Think before you travel: top tips for a London visit

Making the most of your time spent visiting London on a short break is a must; there’s simply so much to stimulate, impress, beguile and astound you in the UK capital. That said, to get the most possible out of your visit here (while staying at quality accommodation, of course, like the Park Grand Lancaster Gate hotel), you’ll need a bit of insider knowledge; a few top tips, if you will…

Select your accommodation with care

There’s no getting away from it; accommodation in London can be very pricey – but with the emphasis on ‘can be’. The truth is you needn’t pay over the odds for somewhere to stay in the UK capital; you just need to hunt down the affordable London hotel that’s right for you. And to book a room at a decent price you don’t have to settle for somewhere out in the sticks either (instead, how about a Lancaster Gate hotel London?); should you – and here’s a top tip – book a room or suite directly through a hotel’s website you’re likely to pay less for your booking than through any other source or via any other method. If you book early enough, there’s so much accommodation to choose from – and so many prices too.

Reduce the hassle of getting about via an Oyster Card

Like accommodation, getting about in London has a reputation for being expensive. Yet, once again, this isn’t a rule – it certainly doesn’t always have to be the case. Now, if you insist on always hopping into one of those legendary black taxi cabs to get you from ‘A to B’, then yes; your travel around the city’s going to be costly. But a much better bet is to fork out for the up-front expense of an Oyster Card (don’t worry; it won’t break the bank). An electronic top-up payment card for the entire city’s public transport network, it ensures you can pay only as much as you need to (just like the commuters do) for your travel on the London Underground (Tube), the iconic red London buses and the Thames river taxis. A word to the wise: avoid any hassle at all by ordering your Oyster card from home, so you’ll have it in your hand as soon as you arrive in London and can start travelling inexpensively from the off.

Draw up an itinerary

Finally, as you’re doubtless aware, London is an awesomely diverse, colourful, electric, eclectic city that’s jam-packed full of attractions and things to see and do. Indeed, when you sit down to actually consider how you’re going to spend your time in the capital you may find it difficult to decide what to include and not. But don’t give in to the temptation of skipping this task. You’re highly advised to draw up an itinerary for your stay, however short it may be, so you manage to fit in everything you really want to do. See a West End show? Check. Shop in Carnaby Street? Check. Visit the V&A? Check. Indulge in an afternoon tea London? Check. And so on and so forth…