Whether you prefer to save the city jaunt until a suitable celebration, or you feel like treating yourself and your loved ones to a post-Christmas dinner, you can. Staying in London doesn’t have to add that much to the bill either, with cheap London hotels being centrally located and within close proximity to many of the restaurants on offer.

With eclectic menus and first class fare, here’s some of the best celebrity chef led restaurants for you to choose from in the city:

With its owner being one of the most popular and familiar chefs on TV today, it’d be rude not to include the flagship Fifteen in a list of top celebrity chef restaurants. Famous since its inclusion in his show in 2002, this restaurant is one of the pinnacle dining experiences from the very capable hands of Jamie Oliver. With a trendy and chic atmosphere, not only does this place provide sumptuous Mediterranean delights but 15% of your bill goes towards training fifteen apprentice chefs in the kitchens, helping to ensure world class cuisine continues to flourish.

Located on Royal Hospital Road and boasting three Michelin stars for its high standard of French cuisine, you can’t get much more prolific than Gordon Ramsey’s Chelsea restaurant. Having received the highest of accolades within the field, you’d expect the best quality service, food and professionalism here and you won’t be disappointed. As one of the ultimate treats for anyone visiting the city and with an eye for fine dining, Chelsea is an absolute must. Be sure to book in advance as it’s incredibly popular, but it’ll be well worth the wait.

Situated in Tower 42 in the heart of London, Gary Rhodes’ Rhodes Twenty Four not only provides you with Michelin starred food but also gives you stunning panoramas across London. Offering traditional British fare, but with a classic Rhodes twist, you can enjoy an array of sumptuous delights including the Rhodes signature pudding plate – perfect to satiate the sweet tooth.

With one of the most experimental of cuisine techniques, and a continued ambition to make jaw-dropping creations, no list is complete without the scientific genius of Heston Blumenthal. Although his primary restaurant isn’t in London, his new addition aptly named, Dinner is. Found in the heart of Knightsbridge, near Hyde Park, there’s no better location for this ultimate dining experience.

With many of the restaurants mentioned, their weekend service is often booked well in advance. To guarantee your table, book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment and look forward to a truly memorable experience.

Lifecruiser Love London

Other posts about London at Lifecruiser:

UK Travel: Swedes Love London
Stay in an ‘unhotel’ in London
What to do in London during a short weekend
A Thames tour of London
 

Choosing accommodation is ultimately the most important part to any holiday. The question is, would you prefer to be in the middle of town amongst the hustle and bustle? A short walk away? Or somewhere so cosy & hidden away amongst the woodlands? Once you’ve decided on your preference, it’s then a question of which area to habituate.

Those who are interested in history, calming lakes and stunning backdrops will have no doubt heard of Windermere, the largest town within the Lake District. With its haunting halls, 12th century boar stories or of course the famous Lake Windermere itself, Windermere is nothing short of history and beauty. Choosing Windermere hotels is key when thinking about how you’d like to spend your break away.

Image of Blea Tarn in Lake District by Steve Lacy

Here are our top 5 tips for things to do in Windermere:

1. It may seem obvious but those looking for pure relaxation away from the world would love taking walks in the woodlands and taking in the beautiful surroundings. Short walks, long routes or explorations by the Lake – it’s your choice on the day.

2. Visiting the famous Lake Windermere is a must! Being the largest lake in England the site is just breathtaking. Take a cruise on the river or a family picnic, just relax and enjoy the views.

3. There are so many historic and magical museums to see. Whether it’s taking the kids to the world of Beatrix Potter, enjoying the Steamboat Museum or reliving history through the Arts & Crafts House it’s sure to bring history and adventure to life.

4. Rowing, sailing & swimming are available in abundance for water lovers. There are so many routes, hop off and hop back or just sit back, relax and enjoy the endless view of the mountains and greenery before you.

5. Treks and tours are plentiful, whether it’s tours of the lakes or the mountains, treks in the woodlands or activity days for the whole family, what better than a day out with nature.

Explore the sites and surroundings whilst being at one with nature in Windermere, take a stroll with the other half or a picnic with the family, you’re sure to make it a holiday to remember.

