Visiting London for the Summer Olympic Games

This summer, the city of London, England, will host the Summer Olympic Games for the third time in history.  In 1908, the games were moved to London from the original host city, Rome, due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  In 1948, London hosted the first Olympic Games to be broadcast to home televisions.  The third London games, July 27-August 12, 2012, promises to make history as well. Events will be held in a combination of already-famous venues, such as Wimbledon (tennis) and Wembley Stadium (soccer), as well as in new, purpose-built venues.  Enhancements to London's facilities and transit systems will serve visitors well not only during the Games, but for years to come.

If you haven't booked your flight to the Olympics, it's important to do so as soon as possible. Of course, the same is true for accommodations.  London's excellent collection of hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns will be bustling before, during and after the Olympic Games.  Additional options include hostels and private home rentals.  You can also rent a room or a campsite away from the city and hop on the train to London each day.
While the initial distribution process for event tickets is complete, tickets will soon be available through an official ticket resale program.  Some tickets are also available through tour operators. And, some events don't require tickets: anyone can watch road cycling, the triathlon, race walking and the Olympic marathon.  In additional, some events will be shown on giant screens in Hyde Park and Victoria Park.  Once in London, you can make good use of the excellent public transit system.  Nearly all venues can be reached by the London Underground (the Tube) or bus.  The DLR light railway links Olympic Park with Greenwich Park and the Royal Artillery Barracks; venues along the River Thames, including Greenwich Park, can be reached by boat.  Shuttle service and taxis will also help keep the crowds moving.
Along with ticket to any Olympic event or ceremony, you'll receive a card that entitles you to free travel on the Tube, the DRL light railway, buses, trams and most National Rail services on the day of the event.  You can also purchase a Visitor Oyster card, a smart card you can pre-load with payment for any of those forms of transit.  Visitor Oyster cards can be purchased in the U.S. before you leave.