London

LONDON – WHY GO?

For pageantry, shopping and 24/7 action London is unbeatable. Admire the palaces and museums, stroll through the royal parks and flex your plastic in the West End's glitzy stores. You'll enjoy staying in some of the world's most wonderful luxury hotels here.

London’s monuments, museums and galleries would take months to exhaust. Deciding what to do first is a question of pick-and-dip: will it be the blockbuster heritage sights, the theatres of the West End, or the galleries of Chelsea and Notting Hill? You'll find a list of our favourite romantic hotels in London right here.

MUST SEE, MUST DO

First-time sights
If it's your first time in London, you'll want to tick off some of the big traditional draws. Start with Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard (you can see around 20 of the palace’s 600 state rooms during August and September) and Westminster Abbey.

The City
Over in the City of London – the capital’s business heart – St Paul’s cathedral second in size only to St Peter’s in Rome. From here you’re just walking distance from the Tower of London – home to the crown jewels and 1,000 years of royal history – and iconic Tower Bridge.

Museums
If history is your bag, a morning at the British Museum – a vast emporium is stuffed with more than four million exhibits – will be on the cards. The Victoria & Albert (V&A) in Kensington is another must-see with a more arty flavour.

South Bank
London’s South Bank is one of the city’s happening hotspots. Cross the Thames on the Millennium Bridge near St Paul’s for one of the city’s finest skyline views, then gaze at the outsize installation art of the Tate Modern before taking in Shakespeare’s Globe theatre (see an open-air production in summer) and walking along the Thames to the London Eye. Hop into a capsule for a big-wheel experience with amazing city-wide views. Borough market near London Bridge is a huge foodies’ emporium.

Kensington and Chelsea
Stroll through Hyde Park towards genteel Kensington and Chelsea, whose tall mansions and leafy squares make these some of London’s most appealing neighbourhoods. Chelsea's luxury hotels are close to the stores of King’s Road, and within walking distance of Kensington Palace.

Portobello Road
The famous Saturday antique and bric-a-brac market is a fun place to browse, and the area is packed with interesting shops and streets. The chic haunts of neighbouring Notting Hill are made for eating out.

Shoreditch
Try the ethnic eateries of Brick Lane, then head to Shoreditch for some night-long bar-hopping. Spitalfields market is great for quirky clothes and organic food stalls.

Soho and Covent Garden
London's West End theatres are clustered around Soho and Covent Garden, and some of the world’s hottest theatrical talent hits the London stage year-round before anywhere else. You're also close to the big stores of Bond Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street.

MAKE A DATE

May
Chelsea Flower Show. Mix with London's green-fingered high society.

June
Chelsea Festival. Gigs, exhibitions and open days showcase the best of artsy Chelsea.

June
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship. Guzzle strawberries and see some of the tennis greats inaction.

August
Notting Hill Carnival. Reggae rules here – take your steel drums.

November
Lord Mayor's procession. A grand parade winds through the historic streets of the City, followed by fireworks over the Thames.

LONDON ROMANCE
Take a champagne flight on the London Eye – preferably at sundown. Browse through Borough Market or Portobello Road, take a ride down the Thames to Greenwich, take in some West End theatre and book a late-night Soho supper.