What are some things to know before visiting London?
- Joseph Reaney
- Correspondent
Here are three very useful things you should know before visiting London:
1. It takes a long time to get around
London is the most populated city in the EU by a country mile – more than twice as crowded as second-placed Berlin – and is one of the world’s biggest business and tourist destinations. So whether you’re traversing the city by Tube, bus or on foot, prepare for it to be slow going.
2. The museums are enormous
It is common knowledge that London is a museum capital, with more than 250 permanent exhibitions within the city limits, but what many visitors fail to realize is the sheer scale of some of them. Three of London’s most visited museums – The British Museum, The National Gallery and the Natural History Museum – have a combined collection of around 80 million items, so if you want to see a fraction of them you'll need to leave yourself plenty of time.
3. The weather is unpredictable
While the cliché that it always rains in London is a little unfair (believe it or not, Milan has more annual rainfall) it’s true that the weather in the British capital can change several times in a single day. The trick is to be prepared for every eventuality - pack both an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses - and don’t let the weather rule your day.
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1 day agoHelen Ochyra answered the question:
What are the best hair salons in London?
London is packed with hair salons of all shapes and sizes. Some are mere holes in the wall offering simple cuts for under a tenner, others will charge you prices in the hundreds of pounds for a daring cut or perfect blowout.
For an affordable cut and blow dry a good chain to look out for is Headmasters. There are salons all over town, from Balham to Bromley and Chiswick to Clapham, but the most centrally located can be found on Poland Street in Soho, less than a five-minute walk from Oxford Circus, and on Hanover Street in Mayfair – the chain's flagship branch.
Service at all salons is friendly without being annoyingly chatty and the advice stylists give has a professional edge, with a clear understanding of how hair works and grows clearly underlying everything they do. Even better, prices are affordable, starting from around £40 and with plenty of offers. You can book appointments online too, and there are often time slots available even at the last minute. -
1 day agoHelen Ochyra answered the question:
What are the best activities to do in London?
London has activities aplenty but there won't be time on one visit to do everything. So, take your pick depending on how daring you're feeling.
Not at all daring
Go for a walk along the Thames, from Westminster Bridge by the Houses of Parliament, to Tower Bridge where you'll find the Tower of London. On the way you'll pass the Tate Modern contemporary art gallery, Gabriel's Wharf for lunch and the Founder's Arm for a pint of ale overlooking the glorious St Pauls Cathedral.
A little daring
Climb the Shard to the new viewing gallery, which offers expansive views over the city and surrounding area. You can even stand in the open-air section to get the sounds of the city, and the whole thing is glass from root to tip so there's nothing to interrupt the view.
Pretty daring
Take a seat on the Rib Tours London speedboat for the most exciting boat ride the Thames has ever seen. For 50 minutes you'll speed towards Canary Wharf and back again, getting a pretty good soaking in the process.
Very daring
Take a walk on London's infamous "dome", the O2 at Up at the O2. Climb the steep side of one of London's landmark buildings to reach the circular centre at the summit with views of Canary Wharf and Docklands. -
1 day agoHelen Ochyra answered the question:
What are the best adventure outings in London?
London may be known first for its cultural attractions, but there are plenty of activities to get the blood rushing and the adrenalin pumping too. And you needn't head too far out of town to try them. Here's my pick of the top three:
Rib Tours London
Climb aboard a speedboat at Festival Pier and head downriver at speed, passing underneath the bridges and clocking sights from the London Eye to the shiny new Shard. Look out for St Pauls as you pass beneath the Millenium Bridge and wait for the rush as you leave Tower Bridge and the speed restrictions lift. From here the driver really lets it rip and you turn this way and that, the sides of the boat lifting several feet in the air. Exhilarating – and a whole new view on London.
Up at the O2
Take a walk on London's infamous "dome", the O2, at Up at the O2. Don a "flight suit" and harness to climb up the steep sloped side of one of London's newest landmark buildings and look down on it from the raised gantry. At the centre you'll reach a circular platform and will be rewarded with views of Canary Wharf and Docklands.
Go Ape!
