. Whether you explore the world, your career or your finances are 1st contact a range of services, lives and works in London easier to make. 1. Contact services are open to candidates from around the world in the UK life and work to.

London tourist attractions - best tourist attractions in London

There are many tourist attractions in London and the following are some of the most popular attractions in London to visit. London is full of culture and history and the British Museum in Bloomsbury is home to many treasures of the world like the controversial Parthenon sculptures, Rosetta Stone and many amazing artifacts from around the world. The Museum is so great that it may take a day everything as soon come to see.

Are the most popular places to visit in London the houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, located all around Parliament Square close to the River Thames in Westminster over the remarkable Southbank London. This is where is the popular London Eye and it is a must as the 30-minute ride offers stunning views of London to visit. It is the largest observation in the world and definitely not to be missed wheel.

Other popular attractions on Southbank include London Aquarium and the Tate Modern Art Gallery, the millions of visitors each year to the permanent collections and popular futurist and surrealist painter has. Not to forget the National Theatre, Globe Theatre and near Borough market has an amazing array of delicious food, fruit and veg and trendy restaurants and bars.

Southbank is a cultural hot pot and a visit to London would be complete without a visit to the Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the original open-air theater of Shakespeare's where many of his plays have been performed. This is a beautiful area of London full of restaurants, bars and Caf?s, come as a great place for a night out or simply enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy the breathtaking views of London.

Cross to visit one of the most iconic buildings in London over the Millennium Bridge and reach the stunning Saint Paul's Cathedral. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the beautiful dome of the Cathedral is a popular feature of the skyline of London and Londoners and tourists in this magical city.

Not far away is the stunning Tower of London, which easily master red bus number 15 or 9 route is reached. This fairy tale Castle Palace was used as a prison for license and clergy for many years and is where many of Henry VIII of women met their deaths.

Central London is said to be, which is not far from Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly in Trafalgar Square. Nelson's column towers over statues of lions and the beautiful, the national art gallery is serenely overlooking the square. This is one of the most visited galleries in London and, as with most London museums, admission is free.

There are many other attractions and many to visit more beautiful London art galleries and museums such as the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street. Madame Tussauds is nearby famous wax work gallery where brings licensing and famous people to life. An exciting part of every visit to Madame Tussauds includes a trip to the black London taxi by the historical periods of London.

London is in the world and definitely not to be missed one of the most exciting cities. Visit for more information about tourist sights of London travel guide, where a wide selection of beautiful London hotel rooms can for your city trip to London from.

Get a London pass to and get free sightseeing in more than 55 sights

A London pass is your Passport to cheap travel in London. Although most are located tourist attractions in Central London, many can be found scattered outside the city.

The London Eye, houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and the National Museum located in the city of Westminster, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and London Bridge in the city of London.

The natural history museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace are located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

With so many attractions that scattered over London, your London travel can be served best by purchasing a London pass.

For the cultured visitors who are excited about history and palaces of London pass offers places to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall tour, Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, Royal Mews, Eltham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, St. Paul's Cathedral, Kew Gardens and Eton College Tour. Their admission to these attractions are included in the price of the pass.

If you are a sports person can have a Chelsea Football Club stadium tour, Victoria Station tour, Twickenham World Rugby Museum and stadium tour, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Wimbledon Tennis Club Tour, ten pin bowling or Queens ice skating and Bowl in Queensway, Chislehurst caves and London bicycle tour.

If you are travelling with children, in addition to the sites mentioned above, to the London Zoo in Regent's Park, Pollock Toy Museum, the London Bridge experience and the London tombs, the London Aquarium, Jason's canal boat trip and London Canal Museum take.

For cinema and theatre goers you the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre tour of the exhibition and visit to watch the National Theatre backstage tour or in several cinemas in the West end of London.

If you enjoy river cruises which London pass offers also a red hop off all day on each city excursion boats on River Rover ticket, so you can hop,.

Top of free access to all the above mentioned attractions and more, you get the following benefits:

Special offer - get dinner up to 25% discount at selected restaurants.
Theatre tickets get up to 20% reduction in selected stores and discount shopping deals.
Free guide books
Quickly followed, to save time you queue of attractions.

The London pass is a cost-effective way to explore the popular tourist attractions in London. If you are not in any rush and enjoy hiking, you can alternatively join an organized tour from London.

CHOW Siew is the webmaster of http://www.my-london-breaks.com. This site provides event news and activities in London including hotel accommodations, theater and concert tickets and London pass.