Bond Street station: you simply can’t get more central in central London!

The area surrounding the station is best known for shopping and some of the best boutiques in the city are within walking distance of Bond Street.

Bond Street is in Mayfair: an expensive area but beautiful too, with lots of gems to discover. It’s no coincidence that Mayfair is the most expensive area on the Monopoly board!

The station is on the very appropriately-named Central Line, right between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus. It is also on the Jubilee Line.

It is situated in one of London’s most lively zones, with great bars and restaurants nearby. You’ll be totally spoilt for choice!

But the area around the station is most famous for some great department stores – including the amazing Selfridges right off its corner.

The famous jewellery store Ciro’s is not far off either along with a wealth of designer clothing stores.

Bond Street station has a long history which starts in 1900.

The station has been reconstructed many times. The old-fashioned lifts for example have been replaced by modern escalators.

There are lots of attractions in and around Bond Street tube. You’ll enjoy a leisurely walk to discover the many restaurants in the area.

Oxford Street is possibly the busiest shopping street in the world. If you are in London during winter you may even catch the bewitching Christmas Lights- switched on in the weeks before Christmas.

Lots of shoppers crowd the many outlets near Bond Street and Oxford Street. Don’t miss the discount January sales!

And as you shop you’ll enjoy being under the canopy of the consistently unpredictable London skies (slave to the many vicissitudes of the amazingly changeable British weather!).

Are there any good hotels near Bond Street?

If you want to enjoy all the above delights on your doorstep then there are some great hotels nearby. To save you time and money, these have already been selected for you (based on high ratings on TripAdvisor) on the London Hotels Insight blog.

Indeed, the Dorchester and Claridge’s are both within walking distance of Bond Street.

Learn more about luxury London hotels. Stop by a blog which reveals exclusive inside information for choosing your ideal London hotel and to help you plan your perfect vacation.

The River Thames is the longest river in England. Below you will get some great tips to make the most of it when you are next in London.

Starting in south-west London you can walk from Twickenham up the river past lovely Richmond Bridge. This gorgeous architectural gem was constructed all the way back in 1777.

Don’t miss London Bridge either, which everyone knows as one of the city’s major sights. It once had a seesaw mechanism to help clear the way for incoming vessels. It is still lifted more than a thousand times every year.

Londoners adore “their” River Thames and you will see many of them mingling with tourists enjoying some of the UK capital’s main attractions.

Key landmarks along the River Thames include St Paul`s Cathedral, the Tate Modern gallery and Big Ben.

The original St Paul’s was burned in the Great Fire of London of 1666, at which point Charles II ordered its reconstruction into a new cathedral in 1675. It is particularly renowned for hosting funerals for famous people like Wilson Churchill, and the Duke of Wellington to name just a couple.

The dome of St Paul’s can be seen as you cruise up the Thames. It is supported by eight large columns and has viewing platforms too for great views.

The Houses of Parliament were built in the 11th century as the seat of English royalty. The unmistakable face of Big Ben peers down alongside.

Tate Modern is the most popular modern art gallery in the UK with over five million visitors every year. The permanent exhibition carries fine examples of cubist, futurist and surrealist painters, while the gallery’s superb collections feature masterpieces by Matisse, Hirst, Warhol and many others.

Finally, the London Eye – one of the city’s most popular attractions – is right by the River Thames along with Shakespeare’s Globe and a number of the city’s best historic pubs including the George Inn (Charles Dickens’ favourite pub).

The area around the banks of the River Thames hosts a wide variety of hotels to suit all budgets. Check out the London Hotels Insight website which pre-selects top-rated hotels according to TripAdvisor reviews.

Since so many of London’s best attractions are concentrated around the River Thames, it’s the ideal place to stay to make the most of your time in London.

Want to get the best deal on London hotels? Visit www.londonhotelsinsight.com to get the best advice and to plan the London trip of your dreams.

Going to London with your family is one of the most amazing experiences you could imagine. As well as being lots of fun and seeing some awesome sights, your children’s faces will be forever imprinted into your memories of this great city.

You are always going to connect London’s famous sights with those same little smiling faces. Below we suggest a few places that are unmissable treats for you and your family.

British Museum

There is so much history to be seen in London it will blow your mind. The British Museum has both pre-historic and modern displays including amazing objects like the Rosetta Stone, a very important ancient Egyptian artefact. Read the special article at London Hotels Insight to highlight the Museum’s “must sees”.

The Tower of London

This famous tower is nearly 900 years old and its history includes use as a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution for prisoners, a mint and much much more. Take a tour with the family and you’ll have lots to talk about.

Kensington Palace

This lovely palace is a symbol of the royal family’s reign in England; you definitely will not want to miss a tour of the palace. Highlights include the sunken gardens, the queen’s bedroom, the king’s gallery and the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. The Diana fashion and style exhibition is a new feature and highlights the fashion sense of the late Princess of Wales.

The London Dungeon

This notorious London horror attraction is lots of fun to go to with older children who will appreciate the thrill and chill. Live actors, shows and interactive rides share the capital of England’s darkest moments including stories of Jack the Ripper and the Great Fire of London.

London Science Museum

The London Science Museum is one of the most educational and fun museums you will ever have the honour to visit. It lets you experience over 2000 displays in a hands-on manner. The museum showcases some of the most significant scientific advances of the last three hundred years. Kids will love the endless activities and stimulation.

National Maritime Museum

London’s National Maritime Museum is a great draw for all the family. This is a museum displaying wonderful pieces from all continents. Great for the seafaring enthusiasts in your family!

London is a truly amazing, multifaceted city: follow the above tips and your family will create lasting lifelong memories together.

Learn more about cheap London hotels. Visit the independent London Hotels Insight blog to find out about the best family hotel in London based on guest reviews.

Malmaison is a hotel chain based in the UK that has a reputation for creating a certain “buzz” around its hotels.

This is after all a hotel company which proudly proclaims the motto: “hotels that dare to be different”.

Malmaison is a brand with a definite sense of humour (e.g. ashtrays say “burn out” and toiletries “stolen from Malmaison”!). I was keen to witness at first hand how their hotels would actually stand up to scrutiny.

I went to check out the company’s flagship London hotel in a tranquil zone in East London, not far from the city’s financial hub. You can get into the centre pretty easily on the London Underground.

What I saw there was that staff specialise in “quirky”, informal service. However, it’s certainly not perfect for everyone since the hotel colour scheme and decor might be considered a little “over the top” by some people.

Still, given the room rates charged (significantly less than the centre of town) and the quality of accommodation, it’s a pretty solid hotel choice. You’ll be particularly taken by the hotel if you are into contemporary design with a sense of fun.

Even the Malmaison London’s lighting is “specially controlled” to create a special mood. The staff are well-trained too and sent on product training courses in partnership with the hotel‘s suppliers.

The Malmaison sense of informality takes a bit of getting used to but mainly gets OK (though not superb) reviews on TripAdvisor.

People who stay there like the hotel‘s personality and staff as well as its relative tranquillity. The food served in the restaurant is also reputed to be above average.

Get the best deal possible on this and other hotels by doing your research at the independent London Hotels Insight blog.

So at the end of the day, if you need a comfortable and somewhat “different” hotel in a tranquil location, Malmaison London may be just the ticket.

If you are looking to get the best deal on London hotels, then visit www.londonhotelsinsight.com to find unbiased, independent advice on the best London hotel for you.