Splashing and Paddling the London Way

Whenever you go to a place like London, which is so happening and dynamic, you should make a list of things that you must do. Because there are so many activities taking place there at all times and in all seasons which you won’t want to miss as they all are amazing. There are a few things that are considered to be a ‘requisite’ when it comes to spending time in London like shopping at the fashion streets, visiting the most amazing architectural structures of the city like London Bridge, London Eye, the Buckingham palace and the beautiful gardens. While these places are on top of the list of every visitor, there are a few other things that can make your trip truly memorable.

Like there are a few lakes in London where you can have a fun filled day while doing boating with your family. The Regent Park has a lake where you can spot a number of species of birds, which is always very exciting for children. The all famous Hyde Park houses the Serpentine Lake, which is always filled with enthusiastic tourists rowing and pedalling their way to fun. Then there is Battersea Park which is ideal for boating in the months of July to August when the weather is at its beautiful best.

For those who like doing activities inside the water more than on its surface, will love the lidos and swimming pools of London. Take a refreshing dive in freshwater pools at Hampstead Heath that are popular amongst swimmers of all ages. The pools are divided into separate categories, like for men, women and mixed bathing pools. Who doesn’t know about the Tooting Bec Lido, the best open-air pool of London. It is literally the star amongst all the lidos, being one of the biggest lidos in Europe. If you happen to be in London between the months of May and August, you ought to visit Tooting Bec Lido. Those who don’t think they are ready for swimming in these large pools, they can go to Parliament Hill Fields where they’ll find a lido and paddling pool suitable for them.

 

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Take a Walk of a Lifetime – Olympic Walks

It is always a good time to visiting London, but if you are visiting London at this time of the year, you’ll get to enjoy more than just the regular London vacations, thanks to the biggest sporting event of the world, the Olympics, taking place in London this year. There are many famous places and attractions in London that you would want to visit but with the London Olympics in the city, the list of ‘places to visit’ might just get longer. If you want to visit all the venues and learn about the history behind the games, you’ll just have to go for a walk.

Olympic walk is the best way to visit the Olympic venues as you’ll be guided by people specially designated to take you to a tour of these places. All you have to do is book a time of your tour according to your suitability. You’ll be guided by Blue Badge tourist guides who will take you to designated games venues. Through their guidance they’ll create a live image of the 2012 Olympic Games and you’ll know much more about the legends of the games and you’ll get to visit the stadiums. For taking a tour you’ll have to make an online booking at the official site.

You can choose from different kinds of tours depending upon what time is suitable to you. You can take the morning Daily Olympic Walk which ends at 1300 hrs which leaves you with plenty of time to proceed with your other scheduled programmes. If the morning timing doesn’t suit you well, you can take the Afternoon Walk which commences by 1400 hrs.

You can reach the venue by the very efficient and convenient public transport system. The nearest underground station is the Bromley-by-bow (Hammersmith and City Lines) or you can just come walking with your friends and family. During your tour the experts will walk you through an urban park that’ll be the largest one in Europe in past 150 years. You’ll learn about the innovative designs, regeneration and history of the venues. You cannot afford to miss this incredible tour which will leave you with memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life as it indeed is once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

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London’s Top Street Markets

London can be defined as one of the busiest places in the world which is full of life and energy. The hustle and bustle of the city looks like a never ending stream of lots of fun activities and events. There are so many places to visit, so many wonderful attractions and many amazing fashion streets and street markets from where one can get some great bargains and discounts on outstanding stuff. Especially in the London’s popular street markets, you can get even the rarest of products and commodities.

The options in front of you in these local markets will surely impress you with their exclusivity and uniqueness. You can create your own individual style which truly narrates your persona. The best part about these markets is the fact that they remain open all round the year. Therefore even if you are visiting the city in sheer winters or any other off season, you can visit these markets and get the things which you want. But one needs to remain a little careful while picking anything from these markets as you can end up paying high prices for cheap and low quality stuff.

You can bargain in most of the shops and make the shop-keepers reduce prices for your purchase but not all shops are open to bargaining. Also you need to be careful about your belongings specially purses and wallets, since in crowded places there is a possibility of them being stolen away. In many markets, you can the best bargains and deals at the time of end of the day. The popular street markets of London, which are highly preferred for their quality stuff and great discounts, include markets like, the Spitalfields Market which is located in the heart of the city and is the best place if you want to get something original and creative.

Then there is Petticoat Lane Market which is the famous Sunday-market of London. You can bag some great deals in the fashion wear clothes from this excellent market. The Portobello Road Market is famous for the antiques. The Greenwich Market is known for the handmade artifacts and antique collections.

