Lonely Planet hails London revival

Travel guide publisher Lonely Planet has praised the quality of capital's hotels and restaurants in its latest London guide.

Where past issues of the guide attacked London as having hotels so awful "they made Fawlty Towers look like a documentary", it seems the city has taken real strides forward since.

A surge in high-quality boutique hotels is described as a boon for the forthcoming London Olympics in 2012.

Guide author Sarah Johnstone also welcomed the capital's continuing eating-out revolution and said it had now spread beyond the celebrity-chef filled centre to surrounding areas.

"London's dining scene is diverse stylish and satisfying as anywhere else on the planet," said Johnstone.

And Lonely Planet highlights London's rapidly transforming inner city hot-spots, which are the core of "this revived and buzzing city".

Borough, Bermondsey, Stoke Newington, Hoxton and Clapham all come in for credit as great places for drinking and dining in gastro-pubs and restaurants.

England and Wales's new extended licensing hours are also hailed as long overdue.

Lonely Planet's 5th London edition is out on 20 January priced £12.99.

By Chris Druce

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