London Guide

Information guide for your first visit to London.

The alarm clock has rung, but you were already awake with excitement, because today is the day you fulfil that dream of visiting London. It is a city of many diversities, built up over the past 2,000 years by cultures long gone. They may be gone, but they left behind a city that just brims with excitement and adventure.
London is where old meets new and the stunning skyline and buildings portray that magnificently, nowhere else will you find buildings 400 years old sitting next to a new one. London has a history second to none, and modern London is an exciting city also second to none. Because it can be daunting for the first time visitor, Hotel-Assist has put together a list of recommended do`s and don'ts, to help make your first trip to the English capital one that will make you want to come back time and time again. Whatever your likes and dislikes we feel we have covered most of the subjects; the discerning visitor will want to do.

Most popular parts of London

The most popular part of London is difficult to define on a broad scale, but only because there are so many parts that cater for different tastes. Our area guide is full of information about the whole of London, and it will assist you in making up your mind about the most important decision of your trip; where to stay. The location of your hotel is our main concern for you, as you will want to be as near to what interest` you the most, to help you make that decision we have put together a comprehensive guide to what is where in this huge city.
To give you some ideas of what we mean here are a few examples; Theatre and night life can be found in the west end, shopping is best in Knightsbridge, Chelsea and Oxford street, eating out is best anywhere in London and we have some unusual recommendations for you, sight seeing is a must and we have details for the best tried and tested tours. Whether you are staying in the east, west, south or north of London our area guide will assist you to book the best location.

Useful Links:
Chelsea, Knightsbridge, South Bank, Bayswater, Kensington, Southbank, City of London.

London Hotels: Where to Stay

This guide takes into account two of the most important parts of your vacation; the budget and location. The London Hotel guide will help you to get the best for less, and get you located in the best position for you to be where you want to be, and as quickly as possible. Our hotel location guide will allow you to get to know London's` best areas, and more importantly how to get to them using public transport, or just walking to them. By the time you get here you will be so familiar with routes that even if you are on a tight budget, and you have to commute into the area you want be in, our guide will get you there without any effort.
The best thing about London Hotels are that you can be on a tight budget, and still get a good hotel that is just a short walk from most of the tourist attractions. For those who don`t have a budget problem then you are for a real treat, London offers some of the best hotels, with the best facilities and in the most glamorous of areas. For the business visitor we have a hotel for you, within your budget and within easy reach of the areas you need to be in. Some of our hotels also offer secretarial and conference facilities, most offer internet and voice mail to each room, so keeping in touch with clients and the office is easy.
At Hotel-Assist we have the best people writing our guides and reviews, some of our reviewers are veterans of the tour business, and have built up a wealth of knowledge about London that is second to none. By booking with Hotel-Assist you can be assured of the best information to help you plan your stay; and enjoy every minute of it.
From the best located hotels to the best budget you will be able to choose your best vantage point for your itinerary, if you are just coming to explore without an itinerary it doesn't matter, we will guide you through what is available and the best places to go and visit.

Useful Links:
Cheap hotels, Luxury, Superior, Tourist

Getting Around Made Easy

Transport into London from all the major airports and ports couldn't be simpler, the capital is well served with trains, the underground, buses and coaches. From stepping off the plane you won't even need to go outside to get into any part of London. All our recommended hotels are within minutes of a tube station (underground), a main line station or an airport link stop.
The London underground system is the oldest in the world, and it is being updated all the time. The system itself is based on different colours for each line, so even if you're English is not so good you can easily make your way round it. It is so big that it overflows into surrounding counties, and serves all the terminals at Heathrow. Gatwick is served by a mainline into Victoria from where you can catch a tube. Victoria coach station is nearby, and from here you can come and go to many European and British destinations. Stansted airport is served by a mainline into Liverpool Street station; from here you can get the tube to all destinations. Taxis are plentiful and by just waving your arm you will summon one. Buses are frequent and city wide, with an Oyster saver card you will have unlimited tube and bus travel.

