How to Get Best Shopping Deals in London?

London shopping is a tiring experience, especially on the season sales. Major designer brands in Oxford Street, High Street Kensington, Harrods, Selfridge's and even Primark sell things for the most attractive prices. Then the grab-and-buy starts for London bargains.

To avoid queues and faster shoppers try to plan which shops you want to visit and start early. The best time for shopping is weekday mornings when most people are working. Avoid weekends as they will only make you tired. Most of the designer-style shops open around 9:30-10:00 in the morning.

The great thing is that usually all shops do the sale at once. So if you pick up Selfridge's, Gap, Zara and Anna Summers - you will know that you can get the most at once.

If you are visiting London solely for the purpose of shopping, it would be wise to stay at central London hotels. This way you would save a lot of time. Major designer shops are in Oxford Street, which is close to the Paddington and Hyde Park Hotels, High Street Kensington and Knightsbridge shops are close to the Kensington hotels.

To get the best shopping deals in London, check the dates on each shop's website (most of them have it every season) and decide which dates and shops you want. To give you a short brief, Oxford Street features shops like Evans; Wallis; Dorothy Perkins; Next; New Look; Monsoon; River Island; Marks & Spencer; Selfridges; French Connection; Jane Norman; Gap; Suits You; H&M; Mexx; Debenhams; House of Fraser; John Lewis; Ann Harvey; Zara; Nike; Top Shop; Adidas; Miss Selfridge; Urban Outfitters; Office; Uniqlo; Esprit; Moss; Sports Direct; Claire's and many more. So once you go there from a central London hotel you can spend the whole day touring the shops.

Get excited as you are going for the best shopping deals in London!

London Heathrow - Taxi to Terminal Four

As a Private Hire Taxi driver based in the South of England, a lot of my business is made up of fares to and from London's Heathrow Airport. I thought I'd share some tips for meeting and greeting, as Airports can seem so daunting to the occasional visitor! Many BA long-haul flights arrive at Terminal 4, along with some European flights. It's my favourite Terminal to meet and greet at - at least it is at the moment, let's see whether T5 is easier still! T4 is only five to tem minutes from Junction 14 of the M25.

I'm assuming that you are driving to Heathrow, either to drop off or meet a friend or associate. As you approach the Terminal, unless you've prearranged to meet someone at the kerbside outside Arrivals, go UP the ramp! Stay left to drop off a passenger right outside the Check-In area, stay right to park. A good tip on entering the car park is to use a credit card at the entry barrier rather than pressing the button for a ticket - this saves time when you leave, no queuing at the ticket machine, and one less piece of paper to hold on to: just use the same card at the barrier on exit and it'll automatically give you a receipt. Warning - these machines will let you in with a Switch / Solo card, but they won't let you out again - to be sure, only use a Credit card for this operation! When you get into the Terminal 4 Short Stay car park, go down the ramp to the right and try and find a space. Once parked, the Terminal building is a short walk away. Both Arrivals and Departures/ Check-In are clearly signed.

On entering Terminal Four, one's first impression of Arrivals is one of Chaos! There are always crowds of people there; there are a lot of Jumbo jets disgorging at this terminal! Unless you know the person you're meeting, then join the crowd close to the centrally located exit doors and try to get to the barrier with a 'welcome' sign. The best thing is something distinctive and A4 sized - a logo maybe, but definitely something eye-catching and colourful. Make it easy on the person you're meeting - most signs have names and flight numbers on - make yours different! Stand somewhere prominent - where you'll be seen as soon as your passenger emerges through the sliding doors - although it's best to pre-arrange to meet under the 'meeting point' sign - this is to the right of the doors as your passenger exits - beware, they can turn right or left as they exit.

Always check the monitors when you enter the building - a good rule of thumb is that your passenger will come through T4 Arrivals about forty minutes to an hour after landing - but always watch the screen for the 'Baggage In Hall' message - this is usually a reliable indicator of their imminent emergence! Terminal Four Arrivals can be very variable - long haul planes are often early, and always have lots of passengers - I have known people to be through in less than half an hour, whilst last week I waited an hour and a half for someone coming from the Middle East! If you have a mobile phone contact number, then a quick call or SMS message can help keep track of your passenger to let them know where you are, and reassure them that you're there and waiting - takes away one more anxiety for the traveller. Once you've got your passenger, get out of there quick smart - the car park is expensive! Oh, and please drive carefully and considerately on the way home!

