For many people outside of London, the nation's capital can seem like a world apart. And, for example, it can frequently seem like government policy is extremely London centric. However, whilst it is true that London is unlike any other city in the UK, it is important to remember that as our nation's capital, it is a city that belongs to us all.

This makes it the ideal destination for all Brits, who want to remain in the UK but experience still a city that is packed full of exciting oppourtunities and things to do.

For example, many of the UK's most important cultural landmarks exist in the capital - from the obscure (such as William Blake's grave) to the familiar (such as Westminster Catherdral). For anyone that enjoys culture, a stay in London hotels affords you the opportunity to experience culture at its finest.

London is also a distinctly modern capital, and whilst it may not be perfect, London's transport network is world class and goes that little bit further to provide a fast and efficient service. Take the oyster card system, for example, which allows you to take the tube without the hassle of buying an individual ticket for your journey.

For temporary visitors to the UK, London hotels are also extraordinary, and there are hotels in London to suit all budgets and tastes. For example, perhaps you need conference venues in London or meeting venues in London, in which case you'll be spoilt for choice at the amount of high quality accommodation on offer.

London has had a long and varied history when it comes to sport – and its place as a sporting city has long been assured. However, soon London will become a truly great capital of sport with the 2012 London Olympics - and perhaps even a World Cup!

In fact, ever since London won its bid to follow Beijing and host the Olympics in 2012, London has begun its transformation into an epicentre of sport! Areas such as Stratford are set for re-development in readiness for the event.

Nobody could ever accuse London of being in need of attention. Nonetheless, the Olympic games really will add value to the capital - not only in terms of the great event itself, but also in terms of the surrounding tourist boom.

This means that in 2012, there will be no better place for the sports enthusiast (or even those just like big occasions!) than old London town. This means that hotels in London are bound to be filled long before the event, as even in none-Olympic years hotels in London are extremely popular.

At Grange Hotels, luckily we offer loads of fabulous accommodation all over London, which means that you will be well situated for easy access to the Olympics when the time comes. Not only that but we have great conference venues in London, which means that if you are a hosting a coorpoarte event then with Grange Hotels you can take advantage of some of the best conference venues based in London.

One of the best things about staying in London hotels for visitors to Britain is that you are never more than a couple of hours away from some of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. For example, if you are enjoying a week in one of the many London city centre hotels, you are just over two hours away from Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles and the city which gave the world a pop revolution.

You could leave your central London hotels for a day and take a train on the West Coast line to Liverpool and visit the world famous Cavern Club, the venue where John, Paul, George and Ringo began their careers. If pop music isn’t your cup of tea, there are hundreds of things to see less than a couple of hours from the London hotels. For example, you could take a trip to Stonehenge, the monument which dominates Salisbury Plain.

You can decide for yourself whether the standing stones were a place of Sun worship, a sacred burial site or just the most amazing folly ever built by man! Whatever it’s original intention was, Stonehenge was erected between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC, so you will be able to view ancient history just a couple of hours away from the hotels in London you are staying in. Of course, you can always stay in the city itself, because there are some amazing places to visit just a few minutes walk from most London city hotels and meeting venues in London.

There is – quite literally - something for everyone in London, which perhaps explains why it is one of the most visited cities on earth. If history is your thing, then there are hundreds of museums for you to visit, as well as buildings which have seen major events unfold over the centuries. Then of course, there are the Royal Palaces, a must see for everyone who is staying in London hotels.
 
If you are thinking of London city centre hotels for your stay, this will mean that you are right at the heart of things, allowing you to get out and about looking at the palaces which have grown up over different periods of British history.

The number of separate buildings, and additions to older Palaces has meant that the variety of architecture is truly impressive to see. There have been some losses, for example Henry VIII's bedrooms at Hampton Court, but the Georgian additions to this palace go some way to making up for this.

The most famous building in London is Buckingham Palace, which was built in 1705. It didn’t become the London home of the sovereign until 1837, when Queen Victoria moved in. If you choose one of the many city of London hotels for your stay, you will be just minutes away from this and many other historic palaces. Just as there is something for everyone in this city, there are hotels in London to suit everyone as well, so book your accommodation and enjoy your visit.

In just over two year from now, London will be preparing for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. July 27, 2012 is the day that the world’s attention will be focused on this great city as the spectacular opening ceremony gets underway, and if you are thinking of coming to see one or more of the events which will feature the best athletes in the world, now is the time to start organising your trip.

It goes without saying that there will be tens of thousands of people arriving in the city to watch the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet, and they will all be looking for hotels in London. Make sure you don’t miss out and end up staying in London hotels which don’t really suit you by making your booking at one of the many city of London hotels now. With some forward thinking, you will be able to book a hotel in a specific location which will allow you to be just minutes away from some of the Olympic events taking place.

For example, you may want to choose hotels near Blackfriars or Covent Garden hotels which will let you see some of the events close up. If you are involved in the corporate world and are planning a combined trip to see the Olympics and do some business as well, you will be pleased to find that the conference venues in London are world class. Whatever your reasons are for coming to London in 2012, you are sure to have a fantastic experience. We look forward to seeing you!

When staying in London hotels with a young family, it can seem a daunting thought having to worry about how to keep the children entertained whilst on your break. However you need not worry. London is an extraordinary city of fun and vibrancy, which the oh-so-creative minds of youngsters will really relish.

London is scattered with many parks that allow for quick breaks for the children if you are out on an excursion. All the open spaces will give them opportunity to run around and let off some steam whilst you contemplate the plans for the rest of the day. Many hotels in London also offer onsite play areas or gardens, meaning you can wear the children out before bed so they are up bright and early for the next day's pursuits.

