As you walk around London, tube trains are constantly whizzing around under your feet. The London Underground is a convenient and fast transit system that covers most of Greater London. Although 55% of the network is above ground, the system is officially referred to as the London Underground. It is also often called “The Tube” due to the shape of the tunnels. Impressively, it was the first underground railway system of its kind. Before its creation in 1863, the world had never seen an underground railway. To top it off, it was the first system to use electronically operated trains in 1890.

Different private companies built the earlier lines of the London Underground network. They were operated separately and, as a result, difficult to change between. In the year 1933, the London Passenger Transport Board was formed to integrate all the separate lines into one transport system. Going further in 1985, the UK Government made the network into a single entity, London Underground Limited (LUL).

LUL has been owned by Transport for London as a subsidiary since 2003. TfL is a statutory company in charge of most aspects of the London transport system. It is run by a board and commissioner chosen by the Mayor of London. Today, it has 270 stations and around 250 miles of track. It is the longest metro system on Earth and has one of the largest numbers of stations. Over a billion journeys were made in the system in 2007, making the London tube the second busiest metro system in the EU, after the Metropolitan in Paris. One of the most iconic parts of London’s Underground is the “tube map”. It is considered a design classic due to its schematic, non-geographical layout and multi-colored lines.

The London tube map has influenced transport maps all over the globe. Its history continued high level of service and this make London proud. It is a fact that London is considered as one of the most diverse cities in the world. The city is made up of 270 nationalities with more than 250 different languages spoken. There are five airports all with immensely accessible transport links. Once landed, getting around is easy, the underground is very easy to navigate and if you stay away from rush hour, you will easily find seats and find the whole process quite pleasurable. Other modes of transport include the famous London buses or black cabs. Either way you will be able to get about quite easily and if you want to see some attractions, you could always take a trip on an open tour bus.

There are hundreds of hotels or bed and breakfasts to suite any budget. You can stay at anything from a world renowned 5 star hotel such as the Ritz or the Carlton, but there are also plenty of budget friendly accommodation including youth hostels from about £15 a night. If you are planning to visit London, you can be sure that there are plenty of things to do and places to see.

With so many high-rise residential options available in London today, it is only right for buyers to be able to have such a broad selection of great London Penthouse properties to choose from on the market. If you are looking for luxurious real estate options within the region, you should definitely look into the amazing high-rise real estate options that await you in London today. When it comes to real estate, it always helps to understand exactly what it is that is being offered to you. By definition, Penthouse London properties are structured that are located on the topmost level of a high-rise building which has been designed so that it is set back from the outer walls of the infrastructure.

Buyers who are interested in penthouse properties in London are quite fortunate as many of today’s high-rise development projects have been designed so that they allow more than one home space to be available within each of these infrastructures while a number of these have also been designed to feature more than one penthouse property per floor. Nevertheless, these real estate options are made so that they provide people with more than just a typical condominium unit as they have often been referred to as spacious in their span. If you are interested in being able to purchase Penthouse London properties, you may find it useful to know that there are certain features which you can expect as you consider your range of options and these are as follows.

• Better Views– Since London is considered as one of the most beautiful locations in the world, it definitely helps to buy one of the many London Penthouse properties in order to maximize on the breathtaking views that will be easily seen from within the comfort of your own home, especially if you are more inclined to choose options which are situated along prime waterfront locations.
• More Privacy– Apart from the ability to take in better views of the region, the fact that people can be more secure knowing that they will have more privacy than most of their neighbors can also be an added value for buyers looking for luxury real estate within the region. If privacy is something that you value, these will definitely provide you with that important feature for modern luxury living.
• Transportation– Crowded cities tend to have excellent public transportation system, which means you have to consider the location of the apartment in relation to where the train or bus stations are. If you have a car, it is also important to consider how far you are from the most important infrastructures such as malls, schools and hospitals.

Needless to say, there are many other features which are distinct to today’s selection of London Penthouse properties which you can learn about by getting in touch with a professional agent who specializes in these luxury real estate options. Penthouses make for excellent homes, whether you are a single professional who made it big or a burgeoning family out in the big city. The key is finding the right property for the right price. If purchasing seems a little out of your league, the option of Serviced Apartments allows for long-let stays.

A couple of years ago, it would have been unthinkable to lease out apartments which were fully furnished and provided amenities similar if not better than those found at hotels. Hotels were basically the best thing that occurred to travellers everywhere as quite honestly, where else could you have gone back then when looking for the full catered, luxurious service?

The development of Serviced Apartments occurred following the changes in cheap international travel and the preferences of travelers, the short term rentals turn out to be the next best choice to staying at hotels. What is more, they also provided more room and more privacy that hotels couldn’t. They became a hit with business travelers who traveled with their loved ones and the fact that they can cook their own meals rather than ordering room service. They were seen as ideal for corporate stays.

