Firstly on 8^th till the 19^th there is “A Garden party to make a difference”. This is a special event held in the grounds of Clarence House; the London home of the Prince of Wales. Every day there will be special activities such as Music, Comedy, Gardening events and of course food aplenty. Tickets price is £15.

10^th till the 11^th – Muse are performing at Wembley Stadium.

11^th till the 12^th – The mayor’s festival is on the bank of the Thames. A whole host of activities will be taking place such as a market, street performers, food stalls, music and much more.

17^th – The Turning Point Festival at the London Roundhouse in Chalk Farm features live music from Ms Dynamite, Professor Green, Toddler T and many more live performers. There will also be Circus performers, a fashion show and an outdoor market. Tickets are from £15 to £28.

17^th – Natwest series One day International cricket match at the Oval – England v Pakistan.

19^th till the 26^th – The start of the London design Festival. Taking place at selective venues in London with the centre piece at Trafalgar Square where there will be daily events and a large mechanical Octopus set up as the centre piece of the Festival. There will also be special attractions at The Victoria and Albert Museum. See the evening news paper for further details or visit their web site.

1: Hotel 41 41 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 08S
A lovely period boutique hotel located close to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace – you couldn’t ask for a better positioned residence. It boasts an interior décor brought back to its former glory and has modern, clean rooms The hotel has an official 5 Star Rating, which is well deserved.
Rates start from £270 to £330 per night

2: The Soho Hotel 4 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3DH
A modern 5 star hotel that is very popular with important executives from the film and music industry. It offers an excellent location in the centre of town with lots of restaurants, clubs and night life close at hand. The hotel is only about 5 years old and offers a relaxing quiet stay in the heart of London.
Rates start from £320 to £460 per night

3: Sofitel St James Hotel Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 4AN
http://www.sofitelstjames.com
A beautifully preserved Victorian building houses this 5 star luxury hotel with a luxurious on site spa and an award winning brasserie restaurant. Located on the corner of Pall Mall and Waterloo Place, the Sofitel is in a great central location, less than 500 yards from Piccadilly Circus. Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the shops of Oxford Street and Bond Street are all less than a mile away. St. James’s Park, the oldest of London’s Royal Parks, is just 300 yards from the hotel. This stunning Grade II listed building combines traditional British elegance with modern luxury. With its own entrance on Pall Mall, the Brasserie Roux has received 2 AA Rosettes for its classic French cuisine. The elegant Rose Lounge serves traditional afternoon teas and the St James Bar offers cocktails and champagnes.
Rates start from £265 to £365 per night

4: Chesterfield Hotel 35 Charles Street | Mayfair, London W1J 5EB
Located not far from Berkley square and Park Lane, the hotel is located in Mayfair, one of the most exclusive parts of London. A small boutique styled hotel with a very old English feel about it, the Chesterfield offers a very comfortable stay at a reasonable price. Officially rated as a 4 star hotel, the property offers guests spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated rooms and some even have two bathrooms. The Hotel also has an excellent restaurant, and the breakfasts are highly recommended.
Rates start from £180 to £330 per night

5: Jumeriah Carlton Tower Hotel One Cadogan Place, SW1X 9PY
Located in Knightsbridge approximately 15 minutes walk from Harrods. This hotel is modern & classy with its own ballroom, gym, swimming pool and restaurant. It is a favourite for many business people staying in London. Known for its high level of comfort the Jumeriah offers a good location and a relaxing stay. Rated as a 5 star hotel.
Rates start from £210 to £520 per night

6: The Dorchester 53 Park Lane, London W1A 2HJ
One of the most famous hotels in London. Located opposite Hyde Park, the Dorchester offers 5 star luxury, superb rooms with marble floor bathrooms. This hotel is an excellent place to base yourself while in London. It also has an excellent A-class restaurant. Often used by celebrities, this hotel gives you the feeling of being a superstar.
Rates start from £330 to £385 per night

7: The Goring Beeston Place, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0JW
This is a privately owned award-winning hotel. Offering a traditional English style experience, The Goring is located in Victoria approximately 20 minutes walk to Harrods and Buckingham Palace. If you want to stay in a hotel with an old fashioned feel then this is for you. With an elegance all its own, the Goring will give you a very special and enjoyable experience. Very popular at Christmas time this hotel will take you back to the Christmases of Dickens.
Officially rated at 5 stars the cost per night are: £230 to £620

