Places To See Before You Die… London

It may be only a hop, skip and jump across the water but we're constantly surprised by the amount of people who have not experienced what lovely London has to offer. From trendy hotspots to vintage markets, this is one city that caters to all tastes but the key to making the most of London is doing your research before you go. It can be quite expensive but with a little preparation, a weekend jaunt can be done on a budget and we have some great hotel deals from HerHotels to help you on your way. First of all, you need to get there and flights to the UK have never been more affordable due to rising competition and a choice of airports. As you'll probably know from our previous travel pieces, our top tip for finding bargain flights is logging on to www.skyscanner.ie. This invaluable website pulls together flights from all operators and is currently showing return fares to London from €45 from Dublin, €40 from Cork, €46 from Shannon and €45 from Ireland West Knock. There are so many 'must do' things in London that it's hard to know where to start but we're going to go with a trip to the Tower of London. This is definitely one of the most interesting tourist sights and to fully appreciate it, you need to set a day aside. The history of this landmark is varied and really interesting and tours available include everything from a viewing of the Crown Jewels to an insight into what it was really like to live in a Medieval Palace. It's also a very picturesque spot, with plenty of options if you want to stop for a spot of lunch or a coffee. One of the best things about London is the abundance of markets. The buzz, the mix of people and the prospect of finding something that you'd never get in a shop all combine to make a great experience and Brixton Market and Camden Market are two of our favourites. If you do head to the latter, take the time to sample some of the great food available and if you're heading out on the town, you could do worse than checking out some of the area's famous bars and comedy clubs. Brick Lane is famous for its Indian food and makes a great stop for dinner, while Cargo, Fabric and KOKO are some of the city's most notable nightspots. A lot of visitors to London have just one thing on their minds - shopping. Oxford Street and Regent Street are your first stop for high street favourites including Topshop, River Island, H&M and Uniqlo, hit up Carnaby Street for quirky independent stores and browse some very enviable designer goods on Bond Street and Mayfair. London is also home to two Westfield shopping centres, one in West London and one in Stratford, which house a great mix of shops, restaurants and bars. Getting around London is pretty easy on the Underground or 'Tube' but make sure to get a day ticket or an Oyster card if you'll be travelling a lot as the queues for tickets can be a bit crazy at peak times. Accommodation can be a little expensive in London but if you shop around, you can bag some great deals. The DoubleTree by Hilton Victoria is a great choice as it is an ideal location, close to great transport links for both the airport and the city itself, and some seriously plush decor (approximately €430 for a Friday and Saturday night). The Hyde Park Hotel is located close to the West End and offers rooms with a built-in kitchenette, which can be very handy if you're trying to keep costs down (€359 for a two-night weekend break) and we also love the four-star Richmond Hill Hotel, which is close to Heathrow with a fabulous leisure centre and pool (€334 for a weekend). For these and more great deals, check out HerHotels here.