Lifecruiser Love Lake District
 

There are over 500 homes to choose from, and each home comes with its own iPhone loaded with information gathered from the host about the best things to do in the local area. Each home unique, but here are a few that have that extra little something:

The Boat House

Life doesn’t get much more luxurious than this. This stunning home with its lavish decoration is certainly a sight to behold and sleeps up to 12 people. Original Georgian features are complimented by elegant and sophisticated décor making this the perfect riverside house to drift away and dream the days away. Beyond the garden, which boasts a hot tub, barbeque and adventure playground, is the River Thames, perfect for an afternoon stroll to explore some of London’s finest waterside cafes.

Albert Terrace

This home is steeped in history having been built for a doctor of Queen Victoria. A wonderful mix of original period features in the sitting room, carefully blended with modern style in the kitchen, this house is as grandiose as it is comfortable. Stay here for your own slice of history in Primrose Hill.

Russell Garden Mews

For the more modern minded, this four bedroom family home is the residence of a DJ turned architect, and it shows. Clean lines and sleek style characterise this house, and if you head downstairs to the basement you even have your own dance floor! Located in west London it is perfect for visiting the famous Portobello Road market.

Lifecruiser Love Unusual Stays
 

With the changeability of British weather, one of the best ways to enjoy our occasional fleeting moments of heat and sunshine is to take a last-minute trip to one of this nation’s beautiful cities. On a Saturday morning, if the birds are chirping and the sky is blue, why not take a chance and book a weekend away?

Here are my 3 favourite summer city breaks in the UK:

Brighton
This quaint yet vibrant city really has it all. Stroll down the magical city streets amid the hustle and bustle of seasoned shoppers enjoying the unequalled variety of boutiques and stores, before settling down in one of the many oddball coffee houses. The city offers an impressive array of museums, galleries and theatres as well as one of the country’s most abundant nightlife and music scenes.

Nestled in between the lulling blue waters of the English Channel and the rolling green hills of the South Downs, Brighton is in the perfect position for summer exploration. Try kite flying on the breezy, Sussex hills or take a walk along the wide promenade, ice cream in hand as excitable roller bladers whizz past yelling.

Brighton seaside is packed to the hilt with accommodation, as well as plenty of ambient cafes and bars; it has to be my favourite place in the country for weekend hotel breaks.

The beautiful seafront architecture, highlighted in the summer sun, will send a shiver down your spine, and along with the salty sea breeze, will guarantee your stay in Brighton to be a summer break to remember.

Bath
For something a little different, why not visit one of England’s most ancient and iconic cities? Amble down the same cobbled streets as the Romans did two thousand years before you. The striking, colourful architecture, constructed almost solely from beautiful Bath Stone, oozes antiquity and atmosphere.

Taking a relaxing dip in the Roman baths is essential when visiting the city to which they gave their name. The steamy waters come straight from the nearby natural hot springs, bubbling and brewing at an impressive 117 degrees F.

There is plenty more in the way of history here. The beautiful city was inscribed as a World heritage Site in 1987 and has many other sights and stories to offer. The striking Abbey was first founded in the 7th Century, and has undergone much renewal and refurbishment over the following centuries, retaining a little of every epoch it has endured. Pulteney Bridge has been designated a Grade I site of historical importance and is one of the very few bridges in the world lined with interesting and traditional boutiques, cafes and stalls. Bath really is a city like no other!

Edinburgh
The capital of our northern neighbour is surely one of the world’s prettiest cities. As an ancient centre for trade and commerce, the archaic settlement is steeped in history and stories. Taking a stroll through the enchanting streets and back alleys while viewing the magnificent architecture is simply breath taking, the view from the top of Calton Hill on the East side of the city at sunset is a truly unforgettable experience.

In terms of things to do, Scotland’s capital will have you spoilt for choice. There is a wide spectrum of shops and stores with enough variation in style and price tag to suit everyone.

The National Museum of Scotland has been recently refurbished and now holds a remarkable collection of exhibits, spanning millions of years and representing a diverse collection of cultures and continents from whale skeletons to Egyptian coffins, from medieval jewellery to a Concorde.

During the summer, the world-famous Edinburgh festival takes place showcasing all sorts of up-and-coming talent in all areas of the performing arts. Laughing at the hilarious routines of an international comedy troupe while in the shadow of the impressive Edinburgh Castle is an amazing feeling – life doesn’t get much better!

So this summer, instead of going abroad, stay in Britain and take advantage of the wealth of culture and fun that this historic country has to offer. A trip to any one of these great locations promises to be a memorable experience, but why not try and visit all three for a truly spectacular summer!