Apart from the obvious benefits in living quarters and amenities, booking them online is particularly easy as you can search according to the number of rooms you want and the area you want to rent in. What is more, the fully equipped kitchen, bedrooms and living rooms all come as one to make you feel you are at your second home. Even the best 5-star hotel rooms could feel uneasy with its formal decoration, but Serviced Apartments will make you feel all the expediency and ease that you have to be capable of relaxing especially after a stressful day of meetings.

You can also find anything perfect for overnight stays to something that could accommodate business personnel from 6 to 9 months. They also make sense for entrepreneurs who travel back and forth. Also they save businesses from needing to rent a function room in hotels to hold conferences and meetings since the room is normally enough to accommodate from 6 to 8 persons at a time.

Another great thing regarding Serviced Apartments is that they come in various kinds which will suit your accommodation needs. Though they all serve similar purpose there are many distinctions that make every one different from the rest. Nevertheless, they all provide 24-hour reception and are normally situated in city centers. They could also range from budget to luxury types and studio type apartments to those with 2 or 3 bedrooms with individual living and dining areas and kitchens.

Another popular kind of Serviced Apartments is corporate housing that is really residential properties upgraded for temporary renting. The rental expenses for these types normally include cleaning services, local taxes, utility charges and rentals for television, phone and internet services for 1 month or more. Some are situated in city centers but most are normally situated outskirts of town only a short distance from city centers. Serviced Apartments get rid of the pressure of organizing business trips and essentially lessen the huge expense incurred during these events. Take benefit of the advantages serviced apartments bring as well as experience what it really feels like to have a comfortable place away from home without spending too much.

London is renowned for its multiculturalism, and this is not questioned with the Vaisakhi celebrations at City Hall.

Twenty million people around the world celebrate the festival of Sikh New Year, with over 30,000 attending the festivities for it in London over the past few years. This year, at City Hall and The Scoop there will be festivities once again.

There will be a mixture of talks, poetry readings, music, martial arts, and more. It’s wonderful in bringing together the communities of London, and whether you’re interested in the culture or the festivities, it is definitely worth considering heading down.

Attendance is free, and London Bridge (Northern Line) is the closest underground station.

Read more here: https://www.london.gov.uk/events/2016-04-09/vaisakhi-2016

A play that people have definitely been talking about is Annie Baker’s The Flick, an off-broadway prize-winning show that has made its move to the London scene.

The show features three underpaid employees in a movie theatre in Massachusetts which is declining tend to one of the last 35mm film projectors left in the state.

The story involves some heartbreaks and petty battles, raising the question as to where the biggest drama is – the flick, or amongst them?

The show begins playing from the 14th April, with tickets starting from £15 at the National Theatre on London’s Southbank.

Closest Station is Waterloo for Trains and Underground services.

Read more here: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-flick

(Image sourced from The National Theatre)

Following the wondrous success of the ‘David Bowie Is’ exhibition, this exhibition flaunts all the successes and gatherings, and clears a few cobwebs, of the history of The Rolling Stones.

This is a major exhibition at the Saatchi Galleru, with over 50 years of memorabilia, including personal items, photographs, films, costumes, guitars, and personal diaries.

This is definitely well worth a visit for any avid Rock and Roll fans, as The Rolling Stones were one of the most iconic bands for paving the way not only musically, but culturally as well.

Tickets are £19-£21 (£12-19 concessions), and the closest tube station is Sloane Square (District & Circle Line).

Read more here: http://www.stonesexhibitionism.com

1. Fever

Whether you’re looking for a secret bar, a chilled lounge, or a fancy restaurant for a meal, Fever’s got you covered. Their team of experts scour the streets to find you the best places to check out. They do the hard work, so you don’t have to.

2. Dojo

Dojo is an app dedicated to giving you the best on the current happenings in London. From pop-up shops to fine dining, they highlight where the best places to visit in London are – right at that moment. They also offer the ability to buy tickets in-app, which is great too.

3. Uber

For those late nights, since the night Tube hasn’t quite settled in yet, Uber is always a great alternative. Much cheaper than using a black taxi, and a safe alternative to other cab services, Uber is a great way to split a ride with friends to get yourselves home.

4. Citymapper

Citymapper is probably one of the most extensive travel apps for London and various other cities across the world. It offers you a selection of routes, and you can filter according to your travel capabilities or what’s available to you; they offer bus-only routes, routes which have the fewest changes, and the quickest route. They also offer a variety of services which are available at night, as well as providing you with a rough estimate of cost.

5. TubeMap

It really is almost inevitable to get around London without using the Tube Map. The Tube Map is probably the most handy of tools, making sure you know which routes are best for you. However, whilst experience helps, sometimes the Tube Map can be a little misleading so it’s not always something to go solely by. For example, did you know Old Street and Liverpool Street are only about a 15-minute walk away from each other – on the tube map, it doesn’t look so easy.

Welcome to the 130 Queen’s Gate Blog. We intend to keep you updated with the latest news, events and information from Kensington and it’s surrounding London areas.

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Whilst London is known for having a host of interesting museums with some of the world’s most exclusive exhibitions, there are a small handful of museums dotted around the city which often fall off the radar.