We could give you thousands of good reasons to go on a city break to London. The problem is lack of space. In any case, most people know that a holiday in London is unlikely to disappoint. Here you get the practical information you need, and many tips for what you should experience in the capital of England.
London, the capital of Great Britain and England, is a very popular destination for Norwegians. With its almost 8.5 million inhabitants, this is one of the world’s largest metropolises. Almost 20 million visitors come here every year, and many of them are Norwegians.
A long weekend or more in the city is suitable for anyone. Bring your girlfriend, your mother, the kids, the group of friends, or travel alone. Everyone gets another great ride!
Recommended hotels in London
- Knightsbridge Hotel-With its five stars, the Knightsbridge Hotel is not among the cheapest hotels in London, it is just as well a good option for those who want to stay stately in London. The hotel has a great location with shopping opportunities such as Harvey Nichols and Harrods within walking distance of the hotel door. The hotel offers real British style and class, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine in the lounge and just feel the atmosphere. The service is impeccable.
- Assembly Hotel London- London is one of the more expensive hotel cities in the world and if you want a good standard here it usually costs a lot. There are also hotels that can offer good facilities at a relatively cheap price. The Assembley Hotel London is thus a good choice for those who want a cheap hotel in London. The hotel is very centrally located, with only 400 meters to walk to Leicester Square. The rooms are quite small but have a good standard and are cozy. Suitable for those who are on a girlfriend trip to London.
- CitizenM Tower of London– CitizenM is a modern and stylish hotel located directly on Tower Hill Underground Station. From here you have a perfect base for navigating around London, both on foot and using the London The rooms are modern, bright and elegant, and some of them overlook the Tower of London, which is spectacular in itself. The hotel also has a wonderful great bar on the top floor with an incredible view and great drinks.
Travel to London
Next to Copenhagen and Stockholm, London is probably the easiest city to get to for us in Norway. There are direct flights with SAS, Norwegian, British Airways and Ryanair. The most eager of these companies like to fly 5-6 times a day, or more, depending on when in the week and in the year you want to travel. The flight time is a little over 2 hours.
The competition makes it easy to find really cheap round-trip tickets, especially if you book well in advance of your trip.
Flying with a stopover is a bit awkward. You are wasting time and you usually have to pay more for the tickets. Should you still fly to London with a stopover, we recommend that it be via Copenhagen. Then you normally waste the least time.
London is one of the cities where there are most package tours by plane and hotel. As a rule, these are quite affordable, you fly directly, and the hotels are usually well located.
Airports in London
London is served by as many as six international airports. These are Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Luton, City and Southend. SAS and British Airways usually land at Heathrow, while Norwegian and Ryanair land at Stansted. You can land at Gatwick with a charter flight if you book a package tour, while the other airports are not very relevant for flights departing from Norway.
To and from Heathrow
- The fastest way to get between Heathrow and central London is by Heathrow Express. It runs every 15 minutes from Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 to Paddington Station. The journey time is then 15 minutes (terminals 2 and 3) or 20 minutes (terminals 4 and 5).
- The second fastest are the trains from TFL Rail which run from terminals 2 and 3. To the center of London, these trains take half an hour, and they run twice an hour.
- The subway runs from all terminals (Piccadilly Line), but it takes significantly more time (up to 1 hour to the city center). On the other hand, it is cheaper than traveling by express train.
- The National Express buses leave from Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 and stop in many places in London. The trip takes between 40 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on where you are going.
- Taxis between London and the city center often take more than an hour, costing up to £ 70-80 (depending on time spent, time of day and day of the week).
To and from Stansted
- The Stansted Express train is the fastest way to get between the airport and London. It runs every 15 minutes and takes between 45 and 50 minutes to Liverpool Street Station.
- The buses to National Express run around the clock. They stop at all the main metro and train stations in the city center. To London Victoria the bus takes about an hour and a half.
- Taxis from Stansted to central London come in fast at over £ 80. The time it takes depends very much on the traffic, but expect about 1 hour and up.
Health conditions
You can enjoy a drink of tap water in London. In accordance with the EEA rules, you as a Norwegian citizen will receive adequate medical assistance should you need it. This is free of charge, except for any deductibles, medications and prescriptions. You must have a European Health Insurance Card, which you receive from NAV, for your rights to apply. It is recommended that you have travel insurance as well.
Football match in London
Going to a football match in London is almost mandatory once you are there. This is the hometown of a whole range of well-known football clubs, both at the top level and down in the divisions. Here you will find the home ground of famous clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Millwall, Watford, Fulham, Luton Town, Charlton Athletic and Brentford to name a few. London also houses the Wembley National Arena, which must be said to be one of the world’s finest football stadiums.
However, getting tickets to the matches is not always as easy, depending on who is playing. Use official channels to buy tickets, for example directly from the club, or travel companies that officially cooperate with the clubs. Buying tickets on the black market is very risky. It is not only illegal, but also unsafe for you to get a valid ticket.
Museums in London
If you are interested in culture and history, and like to visit museums, London is the city for you. Here you will find a number of well-known museums in art, culture and history. The vast majority are also free to visit.
Here are 10 suggestions:
- British museum
- Natural History Museum
- Science Museum
- Tate Modern
- Imperial War Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- National Maritime Museum
- National Gallery
- London Transport Museum
- Museum of London