JOIN USAlmost all the hotels are boosting prices by up to 200 per cent as tourists jostle to be in London for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 28, next year, 'Sunday Express' newspaper reported.
Ever since it was announced that April 29 next year is when the second-in-line to the British throne and his longtime girlfriend will tie the knot at Westminster Abbey, hotels and travel agents are inundated with requests for rooms.
As well as an influx of foreign visitors, the fact that the wedding day, a Friday, has been declared a bank holiday, turning the May Day weekend into a four-day holiday, has added to the demand from residents in Britain.
Bars and pubs showing the wedding on widescreen TVs are expecting a huge turnout for the day and special cakes and goodies for street parties are already being prepared.
The Athenaeum, on Piccadilly, said its unique rooftop view over Green Park had sparked hundreds of inquiries and rooms normally sold at 300 pounds would be up to 500 pounds, according to the newspaper.
Many landmark hotels, such as the Dorchester, are fully booked. A spokeswoman for the luxury venue said as it is likely to be a preferred choice for wedding guests it will not be offering special packages.
However, the only two hotels overlooking Buckingham Palace, the four-star Rubens and five-star Number 41, will do a royal special.