“Lady Di”, as her admirers called her, first gained public notice when she and Prince Charles began dating in the summer of 1980. The shy kindergarten teacher seemed an odd choice for consideration as a prospective princess, but the courtship culminated in a storybook wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981. The wedding was televised to a worldwide audience, who watched intently as the couple exchanged their vows and began their married life together.

The fairytale continued for Princess Diana as she gave birth to the first child and heir, Prince William, on June 21, 1982. Another son soon followed; Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984. Princess Diana was known as a devoted and loving mother who spent a great deal of her time with her sons and took an active and assertive role in their upbringing. This, along with her numerous charitable works, made her a popular and well-loved public figure.

Princess Diana attracted public criticism for her choice of charities and social causes, especially her activities on behalf of AIDS patients and those suffering from leprosy; due to the controversial nature of these ailments, they were not considered proper subjects of concern for a member of the royal family. Princess Diana insisted on continuing her work in these areas despite the disapproval of some of the royal family. This further endeared her to the British public and attracted attention for her favored causes from admirers around the world.

Beneath the façade of a publicly happy marriage, however, the fairytale was unraveling for Princess Diana. Her relationship with Prince Charles became stilted and cold, and contemporary reports indicated that both engaged in extramarital affairs during this time, with Prince Charles resuming a previous relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Eventually the marriage was irretrievably broken, and the couple officially separated on December 9, 1992; divorce followed, and was finalized on August 28, 1996. Princess Diana continued her charitable works until her death in an auto accident on August 31, 1997, barely a year after her divorce became final.

Today, many memorials to Princess Diana are located throughout London and are popular destinations for her admirers and other sightseers to the historic city. Queen Elizabeth II presided over the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales Fountain located in Hyde Park, London, which attracts many visitors each year. Additionally, the Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is a well-loved reminder of Princess Diana. Visitors can stroll along the Memorial Walk that connects the two commemorative tributes and enjoy a delicious meal at Princess Diana’s favorite Italian restaurant, nearby San Lorenzo on Beauchamp Place.

A number of London hotels are located near these memorials to Princess Diana. The LondonMap llists a wide range of London hotels in the area. including the reasonably priced Royal Garden Hotel. Travelers can also find information regarding rates and availability for upscale London hotels with live availability, guaranteed lowest rates and even use the convenient overlays to see how close you’ll be to the tube, restaurants, parks, etc.

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People can enjoy the different facilities of Ambassadors Bloomsbury with discounts up to 23%  before and during Christmas season.  196 Bishopsgate has spacious rooms with a contemporary style and it is located in a popular area of London.  People can get up to 46% discount during November and late December.  Some other hotels like the The May Fair and the Corus Hotel Hyde Park are fine places to stay at reasonable prices. Visitors here can get more than 20% discounts for rooms. They include different facilities and perfect locations to enjoy the nearby activities in London city.

Hotels such as the luxurious The International Hotel and the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel have excellent locations to reach different activities. They provide different facilities such as restaurants, parking, telephone, snack bar, and room service. Visitors can get discounts up to 20%  staying during November and January.

Click on Any London Hotel Picture For a Larger View

Some fun activities that people can enjoy these days are at the London Ice Rink. During November 2009 and March 2010 children and adults can enjoy the ice skating experience in this and other wonderful ice rinks of London.  Visit the Natural History Museum Ice Rink which is complementary with a trip to the museum. Here, families can spend their evening enjoying the exhibits and the one-thousand square meters ice rink. Visitors can also enjoy the ice rinks of the Tower of London and the Canary Wharf.

Don’t forget the different shows taking place during November and the Christmas season. The Winter Wonderland is definitely one of the main events of the Christmas season. Here, people can enjoy the largest outdoor ice rink in London city as well as other Christmas attractions for children and adults. The Santa’s Secret Village is perfect for families who want to spend some time with Santa. Children can meet Santa and enjoy Christmas storytelling. Adults can visit the Cologne Christmas Market to find gifts and a lot more. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the Oxford Street Christmas Market. The Parklife Oxford Street Christmas Market provides its visitors with a wide variety of hand made toys, jewelry, and clothing. People can visit this new Christmas market on Oxford street from November 20^th and January 3^rd (2010)

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Christmas in London is without a doubt one of the most beautiful times of the year. It’s filled with Christmas celebrations, decorations, food, drinks, and all sorts of parties and events. Fortunately, the actual London Christmas season begins earlier than in the states – usually from around mid November. For that reason, it might be a great time for you to dash across the pond and get in the spirit.

