Of course, not everyone has been fortunate enough to find a ticket to the sports this summer, but whether you are attending an event or are merely sightseeing, the Olympic village and stadium in Stratford is a genuine treat. Beat the locals of London by being one of the first to ride the Greenwich cable car over the Thames, and then enjoy the spectacle of the state-of-the-art arena. Capture some memorable photographs and marvel at the architectural wonder of Anish Kapoor’s celebrated Orbit Tower.

Westminster, London, UK by Tanveer Chandok

You can find some more of Kapoor’s smaller works on display at the Tate Modern gallery on the south bank of the Thames. The incredibly popular gallery displays works by renowned artists including Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst and – like many of London’s most famous museums – is free for the general public to enter, making this cultural treat a cost-effective option too.

Some experiences encapsulate everything about the character of a city and, in the case of London, that experience is the London Eye. A thirty minute trip up into the sky in one of thirty two revolving capsules provides the very best vantage point of the city: towering above even Big Ben.

Of course, no visit to England’s capital city would be complete without a moment to enjoy the majesty of the British Royal family’s Buckingham Palace. One of the most recognisable buildings in all of Great Britain, the palace is a favourite for visitors in its own right. But with the addition of the changing guards, and the fascinating ancient ceremonies and customs, there are few who would pass up an opportunity to experience this for themselves.

London is a cultural capital of the world. Whether your love is art or music, theatre or shopping, there is everything you could wish for in a holiday destination. From the boutiques of Carnaby Street to the glamour of Bond Street; William Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and the Barbican; the numerous stadiums catering for every sport; whatever your passion in life, you will find the best of it in London.

This is an incredible, historical city. As you arrive in the ultra-modern Heathrow Airport you will be amazed that some of Britain’s oldest landmarks – from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Palace of Westminster – are less than an hour away. Any one of these locations would be a must-see place to visit, but in London you might find that there is never enough time to see it all!

Click here, for more information on Heathrow Airport and Heathrow Airport Parking

The post City Guides : London – Summer Olympic Host appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo by 8thDay

Whilst short term lets have proved popular options in the past at other prominent events such as Wimbledon, there has been a sharp increase in the number of short term rental opportunities in the East London boroughs that surround the Olympic village.

East London boroughs such as Dagenham and Waltham Forest have seen an increase of 35 per cent in properties being let on a short term basis in the first quarter of the year. Landlords are also achieving higher rental prices on a short term basis, reflecting the demand across the city this summer. The boroughs surrounding the Olympic village can achieve £143 a week, an increase of 14 per cent from this time last year. Prices are also expected to rise further as the opening of the games draws closer.

The best Olympic accommodation short term rental opportunities and demand have appeared in the West of the city. Although staying in East London will be more convenient for the games, West London has had 37 per cent of all the Olympic rentals. Visitors are combining a visit to the capital’s attractions and nightlife in tourist locations in the west of the city, opting instead to travel to the Olympics for the events.

Other popular areas of the city for short term lets include Greenwich where the equestrian events will take place and Windsor close to the rowing events. Both places have seen an increase ready for the summer.

There are plenty of different things that landlords and property owners can do to capitalise on the short term let demand during the Olympics. Firstly, it is worth hiring an estate agent to market and let the property, even on this short term basis as they have the knowledge to get tenants in time for the games and negotiate price.

Always ensure before letting the property that it is in good condition for rental with all decoration and maintenance up to date. Good quality properties are estimated to rise in rental potential up to twenty times the normal charge.

There will be visitors unable to get booked into a hotel looking for hotel standards from a short term let. This may include fine details such as use of towels, toiletries and tea and coffee and these costs will need to be added into the weekly rental. Visitors will range from those wishing to see certain events to those working and possibly even organising the games.

Hamptons International can offer a large range of short term lets and rentals around the east end of London through out the Olympics for information on Olympic lettings http://www.hamptons.co.uk/en-gb/Lettings/SportingLets/.

The post Best Olympic Accomodation appeared first on Best of European Union.