8: The Mayfair Hotel Stratton Street, London W1J 8LT
Very well located, just round the corner from Piccadilly and Berkley Square, the Mayfair is in the heart of London. A very modern 5 star hotel which is often used by celebrities from the TV, film and music industries. This establishment does its best to make everyone feel like a star; with a modern, clean feel to its décor the hotel is very stylish and posh. The Mayfair Bar in particular is worth a visit. Comfortable rooms and an unbeatable location.
Rates start from £185 to £485 per night

9: Intercontinental Park Lane One Hamilton Place, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7QY
Located just round the corner from Hyde Park and also Piccadilly, this beautiful modern hotel offers top of the line amenities and a top-notch service. Equipped with very comfortable rooms, nice features (great lighting, nice TV etc.), and an amazing club level lounge and all in one of the best locations in London. Officially rated as 5 star.
Rates are from £185 to £440 per night

10: The Haymarket Hotel 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4BP
The Haymarket is a small boutique style hotel located just 5 minutes from Trafalgar square and 5 minutes from Piccadilly. It is very private and discrete. The Hotel is only a few years old and the design is modern and elegant. Guests are made to feel comfortable and relaxed in this little haven in central London. The hotel has all the amenities you would expect for a hotel of its class.
Rates are from £290 to £340 per night

1st August

Victoria Park hosts the music festival ‘Underage Festival’, which is aimed at 14 to 18 year olds. It will feature many top artists, including M.I.A, Tinchy Stryder , Crystal Castles, Darwin Deez, Tinie Tempah, The Courteeners, Sub Focus, Twizzle, Ellie Goulding, Chiddy Bang, Fugative, Daisy Dares You, Rox, Late Of The Pier Sound System and more!

1st – 9th August

Somerset House is staging ‘Film 4 Summer season’. The films featured include everything from special previews to cult classics, all showing on a state-of-the-art screen with full surround-sound. And there’s more than just the movies. Arrive early if you want to come and picnic in the magnificent Edmond J. Safra courtyard while DJs play top music.

3rd – 7th August

For adults there is ‘The Great British Beer Festival’ held at Earls Court. This is a chance to sample over 450 real ales, ciders and beers, along with some great food.

8th August

The Community Shield final at Wembley is played, marking the start of the new football season. Featuring Chelsea vs Manchester United, this should be an all-action match as both teams will want to win their first silverware of the season. To check ticket availability contact Wembley box office.

10th August

Why not visit the start of the Trafalgar Square Festival 2010, which is held over the next three weeks from Thursdays to Sundays. The Square will hold various free entertainment featuring music, drama and art. Check the London evening paper for details.

11th August

Back from a disappointing World Cup, England are at Wembley playing a friendly with Hungary It should be interesting to see what changes the manager makes to the team as he starts to rebuild for the European Championships.

13th – 14th August

If you like athletics there is the Aviva Grand Prix held at the Crystal Palace national sports stadium. With the Olympics coming to London in 2010 all British athletes are trying to perform at their best to ensure a place in the Great Britain team. Also there will be many visiting top athletes from all over the world competing in this event so it should be very competitive.

14th August

The start of the football Premiership League season and two big London clubs begin the season at home. Chelsea play West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester City at White Hart Lane.  For tickets contact the home teams’ box offices.

18th -22nd August

The England cricket team take on Pakistan in a five day test match at the Oval. Contact the Oval box office for tickets.

21st August

The first home games in the Premiership for London football teams Arsenal and Fulham are played. Arsenal will be taking on newly promoted Blackpool while Fulham play Manchester United. For ticket information contact the home teams’ box offices.

27th – 28th August

The LED Festival at Victoria Park. London Electronic Dance – or LED Festival – has seen promoters Cream, Goldenvoice and Loudsound join forces to create what is hoped to become one of London’s most exciting outdoor electronic dance festivals.

28th August

Rugby League Carnegie Challenge Cup final takes place at Wembley. Check the Wembley box office for tickets.

28th -29th August

The South West Four Weekender at Clapham Common – a music and dance festival with a difference. Billed as a two day clubbers’ delight, the music will be supplied by headliners Fat Boy slim, Armin Van Buuren and various other top DJ’s.

29th – 30th August

The highlight of the month’s events takes place. Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. With twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes, 40 sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revellers, you wouldn’t want to miss it!

A question I am often asked is where is the best place to shop in London? Well, London is very diverse and where you shop is dependent on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for something expensive then the upmarket areas of Chelsea’s Kings Road, Bond Street in central London, or the exclusive area of Knightsbridge is ideal. Located here you will find shops such as Armani, Cartier, Graff, Burberry, Chanel, and the famous Harrods department.