Grange Hotels, a leading UK independent hotel group, is offering special rates for all of its London hotels from 20th December 2009 through 10 January 2010 starting at £40.00 to £80.00. Accommodation rates include continental breakfast and even applies to mid-week stays. The Grange group offers 14 hotels throughout London with 2 in Bloomsbury, 6 in Camden, 3 in Westminster, 1 in Kensington and 2 in The City.

Top Pick For The Christmas Season:

Grange Blooms Hotel

Grange Blooms Hotel is located just off Russell Square - one of the prettiest areas in London. It’s also a fantastic location for the theatres and Covent Garden, Oxford and Regent Streets, and is literally across the street from the British Museum . It’s walking distance to practically everything.

The hotel is actually a small boutique hotel set over 3 floors and containing 26 en-suite rooms. Don’t be fooled by the size, however. This is a beautiful , comfortable and warm home away from home with some added 18th century flair. There is a lovely restaurant which overlooks the private garden and a malt library bar (open 24 hours!) where they serve over 30 different malt whiskies. (Tip:  If you’re going on business, this is a great spot to invite someone for an unusually impressive array of fine whisky – a much loved potable in England.)

The guest rooms are beautifully appointed mixing 18th century and early 19th century antiques with current-day comforts. You can pick a room with a view of the private gardens or a room with a theme such as Pickwick, Lords, Theatre Royal or Dickens. All rooms have hypoallergenic pillows and duvets, ironing facilities, 24-hour room service, non-smoking rooms, complimentary newspaper and fresh fruit, high-speed internet and much more.

Blooms was originally an 18th century townhouse occupying what was once part of the grounds of Montague House – which later bacame the British Museum. Fortunately for us, the Grange group were dedicated to preserving its elegance and historic presence during its renovation. Don’t wait to book your room here. It fills up fast.

The hotel is offering rooms starting at GBP60.00/night in its Christmas Specials package. Click here for more info.

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Samantha Brown does a great job touring the world and her trip to London during her “Passport To Europe – Season 1, Episode 2, London Now” series is no exception. Here are some highlights of the video.
Samantha starts out her trip in Berkeley Square (pronouned Bark-lee) and points out two publications which she recommends wholeheartedly: The “A-Z” (prounounced A to Zed) and “TimeOut London”. The A-Z is a must have – even for people who live in town! I had one in my car, my briefcase, my desk drawer, my kitchen at home and my bedroom! It is a fantastic and accurate street look-up guide which will get you out of a jam in more than one occassion – I guarantee it! It’s a bit daunting to use at first but you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

(By the way, Londoners often refer to their Post Codes when describing the location of their homes, etc. That’s because the post codes actually tell you where something is. For example – the West End is the “heart” of London. So guess what the post code is? W1. I lived in Chelsea for a time which is south and west of the west end. So my post code started with SW. )

Next, Samantha travels via the London Underground – or tube. (We in the U.S. refer to the underground as the Subway. But in London, a subway is an underground WALKING passage so make sure you ask for the Undergound or the tube if that is what you want!) The Underground is very easy to use and their maps are world famous for their simplicity and design. Each line has its own color and changing trains couldn’t be easier. The Underground runs relatively smooth and on time although it’s not unheard of for a track to be out, etc. So if you bring a laptop with you and you need to be somewhere on time, you may want to check their web site to be sure everything is on schedule. Samantha points out that if you need assistance, ask someone in a blue shirt. You can buy tickets in the kiosk or in the vending machines. You can purchase a one-day Travel Card and use it all day within zones 1 and 2 and on the undergound and/or buses.

If you take the tube to Waterloo, you’ll be on the south-side of the Thames and at the entrance to the London Eye – the largest observation wheel (ferris wheel) ever built. You can purchase online in advance. This is a fantastic ride and a great way to see London. It takes 1/2 hour to get through a complete circle and runs until 10:00 p.m. and as Sam points out, you can even reserve it for a cocktail!

Samantha goes to some of the more touristy spots from the Eye – starting with Leicester Square (pronounced Lester). As she says, this is a main meeting place with movie complexes and mega shops. You can also find the “TKTS” booth for half-priced theater tickets. The theaters are just a few blocks from here; mostly on Shaftsbury Ave. Just a short distance from here is Picadilly Circus with its “carnival-like” atmosphere and Madame Tussaud’s where you’ll “que up” for quite a while to pay your GBP 22.00 to get in. You can pay GBP 25.00 to skip the line or, if you’ve got a group of 6 or more, get in fast through the group line. Also check the London Eye site for a double-attraction ticket for Tussaud’s (link below).

Watch Samantha’s “London Now”!

