London underground / Amanda Vincent-Rous

The Underground, like all train-lines, has to be reliable and fast; if it isn’t, then people are late for work, the companies fail to make profit and the economy suffers. While Britain is far from having the most reliable and on-time underground system, it is still very impressive – just don’t expect to be comfortable in the tubes.

As a result, the London Underground has changed quite a lot over the years. As the world’s first underground railway, 1863 was an important year for London’s transport vision. While the official title of ‘London Underground’ would only come into play in 1985, the underground rail network in London has been in full flow for well over a century, transporting passengers on a daily basis.

Now carrying three million passengers every day, the London Underground is a business in itself, but it hasn’t always been like that. Back in 1863, the first line was laid and stretched just under four miles between Paddington and Farrington Street. It wasn’t much, but it was a start of something that would turn into a massive line of railway across the capital.

1880 saw the opening of the first Tube tunnel, from the Tower of London to Bermondsey, which represented another milestone and leap for the evolution of the railway network underground. As the world entered the 20th century, electric lines were introduced to the District and Circle route, cementing the future of the concept.

London transport museum / Julian Tysoe

Changes and additions to lines and new stations were made as the decades rolled by until the exciting introduction of dot-matrix train destination indicators in 1983. This was perhaps a big sign of the more modern-approach to the London Underground as we pushed towards the end of the 20th century.

Tragically, the late ‘80’s saw a fatal fire at King’s Cross killing 31 people which not only shook the nation but called for new safety and fire regulations to be introduced. As we welcomed in the 21st century, 2002 saw the Oyster card for the first time in the London Underground – something that is still used to this day.

It may not be comfortable in the tubes for the passengers – especially at peak times – but the Underground remains a massive part of people’s everyday lives for commuting and pleasure. Who knows where the London Underground is going in the next 100 years (my money is on maglev technology), but one thing is for certain: it will definitely still be there!

This gaze at the glorious London undergound was contributed to us by chessingtonholidays.co.uk – hoping you’ll pay a visit next time you’re in London!

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London / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Gatt

Regarding accommodation there are a wide range of accommodation options available to you. From budget hostels to luxury rentals London is bursting with exciting opportunities. Where you stay in London will largely depend upon your budget and plans.

A cheap way to stay in London

If you are on a shoestring budget then a luxury hotel will obviously be out of the question and there are a number of youth hostels, cheap bed and breakfasts and shared university accommodation. You will find these all over London and although more expensive than a lot of bed and breakfasts, hostels etc in other parts of Britain, they will provide you with a good base from which to explore everything the capital has to offer. During the Olympic period however, even these options can be expensive as accommodation has largely sold out.

Location, location, location

If your weekend trip includes a trip to the theatre or to the museums then you will probably want to stay nearby. This will limit your options slightly although you should still find something within budget if you look around. If you are prepared to travel though you will find that the London underground is extremely reliable and useful. If the idea of the Tube doesn’t appeal there are countless taxis you can hail or you could even hire a car and driver.

A more expensive way to stay

You can spend thousands of pounds per night for some of the finest luxury hotels London has to offer or you can rent a property for the duration of your stay. For luxury rentals London cannot be beaten. You will find hotels that blow your mind away but if you would like to keep your independence you can rent a luxury apartment or house for the duration of your visit. These obviously don’t come cheap but you will be able to stay in a high-end London rental property in the heart of the city. This will give you easy access on foot to all the major attractions whilst allowing you to live a home away from home.

This article was written by Brandon Barnes on behalf of Rhodium RH45 which offers luxury properties in London both for sale and rent.

The post Where To Stay In London For A Weekend Trip | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.