Whether you are looking for accommodation in London, more information on London events, or a tourist guide in another city, I hope you find the following links of use.
Accommodation in London
There is a huge range of places to stay in London, but here are a few suggestions to suit all budgets.
Boutique Hotels
These hotels all have wonderful character and are in excellent locations.
- St Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster – www.sterminshotel.co.uk
- The Gore in Kensington – www.gorehotel.com
- Hotel 41 in Victoria – www.41hotel.com
- Egerton House in Knightsbridge – www.egertonhousehotel.com
- The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury – www.montaguehotel.com
- The Pelham in South Kensington – www.pelhamhotel.co.uk
- The Draycot in Chelsea – www.draycotthotel.com
- Hazlitt’s in Soho – http://www.hazlittshotel.com/hazlitts/
Apartments
Apartments offer more space and can work out more economic for families.These are in excellent quiet locations.
- London Perfect have a range of apartments in excellent locations – ideal for couples, families and groups of friends. http://www.londonperfect.com/
- London Apartments have a wide range of apartments in good locations – www.apartment-hotels.com
- Beaufort House in Knightsbridge – www.beauforthouse.co.uk/home.asp
- Arlington House in St James’s – www.arlingtonhouse.co.uk
- Shaw House in Mayfair – www.parklane.co.uk/short_term_rentals_shaw_house.php
- Clarges Street in Mayfair – http://www.parklane.co.uk/clarges-street-serviced-apartments/
Home Stays
If you are looking for somewhere different to stay, how about a bed and breakfast? AT HOME IN LONDON have a wide range of bed and breakfast in central London homes, star-rated by Visit Britain www.athomeinlondon.co.uk
Somewhere different
- The Chandos House is an 18th century town house designed by Robert Adam which is owned by the Royal Society of Medicine, but you don’t have to be a member to stay here!
www.chandoshouse.co.uk/bedrooms - Self-catering in an 18th century silk weaver’s house in Spitalfields:
www.landmarktrust.org.uk - 18th century town house in the East End, beautifully decorated by an acclaimed international interior designer and used for fashion and celebrity shoots:
http://www.40winks.org/
Budget
For more basic accommodation but in a good location, try The Z Hotel Soho
www.thezhotels.com/soho
TripAdvisor
See reviews of hotels by other travellers:
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g186338-London_England-Hotels.html
London
Check out some of my photos of London:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tourguideoflondon/
London’s daily newspaper:
www.standard.co.uk/
Museums in London list
http://www.londonupclose.com/london-museums-a-to-z.html
Time Out London for information on what’s on in London:
www.timeout.com/london
London Transport – ticket information and journey planner:
www.tfl.gov.uk
Luggage Storage
https://usebounce.com/city/london
Original paintings of London by Caroline Tate:
www.ctate.co.uk/Style/Cityscape.aspx
Entertainment
London theatre:
This site allows you to see what is on at a glance, with Box Office phone numbers and links to the indidual theatre’s web-site. Click on the name of the theatre and you can view the seating plan with helpful independent advice.
www.officialtheatre.com
This site shows the range of productions taking place throughout London and includes offers: http://theatre.london/
This site has a useful interactive map of theatres and includes audience reviews as well as links to the theatres.
www.londontheatres.co.uk
A useful site to see theatre goers’ reviews of specific seats in London theatres. You need to set up an account to access it (also works in www.officialtheatre.com site above)
www.seatplan.com/
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre:
www.shakespearesglobe.com
Wilton’s Music Hall
One of the most atmospheric venues in London which hosts a number of imaginative theatre and music events.
https://wiltons.org.uk/
Puppet Barge
Innovative puppet shows for adults and children from a barge in Little Venice. A unique experience.
http://www.puppetbarge.com/
Regent Street Cinema
The birthplace of British cinema where the Lumiere Brothers first demonstrated their newly invented Cinématographe in the UK. Now a lovely Art Deco cinema showing a range of classic & modern films.
https://www.regentstreetcinema.com/
London Symphony Orchestra:
www.lso.co.uk
Opera and ballet at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden:
www.roh.org.uk
Opera in English:
www.eno.org
English National Ballet
www.ballet.org.uk
Jazz in London
https://jazzinlondon.live/
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club:
www.ronniescotts.co.uk
Cabaret
The Crazy Coqs is an intimate, art deco cabaret venue with some very good acts.
www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs
The Audience Club
Join the Audience Club and get theatre tickets for just £2 each at a wide range of venues all over London.
www.theaudienceclub.com
Tour guides in other cities
Cambridge
Excellent Blue Badge Guides in the university city will ensure you get the most from your visit:
https://www.seecambridgedifferently.co.uk
Bath and the West Country
Too far for a day trip from London as you will spend all your time travelling! Instead, stay a night or more and hire one of the local Blue Badge Guides to show you around. Ask for Maeve or Nicholas.
Oxford and the Cotswolds
Although I am qualified for day trips from London, including the university city of Oxford and the lovely Cotswolds countryside, you may prefer to spend several days in the area to explore further. I recommend my colleague, Isobel Lewis.
https://cotswoldexploring.co.uk/
Heart of England
If you are visiting the Heat of England, such as Birmingham, Coventry or Ironbridge, then book award winning guide Roger Bailey.
www.bluebadgetouristguide.co.uk
North East England
Discover Durham, Northumberland and Hadrian’s Wall with Laura, an excellent local Blue Badge Guide, Laura Rhodes.
Liverpool, Lake District (Cumbria) and Yorkshire
Explore the fascinating city of Liverpool and/or the lovely areas of the Lake District and Yorkshire with their literary connections and stunning scenery, with an enthusiastic local Blue Badge Tour Guide, Tess Pike.
Scotland
Private tours with professionally qualified tourist guide, Colin Mairs, to any location across Scotland from any start point. Driver guide, walking tours and larger coach tours. Tours offered in English, French and Portuguese.
excursionscotland.wordpress.com
Orkney – Kinlay Francis will give you a wonderful customised tour of his fascinating and lovely island.
Tour Guides in other countries
If there is no personal recommendation below, select the country you are visiting from the World Federation of Tourist Guiding Associations website:
Barcelona
Private tours of Barcelona and out of town excursions, with licensed tour guides and comfortable vehicles, for parties of all sizes, in English or other languages. Private shore tours and excursions starting and ending at Barcelona Port or at the Airport for cruise ship passengers
Iceland
From geology to Icelandic Sagas and the best time to photograph the waterfalls, Hakon Oskarsson will share his passion and knowledge for this stunning country.
Palermo (Sicily)
Virginia Turco will give you a wonderful tour of Palermo and Monreale.
www.guiderome.com/tour-guide-palermo.htm
Ravenna
Silvia Giogoli will ensure you get the most out of your visit to the stunning mosaics in Ravenna as well as insights into contemporary life.
Rome
Miles and Miles offer tailored tours of Rome and Italy with professional Driver Guides. Savour the traditional highlights of Rome but also get a backstage view of traditional, daily, Italian life. For museum and archaeological sites, ask for Ferderica.
Russia
Natalia Bazhenova will enhance your experience of St Petersburg with her knowledge and passion for her stunning city.
http://natalia-tour.com/welcome-main.html
Tallinn
Julia Hamilton will give you a great tour of Estonia's wonderful capital. As well as historic tours she also does street art ones too.
https://www.tallinnstreetarttour.com/
Uzbekistan - Khiva
Inessa Yuvakaeva was a wonderful Tour Leader throughout Uzbekistan and an excellent local guide to Khiva.
https://www.instagram.com/khivauz/
Uzbekistan - Bukhara
Shakhnoza will ensure you get the most out of a visit to the stunning city of Bukhara.
https://www.instagram.com/guidebukhara_/
Venice
Private tours of Venice with Luisella Romeo.
Verona
Private tours in the town of Romeo and Juliet with licensed guides in English and other languages.
Vienna
Felicitas will show you the best of this fascinating city:
www.viennawalks.at/en/home_en.html
Lisbon
Isabel, Graça, Rosa and Cristina are a group of licensed and experienced Portuguese tourist guides.
Madrid
Explore Madrid’s wonderful museums and city with Madrid Tourist Guides.
https://madridmuseumtours.com/en/
Licensed Tour Guides around the World