London Gatwick

Fly direct to London Gatwick up to three times a day all year round from NQY with www.flybe.com

The UK’s capital has an abundance of fantastic experiences for visitors of all ages to enjoy – and best of all it takes less than an hour to get there!

London is getting ready for its biggest year ever as the host city of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visitors will be able to take advantage of the superb and unique experiences in the capital in the lead up to the biggest event on earth, including a year-long calendar of "limited edition" events and special exhibitions.

The capital of the UK is always a popular place to visit with many attractions and historic monuments to keep everyone occupied. The city is like any other very fast paced with many businesses within the centre along with many tourist spots and historic and cultural buildings to view. All set within beautiful surroundings of countryside. Within the centre there are plenty of parks and gardens where you can sit and relax taking in the hustle and bustle of city life. You could take an open top bus tour with live-guided commentaries and see the main historic attractions in the city without missing a single one, there are many museums, and the London Eye where you can marvel at the city from a height.

Beautiful green spaces

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life one third of London is covered in lush green space where you can relax and take in the atmosphere of the city such as in Hyde Park in the centre of London which has its own boating lake and is home to the Diana Memorial Fountain. Also Green Park situated close to Buckingham Palace has 47 acres of green grass where you can sit and relax or soak up the sun.

Family Attractions

Visit Madame Tussauds where you can see the stars past and present up close or take a trip to the London Dungeons and scare yourself with a look into London's dark past and enjoy one of the fast scary rides this amusement has to offer. London Zoo is the perfect place for the family to look at the wildlife London has to offer.

Historic Places of Interest

Other popular attractions of London include a visit to the Tower of London which holds the crown jewels and find out its amazing history dating back to 1066. Take a trip to Kensington Palace to view the State Apartments and marvel the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection including gowns worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. St Paul's Cathedral has had major importance since 1697 where people of overwhelming importance to the country have been celebrated, mourned and commemorated.

Buckingham Palace today is not only the home of The Queen but also used for the administrative work for the monarchy. The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the summer. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Also here you can experience the Changing of the Guard in the forecourt, one of the oldest and most familiar ceremonies associated with Buckingham Palace.

Shopping

London is the perfect paradise for the shopper, there are an endless choice of shops to visit so no matter what you are looking for there is a shop for everything. Some of the main shopping areas include Westfield Stratford City (the largest indoor shopping centre in Europe) and One New Change, the trendy new shopping centre at St. Paul’s. Markets such as Columbia Road, Camden and Spitalfields outdoor shopping experience are always popular  – info here

Bond Street and Covent Garden are well known for their designer stores and trendy boutiques whilst Oxford Street has one of the highest concentrations of shops in the world, and is where you will find the high street stores and the popular Selfridges. Head to Regent Street for international brand stores where you can also visit the 'finest toy store in the world', Hamleys.

Knightsbridge is home to the two famous department stores in London, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Harrods has gone beyond being a mere department store, and has become a tourist destination in its own right. Harvey Nichols offers designer clothes, furnishing and food of a quality far superior to anything else you would find in the area.

Dining

There are many places in the city to dine with a mix of Michelin starred restaurants as well as budget eateries and everything in between! Why not try something a bit different and take a dining cruise along the famous River Thames. There are many different cruises whether you want to dine for a special occasion or would prefer a cruise with some live music and dancing. No trip to London would be complete without indulging in a luxury afternoon tea at one of London’s many hotels and restaurants – info here

Nightlife

London is world famous for its party vibe and non-stop nightlife. The capital is seething with after-hours drinking and dancing dens of all shapes and sizes from the pulsating dance floors of major nightclubs to the chilled intimacy of smaller quirky bars in Shoreditch and Hoxton. London has something to offer both party animals and those looking for a quiet drink and conversation.

Evening Entertainment

Choose from one of London’s fantastic West End productions including family favourites such as Shrek the Musical or The Lion King - or see one of many highly–acclaimed plays at the National theatre. Top class entertainment venues include the Royal Albert Hall, The O2 and the Royal opera House. Have a quiet drink in a local bar or even dance till the wee hours of the morning in London's growing club scene in Leicester Square. There is something for everyone!

Whatever you choose there is something for everybody in the large city of London.

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