Monday, December 12, 2011

Fun And Awesome Things About The Town Of London

By Shane Leon Sims


Staying at a cheap London hotel doesn't detract anything from the experience of visiting a city as full of cultural heritage as this one. Tourists staying at the more expensive hotels may have nicer accommodations, but that doesn't mean they will have a better time seeing the sights or experiencing the history of this urban sprawl.

Inexpensive kings cross hotels and inns as well as hostels all provide cheap options for those traveling on a budget. Many of these businesses offer shared rooms, bunk beds, community bathrooms, and pod sleepers to cut down on the cost of using their facilities. They may not be in areas of town as nice as the more expensive hotels, but they are still within walking, Tube, or driving distance from interesting things to see.

Hundreds of years ago the city known as London did not exist. Instead there were two cities, known as Londinium and Westminster, that eventually grew so large that they merged with each other into one metropolitan area. Parliament and Buckingham Palace are now in the area once known as Westminster, while the financial district is located in the area once called Londinium.

The sprawling metropolitan area makes up the 9th largest city in the world, as well as the largest city in the European Union. It is so large, in fact, that if it were its own country, it would be the eighth largest country in the world. It is home to many internationally known chains of stores, restaurants, and business, as well as attractions unique to the area. Traditional pubs, family-owned stores, and sporting event arenas can be found here as well.

The size of the city is not the only record that it holds. Built in 1863, the Underground was the first metro system in the world. Commonly referred to as "The Tube", this system of underground trains spreads throughout the city and is used daily by both residents and visitors to the city.

The longest escalator in the world makes its home as part of the Underground system and is located at Angel Tube Station. This behemoth escalator includes over 300 steps and carries thousands of people every single day. In some cases it is so busy that it can be quicker to just take the stairs.

Another record-holder in this ancient city is the Canary Wharf Tower, which holds the title of Tallest Building in London. It stands at 800 feet tall, dwarfing the rest of the Docks and Canary Wharf area. It became a popular tourist attraction after serving as a setting for an alien invasion in the television series "Doctor Who" and later its spin-off series "Torchwood".

Wherever a visitor to the area stays, whether it is in a suite at the most expensive hotel or in a pod at the cheapest, London has lots of interesting things to discover and experience. A city this old and this large is full of history and culture, which can be learned by hitting the streets and seeing the sights.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment