Hotels in London

London: Four Districts, Two Millennia, One River

London stretches across 1,572 km² along the Thames, housing 33 boroughs and roughly 9 million residents. The City of London — the original Roman settlement of Londinium, founded around 47 AD — covers just one square mile yet contains St Paul's Cathedral and the Bank of England. West of it, Westminster holds the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Across the river, Southwark anchors the Tate Modern and Borough Market, a covered food hall trading since 1014. East, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green define the city's gallery and street-art corridor.

Where to Stay in London

Hotels cluster around Paddington (direct Heathrow Express, 15 minutes), King's Cross (Eurostar connections), and South Bank for riverside access without West End prices. Covent Garden and Soho suit theatre-goers; Canary Wharf serves business travellers visiting Docklands financial offices.

Practical Tips

• Getting around: The Elizabeth line links Heathrow to Paddington in 15 minutes; an Oyster card covers Tube, bus, and Overground.
• Climate: Rainfall averages 600 mm annually — pack a compact umbrella regardless of season.
• Entry: Visitors from non-EU, non-EEA countries require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from January 2025.
• Currency: British pound sterling (GBP); card payments accepted almost universally.