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Conveniently Travel With the Help of a London Travel Card

London is a highly preferred tourist destination all over the world because of its innate charm and a number of outstanding attractions. The popular London attractions include some of the most famous palaces, gardens, museums, theatres, fashion streets and architectures. For someone who is new to this city, a little guidance is needed in order to figure out which attraction is located where and what is the best way to reach that particular attraction.

One excellent way through which you can save a lot of time and money while visiting the popular London attractions, is by opting for a London Pass. The London Pass is a card similar to a debit card with a specific amount of credit in it. It enables a visitor to visit more than 50 popular London attractions. Once you have paid for a London Pass you do not have to pay anything at the attractions which are covered under the London Pass.

You only have to show the pass at the counter and they will swipe the card and let you visit the attraction for free. You can choose your card type depending upon the duration of your visit. You can choose from the 1 day pass, 2 days pass, 3 days pass and 6 days pass. You can also opt to have a Travel Card along with your London Pass. By doing so, you can easily travel on the London’s public transportation systems like Buses, Trams, London Underground or the ‘Tube’, Dockland Light Rail, National Rail Service and Over-ground Trains conveniently.

You will be allowed to take unlimited journeys on these public transport systems within zone 1 to 6 in the city of London. There are a number of benefits of opting for a London Travel Card such as you do not have to buy a ticket each time you travel from one place to the other, you will be saved from waiting long in the ticket queues, you can save not only your energy but also some amount of money by opting for the Travel Card. If you buy a London Pass valid for 6 days, you get a Travel Card valid for 7 days, which again is a fabulous deal.

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London Local Events

London has never been standing still from the very time of its existence. The beautiful city is known for its never ending hustle bustle, vibrant atmosphere and high spirits. Since it is also one of the major financial hubs of the world economy, people in London are known to be hard working and intelligent but at the same time they love indulging in playful activities and events which makes sure they remain rejuvenated and energized.

In London everyday almost a hundred local events take place in various parts of the city. These local events are of all different types and kinds like sports based local events, workshops where you can learn different styles of dancing such as salsa, contemporary, cha cha, samba, jazz, funk jazz, zumba, samba, jive, belly dancing, hip hop, ball room dancing etc, theatrical plays and skits, then there are photography exhibitions and workshops on photography, arts based exhibitions and workshops like painting exhibitions, sculpture exhibitions, recitations, meditation and personality development classes, musical sessions, martial arts classes, workshops on how to play different musical instruments, cooking classes, wine tasting, food festivals etc.

Most of these events are organized to attract the attention of children. Especially during the weekends, a large number of local events are organized throughout the city for both kids and adults. Participating in these local events is a lot of fun. And also you will be able to learn these art forms by participating in these local events. You can get to know the venues and timings of the events with the help of local business directories online.

You can get all the information regarding the nature of these events, their exact timings and venues, the organizers and also the directions on how the reach the venue through different ways, all are mentioned on the popular online London local directories. These events are not just attended by the localities of London but a considerable amount of tourists too visit these events. The vacationers from other counties can get to see the true London by visiting these workshops and events being held in the city on all the days of the year.

 

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Visit the London Zoo

This time, on your London visit, you should have some rollicking fun. Be it a family holiday or a lone visit, you must visit some of London’s best tourist attractions. The London Zoo naturally happens to be one of these. Owned and operated by the Zoological Society of London, the zoo is a wonderful place to spend a whole day at. Regardless of your age, you are sure to have a memorable time of your life in the zoo.

Opened in 1828, the ZSL London Zoo is the first scientific zoo in the world and comprises numerous breathtaking exhibits. More then 12,000 animals of 700 different species are taken care of in this zoo. Among the most popular exhibits in the zoo is ‘Into Africa’ where you can see Africa’s few most unusual animals, such as African hunting dogs, Zebras and Giraffes. A raised platform allows you to enjoy a great close view of the giraffes.

‘Meet the Monkeys’ exhibit is especially fun-filled and exciting. You must also not miss visiting ‘The butterfly Paradise’ exhibit where you can enjoy the experience of these bright and colourful creatures flying around you.

Visitors must also make their visit to the London Zoo a learning experience by getting to know about the habitat of the various animals from their caretakers. Do not miss visiting the various historical listed buildings including Mapping Terraces and the popular Clock Tower located in the zoo. Refreshment options are widely available in the zoo. The ZSL London Zoo also welcomes babies. So, go ahead!

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Sports 2012 London

If you love travelling and sports then this year you must plan an adventurous trip to London, the capital of the United Kingdom. This global city has carved a niche in the international sports arena and plays host to numerous sports events round the year. In 2012 too, a number of big sports events are lined up to take place in the city and enthrall sports-lovers worldwide. Not to mention, London is all set to host the Olympics 2012 and preparation for the same have been going on for a long time now.