Shopping in London

London is comparable to Paris, Milan and New York when it comes to shopping. World famous labels such as Karen Millen, Next, Jimmy Choo and more are all available in the London shops. Stores such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum and Masons are unique to London. We even have an array of shops that display the royal family's crests to show which members of the royal household shop there. A shopper's paradise doesn't even come anywhere close to describing the art of shopping in London. However, it isn't just a female prerogative, for London has as much to offer the male shopper as well. Saville Row is a name that conjures up a vision of tailors shops and hand made suits and shirts; it was built to replace the former tailors Row in Threadneedle Street, where today stands the Bank of England. Carnaby Street was made famous by the Beatles in their heyday, today it still offers unique designer clothes and one offs.
The best areas for shopping are surely in Chelsea, Kensington and Knightsbridge all easily accessible by tube, bus or taxi. Oxford Street was once used to transport the condemned to Tyburn, today the only executions you will witness is on your credit card limit! This famous London shopping Street is long and the shops run into the hundreds, but there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy a drink or a snack as you peruse your purchases. Department stores are many fold in Regent Street with all the best known names from around the world. On Piccadilly you will find the Queens grocers at Fortnum and Mason, you can experience a bit of English eccentricity here as well on the hour, for that is when the clocks above the doorway come to life, and Mr Fortnum and Mr Mason strike the bells. Mayfair is just across the road and here you will find exquisite jewellers shops in Bond Street, shoe and clothes shops and some wonderful salons for your hair and nails.
For the unusual gift and antiques, there is Camden Lock and Portobello Road both of which have markets and shops with designer specialities in them; it's also famous for unusual shoes.

London Nightlife

When ever Tina Turner belts out her song "Simply the Best" I always think she is singing about London's` night life, for it is just that. From the best known of the west end to the little known clubs of north, south and east London, wherever you're located you will be within a stones throw of a great club. The music scene is one of most diverse and every taste is catered for, no matter how new or old. Jazz, Rock, Rock and Roll, Pop, Garage, House, Commercial, Reggae, Soul, Dance, Traditional and Ballroom music can be found all over the capital, from live performers or a DJ.
Fancy a break from music and want to try something else? Well you've certainly come to the right city. Comedy is served well in London with theatres, clubs, pubs and private venues all over the place. Cinema is hugely popular in the west end, with world famous film premieres a constant form of entertainment in themselves. Theatres in the capital have the best shows running all year round, and don't forget the fringe theatres where small companies put on some very original shows. Some attractions also run till late, the London Eye and The London Dungeons being just two of them.
Romance is an emotion deserving of the best settings, London has some wonderful places that are equal to Rome and Paris when it comes to romantic settings. Walking along the embankment as the sun is setting, the south bank with its Dickensian charm and Trafalgar Square are just as appealing as Piccadilly Circus when it comes to laces to propose. At Piccadilly Circus you can avail of the legend of Eros to win the heart of your true love, but you have to there to say their name at the striking of the midnight hour.
The Thames is the life blood of London and anchored along its banks are many restaurants and clubs. It is the only place in the capital where you can get drunk on water! If sitting on a ship that is going nowhere is not racy enough, then try on the many dinner and dance trips up and down the Thames.

Dining Experiences

From Canning Town to China Town the food establishments of London are something to behold. Japanese, Russian, Malaysian, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Italian, American, Mexican, Hungarian and of course English restaurants, bistros and cafes are amongst the best on offer in London. Whether its fish, meat, vegetarian or fast food you want, there will be a place to eat on every street, and with a budget to suit. With the famous markets of Billingsgate, Smithfield and Covent Garden all in the capital, you can be assured that your food is as fresh as can be with many chefs shopping daily.
Some of the best and the most diverse eateries are in fact usually found outside of the central area; in Bayswater for instance you will find a choice of restaurants from many countries. The area, like Kensington, is a residential one which caters for the diverse people that live there. The west end of London is the heart of restaurant-town, with many famous chefs now associated with the top ones.

Tours in and around London

Again you are spoilt for choice here; two of the best bus tours run all year round. The Big Bus Live Guide Tour is a bus tour with a 24 hour ticket and a river cruise included, Duck Tours is a one off 80 minute tour that takes in the landmarks, and then takes you on the river. This tour is aboard an amphibious vehicle converted from a WWII DUK, they enter the river by the side of MI6, but hey! Don't spread it around it's a secret. Walking tours are also plentiful in London; Big Bus includes a few walks on the ticket. They include a Royal Tour taking in Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, a Beatles Tour of Abbey Road and an evening Ghost Tour. Jack the Ripper is alive and well and living in the east end, O.K. so Jack is long gone, but his infamous ways live on in an industry that spans the world. From The Tower of London underpass you can pick up walking tours that will send a tingle down your spine.
Victoria coach station is where many of the best of British coach tours leave from; they offer 3-7 days tours of the British Isles as well as one day returns. Visit such places as Stone Henge, Windsor Castle, Ancient Bath and other places, then be back in the hotel for tea time.