Lifecruiser Love UK Destinations
 

British Airways has tested this new environment-friendly paint for a year now on an airplane with a flight route between London and New York. The new paint is not only better looking, but also improving the aerodynamic of the airplane, making it less fuel consuming and saving millions for BA.

I have no idea why the airplanes can’t be bare naked, why must there be paint at all?

There are many other ways to strip an airplane obviously, British Airways let all their employees come with suggestions and they came up with enough alternatives that made BA save enough fuel to power 550 flights from Heathrow to New York last year… and they continues with other projects in 2012.

I was just thinking: think if every airline (and other transportation related companies) would adopt this, making all kind of savings – what an impact it would have on the environment!

©Lifecruiser Love Airplanes

Other flight related posts by Lifecruiser:

EU Airports facing capacity crunch
Travel Tools: Flight Tracking
Google flight search engine – new useful travel tool
How to find the cheapest flights – the ultimate flights guide
Flight Stockholm – Palma, Thomas Cook Airlines
Budget flight Ryanair-Skavsta – Bratislava
Mark green approach to travel
 

Getting around

Though London is a very big city, many of the places of interest are concentrated in one area, so you can easily walk along them. You can get off the tube at Hyde Park Corner, have a walk in Hyde Park (when the weather is sunny it’s so pleasant walking in the park), then keep walking to Oxford Street (it’s the best way to go shopping) up to Piccadilly Circus! You’re right in the very heart of the city! From here you can easily reach almost every main attraction: Westminster, Bog Bang, Buckingham Palace, London Bridge is just a bit further but can be reached on foot as well. Well you can also catch the subway and the buses as the public transport is quite good! You’d better to by a day pass. It costs 6£ and is from 9.30 am and lasts until 4.30 am next morning.

Things to do

Parks and Speaker Chair

It’s true that the weather in London is quite odd and changeable, but it’s getting better and sunniest so you can have more chances to stay in London in a nice day! In this case, there is nothing better you can do than hanging out one of the beautiful parks or strolling along the green alleys. St James park as well as Hyde Park are two big parks located in the center that you should not miss! In particular in Hyde Park Corner there is something called “speaker corner” every Sunday, where people gather to listen at someone standing on a stage and talking about whatever he wants. If you want the guts! You’re welcomed to get up there yourself.

Changing of the Guard

Try passing by Buckingham Palace at 11.30 am just to catch a glimpse of the Changing of the Guard as you will be surrounded by a crazy crowd! Don’t hold any expectations on the show, but if you get time it’s worth a look.

London Eye

Though it is one of the latest and most popular attractions in London I actually do not recommend it. Well it actually gives a great view over London, but it’s quite expensive and you usually have to stand in a queue for almost 1 hour before getting into!

Shopping

Oxford Street is the best place to go shopping!! There something for everyone here and for any budgets! If you are looking for something more refined and of a good quality, the shops in Regent Street will meet your expectation! Don’t miss Carnaby Street as well as Harrods. Perhaps you’d better to buy something very small if you don’t want to spend a fortune or just window shop around this historic shopping complex. If you are travelling with kids or want to give them a present once back in your hometown, pop into Hamley’s in Regent Street! It’s the biggest toy shop in the city.

Markets

London has heaps of markets. Small, big, famous and unknown. On Saturday morning going to Portobello market, in Notting Hill district, is a must. While on Sunday you can enjoy the sparkling atmosphere in Camden Market, one of the most rewarded ones not only for the the goods you can buy but for people you can meet and and the bizarre building you can admire! Have a lunch at the food market in Bricklane!

Where and What to eat

London is known not to have a typical dishes! Cuisine from all corners of the world can be found so make the most of it! Restaurants that are located out of the central areas are a bit cheaper. Streets around Kings Cross feature nice restaurants with good deals. If you’re fancy of Chinese cuisine, there is nothing better than try a restaurant in China Town in the center. To taste excellent Mexican food Chilingo is a great Mexican eatery located in 5 different places across the city: The most central ones is in Chancery lane.

Where to Sleep

As you’ll have a very busy week end, you’ll probably be completely drained at the end of the day! There is nothing better than choose a great hotel where you can easily pamper! London offers a wide array of hotels ranging from luxury to affordable that sometimes it could be hard to choose the one which matched your expectations. To help you a bit to get orientated in such a jungle, here you a list of the best London hotels to stay in different areas of the city:

Victoria Station. This area is great and very handy as it’s only 15 minutes walk from Westminster Abbey and Bing Bang and Buckingham Palace and houses one of the hugest railway station of the city. The streets of this district are lined with a lot of good pubs, shop and fast food and restaurants of any kind of cuisine worldwide. One of the best hotels near Victoria Station is the Grosvenor Hotel, suitable both for families and business travellers, with its 12 meeting rooms fully equipped.