Another highly popular shopping location in London is Oxford Street, situated just around the corner from Bond Street. The street is over a mile long and features a variety of different stores including one of London’s major department stores ‘Selfridges’. Other shops to look out for are Primark, Top Shop, Nike store, HMV, and John Lewis.

If flea markets are your thing then why not visit Covent Garden. A daily market is held in the Flower Hall selling clothing, craft work, souvenirs, luggage, jewellery and more. At the centre of the Piazza there are many restaurants and street entertainers, making it a great day out.

London is a shopper’s paradise and with stores and shops to fit all budgets there is no better place to find that bargain.

After about 5 minutes she told me she didn’t know where the driver was and that she would send another car. By now the couple had waited in the terminal for over 30 minutes and still had no idea where their car was. They said that as they had prepaid they had no choice but to wait. I asked what made them pick this company to take them in the first place; they said they and their friends had looked at a number of companies on the net and that this one was one of the cheapest. They then asked me how much we would have charged if we had collected them. I told them that we would have sent a friendly and knowledgeable driver, suited and booted, in a top of the range Mercedes or BMW executive car, with complimentary mineral water, and we would have guaranteed to be there when they arrived. However we are a professional chauffeur company and not a mini cab company and so would have charged £65.

They stopped for about 5 seconds and said they had only paid £35. I said that this proves sometimes cheap is not best. They agreed that in this case saving a few pounds hadn’t proven to be the wisest move. Had they booked with us they would have nearly been at their destination by now, instead of waiting at Heathrow for a driver that may never show.

Although at first glance they thought they had booked a bargain transfer, this trip was turning into a nightmare for them. Not only had they no car, they were now faced with getting a black cab to take them to their destination. So after already paying the other company £35 for a no show, they now had to pay for a black Taxi from the airport. The total cost of this supposedly cheap transfer, was now going to be about £100.

This story is 100% true; however it’s certainly not the first time I’ve heard of a driver coming from a cheap company not showing up. Many of the car companies advertising on the net are mini cab companies; their main business is working in local areas taking the residents shopping and on short journeys. Their vehicles are average saloons and they tend to be inexperienced.

My recommendations for choosing the right company to transfer you hassle free are as follows:

1. Look at the vehicles they are offering. If they are not top of the range quality cars then stay away.

2. See if they provide you with a contact phone number. If they don’t, chances are no one will be there to pick you up at the other end.

3. When booking, do the company require you to prepay? It’s quite common to take credit card details to secure bookings but usually professional companies do not request pre-payment.

4. If you book online make sure you receive a confirmation e-mail of your details from the company. Also check that everything is included (especially car park charges) and check how much waiting time is allowed before additional charging in case your flight is delayed. Check if there is a contact number for if you can’t find your driver on arrival.

5. Check if they have a PCO licence. This is a number that has been supplied to the company by the Public Carriage office – this is the body that licence all London companies. Without this licence or a similar licence from a council outside of London, these companies cannot legally operate. If you travel with one of these non-registered companies you have no protection on price or service.

6. Always try and book through a UK based company or a company located in your home country. There are companies on the net that advertise transfers from London airports but they are themselves based overseas. The legitimate UK car companies have been checked by the UK Police and are carefully regulated giving you added protection in the case of a problem.

7. If the companies pricing seems amazingly cheap compared to all the other quotes then there is probably a reason for this! Chances are they are not offering you what you think you are getting. Sometimes the company will display top of the range cars on their professional looking website, then you see you their rates and they appear to be fantastically low. At this point be aware that it is likely you are about to be conned. These are the exact companies that rarely provide what they advertise. After all if I offered you a journey in a top of the range car that should usually cost £120 for £40 then alarm bells should start ringing. Clients often think that they will argue or complain if they are not given what they are promised, and since you are from overseas they don’t expect to see you again so don’t care, but usually the company has a very good excuse as to why you didn’t get what you paid for. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

For those of you interested in a little more than just seeing the famous landmarks why not check out these events happening in July.

From the 1^st – 4^th July there’s still a chance to see Nadal, Federer and the Williams sisters play some world class tennis at the famous Wimbledon open championship. Maybe this will be the year Great Britain can produce a men’s champion with Andy Murray?

