Corporate Accommodation in Westminster
Westminster is a popular destination for corporate travellers due to its location. People working in the public sector couldn’t be in a better location as the full mechanics of British central government can be found in the very near vicinity.
Business travellers in general are also close to other business districts, most notably the City of London, Waterloo and even the Docklands and Canary Wharf areas thanks to the Jubilee line connection.
The general requirements of corporate travellers are also perfectly met by serviced apartments in Westminster. Not only are they a quiet haven away from work life at the end of a busy day, they can also act as a base from which to work from, thanks to the living area and high speed Wi-Fi.
Holiday Accommodation in Westminster
Westminster is not the most obvious place to stay for the average holidaymaker but in reality, there’s not many better places. It’s difficult to think of a place in London which has a higher proportion of must see sights and landmarks on the doorstep.
The properties offered for rental by TheSqua.re are some of the best available in the area. Not only in terms of their location either. The apartments are tastefully decorated and stylish. They not only have a kitchen area, but all of the amenities and utensils needed to actually cook in a modern kitchen.
The ability to cook a meal whilst on a vacation is an understated bonus. Eating out is great and London has some fantastic restaurants available to choose from. However, eating out is expensive and can be quite unhealthy if doing it every night.
Being able to cook a meal at home saves money. It also allows people to cook healthy meals that they would normally have at home. Plus, staying in to eat in a serviced apartment whilst on holiday is actually quite a novelty, especially as you can use the space to entertain too.
Where to Stay in Westminster
Anywhere in Westminster is ideally situated. It is in such a central position that there isn’t one area which isn’t within walking distance of a tube, train, bus or even a transport hub with all three.
The places that prove most popular are the areas within walking distance of London Waterloo or close by Westminster Bridge, to allow access to transport both north and south of the river.
Facts About Westminster
There’s lots of things to know about Westminster, considering the importance of the place in the British constitution. It’s the home of Royalty and politics and is where the major decisions for the country are made.
Here are some interesting facts about Westminster:
- Westminster has over 11,000 listed buildings. These are structures of historical or architectural interest.
- Blue plaques in London show former residences of famous people. Westminster has the oldest of these, a plaque erected in 1867 concerning Napoleon III.
- In 1814 a beer vat burst and nine people were killed in the subsequent ‘beer flood’.
- Westminster is very well connected. Out of all of London’s tube lines, only one does not pass through a station in the City of Westminster. The Waterloo & City Line.
- Westminster used to be an island, of sorts. It was created by the poorly draining marshes that surrounded it. The construction of drainage systems sorted out this problem.
- The British Monarch is not allowed into the House of Commons, yet the Palace of Westminster is a Royal palace!
- There are 1,100 rooms in the Palace of Westminster, 100 staircases and around three miles of corridors and passageways.
Cost of Living in Westminster
This is where the Royal family of the UK live, as well as the British Prime Minister. As you can imagine, this makes Westminster a pretty expensive place to stay or live in.
The average traditional rental price in the area is around £3,750 per month. This can go up to around £12,000 a month for larger properties in the more desirable postcodes.
This is why renting a serviced apartment is often the cheapest and simplest way to stay in the area. There is a bonus for residents though. Council tax in Westminster is the second lowest rate in all of England!
Getting about is easy thanks to the 27 tube stations in the City of Westminster which cover ten of the eleven London Underground lines. Oyster cards are cheap and also work at mainline stations (when travelling within London) as well as trams and buses.
Walking or cycling are both options and are definitely the cheapest ways to travel.
Tips for Visiting Westminster
Westminster can arguably boast of being the best located part of London when it comes to either business or leisure travel. In a city as exciting as London and with this much to see, this is a hugely significant boast.
- Walk when possible. So much is missed.
- Hire a bike. There’s a number of options for this. The Santander Cycles (popularly known as Boris Bikes) are the official London scheme and these can be picked up at docking stations after registering online. However, other schemes to exist with a pay as you go model. These bikes can be found anywhere!
- Get an Oyster Card. For everything else, this is the cheapest way to travel.
- Make a plan. There’s so much to see on the doorstep, some days will be spent within yards of the apartment if they’re planned carefully.
- If going inside the Palace of Westminster, get a guided tour. Otherwise it can be information overload!
- If visiting Westminster Abbey, go during off-peak hours.
Things to Do in Westminster
This really is a place where a two week vacation can be spent without venturing any further than the area itself. The City of Westminster literally has everything London has to offer squashed into its borders. Most of the famous places in London are contained within anyway!
For people that don’t know London at all, here’s some ideas as to how to make the most out of staying in Westminster.
Q. What are the most popular landmarks in Westminster?
Considering there’s 11,000 listed buildings in Westminster, this list could potentially be huge.
- Buckingham Palace.
- Horse Guard’s Parade.
- Palace of Westminster.
- Westminster Abbey.
- Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower).
- Westminster Cathedral.
Q. What are some Free Things to do in Westminster
There is so much to see and do in Westminster, many of which is taking photographs in front of iconic buildings, which of course is completely free. Here are a few more free things to see in Westminster.
- Trafalgar Square.
- Tate Britain.
- Hyde Park.
- Kensington Gardens.
Q. Are there many excursions to be had from Westminster?
Of course! There are so many options when it comes to travel around and out of Westminster that the number of excursions is probably the same amount that can be found in London altogether.
Within Westminster itself there are loads of tours to enjoy. Tours around Buckingham Palace, tours around the Palace of Westminster, tours around Westminster Abbey. To name a few.
Q. What are the most family friendly things to do in Westminster?
Practically everything already mentioned is family friendly. In fact, most of the things to do in Westminster are family friendly until you get to nighttime and find oneself in the Soho area of London.
However, even at night the nearby West End is where all of the family entertainment is. London’s theatre and musical district has family favourites such as School of Rock, Matilda, The Lion King and Wicked.
During the day, there’s many fascinating things to see and do too. Most of London’s major museums are free, there’s also the matter of being so close to Britain’s parliament, as well as the pomp and ceremony surrounding the Royal Family and their residences.
Places to Visit in Westminster
It’s difficult to walk more than a few yards in Westminster without coming across another attraction or must see landmark. These are some of the favourites.
- Tate Britain - largest and most famous of the Tate museums.
- National Portrait Gallery - one of the world’s most impressive collections of paintings of people.
- Benjamin Franklin House - of particular interest for American visitors. The London base of one of the US founding fathers.
- National Gallery - art in a fantastic location overlooking Trafalgar Square.
- Banqueting House - the only surviving section of Whitehall Palace, the largest Royal palace in Europe in its day.
- Westminster Abbey - wedding venue for the Royals, including Prince William and Kate Middleton.
- Churchill War Rooms - the very place where the infamous Prime Minister directed his troops during WWII.
Places to Eat in Westminster
As one might imagine, with such a large area incorporating so many places to visit and attracting so many tourists, there are a fair few places to eat in Westminster. These range from cheap and cheerful takeaways to some of the world’s finest restaurants.
Some of the restaurants in the West End specialise in high quality pre-show meals. Serving up feasts in an impressively quick time. Here are a few of the best overall:
- Brasserie One.
- Quirinale Restaurant.
- Thai Square Trafalgar Square.
- Gillray’s Steakhouse.
- Champagne Charlies.
- The Library at County Hall.
- Emmeline’s Lounge.
- Kerridge’s Bar & Grill.
Shopping in Westminster
London is one of the best places to shop in the world and, from a base in Westminster, shopaholics have their pick of the best shopping available in the capital. Here are a few examples of that.
- Oxford Street/Regent Street.
- Victoria Place Shopping Centre.
- Cardinal Place.
- Covent Garden.
- Burlington Arcade.
- Westfield London.
Transportation in Westminster
One of the best connected places in London bar none. There are 27 tube stations in the City of Westminster and they cover 10 of the 11 tube lines in the capital. The only one missing is the Waterloo & City Line and that can be found a short distance away at Waterloo station.
The nearest tube stations to the Houses of Parliament and the Westminster area are:
- Westminster.
- St James’s Park.
- Embankment.
The City of Westminster also has great links to Greater London and beyond, thanks to its mainline stations. These include:
Weather in Westminster
The only constant about London weather is the rain, or the threat of rain. Anybody carrying raincoats and an umbrella with waterproof shoes can consider themselves well prepared.
The UK follows the same weather patterns as Western Europe in general but being that bit more exposed, as an island, the weather is a little bit more unpredictable.
Winters are cold, but not too cold on average, summers are warm, with the occasional very hot day. Warm nights in London are fairly rare.
Despite the weather, London in recent years has developed into a true city for all seasons. Perfect for a roof top bar in the summer, and ideal for a show indoors in the winter.
