Pic: Welcome ad Heathrow Airport – Beefeater Tower of London (May 2012)
Pic: Hilton HHonors ad at London Heathrow Airport (May 2012)
On my return from Thailand to Belgium, I made a stopover in London. I arrived on Sunday night (open-jaw Etihad ticket GVA-BKK-LHR) and had a Eurostar ticket to Brussels for Monday afternoon. It was another opportunity to use The Great Getaway Hilton promo. (valid till July 23 for stays until September 30, 2012) I paid £100 (€128 on Amex) for a Double Hilton Guest Room at Hilton London Tower Bridge which was upgraded to a Double Hilton Executive Room thanks to my free Hilton HHonors Gold status. This upgrade included access to the Executive lounge (free breakfast, evening cocktails & snacks, etc…) and HHonors Gold member, I also got free internet access.
Pic: Sunset City Hall view from London Tower Bridge (May 2012)
The hotel is conveniently located near London Bridge station. I didn’t check the closest station in advance and ended up at Tower Hill station. Exhausted from the longhaul BKK-AUH-LHR flight, I dragged my luggage across Tower Bridge. In the process of doing so, I managed to make the sunset shot above.
Pic: Executive floor room (1108) at Hilton London Tower Bridge (May 2012)
The Executive room wasn’t huge but offered all the comfort an exhausted traveler could wish for. After a 16h trip from Bangkok to London, the walk-in shower was heavenly. Before falling asleep I snapped a few more shots of the great view. Several famous London landmarks were visible from my room, including the soon to be completed Shard London Bridge tower.
Pic: Sunset view from Executive floor room at Hilton London Tower Bridge
Pic: Nighttime view Shard London Bridge Tower from Hilton Tower Bridge
Pic: Hilton London Tower Bridge exterior (May 2012)
After a good night of sleep, I had the pleasure to enjoy a fantastic sunny day in the City. Before heading to St Pancras station to catch my Eurostar train to Brussels, I spend several hours browsing the business district of London. Below some shots of the great scene’s I encountered.
Pic: St Paul’s Cathedral Festival Gardens London (May 2012)
Pic: Royal Exchange on sunny day in London (May 2012)
Pic: 30 St Mary Axe Tower and St Andrew Undershaft, London (May 2012)
Pic: Terrace 30 St Mary Axe London (May 2012)
The City is ready for the London 2012 Olympic Games! Looking forward to be part of it! See you soon London.
Pic: Olympic Rings at St Pancras Eurostar station in London (May 2012)
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Although I post this here, it’s more of a general comment – great blog! Stumbled upon it today and couldn’t stop reading.
To the title of your blog “Luxury travel on a budget” – you still do seem to have quite a generous budget… 😉
Bermondsey area, as an extension to the Wharfs area (eastern side of Tower Bridge) are slowly getting really popular. The rise of The Shard and its near-completion now, have certainly played a role to boost the local hotel and restaurant business.
Bermondsey street in particular (other side of railways south of this hotel) is full of life nowadays!
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