Bloomsbury. Known as the districts of the artists as it housed the popular “Bloomsbury Group” created by the English writers and mentioned by Virginia Wolf. This district is noted for its parks and squares as well as for the British Museum located in this area. So if you’re looking for a good place to stay, Bloomsbury is the one that might suit you most as it’s located few steps from Covent Garden and is well connected with any other side of the city. If you want to book a hotel in this district and save money the Goodwood Hotel is a small hotel in London, run by a family and offering clean and comfortable guestroooms.

Hammersmith Located in West London, Hammersmith is a quiet district standing on the river shore; from its main bridge you could admire a great view of the Thames and the city. This area is packed with pubs, good shops and huge shopping mall as Westfield set a few steps away. A good hotel is Novotel Hotel featuring 360 rooms all equipped with great comforts to make the best of your trip. This London hotel stands close to Hammersmith tube station which serves the tube lines of Piccadilly, District and Circle lines.

It’s time to pack you bag, choose one of the several London hotels and a flight and enjoy a getaway in London.

Lifecruiser ♥ London
 

The stuff of walkers’ dreams, the hugely popular Lake District National Park lies in the North West of England, and there’s a great view on offer wherever you turn. When it comes to accommodation Windermere, Kendal and Ambleside have a number of comfortable welcoming cottages for you to set up base while you take snaps of the inspiring landscape at will in between walking to your heart’s content. By visiting sites such as Cumbrian-Cottages.co.uk, you can get the perfect holiday cottage to spend a night in after a day’s walking.

Further south, the Peak District, which lies in Northern Derbyshire and parts of Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, boasts a similar number of fantastic views and great walking trails. Being close to both Manchester and Sheffield makes it all the more enticing for urban tourists. Among the activities you can do here include visiting market towns such as Buxton and Bakewell, exploring the impressive caves and climbing and abseiling the rocks.

The Cotswolds in Somerset and Gloucestershire, known as the ‘heart of England’, spreads into four other counties. Its countryside is every bit as impressive as that of the Lake and Peak Districts and has some magnificent local towns which boast great drinking establishments and great accommodation to boot. For well over half a century, the Cotswolds have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is testament to its popularity with tourists.

Over in Scotland, not much beats the Highlands as a holiday destination with stunning views. Elsewhere, Edinburgh is a great place to spend a week or two. As you gaze with awe at the Scottish capital’s world-famous architecture, you feel like you’re a world away from the lofty peaks of Cumbria, Derbyshire and the Highlands, but no less comfortable. Bringing your camera is important, as you’ll want to take a picture of Edinburgh at any given opportunity. Given that the city has a reputation for a cultural hotspot, maybe seeing a show during the Fringe festival could be a great alternative to walking.

Image courtesy for Image 1: Barry, Image 2: Lorraine Phelan, Image 3: Christian Benke, Image 4: Jeff Barnes.

Lifecruiser Love UK Vacations
 

If you’re looking to experience the real England, here are 8 activities that many Brits genuinely enjoy.
 

1. Watch a Horse Race at Ascot

The Ascot Racecourse is located in Ascot, Berkshire, only a 50 min ride by car or train from London. Ascot is one of the most famous courses in the entire world, and is home to the Royal Ascot race in June. What you may enjoy more than the actual horse race is the fashion at Ascot. The racecourse has a dress code whose strictness varies according to where you sit. For example, those sitting in the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot must adhere to a strict dress code: men must wear morning dress that includes a cutaway and waist, in addition to a tie and top hat. Women must wear an appropriate dress (no spaghetti straps and nothing too short), and they must wear a hat or similar headpiece. Thankfully, the dress code isn’t as strict in other spectator sections. Book far in advance for this racecourse, especially if you plan to attend the Royal Ascot.