In terms of attractions that the kids will love, we at Grange Hotels believe that London is a fairground. You can give your children thrills and chills in the famous London dungeons or enjoy a family day out feeding the animals at the zoo, an activity that will always stimulate a child's minds. Attractions such as Ripley's Believe it or Not, which is situated in Piccadilly circus also make a fascinating day out for parents and children alike.

If you want a more educational daytrip, there are many enthralling museums that allow a hands on learning experience. The National Science Museum is famous for this approach, with even its very own built in cinema to keep the kids entertained while they learn. At Grange Hotels, we can supply you with the pefect London hotel for your trip; giving you a luxurious room to come back to after the day's advantures.

At Grange hotels, we know how great it is to away every now and then, particularly for the odd girly getaway. Time with the ladies in your life gives you a break from normal daily tasks and usually turns into a weekend full of gossip and giggles. When choosing from London hotels, whether you want 5 star hotels in London or a boutique hotel, this city is ideal for the best friends' weekend away.

London is home to many luxury 5 star hotels, which often allow you access to brilliant spa facilities. Luxury hotels in London offer quirky, girly rooms, ideal for late night chats and pampering and brilliant beauty treatments or massages for a mid morning boost.

London is a vibrant city with something for everyone. If it's an all girls getaway, shopping is a must. The city is home to the infamous Oxford Street, which offers you absolutely everything you may need in tweaking up that wardrobe and buying yourself something nice for the evening.

Madame Tussauds is also a brilliant place for the girls to visit. What could be more fun than getting all the girls together to pose with your favourite celebs?

So once you've been pampered, shopped and visited some of London’s brilliant attractions, London rocks for nightlife. You and your girls can get glammed up, before indulging in some contemporary dining and moving on to some of the city’s hottest nightclubs. You never know who you may bump into!

At Grange Hotels, we understand the importance of getting away once in a while, particularly the importance of a bachelor getaway. Time with the lads in your life gives you a break from normal daily tasks and usually turns into a barrel of laughs. Sound familiar? When staying in London hotels, whether your bachelor group fancies 5 star hotels in London, or a hotel nearby, this city is ideal for the lads' weekend away.

London is a vibrant city with something for everyone. In terms of its geography, London's ideal for football fanatics as it is home to the famous Chelsea football club, not forgetting Arsenal. If there are fans of these teams in your group, you can embark on detailed tours of the grounds and even take a look behind the scenes of the home ground of your favourite footballing legends.

Ripley's Believe it or Not also makes a brilliant day out for the bachelor group. What could be more interesting than five floors filled with giant men, matchstick masterpieces and bizarre attractions? You and your mates will certainly have fun as soon as you walk in the door.

While offering some wonderful historic and cultural monuments for the more creative types, London is also a very contemporary city, hence making it ideal for a lad's get away. The nightlife is booming, with popular and exclusive nightclubs on most streets, offering you top music and beautiful girls!

Central London hotels are ideal for accessing everywhere you want to get to and returning for a good night's sleep afterwards.

At Grange Hotels we understand that it can be a challenge choosing the perfect hotel for you, particularly if you have decided to indulge in a luxury hotel experience. 5 star hotels in London are the most prestigious due to their highest classification, however when thinking about luxury hotels in London, many people that use our service are unaware of what the hotel classification means and what would qualify as '5 star.'

To generalise, 5 star hotels in London are given this rating after an independent assessment which rests heavily on the facilities that the hotel has to offer.  The AA is the UK's leading hotel classifier, with a list of their judging criteria on their website.

In correlation with the criteria listed, 5 star hotels in London therefore offer luxurious accommodation, with a range of high-standard facilities and multi lingual services. In such hotels, the small things are carefully considered and catered for, such as entrance greetings, high quality menus and a variation of wine.

5 star hotels in London offer exquisite hospitality and all guest needs are considered, with nothing being too much trouble. 5 star hotels are home to beautiful furnishings and all bedrooms will have access to en suites or private bathrooms and an overall great quality service.

Hence, 5 star hotels in London are the epitome of luxury, where you will be truly pampered and well looked after. When searching for your ideal London getaway, it is worth considering hotel classification and what this means for you.

The term 'Boutique Hotel' itself is one that became popularised in North America and the UK. The hustle and bustle of London was in fact was home to some of the world's first boutique hotels back in the 1980s.

At Grange Hotels, we offer a wide array of charming hotels to suit your needs. Many of the hotels in London we work with are boutique. However, many people aren’t actually sure what this term means and how a boutique hotel differs from a mainstream hotel.

Boutique hotels in London differ from larger branded hotels in the respect that they are often small, independent businesses. Hence, boutique hotels are generally unique and individual. They are often furnished in a themed manner, with many offering various 'themed' rooms, for example, there may be a luxury crimson pad for the hopeless romantics or a flower power room for the eco warriors.

Boutique hotels in London are often smaller than mainstream hotels, with many catering for 50-100 guests. Taking this into consideration, boutique hotels in London therefore offer a much more intimate and personalised guest experience, where you may get to know the staff on a first name basis.

The word 'quirky' is often associated with the word 'boutique', which is absolutely spot on. Boutique hotels specialise in being quirky, fun and creative environments, therefore if you enjoy doing something different, a break in a boutique hotel is definitely worth considering. The level of intimacy and individuality that they offer also makes them completely appropriate for romantic getaways that will never be forgotten.