Stay:

Choosing where to stay in London presents travellers with a dilemma. There's a plethora of choice when it comes to accommodation types, and locations within the city, but one part of town which is basking in new found popularity is the city's east, particularly around the mighty River Thames, and if you're looking for a place to stay which boasts an ideal location, views, and everything a couple could wish for in a romantic escape, the serviced luxury apartments of Cheval Three Quays will tick all the boxes. For one, they offer the benefits of a home-away-from-home, coupled with the perks of a five-star hotel such as gym, restaurant and more, with the added benefits of kitchens where you can brew your own coffee, complimentary internet access, laundry facilities, and the option to entertain friends in your own private space. Cheval Three Quays has all this and a sublime location in the heart of Tower Hill, with panoramic views of the river, the iconic Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and across the Thames towards The Shard. There's also plenty of restaurants and bars on your doorstep, and Tower Hill Tube station is just a few minutes walk away, making it convenient for sightseeing elsewhere.

Read our full review of Cheval Three Quays.

Eat & Drink:

You're spoiled for choice in cosmopolitan Tower Hill with restaurants aplenty right on your doorstep. Just a few minutes walk away is St. Katharine Docks, a pretty waterside community steeped in history, and worth exploring or to relax and enjoy a spot of people watching. You can enjoy a tipple or a meal at the historic Dickens's Inn, a restyled and reconstructed wooden warehouse building thought to have housed tea or to have been owned by a local brewery. It's now a famous London tavern, grill, and pizzeria with a beer garden to boot. For classic French try Café Rouge, and new to the area since March 2014 is Bravas Tapas, with a terrace overlooking the marina. For a real treat and some jaw dropping views, however, head across the river to the London Bridge area and the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, an eye-catching building designed by Renzo Piano which dominates the skyline. Here, take the elevator to level 52 and Gong, the hotel's glamorous cocktail bar, and Ting, which combines captivating views with a menu of modern European cuisine.

Read our full review of Gong and Ting.

See:

On the Tower Hill side of the river, if you only have time to do one thing, make it a visit to the historic Tower of London. Established by William The Conqueror in 1066 to keep hostile Londoners at bay, this fascinating complex is an essential part of Britain's colourful history. It's open daily with longer hours in the summer, and allow plenty of time to get around the main attractions, including The Crown Jewels, the White Tower, the Medieval Palace and the Wall Walk. Beyond the Tower, other buildings worth a pass-by include The Monument, located on Fish Street Hill in the City, Southwark Cathedral, on Bankside and dating back to 1220, and City Hall, also on Bankside, a curious building which has been described as "looking like a pile of CDs tilted at a precarious angle".

Do:

Besides visiting historic sites, eating and drinking, there are plenty of other things to do in the Tower Hill area. Top of your list should be ascending Tower Bridge, the iconic structure spanning the Thames, offering one of the best vantage points in the city from its spectacular glass walkways. From there you can see Docklands, Canary Wharf, City Hall, St. Paul's Cathedral and more. Just a two minute walk from Tower Bridge at Shad Thames is the Design Museum, with two floors showcasing contemporary design in many forms, from fashion and graphic to architectural, and fashionistas will love the Fashion and Textile Museum on Bermondsey Street. Also worth a look is HMS Belfast, on the opposite side of the River, a World War II cruiser with nine decks. If you love to shop, beyond the souvenirs you will find at the Tower of London and the various local museums, and if you're in the city on a Saturday, Petticoat Lane Market at Spitalfields is just an eight minute walk from the Tower Hill Tube Station selling clothes. In the City, Leadenhall Market is a restored Victorian covered market which sells traditional game, poultry, fish and meat, and you'll also find here Cheese at Leadenhall, a dedicated fromagerie.

Don't Miss:

There are many "don't miss" activities in this part of London, but a favourite for many visitors on a nice weather day is to jump on a boat and take a sightseeing river cruise. If you travel with City Cruises, there are boats leaving every half hour from various points along the Thames, including Tower Bridge, which can take you to Westminster, the London Eye, and Greenwich.

To get to London, fly Cathay Pacific from Sydney to London via Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific Airways is the 2014 Skytrax Airline of the Year and offers flights to over 190 destinations in 42 countries and territories. From Australia the airline has over 70 flights a week to Hong Kong from six major Australian cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Perth - with a choice of flying in economy, premium economy or business class. From December 8, 2014 there are also four direct flights a week to Manchester from Hong Kong.

There are four flights daily from Sydney, three flights a day from Melbourne, daily flights from Brisbane, four flights a week from Cairns and Adelaide, and ten flights from Perth. All flights provide connections over the Hong Kong hub to the airline’s worldwide network, including eight European destinations (from March 2015 Zurich will be added, taking the number to nine). From Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific offers 5 daily flights to London, offering a choice of flying in economy, premium economy, business class or first class.

For flights to London or more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com.au.