London, England
- More about your Oliver Guide: Alice Johnson
- Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 3-5
to & from
You’re spoilt for choice with London airports. London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stansted all offer convenient access to the city. If you’re travelling from the continent, the Eurostar, Channel Tunnel and ferry are more characterful ways to travel.
- If you bring your car on one of the latter two options, park it cheaply with YourParkingSpace and take public transport during your London stay. Traffic’s notoriously bad.
Where to Stay
London’s hostels aren’t cheap, but standards and style exceed the average found in most major European cities.
- Budget: I recommend Generator at King’s Cross for a jazzy atmosphere and decent amounts of personal space.
- Mid-market: Airbnb is my first choice – many London homes have quaint or quirky personalities. Definitely the best way to experience the city like a local.
- Premium: the Town Hall Hotel is a 5-star masterpiece of British humour and flair. Surprisingly, the wine bar won’t break the bank, so it’s great for a posh evening out even if you don’t stay the night.