From the 1^st – 4th July, the Henley boating Regatta is on. Henley is about 30 miles from central London and this event gives you a great chance to see some fine rowing mixed with great company and some Pimms.

The 8^th - 11^th July sees the opening of the Hampton Court Palace flower show. This famous historical stately palace, once the residence of Henry V111 and many other British monarchs, has turned its grounds into a wonderful colourful floral experience. While you are there why not visit the Palace itself; a real insight how the royals lived in the past.

The 27^th July sees the opening to the public of Buckingham palace. The palace will remain open until October and the cost of entrance is £16.50 for adults and £9.50 for children.

Rod Stewart is back at the O2 on the 28^th July. So if you’re a fan there’s still a great chance to see him perform all his classic hits.

Rock legend Rod Stewart is continuing his run at the O2 centre until 3rd June. He will be performing all his classics and of course some of his more recent recordings. Tickets are still available for some nights; see the O2 website for details.

Also at the O2 Centre from the 7th till 26th will be Bon Jovi. This well-known rock band will be performing all their classic tracks and playing some new material too.  Tickets are from £30 to £73.65

Something special on the 12th will be ‘Trooping of the Colour’ which dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century. This annual event is held at Horse Guards parade to mark the Queen’s birthday. All the pageantry and spectacle that the British are known for will be on full display. Entry does require advance tickets; however if you can’t get a ticket the procession can be seen down the Mall for free. If you want to see it you should get there by 10.00 a.m.

The 5th is Epsom Derby day; one of the oldest and most famous horse races in the world. This year it will be in the presence of her Majesty the Queen. Tickets cost from £15 – £70.00.

On 15th to the 19th another famous racing event takes place. Royal Ascot it is one of the most well-known events in the horse racing calendar with her Majesty the Queen attending every day during the meeting. Over 500,000 visitors attend the racing over the 5 day duration of the event. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Royal Ascot Website.

Like food? Then ‘A Taste of London’ on the 17th till the 20th is bound to take your fancy. The food show takes place in Regents Park and is a must for anyone who loves a variety of good food. As well as the many food stands to visit, you will also be able to sample fine food and drink from some of Britain’s top restaurants and see cookery demonstrations from top chefs. Further details can be found on the event website.

Between the 18th and 20th marks the 180th anniversary of the opening of Covent Garden’s iconic Market Building.  This weekend there will be many events to celebrate the occasion, including a giant birthday cake, ice sculptures, party games on the piazza, workshops, entertainment from Covent Garden’s street performers and much more.

Come and bag a bargain. On the19th the famous Harrods summer sale begins. Make sure you come early to get the best buys. This event is always very popular so be prepared for big crowds.

The start of Wimbledon is on the 21st.  This famous tennis tournament goes on for two whole weeks, with the best tennis players from all over the world competing to see who will be Wimbledon Ladies and Men’s Champion for 2010.

The City of London Festival 2010 starts on the 21st. The event is on till the end of the month and there will be lots of midsummer concerts and events.  Every Summer this event brings the cities’ unique buildings and spaces to life.  Most of the events are free.

If you love music then check out the Hard Rock Festival in Hyde Park; an event not to be missed. It starts on the 25th and runs over three days. The concerts will feature headlining artists like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam with supporting bands such as The Hives, Gomez, The Gaslight Anthem and many more.  Tickets from £47.50 – £62.50.

Starting on the 25th till the 27th is The Clothes Show taking place at Earls Court, London.  The event is based on the popular T.V. show that bares the same name; it is the largest fashion and beauty show in the world. Featuring catwalk shows, hair and beauty demonstrations plus loads more stands showing the art of fashion and beauty. Tickets are £24.00.

The 30th June marks the first day of Henley Royal Regatta. This event is very high up on the social sporting calendar and dates back to 1839. If you like the spectacle of two teams challenging each other in a rowing race down the Thames, this is for you.  With many marquees supplying the refreshments of cool Pimms or a chilled Beer what better way to spend a nice summer’s afternoon. Enclosure price is from £11 – £18.00 on weekends.

First up is the famous Oxford and Cambridge University boat race on 3rd April. Taking place on the River Thames, it starts at Putney Bridge at 16.30 pm and finishes at Chiswick Bridge around 17 minutes later. This will be the 156th time the race has taken place and has always been a big sporting event in the London calendar. All are welcome to come along and watch, whether you want to cheer along your favourite university or just experience the race.

