London Bound: Walk this way

A good reputation can take years to build and can be dashed in an instance by injudicious remark or an unfortunate or unforeseen set of circumstances. Places can earn unflattering reputations, too.

Take London, Europe's most populous city has long been regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities. Now the tables have turned, meaning that there has never been a better time to head to the British capital.

A study conducted by UBS, the investment bank, has seen London drop from second spot to twenty-second in a 'league table' of the most expensive cities in the world.

The slide in value of sterling from a peak of $2.11 in November 2007 to $1.41 in the first month of 2009. Sterling has since rallied, but London still represents excellent value - in many respects - for foreign visitors.

UBS analysed the price of 144 goods and services in cities around the globe.

According to the study the most expensive city in the world is now Oslo, followed by Zurich, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo. Londoners and visitors to the British capital pay more to travel by rail than rail users anywhere else in the world.

London has a fantastic cultural offering, which delight visitors from around the world. Sightseeing can still be an expensive business. An Original London Sightseeing (Bus) Tour will set you back £22 for an adult ticket or £10 for a child. Similarly, a single adult ticket for the London Duck Tours will set you back £20 or £16 (for a youngster aged 13-17, students and Old Age Pensioners).

But sightseeing need not be expensive. Visitors to London can see and hear about Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace with the Palace Trail audio downloadable guide. All five Walk Talk Tour London travel guides cost just £5.95 and once you've purchased your tour(s) it is yours for keeps. What's more, each Walk Talk Tour of London is avilable in English, French, German and Spanish.

Each Walk Talk Tour of London costs just £5.95. Buy One Walk Talk Tour and Get a Second Free by entering promotion code BG246 in the shopping basket page.