Undoubtedly one of the world’s great city, London blends a distinct sense of traditional character with a wide range of cultural influences. A vast metropolis, the capital stretches for 30 miles either side of the River Thames, its main waterway and lifeblood. With so much to do, many visitors choose to limit their visit to a weekend break. The combination of shopping, dining out and seeing a show is an incredibly popular for good reason. London’s theatres, restaurants and array of shops are world-renowned. What’s more, if you’re planning a London weekend break, the abundance of London hotels guarantees you’ll find the right room at a price that suits you.

Shop till You Drop

Treat yourself by kicking off your weekend trip with a West End shopping spree. You’ll find all of the familiar high street names and luxury designer brands, as well as famous department stores that have become national institutions, such as John Lewis, Liberty and Selfridges. But if you’re looking to pick up a bargain, check out London’s street and covered markets. Take the tube or walk along the Bayswater Road to Portobello Road, a winding street market chock-a-block with bric-a-brac, antiques and new and second-hand clothes. In London’s East End, the covered market in Spitalfields is great for vintage clothes and hip accessories.

Grabbing a Bite to Eat

Following a long day spent trawling the shops, you’ll almost certainly be craving a good meal. Thankfully, there’s an abundance of top restaurants, serving all sorts of cuisine, at which to grab a bite to eat. If you’re seeing a show, it’s worth trying one of the restaurants in Covent Garden or Soho, a short walk from many of the capital’s main theatres. However, if you would like something a bit different, you can find restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the globe in London. Curry-lovers flock to Brick Lane, in the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, but, for a little less well-trodden path, the Vietnamese restaurants that line the Kingsland Road are a delicious and affordable option. For fine dining in the capital, head to the luxury London hotels, where Michelin-starred chefs, such as Alain Ducasse and Marcus Wareing, have restaurants.

Theatreland

In 2007, over 13 million people went to see a show at one of London’s theatres. From West End musicals to Shakespear at The Globe, there’s something for everyone at London’s theatres.  Perennially popular musicals by Sondheim and Lloyd Webber continue to get packed out crowds dancing in the vomitoria, Denys Lasdun’s National Theatre stages premieres by some of most renowned playwrights, while the rebuilt globe puts on critically acclaimed productions of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays throughout the summer.

London’s dynamism and the constant creation of new cultural, shopping and culinary attractions mean it will continue to be a popular destination for weekend getaways with visitors from the UK and all over Europe. Whether you’re visiting London for the first time or taking the chance to see things you haven’t before, you can be confident of finding some great – and surprisingly affordable – London hotels online.