Swing through the trees at Trent Park where London's only Go Ape course offers you the chance to make like Tarzan. Clip on to the high ropes course and complete a series of aerial challenges such as rope walking and crawling through wooden tubes to reach the final zip wire – and speed back to earth with a bang. -
1 day agoHelen Ochyra answered the question:
What are the best water activities in London?
There's really only one answer to this question - it has to be a speedboat tour on the Thames!
Rib Tours London operate from Festival Pier and offer a 50-minute jaunt first upriver and then down. Board the bright orange boat outside Festival Hall and head straight for the Houses of Parliament, one of London's most beautiful buildings and best seen from the water, its numerous windows glinting in turn as you pass by, its towering Gothic turrets stretching away above you.
From here the boat turns downriver, passing a different landmark every few seconds: the London Eye, the Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral. There's a great view of the City from the river, its ever-growing skyscrapers seeming all the larger from this angle. Spot the Gherkin and check on the progress of the burgeoning so-called Walkie Talkie building. As the City fades behind you, look out for Shakespeare's Globe on your right and the Tower of London on your left.
On reaching Tower Bridge the speed restrictions are lifted and your driver will really let it rip, turning the boat first one way and then immediately the other, lifting several feet on one side as it turns. One minute you are several feet in the air, whizzing along past the buildings, looking down at the rest of the boat, the next down at water level, looking up at the other passengers. Exhilarating – and surely London's greatest thrill ride.
Adults £29, children £19.50 -
1 day agoJo Caird answered the question:
What are the best water activities in London?
London has its fair share of sports clubs and swimming pools, but the best water activities in the capital are undoubtedly those that take place outdoors. We'll start with the leisurely ones and graduate to those that require a little exertion or daring (or both).
A trip on a Thames riverboat is an atmospheric way of experiencing the city. Hop on a London Transport river bus service or take a sightseeing tour with City Cruises and learn about the history of the Thames as you go. The Regent's Canal is another charming watery route through the capital. Check out the London Canal Museum's website for a list of boat operators that navigate the picturesque Little Venice-to-Camden route.
Take to the tiller yourself in Regent's Park and Hyde Park, where you can hire row and pedal boats by the half hour and hour respectively. Or go kayaking on the Thames and Regent's Canal with London Kayak Tours. The Lea Valley White Water Centre, meanwhile, where the canoeing and kayaking events of the London 2012 Olympic Games were held, offers white water canoeing, as well as kayaking, sailing and rowing.
If you're happier in the water than on it, take a dip at one of London's lidos – at London Fields the water is kept at a comfortable 25 degrees celcius, while Tooting Bec, the largest fresh water, open air swimming pool in England, is unheated. My favourite place for open air swimming in London is the ponds at Hampstead Heath. Choose between the serene and civilised Men's and Ladies' Ponds or the more child-friendly Mixed Pond – all three are open 365 days a year. -
3 days agoJo Caird answered the question:
What are the best things about spring in London?
London may be the biggest and busiest city in the UK but wherever you are in the capital you're never far from a patch of greenery. In the springtime London's parks, commons and garden squares come to life: office workers on their lunch breaks crowd onto benches and picnic on any patch of grass they can find. Daffodils and tulips pop up all over the place and the smell of freshly cut grass hangs in the air, while blossom dropped by trees blows down the streets like snow, piles of the stuff collecting in the gutters before being washed away with the next shower of rain.
The weather changes quickly in London in the springtime. Mornings that feel like the arrival of summer are followed by afternoons that are blustery and grey. You wear an overcoat to work one day and a summer dress the next. You never know what you're going to get. -
3 days agoJoseph Reaney answered the question:
What are the best luxury hotels in London?
There are a plethora of five-star hotels in London, ranging from chic boutiques to decadent B&Bs. But to experience the ultimate in British hospitality, head to one of these magnificent heritage hotels.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
This stunning Edwardian building in upmarket Knightsbridge is home to some of the most decadent rooms and suites in the British capital, along with an excellent gym, spa and wellness center. But what really makes the hotel stand out are its fine dining options. Its flagship restaurant, the Michelin-starred 'Dinner by Heston Blumenthal' was named one of the top ten restaurants in the world by Restaurant Magazine in 2012 – despite having only been open nine months – while its second bistro-style restaurant, Bar Boulud, is overseen by the three-Michelin-starred French chef Daniel Boulud.
