A getaway city vacation is something some people would rather not contemplate. However, it is exactly this style of vacation that is becoming more prevalent. With high-speed travel routes and an increasing number of air travel options, modern transportation is shortening the time taken to travel. One of the most popular cities to visit today in London with the preferred time of the year being slap bang in the middle of an English summer.
There are so many places to visit in London, you are actually spoilt for choice. The entire city is set-up for families, couples and business travelers with attractions spanning from north to south and east to west of London. Saying that every city and every person has their own individual agenda, as, after all, you cannot possibly see all London has to offer in just a single visit unless you plan to stay for an extended amount of time.
South Bank of London
Near London Bridge train station and stretching down to Waterloo and Southwark the Thames River runs alongside South Bank’s stretching walkway. At the London Bridge end, there is an amazing market where you can buy food and spices from all over the world. One of the highlights of this marker is the Ostrich steak burger and Ostrich eggs.
Past the market, you will continue to encounter some of London’s historical moments. A tour of Jack Ripper’s old haunts is available, plus if you look up as you are walking down some of the small and bendy historic streets, there are more reminders of how criminals were punished in the past. They are purely set up as a tourist attraction of course!
The same area is also home to the London Dungeons that is always worth a look in order to get a glimpse and a dreary feel for the old days of London when torture was commonplace! Once you have had your fill of the torture chambers, you can either walk out and turn right to get to the famous Tower Bridge or you and turn left and cross the road to the market.
Along the riverfront, there are plenty of places to eat if you passed up on the Ostrich burger in the market. And if you like the theatre, then you will find the National Theatre at the far end of the walkway. However, before you get there, be sure to visit the Tate Modern Art Gallery and then take a walk over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral on the other side of the river.
The West End
Running parallel to South Bank in London’s famous and touristy West End. Here you will find Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Soho, China Town as well as the world-renowned commercial center of London, Oxford Street and the pedestrian walkway, Leicester Square.
Leicester Square is one of the best places to visit in this area if you are a night owl and like to party or take a punt in the casinos. Covent Garden is well-known for its high-class bars, pubs, and clubs that attract the rich and famous of London and the rest of the world.
The West End is also host to numerous hotels. There is a wide range of mid to high-end establishments scattered literally all over the West End stretching up to Hyde Park, Mayfair, and Park Lane.
These two areas of London are highly recommend for anyone thinking of visiting the UK’s capital for a weekend or short stay in the city. Nevertheless, if you have more than a couple of days, then once you have had your fill of the South Bank Walkway and The West End’s W1 and W2 areas, there is still plenty of fun to be had, and much more to explore in one Europe’s most loved cities.
How To Book A Place To Stay In London
A great website to visit is ”First For Budget Accommodation”. This company offers properties on some of the famous vacation rental websites, but if you go directly to their website, then you will get a much better deal than you would if you went via a hotel or vacation rental booking website.
Their website is easy to use and run by the well-known Lodgify.com vacation rental software, so you can rest assure the booking system is very easy to use. You will be able to find properties in the West End of London or in the South Bank Area for a fraction of the price of any other website.