If you are visiting London for the first time then you probably have a long list of attractions that you wish to visit during your time in the capital city. In 2013, London saw over 16 million tourists descend on the city throughout the year and with so many varied and diverse sights to see, it is very easy to discover why. For first-timers, making sure that you stay somewhere which is centrally located, and will allow you easy access to the many attractions on offer is usually high on the list when it comes to determining which accommodation you choose to book.
That said, the attractions in London are generally quite spread out, which means that as long as you stay somewhere which is within central London then travelling around the city to various locations shouldn’t be too difficult, especially with the underground system being as comprehensive as it is. Additionally, many of the attractions can be found within the oldest part of the city; the area which is known officially as the ‘City of London’ including Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Museum of London and Guildhall Library to name but a few. There are a number of great hotels within a short distance of the ‘City of London’ including the Montcalm Hotel London; a 5 star boutique hotel which offers a luxury stay in the heart of the capital city.
However, we know that choosing a hotel is not as simple as just choosing a place on a map and so we have gathered together some top tips for how to choose the best place to stay when visiting London for the first time:-
Budget
There are thousands of hotels in London which serve a range of budget from the cheap hostels to the 5 star boutique hotels such as the Montcalm Hotel London. The first port of call you should make when looking for somewhere to stay in London is work out your budget. How long is your trip and how much money do you have to pay for accommodation? Once you have this is mind, it will make searching for a hotel much easier.
Location
This is really down to personal preference. London’s vast range of hotels means that you don’t need to stay further away from the centre of the city in order to get good value for money. If you are struggling to choose a location to narrow down your search then it might be worth making a list of all the attractions you want to visit whilst in the city, plotting them on a map and seeing if there is a location which links them all.
Amenities
Unless you are staying at the most basic of hostels, you will no doubt find that there are many great amenities on offer within your hotel. Even the 2 star hotels will offer a clean, comfortable stay and if you are planning to be out exploring the city during the day, then all you really need is a decent place to sleep at night. If you have a preference when it comes to certain facilities being available within your hotel, then check the star rating (although bear in mind that star quality doesn’t always indicate hotel quality in the UK and it is always worth checking out a hotel’s website before booking to make sure you get what you are expecting).
Getting Around
As mentioned above, London has a comprehensive underground tube system and it also has a number of other great public transport links so travelling around the city shouldn’t be too complicated. If you buy a prepaid oyster card for the duration of your stay it can also work out relatively cost-effective as well. For first time visitors to the city, then making use of the Big Red Buses which are a very common sight around London is a great way to ensure you can visit the most popular tourist attractions. You purchase a ticket and then are free to hop on and off the buses as much as you like. Quite often you can also get a discount for entrance to the attractions when you buy your bus ticket.
Once you have decided on your preferred hotel then make use of comparison websites to ensure that you are getting the best value for money. It is also worth checking the hotel’s own website as quite often you might find deals, such as 3 nights for the price of 2 which won’t be advertised elsewhere. If your trip isn’t for a while it is also always worth signing up to the hotel’s newsletter as often deals and offers are included here which aren’t found elsewhere.
Many comparison websites will also show you hotels of a similar quality to the one you are looking at and it might be that you find a better priced hotel, which is of the same standard as your preferred choice.
Finally, we would recommend booking well in advance of your trip. This is when the best deals are to be found and if you are working to a tight budget, then it is advantageous to book as soon as reasonably possible.
It will also eliminate the risk of disappointment if your preferred hotel is not available on the dates you have chosen. London is a busy city and there are numerous events which take place throughout the year. If you choose to come at a popular time, then the best hotels will sell out quickly, sometimes a whole year in advance.
If you aren’t particularly bothered about the exact dates for your visit then it might be worth checking out www.visitlondon.com which can advise of popular weekends and dates throughout the year, and ensure that you can book your visit to take place outside of the times when the city will be even more populated than usual.
That said, the attractions in London are generally quite spread out, which means that as long as you stay somewhere which is within central London then travelling around the city to various locations shouldn’t be too difficult, especially with the underground system being as comprehensive as it is. Additionally, many of the attractions can be found within the oldest part of the city; the area which is known officially as the ‘City of London’ including Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Museum of London and Guildhall Library to name but a few. There are a number of great hotels within a short distance of the ‘City of London’ including the Montcalm Hotel London; a 5 star boutique hotel which offers a luxury stay in the heart of the capital city.
However, we know that choosing a hotel is not as simple as just choosing a place on a map and so we have gathered together some top tips for how to choose the best place to stay when visiting London for the first time:-
Budget
There are thousands of hotels in London which serve a range of budget from the cheap hostels to the 5 star boutique hotels such as the Montcalm Hotel London. The first port of call you should make when looking for somewhere to stay in London is work out your budget. How long is your trip and how much money do you have to pay for accommodation? Once you have this is mind, it will make searching for a hotel much easier.
Location
This is really down to personal preference. London’s vast range of hotels means that you don’t need to stay further away from the centre of the city in order to get good value for money. If you are struggling to choose a location to narrow down your search then it might be worth making a list of all the attractions you want to visit whilst in the city, plotting them on a map and seeing if there is a location which links them all.
Amenities
Unless you are staying at the most basic of hostels, you will no doubt find that there are many great amenities on offer within your hotel. Even the 2 star hotels will offer a clean, comfortable stay and if you are planning to be out exploring the city during the day, then all you really need is a decent place to sleep at night. If you have a preference when it comes to certain facilities being available within your hotel, then check the star rating (although bear in mind that star quality doesn’t always indicate hotel quality in the UK and it is always worth checking out a hotel’s website before booking to make sure you get what you are expecting).
Getting Around
As mentioned above, London has a comprehensive underground tube system and it also has a number of other great public transport links so travelling around the city shouldn’t be too complicated. If you buy a prepaid oyster card for the duration of your stay it can also work out relatively cost-effective as well. For first time visitors to the city, then making use of the Big Red Buses which are a very common sight around London is a great way to ensure you can visit the most popular tourist attractions. You purchase a ticket and then are free to hop on and off the buses as much as you like. Quite often you can also get a discount for entrance to the attractions when you buy your bus ticket.
Once you have decided on your preferred hotel then make use of comparison websites to ensure that you are getting the best value for money. It is also worth checking the hotel’s own website as quite often you might find deals, such as 3 nights for the price of 2 which won’t be advertised elsewhere. If your trip isn’t for a while it is also always worth signing up to the hotel’s newsletter as often deals and offers are included here which aren’t found elsewhere.
Many comparison websites will also show you hotels of a similar quality to the one you are looking at and it might be that you find a better priced hotel, which is of the same standard as your preferred choice.
Finally, we would recommend booking well in advance of your trip. This is when the best deals are to be found and if you are working to a tight budget, then it is advantageous to book as soon as reasonably possible.
It will also eliminate the risk of disappointment if your preferred hotel is not available on the dates you have chosen. London is a busy city and there are numerous events which take place throughout the year. If you choose to come at a popular time, then the best hotels will sell out quickly, sometimes a whole year in advance.
If you aren’t particularly bothered about the exact dates for your visit then it might be worth checking out www.visitlondon.com which can advise of popular weekends and dates throughout the year, and ensure that you can book your visit to take place outside of the times when the city will be even more populated than usual.
No comments:
Post a Comment