Airport Transfers - London

London is one of the most exciting cities in the world, but it's also one of the most expensive. London is both the capital of England and the United Kingdom and it serves as the headquarters for the Roy. London is one of Europe's most populated city and holds some of its most impressive tourist attractions. This is great for travelers who plan to spend some time exploring London, rather than just a day or two hitting the main tourist sights.

Due to London's huge global city status it is the most served destination in the world when it comes to flights. London is served by a total of six airports.

Heathrow is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services available from most major airports world-wide. A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost £45-60. You may wish to consider taking a taxi if you have a lot of baggage or small children. Alternatively catch public transport into the city centre and then catch a taxi. There are over 1000 minicab companies in London.

London Gatwick London's second airport, also serving a large spectrum of places world-wide. To get to the centre of the city. A door 2 door shuttle service, running 24/7. Costs about half of the taxi, with wide leather seats and plenty of room for luggage. Pre bookings are required for Gatwick services.

London Stansted Currently London's third airport, Stansted Airport lies 35 miles northeast of London. Trains run directly to Liverpool Street Station in London every 30m 5am-11pm. It takes 45 minutes and costs £13.80. A1 Heathrow Cars provides online cab/taxi booking facility approximately £70.

London Luton has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. As per Stansted, and for the same reasons, many choose to spend the night here before flying, although "First Capital Connect" trains run 24 hours.

London City Airport A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specializing in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. To get to the city centre by taxi. Journey time approximately 30 minutes.

London Southend Airport, Currently undergoing redevelopment and is set to become London's sixth international airport.

Southampton Airport & Birmingham International Airport are another non-London airports worth considering as a less congested and hectic alternative to Heathrow.

How to get to and from hundreds of the world's airports by car, bus, train and other forms of public transport. For transfers directly between London's airports, the fastest way is the direct inter-airport bus service by National Express.

Sightseeing: London is filled with attractions that appeal to young and old - take Madame Tussaud's wax museum, that all-time favorite. Great British Heritage Pass Discount Sightseeing. If your sightseeing style is leisurely, and you only visit one or two places a day, and if there are places you also want to visit that aren't on the Pass program. But if you're able to plan your sightseeing around the various places featured in the Pass, and if you're thinking of fitting two or three or more activities into every day, the savings can be huge.

That single day of sightseeing saves you more than the cost of an entire three day Pass. Your next two days of sightseeing will be entirely free. You have to buy the three-, four-, or seven-day Visitor Travelcards before you leave home, but you can get various other types of Travelcards once you reach London.you will be able to get just about anywhere you want to go in London on the Underground, or "tube ".

So, before you pack up and catch a flight to London you Invest in a copy of "London A to Z." This book of detailed maps is indispensable to anyone visiting London for more than a few days - even most London residents carry a copy.

The Five Greatest Unmissable London Tourist Attractions

London is one of the great capital cities of the world and if you are going to visit it there are 5 great London tourist attractions that you simply cannot afford to miss.

1. Number one on any tourists list has to be Buckingham Palace. Situated at the end of the world famous "Mall", Buckingham Palace is the official residency of The Queen (Queen Elizabeth) and is probably one of the most easily recognizable buildings in the world. A "must see" event for any tourist to take in is the ceremony of "The Changing of the Guard" which takes place at 11:30AM every day in the summer months, and every other day in the rest of the year. It's a wonderful sight, full of the famous British pomp and ceremony. Make sure you don't miss it.

2. The second unique London tourist attraction is the Tower of London. Standing guard over the river Thames, the Tower of London was built over 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror. It has been a royal palace and a prison, and it was here that Queen Anne Boleyn (one of the wives of Henry VIII) was beheaded. It is also infamous for being the place of imprisonment for King Richard II, and Queen Elizabeth I, and it was also here that the "Two Princes" were incarcerated, never to be seen again. It is also the place that witnessed the interrogation of Guy Fawkes, whose failed gunpowder plot to blow up the houses of Parliament is still commemorated today on the 5th of November, a night of Fireworks and Bonfires known as Bonfire Night. On a less gloomy note, The Tower houses the incomparable "Crown Jewels" one of the most famous jewelry collections in the world, worn on occasion by Queen Elizabeth II at various state functions. The Tower's other claims to fame are the famous Beefeaters in their special finery and regalia, and the Ravens of which it said that if they ever desert the Tower, London will fall.

3. The third London tourist attraction that just has to be seen is Tower Bridge. Situated next to the Tower of London, it strands the river Thames and is a wonderful piece of architecture and a brilliant piece of Victorian engineering. Built as the second crossing over the Thames (London Bridge was the original crossing), it is a Bascule bridge which means it can be raised (and still is today) to allow ships to pass underneath.