The Savoy
Perhaps London's most renowned luxury hotel, The Savoy was the most decadent address in the city when it opened in 1889 – and it remains one of them to this day. You can expect individually-designed Edwardian and Art Deco bedrooms, fine dining and cocktails, divine traditional afternoon teas, extensive fitness facilities, unbeatable service, and (from many rooms) stunning views of the Thames river.
Claridge's
Claridge's is a name known around the world – and for good reason. The timeless style of this 200-year-old five-star hotel has attracted everyone from Cary Grant to Alfred Hitchcock, Mariah Carey to Brad Pitt, and boasts some of the finest rooms not only in London, but in all of Europe. It is the ultimate luxury hotel. -
On May 12Helen Ochyra answered the question:
What are the best tours of London?
London can be overwhelming, so letting someone show you around can be the best way to see the city. There are literally hundreds of different options, but I recommend the following for something a little bit different:
On water
RIB Tours London offer the city's most thrilling tour. Board a speedboat for an exhilarating journey along the Thames, taking in the sights all the way from the Houses of Parliament to Canary Wharf, including the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and Tower Bridge – after which the speed restrictions are lifted and things get really interesting!
On land
Discover the city's Harry Potter connections on a Muggle Tours walk around locations from the films. Small groups and passionate guides make for an unforgettable experience, with sights such as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, the inspiration for Diagon Alley and the public entrance to the Ministry of Magic seen en route from London Bridge to Leicester Square.
By air
The best view of London has to be by air and London Helicopter Tours offer one of the best experiences in the capital. Board your own private chopper for a flight along the Thames and over the Houses of Parliment, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, St Pauls Cathedral and HMS Belfast. -
On May 11Jo Caird answered the question:
What is the best way to haggle in London?
Haggling isn’t something we really do in London. Even at markets, items tend to be priced at the level that stallholders feel is appropriate. That situation you experience in some places where you end up paying half the original price quoted just doesn’t happen here. (The only place where you'll find proper haggling is at car boot sales, but as a visitor to London you’re unlikely to find yourself at one of these flea market/yard sale affairs unless you go looking for them.)
Asking for a discount if you buy several items or pay in cash will sometimes yield savings. This is only likely to save you a small amount of money and is only ever worth trying in independent shops or at market stalls, but if you’re the type of person who gets a thrill from finding a deal, then by all means give it a go. Needless to say perhaps, but being charming and polite will increase your chances of success in almost all scenarios. -
On May 10Jo Caird answered the question:
What are the best technology hotels in London?
It wasn’t all that long ago that the presence of wi-fi and a flat screen TV marked a hotel out as hi-tech. These days, however, such amenities come as standard and technophile guests are seeking out ever more innovative gadgets and services. The following hotels all have something a little different on offer.
Eccleston Square Hotel
This adults-only hotel located not far from Victoria Station was hailed as London’s most hi-tech hotel when it opened in 2011. Fully adjustable electronic beds with massage settings, a personal iPad 2 in each room, HD 3D NeoPlasma TVs with on-demand 3D movies delivered to your room for free and flatscreen bathroom TVs concealed behind steam-proof mirrors are just some of the treats available.
CitizenM
There’s no reception desk at this smart Bankside hotel, just a bank of touch-screen computers where guests check themselves in. All the amenities in each compact room are controlled via a personalized Samsung tablet – from switching the lights on and off to setting the ‘mood’ of the room with music and visuals on the flat screen TV to having the room wake you up in the morning. There's no robot butler, but a tablet that does your every bidding is surely the next best thing.
Four Seasons Park Lane
The Four Seasons Park Lane combines old school luxury with state-of-the-art technology. The focus is on entertainment here with a plasma TV, DVD player, PlayStation and iPod dock in each room. Laptops and printers are available on request and business travellers will appreciate the multi-line telephones with conference calling capability. Many of the suites also have bathrooms with integrated TVs in the mirrors. -
On May 8Jo Caird answered the question:
What are the best places to buy shoes in London?
