Flights

Flights to Seattle-Tacoma International from London Gatwick, with an airline such as Northwest Airlines costs in the region of 300 at time of writing. Other companies, such as US Airways charge closer to 400. If you really want to find a bargain for cheap flights, then take a look at Travelzoo this website pools some of the best deals available on the internet into one place to make your search easier. You can also sign up for their 'This Week's Top 20' email, which gives a weekly roundup of the best deals available.

Accommodation

If you are looking to splash out then you can go for one of the top range hotels such as The Edgewater Hotel on Elliot Bay at Pier 67. This unusual hotel certainly lives up to its name as people staying there could at one time fish from their windows; The Beatles also stayed there in the '60's. Rooms cost around 160 per night, through, and are eloquently decorated with marble sinks and inviting gas fireplaces. For more luxury hotels, take a look at Abercrombie and Kent.

If you are looking for somewhere cheap and cheerful you might take a look at the Historic Panama Hotel. This hotel is found in Old Japan Town in the International District and has an old fashioned charm all of its own. All of the furniture is antique and it has a quaint European feel to it although rooms also have modern conveniences such as WiFi. Rooms here are quite modest at about 55.00 a night but.

If you looking for something a little more funky you might want to try the Hotel Max, which is dedicated almost entirely to showcasing the works of local artists and photographers. The furniture is also very 'arty' with bright orange comfy chairs and orange bedspreads. The hotel also has a free gym and a good Asian fusion restaurant called Red Fin. A room here costs about 100 per night. For a large directory of hotels in Seattle, take a look at Lastminute.com.

What to See and Do

One thing that you are going to have to do is visit the iconic Space Needle -although it can be quite expensive. The elevator ride, which is reputed to be the most expensive in the whole of America, costs about 10 and takes just under a minute to reach the top. However it is well worth it as the views of the city, from the observation deck, are phenomenal. In the south you can see the snow capped Mount Rainer and in the east the Cascade Mountains. As you can see the Needle from anywhere in the city it is extremely easy to find (but in case you can't it's on Broad Street!)

Another iconic sight is the Seattle Monorail. Famous from films such as 'Sleepless in Seattle', the monorail runs from the Seattle City Centre to the Downtown area. The 1-mile route takes about 2 minutes it's a fun, although short ride and a cheap experience at around 1.25 a ticket.

One of the most popular tourist destinations is the quirky Pike Place Market. There are nearly a hundred market stalls selling everything from vegetables to clothes. One of the most famous is the Pike Place Fish Market, where the employees throw fish at each other in something resembling a juggling act. It has become so famous that it has been shown in a number of corporate team building videos and even appeared on the hit US show Frasier.

Where to Eat

One of the most famous of Seattle's restaurant is The Herb Farm Restaurant just outside the city in neighbouring Woodinville. The restaurant serves a fantastic nine-course meal that comes with specially selected wines that complement your food choices. What's more the dishes are special selected for the time of year that they are being served and a lot of the ingredients are grown in the restaurant's garden. One of the most interesting is the Herbal Atelier menu served in the middle of July where the chef creates dishes with unusual and little-known herbs. For a nine-course meal it costs up to 120 and tables must be booked in advance through www.herbfarm.com.