London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and home to the world's oldest monarchy. The traditional British atmosphere is inherited and reinforced here. At the same time, London is also a melting pot of cultures and languages from around the world that is constantly changing, even in modern times. There’s so much to do in London that makes it one of the top cities on the lists of all types of travelers. As Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life."
Tourists usually visit London for about 3-4 days, and then spend an extra day visiting nearby attractions and going shopping, making for a total of about 5 days. The guard-changing ceremony at Buckingham Palace is a favorite tourist activity. Here, you can see the red guards wearing bearskin hats that have become the symbol of Britain. If you’re lucky enough, you might even encounter the royal family on the Boulevard. If you don’t like being in crowds, you can also take a picture with the Royal Cavalry Brigade. For tourists planning more in-depth visits, strolling around the Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana lived, and its splendid gardens isn’t a bad idea either.
The House of Parliament and the Tower Bridge are the main landmarks of London. Visitors can head to the ornate tombs of a large number of royals and celebrities at Westminster Abbey, then walk up the Westminster Bridge and look back at the House of Parliament and Big Ben in the corner. Other options include taking a Thames River cruise to the Tower Bridge and visiting the nearby Tower of London. Come to London to see the British Museum and the National Gallery, which display countless treasures from ancient times to the present. In addition, there are also a series of wonderful museums and art galleries in London: the Tate Modern, which houses modern art, the Science Museum that showcases the history of science and technology, and the children's favorite Natural History Museum. What's more, they are all free of charge.
Hundreds of years ago, London was a favorite place for creators of literature and art. Visitors can find out where Dickens wrote his works, discover stories from the past in a second-hand bookstore on Charing Cross Road, or go to Abbey Road and recreate the famous album cover. There is also the Harry Potter 9¾ Platform going to Hogwarts. The famous 221B Baker Street is full of elements from Sherlock Holmes and attracts millions of fans.
London can be visited all year round. In the spring and summer, flowers bloom with mild and gentle sunshine, making it especially suitable for travel. The weather becomes cool and fresh in September. In the winter, London's shopping season begins. It’s cool in the summer with highs around 27°C, suitable for wearing long or t-shirts, as well as pants or long skirts. The minimum temperature in winter is about 5°C. Coats and heavier clothes are necessary, and gloves and scarves are needed to prevent cold. Due to the rainy weather in the UK, jackets and hats are practical and it is recommended to carry an umbrella when you go out.
As a cosmopolitan city, London boasts distinctive styles in different regions. There are old-time London hotels with hundreds of years of history, and fashionable and stylish accommodations where you spend as much money as you want. The main accommodation area is in the north bank of the Thames, and is generally divided into the West, the Financial District, Kings Cross, the Westminster Abbey, the South Bank and a few larger areas. Different regions have their own unique characteristics.
In terms of location, the areas of London hotels can be divided into the downtown area, the Hyde Park area and the East London area. The downtown area, just as it name implies, is the center of the city. Almost all the famous attractions are located here with a very high density of subway lines, and restaurants and bars can be found everywhere, but London hotels in this area are expensive, it is quite difficult to find a cheap place to stay. The Hyde Park area is located in the west of London and is slightly quieter than the downtown area. The prices are also lower than that in the city center. It is also very convenient to reach this area by subway. East London is an area where hotel prices are relatively cheap. In addition, if you’re working with a limited budget or there are few rooms available in other areas, hotels in London suburbs are also worth considering.