On 10th of April there will be the first of two FA cup semi final soccer ties taking place at Wembley Stadium in West London. These ties are vital to the progress of the season, and at present the teams are still playing to decide who will participate in the two games. The second match is also at Wembley and takes place on the 11th. With teams like Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham still in with a chance, the games should be well worth seeing – especially great if this is your first time watching a soccer match. Tickets can be purchased from Wembley stadium or from the web sites of the teams involved.

The 25th sees the Virgin London Marathon. 30,000 runners take place over a route of 26 miles right around London in the largest city Marathon in the world. This is a spectacle you won’t want to miss!

The Ideal Home show at Earls Court will continue to run till the 5th. The exhibition is full of great new ideas for the home and garden and with speciality areas for Food, Gardens and Technology you will need a full day to see the whole thing. Entrance at the door will cost you £15 per person on weekdays and £17 on weekends. Children under 16 can go for free.

The 23rd sees the whole of England celebrating St Georges Day. Celebrations will be taking place in Trafalgar Square with free music and other special events throughout the day. On the 25th the Albert Hall is to have a special St Georges Day concert featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing all kinds of patriotic music such as Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem.

Another one to not miss for all you Whitney Houston fans – she will be appearing live at the O2 arena for three nights starting on the 25th.

Finally, if you would like to wish her Majesty the Queen happy birthday now is your chance! The Queen (unlike her poor subjects) has two birthdays, one official and one real Birthday. The first is the official one on the 12th of April, where a special parade is arranged in Horse guards parade, and all the usual pomp and ceremony of the military is shown to its full, with a special trooping of the colour performed in the presence of her majesty. On the 21st (her real birthday), a 41 gun salute is performed to mark the special day at 12.00 noon in Hyde park by the Kings troop horse artillery.

The leading cruise ports in England are Southampton, famous for the home of the QE2 and now the Queen Mary, Dover, which of course is well known for its white cliffs, and Harwich which is often the starting point for many of the Baltic and Scandinavian cruises.

If you are coming from overseas then you may wonder exactly how far away these ports are from the airport you will be arriving into, so here is a brief guide as to distance and length of time it will take to get from A to B.

Gatwick Airport

For those of you coming into Gatwick this is the furthest South from London and is 105 miles from Harwich (2 ¾ hours), 90 miles from Southampton (2 hours), and 80 miles from Dover (2 ½ hours). The whole trip is on Freeways and the times are based on no traffic problems and travelling by car not bus. If you do travel by bus allow a minimum of 2 hours extra, as the bus will of course not travel as fast and you will have to wait for all the passengers to board before leaving. The amount of time it takes to get out of the airport with your luggage after landing does vary, but usually takes around 45 minutes.

Heathrow Airport

If you land at Heathrow, this is a much busier airport and with a selection of 5 different terminals the disembarking times differ. It’s best to allow a minimum of 1 hour unless you come into Terminal 5 which is a little faster than the others. The time to the ports going in a car, are Southampton 65 miles (1 ½ hours), Dover, which is approximately 102 miles (2 hours) and finally Harwich which is 117 miles (2 ½ hours). All these journeys are mostly done on the Freeways but Harwich does use some minor roads. Again all times are based on travelling with no traffic problems.

Luton Airport

Luton Airport is another popular airport, based north of London and is home to a lot of budget airlines (Easyjet, Monarch, Ryanair etc.) The airport is always busy and has only one terminal. Disembarking time is usually about 45 minutes. Southampton is approximately 97 miles away (1¾ hours), Harwich is 104 miles (2 1/4 hours) and finally Dover is 120 miles (2 ½ hours). Again, all these journeys are on the Freeways and the times are based on going by car not bus.

Stansted Airport

The final major London airport is Stansted, based East of London. Stansted has become very popular and has only one (very busy) terminal. Again it takes about 45 minutes from the time you land to the terminal hall. It has a direct main line rail link situated in the airport directly into London, however if you want to get to a major cruise port you will have to re route when you get to London as there are no rail links directly from the airport to these cruise terminals.
These are the distances and times of the ports from Stansted. Southampton is 126 miles (2 ½ hours), Dover is 102 miles (2 hours) and Harwich is only 53 miles (1 ½ hours). All these times are based on a car taking you directly from the airport to the cruise ship.

Please remember if you book a car in advance the driver will meet just you and your party when you arrive and you will start your journey straight away with no delays or complications. If there are 4 or more passengers you may find the difference in cost for a chauffeured car is not that much different than a bus or coach, so it’s well worth checking out the best chauffeur companies, and remember cheap is certainly not always best.