Change of Guard, Buckingham Palace, London, UK by Dan McKay

Summer is the best time to visit London thanks to the assortment of activities available. Tourists can stroll through St. James Park right through to Buckingham Palace in order to witness the Change of Guard which is such a spectacle. The annual Notting Hill Carnival attracts millions of tourists who come solely to witness its pomp. The streets of West London are always packed with people who are eager to witness the biggest festival in Europe. Adults and children alike can get to enjoy this festival without discrimination. This makes London the ideal family vacation destination.

Most people regard London as one of the best cities across Europe because of its edgy fashion. Whichever street you walk down in London, you are likely to peer through the clothes store windows to catch a glimpse of the wide array of fashion. Top Shop is one such place that celebrities from all over visit to grab the latest trends in fashion. Budget conscious shoppers come to this shop to browse through the many fashion endowed floors. This chic store has an in-house disc jockey who makes standing in the queues a bit more tolerable. Fashion loving people definitely enjoy visiting this city.

Notting hill carnival, London, England, UK by S Pakhrin

Another thing that makes London one of the top cities in Europe is football. Wembley stadium plays host to very important football matches such as the UEFA champion’s league fina. Hordes of football loving visitors come to this city annually to watch important matches. The English Premier League is also very popular worldwide and it attracts many foreigners who come to watch their favourite football teams in action. Popular teams such as Chelsea and Arsenal call the city of London home and they have many fans all over the world. Some people even fly into London just to see their favourite footballers in the hope of getting an autograph.

The city of London is home to more than 7.5 million people excluding visitors. A lot of these Londoners come from abroad so they speak an assortment of languages making it a culture rich city. The theatres in London are the best in the world. One such theatre is the West End Theatre which attracts the best actors. There are lots of tranquil green spaces where visitors can sit down and have picnics. There is no shortage of parks form Richmond Park to Hyde Park. Visit London and experience the free attractions and some of the best sporting events in the world.

Richmond Park, London, UK by Cristian Bortes

Author Bio: Blogger who researchers and talks about the fantastic city of London and what makes it special for tourists for Eccleston Square Hotel

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The year was 1605, and the story has since become embedded in the national myth. Ardent republican and devout Catholic Guy Fawkes, with a band of like-minded miscreants, attempted to assassinate Protestant King James by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. The attempt failed, and Fawkes’ subsequent execution for treason has been commemorated each year since with audacious displays of fireworks and effigy-burning bonfires.

Fireworks in London, England, UK by Dominic Alves

It’s a national performance of pyrotechnics, played out across the country. London – home of the plotters and their political targets – naturally boasts some of the biggest events, both municipal and privately organized. Annual shows include Enfield Town Park and Brockwell Park.

Festivities begin on Friday 2nd November, with a number of shows taking place in West London, with Kingston a perennial favourite. For those south of the river, there will be events in Wimbledon Park and Dulwich Park. Most events kick off between 6 and 8, with entry fees ranging from zero to around £7 for adults.

On Guy Fawkes night itself, Monday 5th, the Battersea Park display promises to be a real highlight of the season. Blackheath and Southgate are among the other regions providing full public displays, with the usual assortment of funfairs and food stalls to keep the huddled masses warm and entertained. Entry to most events is less than ten pounds.

But it’s the post-script to Guy Fawkes night which has the longer history and arguably the more impressive fireworks. Boasting ‘the most dangerous and amazing of all the public fireworks shows in the capital’, the Lord Mayor’s Show has been setting London ablaze since at least 1535, with some version of the event dating back to 1215. The show welcomes in the new Lord Mayor of the city with a combination of explosive-packed barges on the Thames, acrobatic displays, thousands of citizenry and hundreds of floats parading through the streets, and the bombast of a military marching band.

On November 10th, the show is announced open at 11am by a fly-past from an RAF squadron, before the procession makes its way through Bank and Aldwych. Finally, the crowds witness the emergence of the Lord Mayor from a gilded State Coach, having sworn allegiance to the Queen at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Some 500,000 spectators are expected to line the city streets. The fireworks begin at 5pm, launched from a barge situated between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridge, with Embankment generally regarded as the best vantage point from which to watch the display.

Looking for a hotel in London this autumn? Consider a stay at the Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park hotel for a central, great value accommodation option.

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Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London, UK by Andrew Eason

The Open Air Theatre is one of my favourite London theatres, although my recent visit was my first in some time. One of the best features of the theatre is the range of productions that it puts on each year, most of which find some innovative way to use the open air staging. Past productions have included Lord of the Flies, and reimaginings of The Crucible and Into the Woods. My recent visit was for a new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Matthew Dunster, the ambitious performance updates Shakespeare’s farce to a gypsy camp, and uses contemporary music.