For me, the best place to buy shoes is somewhere with a lot of different styles and brands to choose from. Selfridges, home to the largest shoe department in the world, is therefore the ideal place to begin a footwear quest. The sprawling women’s shoe galleries have been around for a few years now, but the men’s area only opened in 2012. The tens of thousands of pairs on offer range from high street brands all the way up to made-to-measure products from designer names. Exploring the galleries can be a bewildering experience, but there's no doubt that this is a shoe lover’s heaven. The Harrods Shoe Salon isn’t on quite the same scale as its Selfridges equivalent, but the range of designer brands on offer at this luxurious location is certainly not to be sniffed at. Name a top designer of shoes, boots or sandals and chances are you’ll find them represented here.
For a more manageable shoe shopping experience, I like Poste Mistress in Covent Garden (61-63 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9EP; 020 7379 4040). The big sister boutique of high street footwear favourite Office, Poste Mistress stocks its own-brand range as well as a selection of designer names including Eley Kishimoto, Stella McCartney and Miu Miu. The store sells women’s shoes only but male footwear fans shouldn’t feel left out – Poste, Office’s upmarket men’s shoes boutique can be found in Mayfair (10 South Molton Street, W1K 5QJ; 020 7499 8002). -
On May 8Jo Caird answered the question:
What are the best places to buy shoes in London?
For me, the best place to buy shoes is somewhere with a lot of different styles and brands to choose from. Selfridges, home to the largest shoe department in the world, is therefore the ideal place to begin a footwear quest. The sprawling women’s shoe galleries have been around for a few years now, but the men’s area only opened in 2012. The tens of thousands on pairs on offer range from high street brands all the way up to made-to-measure products from designer names. Exploring the galleries can be a bewildering experience, but there's no doubt that this is a shoe lover’s heaven. The Harrods Shoe Salon isn’t on quite the same scale as its Selfridges equivalent, but the range of designer brands on offer at this luxurious location is certainly not to be sniffed at. Name a top designer of shoes, boots or sandals and chances are you’ll find them represented here.
For a more manageable shoe shopping experience, I like Poste Mistress in Covent Garden (61-63 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9EP; 020 7379 4040). The big sister boutique of high street footwear favourite Office, Poste Mistress stocks its own-brand range as well as a selection of designer names including Eley Kishimoto, Stella McCartney and Miu Miu. The store sells women’s shoes only but male footwear fans shouldn’t feel left out – Poste, Office’s upmarket men’s shoes boutique can be found in Mayfair (10 South Molton Street, W1K 5QJ; 020 7499 8002). -
On May 3Jo Caird answered the question:
What are the best neighborhoods in London?
Almost every area in London has something to recommend it. Whether that's an unusual arts venue, traditional boozer or old-fashioned street market, there are hidden gems all over the place, even in the sorts of neighbourhoods that don't usually make it into the guidebooks. It's often worth venturing off the beaten track.
That said, there are a handful of areas that all visitors to London should experience. Here are they.
West End
The West End offers galleries, theatres, restaurants, bars and boutiques galore. Visit the big touristy spots (Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Oxford Street) if you haven't done so before, but make time to lose yourself in the backstreets too. Lesser known places like Berwick Street Market, Cecil Court, with its antiquarian bookshops, and the bars and restaurants of Charlotte Street all have a unique flavour.
Primrose Hill
It's often said that London is a city of villages – there's no better place to get a sense of this phenomenon than in Primrose Hill. Independent shops, bars and cafés line the charming high street, while regency-era townhouses overlook the park that gives the area its name. The views from the top of the hill are spectacular.
South Kensington
Not only is this area home to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, it's got Kensington Gardens right on its doorstep. This is the prettiest part of Hyde Park and a great place to while away an afternoon: stroll through the Italian Gardens, pop in see some world-class contemporary art at the Serpentine Gallery and admire the iconic statue of Peter Pan to the west of the Long Water.
Shoreditch
This neighbourhood has changed a lot in the last two decades, going from scuzzy through arty and trendy to become one of the city's most popular spots for nightlife on the one hand and shopping on the other. Some bemoan the inevitable loss of character that accompanies such an evolution, citing in particular the arrival of various retail and restaurant chains, but there's still plenty to love about this buzzy area. Don't miss Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane for vintage and independent shops and Hoxton Square for bars and cafés.
