The British capital of London as a business travel destination
Who doesn't know these names? Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and The Underground. Of course I'm talking about London! For both the frequent and infrequent business traveler not an unknown city and one of my favorite world cities that I have visited several times! I would love to take you, Jizlia Telussa (Business Travel Consultant in Rotterdam), on a trip to this vibrant capital of the United Kingdom!
Travel to London
With flights from all over the world, at more than four airports around the city, London is easily accessible. But London is also within reach from the Netherlands and Europe by ferry, car and high-speed train. By plane, you travel from Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Eindhoven directly to one of the airports around the English capital. London Heathrow, west of London is the largest airport. From here you can easily hop on the London Underground (The Underground), which takes you to the heart of London with the Piccadilly line.
London City Airport; ideal hub for the business traveler
On the east side of the city you will find London City airport. A small airport where only regional planes, such as KLM Cityhopper, can land. This airport is also easily accessible by subway. London City airport is especially popular with business travelers because it's small in size and you're out of the airport fairly quickly after landing. Last but not least, the airport is closest to the business district of Canary Wharf. From the Netherlands you can only fly to London City airport from Schiphol Airport (KLM & British Airways) and Rotterdam The Hague airport (British Airways). Due to the Corona crisis, British Airways is temporarily not flying this route.
Airports in all directions
The other airports around the city are: Stansted airport; north of London, Gatwick airport; south of London, Luton airport; to the southeast and Southend airport; further east of the city. The latter is the furthest away. All airports can be reached from Schiphol Airport by Easyjet and from Eindhoven you can fly to Stansted airport by Ryanair. Stansted and Gatwick airport have a direct train connection to the city center namely the Stansted and Gatwick express. The travel time is about 30-45 minutes.
Travel by Eurostar; sustainable, comfortable and fast
From the Netherlands, you can also take a direct train from Amsterdam Central or Rotterdam Central to London. The Eurostar train stops at St. Pancras Station and the trip from Rotterdam takes only 3.5 hours. Eurostar had only just begun these rides between the Netherlands and London when the Corona crisis began. We hope that this sustainable and comfortable way of traveling from city to city will continue after this period.
Hotels in London
Those looking for a hotel in London do not have to search long for one that meets their own needs. In fact, there is a wide range from budgetproof to very luxurious hotels in the city. There are also plenty of options at Canary Wharf. Larger hotel chains have several hotels scattered throughout the city in different price ranges, often including meeting rooms for the business traveler. Herewith I am happy to share some hotel tips:
1: The Trafalgar St. James Hotel*****
A hotel on the famous "Trafalgar Square" which I visited a few years ago during a study trip to London. With modern rooms and several meeting rooms, for both small meetings and larger events, The Trafalgar is a very suitable hotel for your business stay in the city center. Want to have a drink after a day's work or have a drink with business relations? On the roof of the hotel is a spacious rooftop bar with terrace. It is also possible to barbecue here with a group. After a day at work, this is a very nice place to relax and enjoy a phenomenal view of London.
2: Corinthia Hotel London*****
For those going out on a more generous budget, you can do well at the Corinthia Hotel London. A luxury hotel with spacious rooms and several meeting rooms for small and large groups. Unwind at the end of the day in the spa with indoor pool. The hotel is also within walking distance of Trafalgar Square and around the corner from Charing Cross train station. So the hotel is very easily accessible and is also in the Top 10 best hotels in London!
Photo source: Corinthia Hotel London
3: Park Plaza London Waterloo****
One of my favorite hotels in London is the Park Plaza London Waterloo hotel. A modern hotel with quiet rooms and fine beds in the Waterloo district. The hotel is not far behind the famous Ferris wheel, the London Eye, and is easily accessible from the city via Westminster Bridge. The subway also stops less than 200 meters from the hotel. Despite being in the city center, the hotel is located in a quiet area so you won't feel like you are in a busy city. After a long day of meetings, work or being a tourist, hotel guests also have the opportunity to unwind in the spa with sauna and indoor pool.
