Docklands & City of London: A memorable place to stay during the 2012 games

With plenty of spacious and well-priced accommodation, Tower Hamlets & City of London is the ideal borough for an Olympic break

It might not be one of the boroughs hosting London Olympic events, but thanks to the central location of Tower Hamlets & City of London, you’ll feel right at the heart of this historic event.

Of course, one of the most striking landmarks that this borough is known for is the Tower of London – the source of many legends and an iconic building that sits on the River Thames.

If you’re going to be staying in the area, visiting this tourist attraction is essential, and historians will appreciate the different exhibits and artefacts that tell a story of Britain’s past. There’s even a replication of the quarters where Edward I would have stayed; enabling you to step back in time and see what it would have been like to be a part of the royal family.

There are plenty of traditions from centuries past that are kept alive at the Tower of London, too. For a long time, there was a superstitious belief that if six ravens weren’t present at the Tower of London all day, every day, the kingdom may be placed at risk.

How to get involved with the 2012 celebrations

Once you’ve begun to book your accommodation for during the Olympics in London, it’s time to decide which sports you would like to see.

If you’ve always had an interest in athletics, then booking tickets to attend a few of the sporting events is a great idea. You’ll watch records being broken and well over a thousand of the world’s most gifted sporting talents compete in close to 50 disciplines.

Not all of these sports are going to be based in Newham's Olympic Park, however, with the marathon being held at The Mall. Taking place from the 3rd of August until the 12th of August, the athletics celebrates the human body – and with some of the legendary competitors from the 20th century battling conditions such as polio to become gold medallists, every athlete has a moving story that shows their determination and drive to be the best.

After 2008, there are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered. For example, will Usain Bolt be able to smash his previous record in the 100m sprint? The star, who had originally slowed down during the race to celebrate his clear victory for Jamaica, was 0.2 seconds ahead of Richard Thompson, but could have been faster if his shoe laces weren’t untied according to experts.

Best London holiday accommodation

Be scared, amazed, educated, cultured and relaxed in Tower Hamlets & City of London

Experience attractions

The London Dungeons offers an amazing opportunity to see the gory history of the capital, with live actors and indoor rides adding to the thrills and spills that the attraction can offer. Through booking in advance, it will be a scary and daring experience for the entire family.

Savour food

The borough of Tower Hamlets & City of London can be broken down into several towns, and one of them is Bethnal Green. Here, you can book a table at Viajante, a restaurant which provides a story through the food they serve. In addition to exciting dishes such as cornfed beef and chunky miso, the fact that all of the dishes are paired with recommended beverages enhances your culinary experience further. For example, have you ever tried Wuyi Dark Rock Tea from China?

Purchase beautiful gifts

By going to the Tower of London, you can also purchase historic memorabilia to commemorate your visit. The home of the Crown Jewels even offers some beautiful jewellery for you to take home with you, made of the highest quality.

Hop on the bus in Tower Hamlets

With frequent bus services from landmarks such as the Tower of London running 24 hours a day, there are timely connections to Regent Street, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden amongst many others.

You can get plenty more information about these routes by logging onto the London Transport website.

There’s also London Underground links situated throughout this central part of London. Liverpool Street offers National Rail services that span across the country, as well as connections onto the Waterloo & City and Central lines amongst others.

London Heathrow and London Gatwick are your closest airports. If you’re choosing to stay in Tower Hamlets & City of London for the Olympics, transport will be the last thing you need to worry about.