2. Attend a Performance at the Glyndebourne Festival

Another fashionable event to attend during the summer is the Glyndebourne Festival. This opera festival takes place in East Sussex County, which is accessible by car or by train. From London’s Victoria station, it’s only an hour to the town of Lewes in East Sussex. Operas take place inside the Glyndebourne auditorium, but during the intervals, guests may dine in one of the restaurants, or enjoy a picnic that they’ve preordered. Yes, you can preorder a gourmet picnic basket and eat outside on the grounds of Glyndebourne! Attending an opera here is a truly unique and spectacular experience.

3. Celebrate Guy Fawkes Night

Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, has a strange history. On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes was found actively participating in a plan to assassinate King James I. When the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, people in London lit bonfires to celebrate, and November 5 was thereafter named a day of thanksgiving. Today, people still celebrate in the name of long deceased King James I. They do so by gathering to light bonfires and set off fireworks. Many times, communities organize the fireworks, so it’s a night for families to come together and enjoy the display. The London fireworks are always quite impressive.

4. See a Christmas Pantomime

Around Christmastime, small, medium, and large theaters all over England put on pantomimes. A Christmas pantomime is truly a British institution. Part comedy, part musical, with storylines from Disney tales such as Cinderella and Peter Pan, it’s a show for all ages. One fun aspect of a pantomime is the audience participation. The audience is expected to boo whenever the villain enters a scene, and warn the “good” players whenever the villain sneaks up on them (“He’s behind you!”). For a genuinely British experience during the holidays, fit a Christmas pantomime in your plans. Tickets for productions at larger theaters can be bought months in advance, and it’s recommended you do so, because they sell out quickly!

5. Eat Sunday Roast at a Local Pub

English food has a bad reputation, but the truth is a Sunday roast can be a very lovely meal. Served as lunch or an early dinner, the dish traditionally consists of roast beef and vegetables, potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings (small muffin-like breads that aren’t sweet at all). The meal attracts many Brits to the pubs on Sunday, so wash your food down with good English ale, and take in the authentic experience. And if you feel brave enough, strike up a conversation with a fellow diner.

6. Take in a Cricket Match

Sure, it’s easy to watch football (a.k.a. soccer) in the U.K., but what about something even more traditional? Cricket, a sport similar to baseball in some ways, is in fact the national sport of England. The game dates back to the 16th century, and it became very popular in British colonies. When traveling, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see a match, given that there are local clubs all over the country. And if you’re lucky, your visit may coincide with a national team match. During the summer months England has many international matches with rivals such as India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. There’s also the Cricket World Cup that takes place every four years!

7. Shop at Selfridges, not Harrod’s

Harrod’s has more international recognition, but more popular with the British (Londoners especially) is a different luxury department store. Selfridges & Co. or Selfridges for short, is the place to go for high fashion, perfume, house wares, and so much more, including food. The Selfridges food hall is a great place to pick up something for dinner, or even small souvenirs like gourmet teas and chocolates. The flagship store on Oxford Street in London has six floors to explore, so make sure you budget enough time for your visit. And if you happen to be in Manchester or Birmingham, you’ll find Selfridges locations in those cities too.

8. Bargain Hunt on Boxing Day

If you love Black Friday shopping, then you’ll love Britain’s Boxing Day. It’s the after Christmas sale that stores use to clean out their winter stock to make way for the spring lines. Though Boxing Day is technically the first weekday after Christmas Day, most stores hold Boxing Day on the 26th if it falls on a weekend. And though doors don’t open at 4am like in America, the bargains are just as incredible.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these local British experiences, and that one day you get the chance to try out a few!

And when you visit England, try to visit the quaint, old-world city of Chester. Check out this guide to Chester hotels for things to do and places to stay in the area.

Lifecruiser Love English Experiences
 

Here, we highlight three of the best courses in the UK, some of which also have golf hotels you can stay in that are also of a high standard.

St Andrews

   

The ‘home’ of golf is steeped in history, rich in heritage and has evolved into the biggest public golf complex in the whole of Europe. With seven courses to choose from, there’s bound to be something to appeal to players of varying ability. Adult green fees range from as cheap as £8 on the Balgove course depending on when you play up to £150 on the prestigious Old course, which is ranked by Tiger Woods as his favourite course.

Turnberry

   

Offering a stunning vista of the Firth of Clyde, the Mull of Kintyre and a nearby lighthouse, Turnberry is undoubtedly one of the most scenic golf resorts you’ll ever have the pleasure of playing. There are three courses here, a 12-hole pitch and putt course if you need to work on your short game, a five-star hotel and a golf academy complete with state-of-the-art facilities to help you work on every aspect of your game. As an exposed resort right on the coast, Turnberry will pose you all sorts of problems depending on the weather. Stay at the hotel to receive reduced green fees.