4: Holiday Inn Express London Southwark***
Holiday Inn Express hotels can be found all over the world. Rooms at most hotels are also decorated the same. Neat, spacious and always with a desk in the room which is certainly useful for the business traveler to finish some work or to prepare for an appointment or presentation the next morning. Located near the City of London, London's financial district, the Holiday Inn Express London Southwark offers attractive rates. On average, an overnight stay starts at EUR 98 per person per night. And an advantage of Holiday Inn Express hotels; breakfast is always included as standard in the room rate. So you never have to pay extra for this.
Breakfast on the go!
Of course you can have breakfast at the hotel, provided you book it with the hotel. However, I increasingly choose to save on breakfast costs as there are plenty of places outside the hotel where you can have a delicious breakfast. A well-known sandwich shop where I like to get my breakfast when I am in London is Pret A Manger. Their sandwich shops/restaurants are unmissable when walking through London. You will see one on almost every street corner. You can pick up fresh sandwiches and coffee here. But you can also sit in the restaurant and enjoy fresh fruit juices, hot sandwiches and tasty soups. The sandwiches are also very tasty. So you always start your day well. This is also a good place for lunch.
English lunch or dinner
For a business lunch and/or dinner, London is also definitely the place to be. With lunchrooms and restaurants with cuisines from all over the world, there is something for everyone.
- Oblix. Dining and being able to see more of London at the same time? At Oblix restaurant in the tall building The Shard, dine on the 32nd floor with stunning views of the city. With a variety of fish and meat, there is something for everyone on the menu. The restaurant is also open during the day and also offers a lunch menu ... so definitely great for a business lunch as well!
- Barrica. To give the business lunch a more Mediterranean touch, you can visit the Spanish restaurant Barrica. The tapas list is very extensive with a variety of meats and fish. The desserts are also highly recommended including caramelized Spanish toast.
- Coppa Club Tower Bridge. Business dining in an igloo? No need to go to cold Norway for this! Because you can do this simply on the River Thames at Coppa Club Tower Bridge. Here you can reserve a table with a small group in a glass igloo overlooking the river Thames and Tower Bridge. Also a unique experience during a group or incentive trip! A tip; the igloos are very popular so advance reservations are required.
London travel tip: plan plenty of travel time!
One tip I would like to pass along when traveling to London; do not underestimate the travel time by public transport. London is a large and busy city where especially during rush hour it can be very busy on public transport. Especially if you want to travel from the city to the airport and have a flight to catch, it is important to take plenty of time.
I myself have already experienced twice that I boarded the train to one of the airports reasonably well before departure, which came to a standstill on the way due to problems, and I suffered huge delays. As a result, both times I arrived late at the airport. Once I arrived at the gate, it turned out that the plane was delayed and boarding had not yet started. In the end, I was still on time, only the trip shouldn't have taken a little longer or I would have missed my flight and had to buy a new ticket.
Your business trip taken care of down to the last detail
London thus offers numerous options for both business and non-business travelers. As a business travel agent, we can imagine that due to the large range of travel options and accommodations, you can't make a choice as to what are the best options for you right now. For this, we at Uniglobe Alliance Travel are happy to assist you. As soon as you indicate where and what time you need to be in London for your appointments, we can find and offer you the best travel options and accommodation. Whatever suits you best not only in terms of travel time, but also in terms of budget. This way we can help you prepare for your business trip while you can go about your daily business.
Experience London together with your associates or employees?
London is also an excellent destination for an incentive trip. Experience London in a unique way in a specially designed group trip. Discover the city in an exclusive double-decker bus or through a fun city game? Or an exclusive or festive dinner in the most exclusive locations? Surprise your relations or employees with a unique experience at only a few hours from the Netherlands. Our groups & incentive department goMICE Creates and organizes Meetings, Incentives, Concepts and Events for groups of 10 or more.
Getting in touch with us for information about your trip to London or any other destination worldwide? Then feel free to contact with us.
Update: This blog first appeared on May 27, 2021 and was updated with new information on August 26, 2022.