London for the Family

Unlike some cities London loves to entertain families, the children of today are the tourists of tomorrow, and London never forgets Madame Tussauds that. There is so much to see as a family in London, historical places, museums, galleries, river trips, Greenwich with the Meridian Line that you can stand on, , The London Dungeon, China Town, The Trocadero in Piccadilly, Buckingham Palace Tours and much, much more. Children and parents alike are so well catered for that many return every month. Whether you are staying a week or just coming for the day, you will be kept entertained all the time. Eating out is simple and fun, with many parks where you watch the wildlife and enjoy a home-made pic-nic, fast food shops are plentiful and there are many cafes that have children size portion menus. A day out can be fun without breaking the bank. There are many places in London that just ooze with excitement and adventure, and they won't cost you a fortune either. Don't forget that London has its own countryside, with boat trips around the former canals and waterways. London Zoo is also a favourite with families and the Tower of London is a whole day out in itself. Many attractions and tours do a family ticket.

Spa, Massage and Health Gyms

When we think of a Spa we tend to look towards Bath which has the historic Roman baths and spa. However, London is awash with excellent spa centres all over the capital. Many London Hotels have their own spa, sauna and gyms, but if you are staying in one that doesn't don't despair, there are many that cater for the day visitor. Massage is good for relaxing those tired bones after a day treading the pavements; in China Town you will find some superb shops that sell Chinese cures and massages. If you miss the gym while you're away from home, then many of the hotels include entrance to their residents. If yours hasn't got one, then you can purchase a day ticket from many of the gyms in the capital. These have sprouted up to accommodate the city workers who work those unusual hours, and live in a tower block.

Sports and Leisure

Sporting fans are in their glory in London, we have the finest football grounds with matches midweek, Saturday and Sunday. A short trip by train will take you to Ascot and Kempton Park, Greyhound Racing is also in abundance as is on course and off course betting. Casino lovers can enjoy some of the best clubs in London. Professional and amateur boxing is widespread, and there are even clubs which put on bouts between anyone who wants to have a go. Horse Riding is not cheap but it is available in London, as is a good game of tennis at some of the finest clubs that allow day membership. Squash and Swimming is easy to find with a club or public baths near your hotel. Cycling around instead of walking is also fashionable with a few good shops that hire out. Lastly, we have some excellent Golf Courses surrounding London.

Sites of Interest and Attractions

In any film you watch when they want to tell you the film is set in London; they usually show Trafalgar Square or the Houses of Parliament. These sites are so well know that no words are needed on the screen. When you first come to London you will be so excited that these sites actually still exist. Wherever you are in London you will always be able to identify your surroundings by just finding a landmark or a statue. There are in fact two cities in London, the Square Mile of the original city and Westminster. Taking a bus tour is the best way to see and photograph all the main sights of this wonderful city. Blue plaques are to be found all over the place, they tell us that a certain historical figure or incident is associated with the building. The incident or figure has to be dead for 25 years before being considered. In Mayfair you see two plaques side by side on 23 and 25 Brook Street, they commemorate Jimi Hendrix and George Frederic Handel, both musicians from different eras.

A Little History of London

Even tour guides are in their glory when they visit London; with 2,000 years of history it has something to enthral everyone. Old buildings and churches are many, but the real history is in the streets themselves. The names of the 32 boroughs and the ancient streets tell it all, they are the` Silent Tour Guides` and they tell a pretty tale or two. In the east of London you will find Eastecheape where the markets once were, Cheape means market and from that we get the expression `Cheap Goods`. In Poultry (a London Street) you bought chickens and the like, in Milk Lane milk related goods, on Friday Street you bought fish but only on a Friday. Garlick Hill, Leather Lane, Wood Street and Old Jewry also have many tales to tell. Londoners invented the pub sign as a means of telling which tavern was which, as many couldn't read. The free museums are no longer dusty and quiet places, they are a lively and fun place to see history, science and ecology in the flesh, and learn about the different cultures that have made their mark on this fine city.

Emergency Services and Healthcare

The emergency services in London are covered by the Police, Ambulance, Accident and Emergency hospitals, The River Police, The London Fire Service and The Parks Police. The emergency number in the U.K. is 999 for any of these services. Health care is free in the U.K. to residents and citizens of the E.U. through the E111 health scheme. Visitors should make sure they have efficient health cover in the case of an accident or illness. The E111 card must be obtained before you come to London; cards are free in most countries and require a registration before issue. Private health care in London is well represented in all aspects, including Dentistry, Plastic Surgery, Private Clinics and Rehab Clinics