Wentworth

Located on the fringes of London, Wentworth is a golf resort where the emphasis is firmly on exclusivity and exceptional facilities. The green fees on each of the three courses – there’s also a par-three executive course – here are very much on the expensive side, but it’s an experience you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry and it’s worth it providing you can afford it. The West course is the pick of the bunch and has benefited from a revamp in recent years that saw the construction of 18 new greens.

Lifecruiser Love UK Golf Travel
 

The Swedes are not only visiting the most obvious choices like Oxford street, Piccadilly circus, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, Towern or The London Eye. Swedes travels to London for all the pleasures London offers: exhibitions, theatre, concerts, musicals, shows, art, museums, clubbing, shopping, sport events, markets, having afternoon tea or drinking beer in authentic British pubs.

According to the Swedish Metro magazine, there are around 40.000 Swedes living in London and many hundreds of thousands visiting as tourists every year. Maybe it’s because of the Vikings earler raids in UK, travelling to London is already in our blood so to speak.

Our friends in The Swedish entertainer duo Scandimaniacs perform “Take me to Hollywood” at King’s Head Theatre Pub, 115 Upper Street in London, Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 10.00pm. A parody/physical theatre/musical. Unfortunately we can’t go.

Trips to London are very popular to do for Christmas and other shopping at Oxford street, Regent street, Bond street and Soho. Also the famous old luxury store Harrods in Knightsbridge is worth seeing, even if not buying anything. Why not take trip in January after the Christmas holidays, you can make some real bargains at the sales then! I wish we could too…

The Swedish church at Harcourt Street use to have Lucia and Christmas celebrations and in Hyde Park a Midsummer celebration is arranged every summer and hundreds of Swedes is gathering to celebrate. Many Swedish girls comes to London to become Au-pairs and there meet their love of the life, get married, stays and starts a family there. The Swedish School is located in Barnes and many Swedish families lives in that area around the school.

Though the Swedish tourists in London might not want to go there to eat Swedish food, the Swedes that have moved there might get homesick once in a while and want to go somewhere Swedish. There are some places that is run by Swedes.

The Olsson brother’s Garlic & Shots restaurant in Soho at Frith Street (Leicester Square station). There is actually a similar one both in SoFo Stockholm at Folkungagatan and in C/Cotoner, Catalina, Palma, Mallorca. Website: garlicandshots.com.

Or you can eat at the Garbo’s at Crawford Street, Marylebone Tube 5 minutes away – a small restaurant that serves authentic Swedish dishes, no surprises, no gourmet dinners, but you won’t go hungry.

A perfect place to take a pause in your vintage shopping at Brick Lane (Bethnal Green) is “Fika Swedish Bar and Grille”. Webpage: fikalondon.com.

There are several Swedish stores in London besides IKEA, like totallyswedish.com, scandikitchen.co.uk or www.nordicbakery.com where you can buy traditional Swedish products like Swedish Crips Bread, Cheese Doodles, Swedish Coffee, Kalles Kaviar, Swedish meatballs and candy like salty licorice.

London has become a popular budget travel destinations for Swedes now since the British pound is weak comparing to the Swedish crown, so it’s cheaper for Swedes, both the shopping and the hotel rates. The Swedes travel to London will not decrease in 2012 either, since the summer Olympics will be held in there and there will be a 12 weeks long festival June 21 to September 9, not only in London, but in the whole Great Britain. Read more at: festival.london2012.com/.

Recommended walks: Tate Modern to Southbank, Notting Hill to Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill to Regent’s Park. Don’t miss the Narrowboat cruises on the canals between Little Venice (north of Paddington) and Camden Lock. Or buy an Oyster card (about 3£) and fill up as you please to travel by bus and underground without having the fuss with ticket machines, but don’t forget that you can see so much more by foot!

Another thing I definitely want to do is to enjoy an afternoon tea with a glass of Champagne, sandwiches, scones and tea pastries in the Rubens at the Palace hotel opposite Buckingham Palace. A true English tradition, not Swedish. After all: being in London means to try English things, right?

Keep an eye on the webpage timeout.com/london/ to see what’s going on in London – and if you travel to London: don’t miss to download Time Out’s London app for Android/iPhone!

©Lifecruiser Love London