All the sporting events will see enthusiastic participation from sportsmen and sportswomen around the world. Some of the major sports events that will be held in London this year are as follows:

  • Babcock Trophy: Rugby (Union & League) on 28 April 2012 at Twickenham Rugby Stadium
  • Synchronized Swimming 18 April 2012 to 22 April 2012 Various Venues
  • London Prepares: Visa Water Polo International 3 May 2012 to 6 May 2012 at Olympic Park Water Polo Arena
  • Investec Derby Day 2012 Greyhound/Horse Racing on 2nd June at Epsom Downs Racecourse

In addition to the above, the Olympics fever will be at its peak in the city during July and August. World’s best athletes will be competing for the prestigious Olympics gold medal in sports including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoe slalom, cycling, boxing, volleyball, motor sports and extreme sports. So, why not book a hotel accommodation in London right away to avoid inflated room tariff later on.

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Grab London Sightseeing Offers

London is unquestionably one of the best places in the world to enjoy a breathtaking sightseeing experience. This historic city has an abundance of ancient buildings and monuments that speak volumes about the architectural beauty of the city. Its most famous historic architectural wonders are Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the National Gallery, Windsor Palace, Big Ben, St. Margaret’s Church and Buckingham Palace. The best way to thoroughly visit these historic buildings and learn about their awe-inspiring past is to book a guided tour of the city.

London has hundreds of companies that offer an array of guided sightseeing tours around the city. Special tours for children are also available to keep them engaged. In addition to that, by searching your options well in advance you may also get a variety of special offers on sightseeing tours. For instance, some guided sightseeing London tours come with exciting discount on the traditional English afternoon tea. You may also enjoy sandwiches, scones and pastries with tea at a pre-determined place. Similarly, if you wish to book a theatre tour, you can go for the one that comes with a pre-theatre dinner at a popular London restaurant.

Some guided sightseeing tours also come with a visit to special shows and much more. You can search for such tours and discount offers online from the comfort of your home. No doubt, such offers add a lot of fun to your London visit even if you are on a shoestring budget. So, get online right away!

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Get the London Pass with Travelcard

London, the capital of the United Kingdom, features an extremely comprehensive public transport network. With the famous underground tube, buses and trains networked in the whole city, it is quite easy to get around, regardless of where you stay in London. However, the first time visitor is bound to find it intimidating to use the tube and even bus in the city. Moreover, with one side ride on the tube costing about £4.00, you are definitely going to get a hit on your budget. The solution to the problem lies in getting a Travelcard. In fact, if you are planning to buy a London Pass, you can have a Travelcard added to it and make your sightseeing experience more enjoyable and budget friendly too.

A London Travelcard comes with enormous benefits, apart from saving you money of course. With a Travelcard, you can enjoy unlimited journeys in zones 1-6 by not only London underground and bus, but also via National Rail Services, Overground Trains and Docklands Light Rail. Travelling around the English capital becomes completely hassle free and you do not have to stand in the long queues to buy tickets. Travelcard serves your ticket to anywhere at every station within certain zones. It is advised that you buy a 6 day London Pass with travel to get a 7 day Travelcard, which means free travelling for one whole day.

So, why not make your sightseeing experience in London budget friendly and hassle free. Get a London Pass with Travelcard whether you are visiting London alone or with family.

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Cheap Eats in Central London

Central London is the most buzzing part of the English capital and also its commercial and entertainment district. Home to a number of London’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other tourist attractions, central London makes a great place to spend a holiday at. There is no dearth of hotels here and you can choose from luxury establishments to cheap tourist accommodations. Similarly, central London also boasts numerous eating outlets including Michelin star winner restaurants and century old cafes that serve you wonderful authentic British and international delicacies. In addition to that, there are numerous cheap restaurants in the heart of the city where visitors can indulge in a memorable eating experience without bursting their budget.

Central London offers a wonderful eating experience given its multicultural status. The area is popular for plush American, Indian, Arab, Lebanese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Italians restaurants and small eating joints. A number of restaurants are popular for offering a range of delicacies at exciting prices to enable you to enjoy budget friendly eating in London. Some of these restaurants are:

  • Bánh Mì Bay (Vietnamese) 4-6 Theobald’s Rd
  • Dishoom (Indian) 12 Upper St Martin’s Lane
  • Beatroot, 92 Berwick St, Soho
  • Bi Bim Bap (Korean) 11 Greek St
  • Comptoir Libanais (Lebanese) 65 Wigmore St, Marylebone
  • Itadaki Zen (Japanese) 139 King’s Cross Rd

So, it is advised that you book a hotel room in central London and enjoy indulging in deliciously cheap delights. Cheap accommodations are widely available near all these restaurants in the heart of the city. So, go ahead!

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