What Makes London A Great Tourist Destination

By Author: Wesley Austin
Total Articles: 6
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Most international tourists who arrive in England arrive in London at one of the four international airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, London City or Luton. Situated on the River Thames in South-East England, London is the largest city in Western Europe with an official population of 7.5 million people (14 million for the city's total metropolitan area). It is one of the world’s financial and political centers, and is famous for world-class shopping, fashion, architecture and its cultural experience.
The 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London on 27 July-12 Aug 2012, which makes London the first city to hold the Olympic Games three times, having hosted the games previously in 1908 and 1948. The 2012 Paralympic Games will be held on 29 Aug-9 Sept 2012.
As a result of the large numbers of overseas visitors arriving every day there are many international standard hotels available to choose from. Most visitors choose to stay in the central business district or in nearby areas which are located adjacent to the city. These areas have a huge selection of excellent restaurants. Another place to stay is near Heathrow airport ...
... as the accommodation is less expensive and only a short train ride from the city centre. The high season in London is late spring and summer and around the Christmas season.
After the royal wedding of William and Kate, Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen, has become the most visited place in London. Located at the end of The Mall, the palace was built in 1803 for the Duke of Buckingham and has been the London home for the royal family since 1837. The changing of the Guard takes place on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace every day at 11.30am during summer and on odd days the rest of the year.
One attraction not to miss is Madame Tussaud’s. The famous and very popular wax museum exhibiting movie stars, pop stars, world leaders and the royal family. The Spirit of London taxi ride takes visitors through a summary of London’s history while the Chamber of Horrors displays the darker side to human nature.
Another top tourist spot is the London Eye, also known as the ‘Millenium Wheel’, is one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels with 32 enclosed gondolas that give visitors spectacular views across the capital.
The British Museum is the largest museum in Britain and a very popular tourist attraction. The museum is huge with so many art treasures and interesting exhibits that it may take more than one day to see everything. However, admission is free so many tourists come back several times. One of the most popular exhibits is the Rosetta Stone that was discovered in 1799 and was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Only one hour’s drive to the west of the city of London is Hampton Court Palace, built in 1514, and became the residence of King Henry VIII. The palace has a long history and visitors can tour the stately rooms and get lost in the famous 300 year old maze.
For more information about cheap hotels in London and London hotels olympics 2012