From here, Samantha heads back to her hotel at the Atheneum. Technically in Mayfair, the hotel is located on Picadilly and right down the street from Park Lane, Hyde Park, and Hyde Park corner. Right across the street is Green Park and the fabulous shops, restaurants and theaters of the West End are a stone’s throw away. This is a fabulous 5-star hotel with every amenity and comfort you can imagine.

The Atheneum Hotel – 5-Star Splendour in Central London For More Information or to Book Online, Click Here

Samantha chose to stay in one of the Atheneum’s “flats” or apartments. With a private entrance, a sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and bath – all donned with style and comfort in mind – you will be truly pampered in luxury. There’s even a spa at the hotel with a full-service hair salon, scrubs, massages, nail treatments and more. If you really want to exercise, there’s a gym with everything you need to keep in shape or just go out the door and head to one of the parks for a run. The Athaneum has it all.

The rates for this 5-star gem will run from $259 to $500 for a “superior” to a “parkview” room and around $750 to $950 for an apartment per night. Make sure when you make your reservation that the rate INCLUDES taxes and fees. The U.K. has a super duper sales tax called the Value Added Tax – or V.A.T. for short. It’s 17.5%!!! (If you buy anything there and take it with you, you will get a refund form but this doesn’t apply to hotels.)

More Great Stops From Samantha Brown in London:

• Notting Hill
  Trendy area with the famous Portobello Road market and antiques shopping. Not to be missed!
• On-Street Toilets
  Super clean and easy, these facilities are 2nd to none. Don’t be afraid to use them. Each time someone exits the cubicle, the toilet is automatically washed and sanitized.
• Fast Food London Style
  Tiffinbites (Taken from the Indian lunch box name “Tiffinbox”) where you pick what you want, take it up to the counter where it is heated up and served with fresly-made Indian bread. Very good. Indian food is very popular with the Brits. Don’t be afraid to try it and if you don’t know what to order, just ask!
• Southbank and Bankside
  The Millennium Bridge – this relatively new footbridge takes you across the Thames not far from St. Paul’s and over to the Tate Modern – a must see art museum for 20th and 21st Century artists.
• Wine Tasting
  Vinopolis gives you the history of wine and wine tasting. Grab a glass and hop on a Vespa motor scooter where you’ll go on a virtual tour of wine country on the windscreen! Fun.

For more information on the Atheneum Hotel and Atheneum Hotel Apartments, Please see:

• 5-Star Mayfair London Hotels

Links for This Article:

Click To Watch This Episode Online	The A-Z Guide
	London Underground Map and Tickets
The London Eye and Madame Tussaud’s	TKTS London
Best Rates Online – Atheneum Hotel and More	Portobello Road Info
Tiffinbites	Millennium Bridge
Tate Modern	Vinopolis

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When I first heard that London would host the 2012 Olympics, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine where they would put it and after the Millenium Dome fiasco, I was sure it wouldn’t succeed. Now, I have to admit that I am sure I was wrong. No one can put on a show like the Brits. They will more than likely go over the projected (and increased) 9 billion-pound budget but I’ve no doubt they’ll win it back in the end. So the next question is where will they put all the new hotel rooms and which ones will be the type of hotel you will want to stay in?

Olympic Park – the nerve center of the games – will be headquartered in East London in an area known as Lower Lea Valley. East London has been the butt of a notorious background since the Victorian era and it’s about time the British government gave it a leg up. Historically, it has numerous tales to tell and the East Enders took it on the chin during World War II. So we’re happy to hear that they’ll be getting employment opportunities as well as a face lift! In fact, after the games, they are planning on transforming it into the largest urban park created in Europe for more than 150 years!

Originally, it was planned that there would be an additional 2000 rooms added to London’s hotel roster, but it is now revised down to 1000. No one is quite sure who will be the final brands to receive approval and funding but according to CNBC European Business, “Wyss di Corrado says Travelodge, Premier Inn and Hilton are certain to open hotels, as well as some key international brands.” Of course, that will be hotels in the immediate vicinity.

There’s nothing preventing your staying at one of your favorites in the West End! In fact there will be a much-improved East End transport system installed by then. Already under construction, Transport for London is preparing for 7.7 million ticket holders at the Olympic games and according to its website, “We’re aiming for 100 per cent of spectators to get to the Games by public transport, or by walking or cycling.” That means improvements and/or additional facilities to rail, light rail, tube, bus, waterways and even cycling and walking routes!

So have no fear — there will be appropriate accommodation and transport for everyone in time for the games.

You can stay up-to-date on the construction project by watching the progress online: The London 2012 Official Website

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