When it comes to booking a last-minute luxury city break, most people start with booking some flights to Europe, but while the charm and romance of iconic cities like Paris, Rome and Barcelona is undeniable, one of the best destinations worth your time is a little bit closer to home.
London – or the ‘Big Smoke’, as it’s often known, is awash with rich history, intriguing culture and an enticing foodie scene, and whether you’re looking to spend your days trawling art galleries and museums, spending up a storm at designer boutiques or enjoying long, leisurely dinners in Michelin-starred eateries, you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more in the English capital.
If you’re a first-timer, then you might be wondering where to start in order to make the most of your time in London – so here’s all you need to know about why it’s still one of the best cities to visit and how to make the most of it.
Excellent transport links
One of the great things about London is the fact that it’s incredibly well connected, with Central London – or Zone One, as it’s also known – enjoying access to 11 tube lines via some 92 different underground stations. There are also plenty of buses running around the capital – but if you’re looking to travel privately and enjoy a more luxurious experience throughout, then hiring a car is a great alternative to public transport and will give you autonomy to move around the capital at your own pace.
You can choose from a range of lavish vehicles at carngo.com to suit your needs – but be aware that by driving in Zone One of the city, which is where the majority of major tourist attractions and monuments are found, you’ll incur congestion charges of £15 per day that must be paid online.
An impressive range of tourist attractions and monuments
Buckingham Palace is, of course, one of the city’s biggest draws for tourists, with thousands flocking to London each and every year in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the royal family. But it’s far from the only notable site to see in the capital, and from the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London, history buffs will never find themselves short of things to do here.
There are also a whopping 1,500 monuments to check out across the capital if you’ve got the time, as well as a huge number of art galleries and museums including the Tate Britain, the Tate Modern, the Saatchi, the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum – to name just a few.
For breath-taking views of the city, a ride on the London Eye or a trip to the top of the Shard are both recommended – just don’t forget your camera. Meanwhile, if you’re keen to take in the city from the water, then one of the many daily river tours will give you a new perspective.
And if you’re willing to head a little out of central London, you’ll find a whole host of other attractions, including the incredible Warner Bros Studio Tour, where you can learn all about how one of the most famous film franchises – Harry Potter – was brought to life.
An excellent fine dining scene
London is home to one of the highest concentrations of fine dining eateries in the world – 66, to be precise. So, if you’re wondering what the capital’s culinary scene is like, then the answer is pretty good! Currently, only eight of these restaurants hold the maximum three Michelin stars on offer – including Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – and each has a different experience to deliver that is guaranteed to make for a memorable evening.
But London’s food scene isn’t just about some of the most prestigious restaurants on the planet, nor its opulent champagne and oyster bars alone, and one of the best things about the city is that you can find numerous different types of cuisine, drawing inspiration from every corner of the globe. From Sri Lankan and Korean to Brazilian and Ethiopian, if you’re eager to try something new during your break, then you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Some of the best luxury hotels in the world
London is also home to a plethora of prestigious five-star hotels, with historic offerings like The Savoy, The Ritz, The Langham, The Dorchester and The Royal Horseguards offering guests a step back in time and the best possible service you could wish for. Meanwhile, those in search of somewhere a little more modern to rest their heads will have little trouble finding somewhere to suit, either, as the capital has its finger well and truly on the pulse when it comes to the latest in contemporary design and high-tech guest experiences.
From sprawling buildings with a story to tell that spans centuries, to the coolest new concepts and boutique hotels, there’s something to suit everyone, and many offer a range of high-end facilities including champagne bars, fine dining restaurants, fitness centres and on-site spas. And, because London is so well-connected, you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from anything else you might be looking for at any given time.