4. The fourth essential London tourist attraction is Maritime Greenwich which is sited amid stunning grounds on the banks of the river Thames. This is a world heritage site and houses the Royal Observatory. It is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and sits on the Meridian longitude line 0.

5. Finally, our fifth not to be missed London tourist attraction is of course The Houses of Parliament. Once again, situated on the banks of the Thames, it is a masterpiece of architectural design and has one of the easiest recognized visages anywhere in the world. It is where British Government enacts its workings and is also home to the famous Big Ben, the giant clock whose chimes are affectionately know the world over.

Hotels in London, England - The Best Place to Stay

London, the capital of England, is the most urban area in the United Kingdom. It is one of the world's leading financial, business and cultural centers and contributes to be a major global city. It houses four major world heritage sites and one of the major developed areas in the world. Not only this, but London is one of the major tourist's destinations in the world because of several sightseeing tours, parks, gardens, palaces and world famous towers. Due to all these attractions, hotels in London England are well established to provide comfortable accommodation to tourists with several facilities and amenities.

It is beyond doubt that London is well developed city and attracts tourists from the world around. In order to make the provision for tourists' stay, there is wide network of hotels ranging from star hotels to cheap London hotels, to suit the taste and budget of every traveler. It is ineffable to describe the luxury for travelers in star hotels in London England. The immediate service and warm hospitality of the hotel staffs give the feeling of homely comfort to its visitors.

The visitors to London can easily come across many London airport hotels, which are located in proximity to airport. Most of these hotels include beautiful garden and restaurants, where visitors can enjoy several types of English and international dishes. The array of facilities offered at such hotels is excellent. It covers a wide range of network such as restaurant, bar, soundproof rooms; spa, sauna, pool, etc forms a long list. There are many hotels around tourists' attractions that add fun to your trip. Travelers can find hotel through London hotel map, which gives you entire elaboration of hotels in London and their location.

Such London hotel map provides ease to travelers to pre-decide the hotel to stay and several tourists' attractions to view. All these decisions can be taken according to one's own need. The traveler visiting London for exploring the city can go for some cheap hotel or star hotels on the basis of his affordability or in proximity to the places to be explored by him. A business traveler can look for the comfort of other members or for the facilities of various meeting and conference rooms offered.

The accommodation can be booked online through several agencies, which make the necessary lodging arrangements for the tourists, who might be busy in exploring the sightseeing views of the city. These online booking website have lent a helping hand to travelers in making arrangements for them in advance to save them from hustle and enjoy their trip.

Top Attractions in London - A List For Tourists

A new advertising campaign has been introduced to attract overseas visitors to England's capital. Simply known as Only in London; the campaign revolves around a list of 100 attractions and things that visitors can do in the city.

The focus of the campaign is to increase the number of overseas visitors and judging by the amount of diverse activities listed, it is hoping to attract people from many different countries and backgrounds. For example, the first item on the list is a suggested visit to Eastbury Manor House in Barking where, according to the compilers of this list, the Gunpowder Plot was first contrived.

Plenty more historical references appear on the list including trips to St. Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London and a more obscure reference to stroll the gardens of Down House in Bromley, which was home to Charles Darwin and where he wrote 'On The Origin of Species'.

Sports fans will be interested to see a number of items quoted on the list. The first at number five is the opportunity to see the NFL in action at Wembley. This has now become an annual event featuring a regular season game - the only one to be played outside of continental USA - between two of the League's top American football teams. In October 2009 the game will be contested by the New England Patriots and The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 15th suggestion on the list is a tour of Wembley Stadium itself, but there is no mention of any of the capital's top football teams; Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham, Fulham or Tottenham.

However, the option to experience the capital's transport systems does feature. Take a ride on the tube appears low down on the list at 79, but higher up at 39 there is the invitation to connect to the world at Heathrow airport where many of the flights to London arrive.

Music lovers are also catered for on the list with the first suggestion just scraping into the top 10; namely recreate the famous Beatles album cover at the Abbey Road zebra crossing. At 45, a suggestion is to view Pete Townshend of The Who's smashed guitar at the Victoria and Albert's new Theatre and Performance Galleries. Also included at 27 in the list is to buy a ticket to see Michael Jackson at the O2, or alternatively any other O2 show at 24th place!

As you would expect, The London Eye - which was recently voted the UK's number one tourist attraction - appears in the list, as do many other 'must-see' London attractions such as the British Museum, Tower Bridge and Hyde Park. But, however exhaustive the compilers of the list themselves say, this is only a tiny snapshot of the thousands of things visitors can do in London.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

The London Shopping Experience

Out of town shopping malls may well have started the decline of the traditional British high street over the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. However whilst London doesn’t offer any of these – it doesn’t need to!

