Weekend in Theatreland: London Hotels Fit the Bill

As one of the world's greatest cities, London successfully combines a diverse range of cultural influences with a strong sense of traditional character. It stretches for over 30 miles either side of the River Thames, its main waterway and the city's lifeblood, and features a bewildering array of attractions and things to see and do. Spoilt for choice, many visitors from the UK and Europe choose to limit their exposure to London's lights by booking a weekend city break to the capital. The combination of shopping, dining out and seeing a show is an incredibly popular for good reason. London's theatres, restaurants and array of shops are world-renowned. What's more, if you're planning a London weekend break, the abundance of London hotels guarantees you'll find the right room at a price that suits you.

Retail Therapy

Start your weekend trip by heading west and hitting the shops. London's famous streets are lined with all of the most familiar high street names, as well as department stores that have grown into national institutions, such as Selfridges, Liberty and John Lewis. But if you're looking to pick up a bargain, check out London's street and covered markets. Walk along the 'Water to Portobello Road, a meandering street market crammed with stalls selling antiques, bric-a-brac and trendy new and second-hand clothes. Alternatively, the Sunday covered market at Spitalfields in the heart of London's East End is great for vintage fashion and hip accessories.

Eating out

After a long day spent trawling the shops, a good meal is bound to be top of your list of priorities. Fortunately, there's no shortage of great restaurants at which to grab a bite to eat and replenish empty stomachs. Many show-goers opt for one of the wide range of restaurants in Soho or Covent Garden, just a short walk from some of the capital's main theatres. But if you want something a little different, London's restaurants offer food from all over the world. Curry-lovers flock to Brick Lane, in the heart of London's Bangladeshi community, but, for a little less well-trodden path, the Vietnamese restaurants that line the Kingsland Road are a delicious and affordable option. For fine dining in the capital, head to the luxury London hotels, where Michelin-starred chefs, such as Alain Ducasse and Marcus Wareing, have restaurants.

Showtime

Audiences in London's theatreland exceeded 13 million in 2007. The capital's famous theatres offer scope and quality, with dramatic offerings ranging from West End musicals to recreations of Elizabethan theatre on the South Bank. Sondheim and Lloyd Webber classics continue to get packed crowds dancing in the aisles, Denys Lasdun's National Theatre puts on world premieres by the most some of the most famous living playwrights, while the rebuilt Globe Theatre stages critically acclaimed productions of Shakespeare's plays throughout the summer.

London's dynamism and the constant creation of new cultural, shopping and culinary attractions mean it will continue to be a popular destination for weekend getaways with visitors from the UK and all over Europe. Whether you're visiting London for the first time or taking the chance to see things you haven't before, you can be confident of finding some great - and surprisingly affordable - London hotels online.