Great Britain to Hong Kong

The historical city of London was built from the ground up by the Romans, going on to become a cultural, financial, and entertainment hub over the years. In the present day, London is regarded as one of the world’s cultural capitals. There is a list of things to love about London, including some of the world’s most interesting architecture, fashion, and nightlife. London is a true cosmopolitan city. The city and its population are well renowned for their resilience, for withstanding plagues, fires, and wars. The spirit of the city’s inhabitants has remained strong, making it a rich, historical site and a visit to the city is a cultural experience. The city had been given a lot of names before being called London; the Anglo-Saxon names include Londonium, Ludenwic, and Ludenburg. It has been ranked as the sixth most expensive city in the world to live in; most people come here to explore the city through their travels, and vicariously live off in the city’s energetic bustle.

How to reach London

By Air – The main airport in London is the Heathrow Airport. National carriers and other airlines operate flights to London from major international cities. The following airlines operate direct flights to London: American Airlines, Air France, Air Canada, Etihad Airways, British Midland International Airways, China Southern Airlines, Air China, and Jet Airways. There are six international airports in London.

By Train – The British Rail Network connects London to other cities in the country. The city also has linkages by train to other cities in Europe, such as Paris, Brussels, Berlin, and Amsterdam. The Eurostar Service connects London to Paris and Brussels, its terminus and operational point being the St. Pancras International Station, the exteriors of which was portrayed as the station in the Harry Potter series where Harry and his schoolmates board the train to Hogwarts.

By Road – One can drive to London by crossing international borders from anywhere in Europe. The English Channel can be crossed via the Euro Tunnel, which connects France to the UK with an underwater train link. Even cars and buses can get on board the train. It takes 35 minutes to go across the channel. Internally, all cities in the UK are well connected to London through a series of highways. The roads make up for beautiful, picturesque views of the English countryside.

What to do in London

London is a city that is rich in culture, history, and heritage. According to statistics, about 16 million people visited London in 2014, making it the most-visited city in the world.

London has something to offer to everyone. There is easy connectivity to other cities in Europe as well as within the UK. The Euro Tunnel is one of its kinds, and should be a must-do on your list of places to visit. If you’re a budget traveller, you may also go about London by means of the efficient train system in the city, the Underground. Here are the top things, among many, to see in London:

Hyde Park

Westminster

Camden

London Eye

SoHo

Shoreditch: Trapeze Bar

Hampstead Heath

BFI (The British Film Institute)

Thames (on a Cruise)

Baker Street

Brixton Academy

The O2

Brick Lane, London Street art

Chinatown

Electric Avenue

Piccadilly Circus

Oxford Street

Leicester Square

The National Gallery on Trafalgar square

Harrods

Platform 9 ¾, King’s Cross, London

Natural History Museum, London

Bond Street

The Buckingham Palace

The Waterloo Bridge

Major Airports in and near London

There are six main airports in London: London City, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Southend, and London Stansted. Among these, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted are the busier ones, with more than 100 airlines from the Heathrow Airport alone, operating flight to London and from the city. London houses a few of the world’s busiest airports and hence has air-rail links to them by means of express trains, the Heathrow Express, Stansted Express, and Gatwick Express. All international flights to London land here.

MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to London, over 900 flights to London on a daily basis from all over the world. From India, flights operate from cities like Udaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. One can easily use the MakeMyTrip website to book a flight to London or from London, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to London can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. The autonomous territory is the world’s fourth most populated regions going by its population density.

Hong Kong has a rich historical background. It became a British colony when the Qing Dynasty ceded its powers over the Hong Kong Island to the British. The Qings, incidentally, ruled China during the First Opium War in 1842. Hong Kong remained a British colony till 1997, after which it became an SAR of China, with its own separate political and economic systems of governance.

Presently, as the world’s seventh largest trading country, Hong Kong is a significant global financial centre. The Hong Kong dollar is a very prosperous currency, and the population enjoys simple taxation. The per capita income of HK is also one of the highest in the world. It is a fast-paced cosmopolitan city, attracting tourists with exciting, vibrant and lively vibes. People visiting Hong Kong will be greeted by sky-high buildings, sunsets at the harbour, and varied cultural and historical experiences. One of the best things about Hong Kong, however, is that while the soul of the city may seem relatable to that of New York or London, its essence remains Asian.

How to reach Hong Kong

By Air – The main airport in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong International Airport. All major airlines operate flights to Hong Kong from major international cities, across the world. The following airlines operate direct flights to Hong Kong: Air India, Hong Kong Airlines, FlyDubai, Jet Airways and Biman Bangladesh. If you want to buy cheap air tickets, check out MakeMyTrip Flights to Hong Kong.

By Train – One can reach Hong Kong by train from China. Currently, there is only one railway station in Hong Kong, the Hung Hom Station. This station connects the local mass transit railways (MTR) for internal travel as well as the Beijing–Kowloon Railway system. Trains that run to Hong Kong originate from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, and Zhaoqing.

By Road – One can drive to Hong Kong, through China, under the mainland China driving scheme. Drivers with primary registration in China can directly drive to Hong Kong. However, drivers have to be careful as China supports left-side driving, while Hong Kong supports right-side driving. International travellers are encouraged to do a check beforehand for fees or any other documentation you may need to enter Hong Kong.

What to do in Hong Kong

Whether you’re visiting Hong Kong for business or leisure, the city has something to offer to all its travellers, which is one of the primary things about Hong Kong that attracts a huge footfall. The city’s rich and cultural and colony past offers as much intrigue to the history buff as the city’s luxury establishments, glittering nightlife, food and accommodation offers others, leaving them wanting for more.

There is even a Disneyland Park in the city, which attracts kids and adults alike, who can enjoy a full day riding around the magical world of Disney!

Here are the top things to do and places to visit when in Hong Kong:

The Peak

Hong Kong Disneyland

Ladies’ Market

Ocean Park Hong Kong

Temple Street Night Market

Clock Tower

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

Golden Bauhinia Square

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Lan Kwai Fong

Avenue of Stars

Major Airports in and near Hong Kong

By Air: Hong Kong International Airport (IATA: HKG) is the main international airport in Hong Kong. It is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok. It is 45 km from the main Hong Kong Island. This is where all major airlines operate their flights to Hong Kong and from the city. It is a hub to airlines like Air Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, DHL Aviation, Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, and UPS Airlines, which operate daily flights to Hong Kong.

MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Hong Kong – over 540 flights to Hong Kong on a daily basis from all over the world. From India, major flights operate from Udaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

One can easily use the website to book a flight to Hong Kong or from Hong Kong, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to Hong Kong can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.