Fergusbrandon

Tourists should remember that visiting London is not just about heading to the major sights and landmarks. There is always something going on in terms of special events and seasonal occasions. As the year is coming to an end tourists should look out for what is happening in 2017 and maybe plan their holiday for a particular event. Kicking off January is the top New Year’s Day Parade that annually takes place on the streets of central London. Each year the acrobats, dancers and marching bands make this colourful celebration come alive. There are thousands of great performers from across the UK celebrating the start of the New Year.

Travellers will no doubt come across a number of charity runs in the summer months, but there are plenty going on in the winter also. The first major race of 2017 is the Cancer Research Winter 10K Run that is held on a route that has a number of incredible landmarks. These include Trafalgar Square and St Paul’s Cathedral among many others. This is a top spectator sport that’s great for those watching, but also amazing for the runners who are encouraged by the crowd’s cheers to reach the finishing line. This exciting event will be held on February 5 and is a brilliant way to discover a range of major landmarks in London.

Tourists will want to stay close to attractions and choosing a great hotel near Victoria station would be ideal. The Astors Belgravia Victoria hotel is a fantastic choice that has wonderful rooms with air-conditioning and modern comforts such as a flatscreen television, telephone and Wi-Fi internet. This Ebury Street hotel is found on a pretty tree-lined road close to a number of superb restaurants and cafes. A bonus to staying here is that it’s very easy to travel around as Victoria station is nearby with tubes, overground trains and buses. The residence is perfect for travellers who are visiting the UK for either work or leisure. This brilliant luxury hotel also has excellent staff members who really look after their guests.

An event in the UK that is always guaranteed to be fun is celebrating St Patrick’s Day. The Irish community in London is amazing and there will be plenty of lively celebrations across the city. The occasion that is held annually on March 17 remembers the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick. Although not a public holiday the capital often has events that are marked on the weekend closest to the day. Next year there will be a three-day celebration that offers the famous St Patrick’s Day parade in central London and Trafalgar Square on March 19.

If tourists are fond of the royal family then they should book a holiday to be in the UK for the Queen’s official birthday on June 17. The Trooping the Colour event is a very traditional ceremony that takes place on Horse Guards Parade, near St James’s Park. It marks the Queen’s birthday and features hundreds of horses, officers and talented musicians from the Household Division. The Queen attends this event herself and carries out an inspection of her troops before they are led down The Mall in a parade to her home Buckingham Palace.