London literally has it all. From market stalls to the world’s biggest department stores, from inexpensive bric-a-brac to extortionately priced cutting edge fashion from the world’s top designers, everyone is catered for by London’s many and varied shopping areas.

As convenient as malls are, they don’t even scratch the surface of what London is able to offer the shopper in terms of diversity and wherever you are in the city, it’s all just a short tube or bus ride away. With the chance of seeing some of the world’s most famous landmarks as well, the London shopping experience cannot be beaten.

Oxford Street

Britain's busiest high street and London's best known shopping area is chock-a-block full of the nation's most popular shops – over 300 in fact. Many of the biggest high street names have their flagship stores here and the street also boasts the oldest record shop in the world (HMV at number 363). Also home to the world famous Selfridges department store, Oxford Street is 1 ½ miles of shopping utopia for those that don’t mind the experience being a little on the hectic side.

Nearest Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge is the home of classy fashion boutiques and quality department stores - the jewels in the crown being the absolutely fabulous Harvey Nicholls and the world’s most famous corner shop, Harrods. Big name fashion designers can be found in Sloane Street and equally chic but smaller outlets at Beauchamp Place.

Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge

Kensington High Street

Kensington offers a bit of everything to those shopping in London. It features all of the well known chain stores, plenty of one-offs, department stores (the main one being Barker’s), an array of antique shops (in nearby Kensington Church Street) and numerous restaurants. It’s less busy than the West End and certainly a touch classier.

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

Regent Street

Regent Street, running the ¾ of a mile between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, certainly provides the most visually elegant shopping experience in London as all the shops conform to the same ornate architectural style. It features department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants and well known high street names and is also home to the world’s best known toy store, Hamley’s.

Nearest Tubes: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus

Bond Street

If you’re looking for a London shopping experience with a touch of class – and you don’t mind paying for it – then Bond Street is for you. Full of the biggest designer names including Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, the street boasts more suppliers to the royal family than anywhere else in London. A world away from the ‘every man for themselves’ experience of Oxford Street, many stores have their own doormen. The street is also home to the world famous Sotheby’s auction house.

Nearest Tube: Bond Street

Tottenham Court Road

If you’re shopping in London for electrical items or home furnishings then Tottenham Court Road is well worth a visit. The backstreets of the area offer an array of interesting pubs and specialist shops and nearby Charlotte Street features a wide variety of restaurants.

Nearest Tubes: Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Warren Street

Soho & Chinatown

Soho has cleaned up its act over the years and no longer has the seedy reputation it was once known for. If it’s sex shops you’re looking for in London, you’ll still be well catered for but its reputation nowadays is built just as much on the many cafes, bars and restaurants, all of which make the area an extremely popular attraction 24 hours a day. It’s an incredibly diverse area racially and culturally, has a thriving gay community and has also become the media capital over recent years. Soho is busy and untidy but well worth the experience.

Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square

Carnaby Street

London’s fashion Mecca of the swinging 60s has today become almost as famous for souvenir shops cashing in on tourists who are drawn to the street by its iconic name, however it is now starting to regain something of a cutting edge reputation, particularly at the southern end of the street. Newburgh Street (which runs across Carnaby Street) features the shops of a number of top designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and John Richmond and nearby Kingly Court has 3 floors of concept shops set around an open courtyard offering items not sold anywhere else in London.

Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus

King’s Road

The road gained a reputation for cutting edge fashion back in the 1960s and 70s which perhaps it doesn’t quite have nowadays, however it still features many independent clothes and shoe shops. There are also a number of contemporary furnishing stores and a huge array of bars and restaurants. The large Peter Jones department store is at the Sloane Square end of the road and opposite is the new Duke Of York shopping precinct. The road has always had something of a glamorous reputation and as well as providing a great London shopping experience, is also a top place to go celeb spotting.

Nearest Tube: Sloane Square

Fulham Road

The Fulham Road runs parallel to the King’s Road and offers an altogether more laid back London shopping experience. If it’s antiques you’re after or specialist interior furnishings then you’ll be more than ably catered for here.

Nearest Tube: South Kensington

Portobello Road

Notting Hill has become quite a fashionable area of late but long before the film and even the annual carnival – in fact ever since the 18th century – the Portobello Road market has drawn large numbers of visitors. Known predominantly for its antiques, bric-a-brac and collectables, there’s also shops and stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to trendy clothing. And if all that shopping makes you thirsty, there’s no shortage of pubs for you to choose from.

Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove

Islington

Another area of London that has become fashionable in recent years, Islington has a bit of everything to cater for both its inhabitants and visitors. Upper Street is the area’s ‘high street’ and features all of the familiar chain stores as well as lots of bars and restaurants. Chapel Market offers all of the usual market fare such as fruit and veg, clothes and homeware whilst Camden Passage has some nice antiques shops. Islington is not the obvious London shopping destination, but well worth a look.

Nearest Tube: Angel

Camden Town

If you're after a more bohemian London shopping experience than that offered by Knightsbridge or Bond Street, then get yourself up to Camden. One of the city’s coolest areas has a seemingly endless array of shops and stalls selling such items as clothing (new, second hand and retro), customised Doc Martins and trainers, jewellery, bootleg CDs and DVDs and craft ware. Open daily (and very busy at weekends), it's a multi cultural experience with some great little food outlets dotted all over.

Nearest Tube: Camden Town

Covent Garden

Formerly a fruit and vegetable market, 'The Garden' is now a constant and varied hive of activity. It has a hugely diverse selection of shops, eateries, bars, a market selling art, crafts, antiques and souvenirs, historic buildings, theatres, the Royal Opera House and fantastic free entertainment provided by street entertainers and musicians. If you can't find something to capture your interest at Covent Garden then there really is no hope.

Nearest Tube: Covent Garden

Five Must See London Attractions

If you're going to be visiting London for the first time, you'd be wise to maximize the use of your time in this amazingly vast, divers and historical metropolis by prioritizing. Following are five London attractions which should be must-sees on your list of things to do!

Piccadilly Circus

No, we're not suggesting that you spend some of your precious hours in London under a bigtop. Piccadilly Circus, at the intersection of five of London's major thoroughfares, is the British equivalent of New York's Times Square, with neon-lit glitz to suit. If you want London nightlife, head for Piccadilly Circus, where your fun will be watched over by the roundabout's fountain and statue of the archer now called simply "Eros."

Piccadilly Circus is named for the piccadill collar so popular among gentlemen of the 17th century, and within a block or two of Piccadilly today are some of London's most avant-garde fashion shops. Piccadilly Circus is also within walking distance of several London arcades, the precursors of today's shopping malls.

Trafalgar Square and the London Brass Rubbing Centre

If your trip to London is a family affair, or you simply love to collect unique souvenirs of your travels, a trip to the Crypt at St.-Martin-in-the-Fields Church at Trafalgar Square will be well worth your time. At the Church's Brass Rubbing Center, you can purchase a kit of papers and special waxes, and do your own rubbings of characters straight out of British history, from knights in armor and damsels in distress to Shakespeare himself. If you make a mistake with your rubbing technique, the staff at the Brass Rubbing Centre will be right there to undo the damage!

No matter the time of day, you can have a meal at the Brass Rubbing Centre's café in the Crypt, where you'll be treated to traditional British food at its best from a full English breakfast with a high tea or evening dinner. Your meal will be freshly prepared with ingredients from British suppliers.

The London Telecom Tower

Located on Howland Street in London's West End, the London Telecom tower was formerly the Post Office Tower, and until 1981 was the tallest (at 620 feet) tower in London. It's constructed of steel, concrete, and glass, with a design which is both stylish and highly wind-resistant. It's the heart of Britain's telecommunications network, with numerous enormous satellite dishes visible on its upper stories.

The Changing of the Guards

Christopher Robin and Alice were quite fond of the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, and they weren't alone. The Changing of the Guards is one of London's major tourist draws, seen by countless visitors each year. You should check in advance of your visit to Buckingham Palace to determine if there will be a Changing of the guards on that day. Bring along a camera, because you can have your picture take with a guard whose duty it is to have his photo snapped with visitors.

Big Ben

None of its other landmarks is more recognizable than London's Big Ben. Visible from a distance of several miles, Big Ben looks down n the Houses of Parliament from a height of 316 feet, and was completed in 1859. Its hands are 14 feet in length, while its clock mechanism weighs over five tons. For security reason, however, only UK residents are allowed inside Big Ben's tower.

Three of these attractions are on every London visitor's must-see list, while two if them may be less well-known. But they are just a small sample of the wonders which await you on your London trip, and simply a place to begin!

myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most...Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog http://www.myroadtotravelblog.com to help us do just that. Through this blog, we offer travel tips, our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember, for all your travel booking needs please visit us at http://www.myroadtotravel.com