It wasn’t the best version of the play I’ve seen, and the songs sometimes got in the way of the dialogue, but it’s worth catching this summer. The show is on till September. The Open Air Theatre’s other show, Ragtime: The Musical, which explores the early years of the American 20th century, has had some good reviews, but I might not be able to make it this year. It’s also worth pointing out that the Open Air Theatre is about more than just plays, and has a lineup of shows this summer that includes comedy from Jimmy Carr, film screenings, and live music.

Key Strengths and Weaknesses

In terms of the venue as a whole, the strengths of the Open Air Theatre can also be its weaknesses. When the weather is good, Regent’s Park makes for a great location, and the atmosphere can be great. Wandering around the Park before the show also means that you can take a peek at its many villas, or explore the boating lake. If you have the time, spending the afternoon at the Park before a show can mean that you can relax and avoid the rush on the theatre to get into the venue.

Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London, UK by Kevan Davis

This rush is one of the problems I’ve had with the theatre in the past. Being outdoors can mean that people don’t always get to the theatre in time for the performance to start, which can be a problem when the main Queen’s Mary Garden gate is locked after dark. Most of the time this isn’t a problem, but a badly timed journey can mean that you get caught out. Moreover, there’s always a chance of bad weather cancelling a production, although this is rare. The Open Air Theatre provides ticket exchanges when this happens.

Food and Drink

Although I tend to like eating after a show, the Open Air Theatre does an excellent barbecue and packaged picnic service, and is well served by the Cow and Coffee Bean and Garden Cafe outlets within the park. Given the potential for noise, food can’t be taken into the auditorium. Being in West London means that you have a lot of choices for pre and post show food and drink. I like going to the Prince Regent on Marylebone High Street, which is just off the Park, and then onto either the Iberica or Langan’s Bistro on Devonshire Street.

One thing I would recommend is giving yourself plenty of time to get to Regent’s Park on the Tube, particularly in the early evening. Going to the Park early for a wander and a picnic is usually a good idea. Baker Street on the Bakerloo Line is the easiest Tube stop, although the Regent’s Park Bakerloo line is also handy, as is Great Portland St if you’re coming West on the Hammersmith and City line. Altogether, the Open Air Theatre is highly recommended if you want to see great theatre in an unusual location, but does require a good deal of forward planning.

About the Author

Serena Grant is an avid theatre lover, achieving an AS Level in Drama and a distinction at A Level Musical Theatre. Regularly booking tickets and attending productions around the UK, she would recommend theatre tickets from UK Theatre Tickets as the number one seller of discount theatre tickets online.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Tim Morris

Hotels In London

Book your hotel near to the area you are most interested in visiting to save time and travel costs. London has many hotels with a wide range of prices. One taxi ride from a night club from east London to your hotel in west London could cost you half the price of a room. If you are in to going out or looking for some special excitement, try to book a hotel in that area. The underground stops work around midnight, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying the night life. Check out our video of guilty pleasures of sitting in London and use our special accommodation booking system to ensure that you get a hotel in the right area for you. Try to enjoy a bit of everything, but try and plan ahead so that you don’t get stuck in one area because this city offers so many attractions that you could easily get lost. Use the other video clips on our website to ensure you see all the must-see places on your trip. You could also view our special clips which will show you all the things you are really passionate about. Is it shopping, art, markets, or maybe parks? London has it all so plan your ideas well in advance for maximum enjoyment.

Book Your Tickets in Advance

It is best to book your tickets in advance as London offers so many attractions. A lot of them are free but many are not and booking in advance means that you can better manage your costs and plan a day of fun around the attractions you’ve booked. For example, if you want to have a ride on the London eye, you could combine it with a walk towards the Tate-Modern. Our number one trip is to plan your trip in accordance to the season you are traveling in. If you are going to visit London in the winter, you may want to plan more indoor activities such as museums and galleries and plan all the outdoor activities during the shorter daylight hours. If you travel in the summer, you can combine more trips in the park, etc.

Planning a trip to London soon? Great. Our city has so much to offer. But with all the attractions, shows, museums, palaces, and historical sites, you think it might cost you the world. Well, our tip is to plan ahead and control your costs. Book your hotel room, get excellent tickets to western musicals, and plan in advance the attractions you wish to visit. Cut the queues, cut the prices, and enjoy your vacation. Check out our great hotel offers on our website for more information.

Outlet4holidays are well versed in accomodation and still have limited availability for the London 2012 Olympics. Please email us for more information.

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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/.

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