London Airports
Transport links
Paddington's extensive transport links allow easy access to all parts of London as well as airports and other cities.
London Underground Links: Hammersmith & City, District, Circle & Bakerloo Lines
Heathrow Express: Approx. 15 mins to Heathrow Airport
Elizabeth Line: Approx. 30 mins to Heathrow Airport
Taxi
Black cabs are a famous symbol of London (not all Black cabs are black - many of them are covered by colourful ads). Drivers are usually very reliable and are extremely knowledgeable about London’s streets (they have to pass an exam call The Knowledge - some spend 2-3 years to know every street in London and how to get A to B). By law black cabs must be licensed and carry a meter. Fares are higher after midnight and weekends. Add 10% for tips.
Minicabs are usually cheaper than black cabs. especially in the night or over weekends. But minicabs are unlicensed and are not allowed to pick up customers in the street. Check Yellow Pages or online for minicab firms. If you're going to a train station or airport at odd hours (midnight or early morning), you should book a minicab in advance. Minicabs usually charge a fixed price for most destinations, so ask for a price when you book them.
Buy an oyster card
London transport is quite expensive, so unless you are going to make a single journey on public transport then you should consider getting an Oyster card, which will save you money and can be returned for a refund before leaving London.
Do not Blitzkrieg Sights
Some people come to London and spend all of their time rushing to one site after another without actually seeing anything. Rather than rushing from Harrod's to Big Ben to Buckingham Palace to the London Eye, trying to fit every tourist sight into your stay, take the time to enjoy London's neighborhoods. Window shop in Old Bond Street, check out the crafts market in Covent Garden, walk along the South Bank. Slow down, relax and enjoy.
London is, and always has been, a trading city and an agglomeration of nationalities and people from all walks of life, and this is what has made it what it is. Understand some of the history of the neighbourhoods and the people who built them - and you'll begin to understand why some of the districts look as they do. Take Notting Hill, for example; In Regency times (early 19th century) this area was developed in an attempt to catch the coat tails of the riches of Kensington across the park, but it never really took off.
Throughout the early 20th century, the area declined and the large villas were split into many small flats. In the 50s and 60s, this was the cheapest place to live in London, and was settled by Afro-Caribbean immigrants brought over to the UK for cheap labour after WWII, and they created the Carnival, one of the biggest street parties in the world - their legacy still lives on, and many still live in the area, but these days you'd need to win a lottery to afford a house in the neighbourhood, it has shot up in popularity and gentrified and changed in just 25 years into one of the most expensive areas of town.
Londoners moan about the Tube a lot. It is easy to forget that this is one of the most extensive, most frequent urban rail systems in the world, and easy to forget how convenient it is;
For getting from A to B across town, there is usually no faster way. BUT by using the Tube too much you can miss an awful lot. One of the best things about London is the different flavour of the neighbourhoods and how quickly you can move between areas of very different types - the City and Spitalfields, for example; or Bloomsbury, Mayfair and Soho. If you do all your travelling underground, you miss all that. OK, so London is a very big place, but there are a lot of major attractions you can easily walk between and it will open your eyes. Do not be tempted to get of at Covent Garden station to visit Covent Garden! Nearly all the stations within two stops from it are only a ten minute walk away.
London has more open space and green space than most major capital cities and the parks vary hugely in flavour. Many are away from the centre but are well worth the journey.
Of particular note are Hampstead Heath - a large slice of countryside in a hilly part of the city, with some stunning views, tube at Hampstead; Regent's Park - a large formal park in the Victorian tradition near to Baker Street, with an excellent open-air theatre; Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens - a huge open space right in the centre of the West End; Wimbledon Common - wild open countryside perfect for cycling, next to a picture perfect "village"; and the myriad tree-lined squares of Bloomsbury and Finsbury.
The beauty of London is the enormous choice of activities that it offers. After a wonderful day of sightseeing, shopping or relaxing, a great night can follow.
Live Music:
Roundhouse, O2 Arena, Wembley Arena, Earl's Court & Olympia, Royal Albert Hall, The Swan, Half Moon, The Windmill
Of course, do not forget about all the historical monuments, art exhibitions, vast parks, markets and great touristic attractions that have made London one of the most attractive cities in the whole world:
London is filled with wonderful, exciting and relaxing places to visit ranging from busy markets, shopping filled streets and stunning parks. So get ready to shop until you drop.
Some of the world's most popular theatres and impressive museums are located in London. Click and find all the useful links!
Some of the world's most popular theatres are in London and anyone can have the opportunity to watch a variety of top rated shows, classic and modern ones:
Some of the world's most popular theatres are in London and anyone can have the opportunity to watch a variety of top rated shows, classic and modern ones:
It's said of other places but often holds true for London: if you don't like the weather, wait a minute. Many visitors ask 'what will the weather be like in...?' but the best and most honest answer is that we won't know until that time comes.
But there are a few basics that may help in considering when to travel to London.
But there are a few basics that may help in considering when to travel to London.
Underground every day. It’s got to be one of the easiest ways of getting around London and, with so many stops, it’s one of the most accessible methods of transportation.
Making such frequent journeys could rack up the pennies but, in 2003, London came up with a solution to combat expenses with the introduction of the Oyster card.
Making such frequent journeys could rack up the pennies but, in 2003, London came up with a solution to combat expenses with the introduction of the Oyster card.
The incredible city of London is approximately 2,000 years old as a settlement on the banks of the River Thames. The Romans invaded London in 43 A.D., naming the fortified city Londinium.
There are so many architectural gems to check out in London and the city is known for its diverse range of buildings located so close to one and other it’s sometimes hard to take a picture of the one you really want.
This is only a short list of the most famous, but you’re likely to find a bit of architectural history around every corner if you look hard enough.
This is only a short list of the most famous, but you’re likely to find a bit of architectural history around every corner if you look hard enough.
There’s no shortage of ways to get around this great city. You can descend into the underground and grab the subway (known as the Tube to Londoners), hop on a bright red bus to see the sights, or hail one of the ubiquitous London Black Cabs.
