Pierre Vivant’s sculpture, Traffic Light Tree in the Docklands, London by

Travel and Timing

London being a big city is highly busy and crowded and can also be a little costly to get around. Getting a taxi then is not a smart move if you want to keep prices down and avoid a lot of stress (though of course you might like the idea of travelling in a London black cab), which means you need to take the tube.

And this is why I highly recommend going on your London night out earlier than you might do a night out at home. Head into central London for 5 or even 4, and you can this way start drinking early and get a good seat before the bankers and other business men and women start to arrive.

This has several other advantages too – firstly it means you will be there for the happy hor drinks and this way you can save huge amounts of money that you would otherwise spend on even a single drink so you can ensure you’re in good spirits early on. Then you will head to the club for around 9.30 or 10 – missing the expensive entry prices that tend to come into effect around 11, and you’ll be able to head back around 12.30am/1am after a good night of dancing and still get the tube home to where you’re staying very cheaply and with no hassle.

London evening panorama, UK by Alexander Kachkaev

Where to Go

The best place to go for your full London experience is Covent Garden. Covent Garden is a fantastically scenic area that’s within walking distance of some of the other central areas too like Leicester Square. It has plenty of great places to eat, but also a lot of brilliant clubs and bars. A few exciting and different places to visit are Adventure Bar – a bar/club set underground where the staff set fire to things and get half undressed creating a very crazy atmosphere, Roadhouse  – a club with lots of great rock music and cheese, and Foundation Bar – where you can drink cocktails out of teapots and test tubes and enjoy a dance floor with its own live Saxophonist. Alternatively if you want to try something a bit different you might want to sign up for the Medieval  Banquet where you can watch a brilliant show while drinking out of chalices and eating with your hands.

Of course there are plenty of other great areas to visit in London too, such as Camden which has a brilliantly artistic and alternative vibe, or Kingston for a huge Oceana with multiple floors and different themed rooms. If you just want some quiet drinks meanwhile with some atmosphere, then the O2 can offer a lot of brilliant cocktail bars, while you can also get a lot of nice drinks at the Westfield Center in Shepherd’s Bush.

Jeff is an avid blogger. He has keen interest in writing about travelling. He is part of the team www.lanzarotevillas.ie, which is a volcanic island having spectacular scenery and stark beauty.

The post Travel Guide – How to Have the Best Night Out in London appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by DAVID ILIFF

The London Eye

This attraction is a really great way to see the city (and a lot cheaper than a helicopter ride) and on a clear day you can see as far as 25 miles, but even on a not so clear day the views over London are still stunning. It’s the world’s largest observation wheel and takes about 30 minutes to do one revolution. If tickets are booked in advance they cost from £15.00 per adult but concessions are available for children and OAPs. If you turn up on the day expect to pay from £25.00 per adult, no concessions, and if you fancy it you can either hire an entire capsule, which can hold up to about 25 people.

Tower of London

Situated on the northern side of Tower Bridge (an attraction in its own right) this iconic building houses far more than just one sight for its viewer. The Tower of London is known for holding the crown jewels, but it began life as a show of power under the Norman invader, William the Conqueror. The tower then went on to become a prison to Sir Walter Raleigh and even two of Henry VIII’s wives. Entry to the tower costs from £18.00 per adult or £47.00 for family made up of two adults and up to 6 children. For those who fancy a good pint and some food afterwards cross Tower Bridge and about 50 metres down the road is a great pub on the left hand side called ‘The Draft House’; ask them for their pork scratching’s, they’re amazing!

Shopping

For those of you who love high street shopping nowhere comes as famous as Oxford Street. If you fancy more designer wear then Regent Street runs immediately across it. For those who love something a bit more alternative and niche, without having to go far, then Carnaby Street, which runs immediately parallel to the East of Regent Street is a fantastic experience; it’s Christmas decorations and lights are also always something to behold.

There are so many things you can do in London but the three above provide a good range of things you could do all in one or two days, depending on how much shopping you intend to do!

Why not spend your bank holidays 2012 seeing the sights of London; however, if you plan to go early in the year check, when do the clocks go forward? You don’t want to miss your flight!

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