London needs little introduction as a city on the world stage, but if you’re travelling here for business there are some things that will help you get the most out of your trip. London attracts tourists and business travellers throughout the year – yes, even in our cold, grey winters. And there is plenty to do whatever the weather when you have some free time from your business commitments, indeed, so much to do that it’s hard to choose.
If this is your first-time visiting London, here are our tips to give you a head start planning your business trip to London and enjoying your time in this wonderful city.
Where to stay on a business trip to London?
London abounds with hotels, aparthotels and serviced apartments for the business traveller. For shorter stays hotels offer everything the business traveller needs with comfortable bedrooms, breakfast and dinner readily available in the restaurant or via room-service. What’s not to like?
However, for longer stays most people prefer staying in a serviced apartment in London so they can have the benefits of a hotel but more space and freedom to cook and eat just what they want and have a comfortable living room to relax in after a long day. Depending where you are working when visiting London, you may prefer to be near your business premises or prefer to be closer to the city centre sights. To help you decide here are just a few London locations that make a great place to stay when travelling on business to London.
City of London
This area north of the River Thames is the centre of the financial district where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic buildings. It is a small but highly influential area often referred to as the “Square Mile” due to its approximate size of one square mile and is the financial heart of the UK as well as one of the world’s leading financial centres.
Despite being such a small area within a much larger city, some of the world’s largest financial institutions and historic landmarks are all found here. The London Stock Exchange, one of the world’s largest and most influential stock exchanges in the world, is also based here. The City is primarily a business district, but is also home to high-end restaurants, cafes and bars, hotels and serviced apartments catering to professionals and business travellers.
Mayfair
Mayfair is a very affluent part of central London with a long-established history since the Grosvenor family started to build in the area in 1677. Modern Mayfair has managed to retain some of the village feel from those early days even though it now has people from all over the world living there.
Staying in a hotel or serviced apartment in Mayfair will give you a taste of the prestigious atmosphere of the area with world renowned luxury hotels such as Claridge’s, The Dorchester and The Ritz. Not surprisingly there are also famous restaurants in Mayfair such as the Michelin-starred establishments Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and Sketch for some of the best dining experiences in the world.
London Bridge
The London Bridge area on the south side of the River Thames is where you will find the landmark building The Shard and also the foodie delights of Borough Market, along with many of London’s major businesses. It also provides easy access via public transport or taxi to the City of London business district and is right on the Thames Path for easy riverside walks with spectacular views of many of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Tower of London, the Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge.
The London Bridge area has many new residential developments and hotels making it a dynamic and desirable place to live and work with a wide choice of restaurants, bars and cafes along the river. It is also a major transport hub with London Bridge station being one of the busiest railway stations in London.
The main shopping areas of London
The shopping experience in London is justifiably famous across the world with well-known flagship stores, local designers and unique vintage shops. Here are just some of the exciting shopping destinations to explore in London.
Oxford Street
Perhaps the most famous shopping street in London, Oxford Street is a mix of iconic designer brand names and high street favourites. Get your fill of the designer experience at Selfridges department store (also a great spot for lunch), then browse the shops eastwards along Oxford Street to the Carnaby Street area (near Oxford Circus tube station) for some interesting independent fashion boutiques.
Covent Garden
The beautiful old piazza and surrounding cobbled streets have a mix of luxury and high-street fashion and beauty shops. But this is more than just a shopping area and also boasts a range of award-winning restaurants and theatres, plus vibrant cafes and bars for lively entertainment in the evening.
Westfield Stratford City
This is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and is located in the East London area of Stratford. It opened in 2011 as a central part of the area’s redevelopment for the 2012 London Olympics. It is a flagship shopping, entertainment and leisure destination in the heart of the Stratford area, which is part of the London Borough of Newham.
Westfield Stratford City is extremely well-connected to public transport being adjacent to Stratford Station, which provides access to the Central and Jubilee Lines on the London Underground, The Elizabeth line overground from Paddington in West London; and Stratford International Station, which connects to the high-speed rail service to continental Europe via the Eurostar.
The shopping mall features more than 250 stores and covers all budgets for fashion from Primark to Prada. Tech enthusiasts can explore stores like Apple, Samsung, Currys PC World, and Maplin for the latest gadgets and electronics. And after you’ve had enough retail therapy you will find a wide array of dining and entertainment options including a cinema and bowling alley.
Other places to visit in London
Kew Gardens
Located in west London, The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew is home to 50,000 living plants spread across this UNESCO World Heritage site. Probably at it’s best in spring and summer, it’s still an interesting place to visit in every season. If you are craving the great outdoors as well as interested in learning something about the biggest and most diverse botanical collection in the world, it doesn’t get much better than this on a fine day.
St. James’s Park
This park dates back to the 16th century and is one of London’s most famous and beautiful royal parks, located in the heart of the city. The 57-acre space is bordered by several prominent landmarks so you can easily combine some nature with some history on a day out. Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey are all nearby.
The park’s central feature is its picturesque lake, where you can see a variety of birds, including swans, ducks, and even pelicans. The lake is crossed by several bridges which make for great photo opportunities. If you are lucky enough to be staying in a hotel or serviced apartment in London near St. James’s Park it also provides a peaceful escape from the hubbub of the city after your working day.
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is an iconic building in it’s own right – converted to an art gallery from the redundant Bankside Power Station, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Now it is filled with paintings and sculptures by famous artists such as Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and David Hockney, among many others. There is a permanent collection of international modern and contemporary art that are free to view but the gallery also hosts special displays (which have an entry fee).
If you visit around lunch time there is also a very good restaurant on the top floor with amazing views across the Thames to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Top tip: always best to book a table at this popular restaurant. Walk across the Millennium footbridge to visit the cathedral after lunch – a perfect day.
