Really Nice Vacations

What comes to mind when you think of London? Queen Elizabeth, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Princess Diana, Prince William, Beatles, William Shakespeare, David Bowie … The list goes on.

What comes to the most shoppers’ mind when they hit London on a pleasure or business trip? Shopping, dining and maybe even an opera or two. Where would they go for just 2 or 3 days? Where should they stay if they intend to spend the entire day out of their hotel? That’s where a bit of research before hand will prove useful. It will be best to stay within or at least very near to where they want to shop and dine in. They just need a nice and safe place to stay after all the shopping, dining and partying. They don’t have to spend a bomb for a nice suite. Of course, by all means, they can pamper themselves if they can afford to. Someone must oil the economic wheels to keep the money circulating. But if you are an ordinary Joe (or Jane) like me, I prefer to go cheap on London hotels. Depending on where you come from, the exchange rates may not favour you.

Here are 4 places you don’t want to miss out in London:

Oxford Street
Oxford Street is the place to shop especially if you consider yourself a fashionista. It has welcomed more than 200 million visitors per year and has more than 300 shops to woo shoppers from all over the globe. Oxford Street is easily among the busiest places in London, day or night. Here you can find top of the range department stores or unique one-off fashion boutiques; like Debenhams and Selfridges or Marks and Spencers and John Lewis. Whatever you have in your shopping list, you can surely get them, and more, in Oxford Street. Make sure you stay at Oxford Street Hotels so that you only have a short distance to lug your shopping bags to your temporary haven.

Knightsbridge
If there is only one department store you want to visit in London, opt to stay at one of the many Knightsbridge Hotels and make your way to Harrods. Knightsbridge is home to Harrods as well as Harvey Nichols. Of course, Knightbridge is not short of other well known high street shops and boutiques. In fact, you can find some top quality restaurants and bars there to rest your feet after all those walking and shopping

Kensington
If you want to get away from the madding crowds, you can choose to go Kensington instead. Though it is more relaxed than Oxford Street or Bond Street, it has its own high street stores like Marks and Spencer, Next, River Island and Miss Selfridge. If you venture a little to Camden Hill Road and Church Street, you’ll be lost among the many unique shops offering many different gift ideas. Church Street has quite a few well-stocked antique shops selling Victorian paintings, Art Deco pieces and Oriental porcelain. Near Church Street is the Kensington Market. This is one great place for fashions and accessories. Naturally, you should check out the Kensington Hotels if this is your sort of shopping place.

Bond Street
Old Bond Street and New Bond Street make up the area commonly referred to as Bond Street. Bond Street is known for its shops which are exclusive and expensive, they include Nicole Fahri, Channel and Gianni Versace. You will also find a number of auction houses including Sotheby’s and Phillips.

Greenwich Market
Greenwich Market is one of the largest and most popular markets in London. It is well known for it’s wide verity of goods including traditional hand made arts and crafts, as well as original one off creations by local designers. Every Thursday there is an antique and second hand market. There are stalls selling coins, medals, books and furniture. On Fridays, there is a farmers market where produces straight from farms are sold. Greenwich has a large number of permanent shops that sell gifts, fashion and interior goods as well as a number of restaurants and pubs to eat in.

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