Travel in London is a pretty smooth and enjoyable thing, if you are not lugging around a ton of stuff with you or find yourself abandoned in the middle of nowhere with currency nobody uses. There are a few minor nuisances that can quickly snowball into a travel-killing experience if left unchecked, and could prove to totally ruin the whole experience.

Here are a few tips to help you travel in London and actually enjoy what this great old city has to offer you:

Pack light before leaving

The less you bring with you along the flight, the less tempted you will be to lug around so much stuff with you. Remember that you are on a trip to tour London, not to switch residences, so minimize what you are bringing along the trip. A few sets of clothes are enough to pack in one bag, and upload everything you need to do on your laptop or on the Internet if you absolutely have to work while on vacation.

Know what you can buy

London is a modern city, which means you can get pretty much anything you need as you travel in London. Look around the stores, the shops and the malls as you travel from the airport to your hotel, and you will get an idea of the goods available in your immediate area. Keep them in mind, and you will know where to go if you need to buy a bottle of water, extra underwear or some presents to bring back to the family.

Use plastic and carry pounds

Your credit card and a couple of British pound sterling will go a long way to keeping you sane in and around London. Not every shop accepts dollars, and not all shops accept credit cards. Major purchases can be worked around with credit and debit cards, while the smaller store-bought items can be handled with British currency. Keep a balance of both, and travel in London will be a much less stressful thing.

Know the transportation

Taxis are a good albeit expensive way to get around town, while the underground railway system is good for getting anywhere fast. Unless you plan to be hopelessly lost in London’s sprawling streets and underground metro system, take some time to research and ask around how to get to a destination. Getting an Oyster card reduces costs when you go around London, making it good for extended visits and numerous tours around the city. Paper tickets, however, are best used if you plan to take only a few trips in a few days.

Keep all these tips and pointers in mind, and your trip will be a much more relaxing and enjoyable one. Remember, knowing the ups and downs of travel in London is just as important as having fun on the trip!

Technorati Tags: travel in london

Travel in London, and you will find some of the most culturally-enriching sights you will ever see. Centuries of history are embedded in the structures in and around London, all of which are highly symbolic of Britain’s unique relationship with the world.

From medieval times, to the renaissance, to the Victorian era to the modern face of London, it is definitely worth spending some time and effort getting to intimately know the city.

Tourists, however, may find themselves simply overwhelmed by the size and diversity of London. If ever you ever have to travel in London, make sure to prioritize these must-see sights in order for you to truly experience the history that London has to offer:

Big Ben

This iconic clock tower, located in the north-eastern area of the Palace of Westminster is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world, as well as third highest free-standing clock tower ever in the world. The name Big Ben is actually given to the great bell located inside the tower, and the ringing has become part and parcel of a Londoner’s daily life.

Buckingham Palace

If you have to travel in London, then you definitely have to see Buckingham Palace, where Britain’s monarchy takes their residence in. The impressive greenery and striking fasade of the palace indeed inspires a regal atmosphere in and around the palace, which is a historical icon in its own right. Take a walk around and take the opportunity to see for yourself what the palace has to offer.

The Tower of London

If, however, you want to visit a World Heritage Sight that is almost a millennia old, then you definitely need to see the Tower of London. It holds the Crown Jewels, is over 900 years old, and has survived through pretty much the entire history of Britain. If you are lucky, you may even spot a ghost or two while touring the building.

St. Pauls Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral, with smaller spires accentuating its prominent dome, is yet another cultural landmark of London. It had existed before the 17th century, and has gone through many forms before reaching its current shape today. The cathedral has taken at least four other forms before becoming what it is today, with many other shapes if every single reconstruction was considered a new Cathedral altogether.

Wimbledon

A more modern cultural touch can be found in Wimbledon. This busy suburb becomes a hectic hive of tennis enthusiasts when tennis season comes around, which is where Wimbledon’s global fame originally comes from. Over a hundred years of tennis craze have etched itself into Wimbledon’s own history, making it one of the sports enthusiast’s priorities should he choose to travel in London.

Covent Garden Market

If you are a shopper at heart, then do take the opportunity to visit the Covent Garden Market. The district itself had been in business for almost 300 years, which is even older than some of the other landmarks of Britain. The mix of old and new produces an intriguing array of colors and products, which definitely makes Covent Garden a pretty unique place to shop around in.

If you choose to travel in London, don’t forget to visit these sights in order to fully experience what London has to offer.

Technorati Tags: travel in london