Such is the spectrum of coverage, hype, hard-selling and overwhelming dominance of the Olympics, that it’s easy to be put off. Taking part seems an insurmountable task of organisation and logistics. But don’t be intimidated. There are still ways to join the fun and enjoy London while you’re there, as KATHERINE MACALISTER finds out

Like the page boy being decked out before the wedding, London is currently having its face scrubbed to within an inch of its life.

Every street and station, tube and pavement is full of men in orange coats frantically polishing, drilling and cleaning up the capital, to make room for us all.

So why not be British about it and make the best of it? So what if you’ve got tickets for the weight-lifting, when your heart was set on watching Tom Daley plunging his abs into the Olympic pool from the top of a very high diving board?

Aim to enjoy the atmosphere instead because the buzz is like nothing else and as some wise and pompous old fool once said, “it’s the taking part that counts.”

Living in Oxfordshire means we can nip in and out without too much fuss and bother, the regularity of the trains and buses making this a huge advantage. But to appreciate the full scope of the adventure on offer, there are still places to stay.

Which is why hotel manager Laurent Boutonne of the 19th century townhouse Royal Park Hotel has just completed the hotel’s oasis garden at the back, a retreat of peace and tranquillity, a bit like his the small, luxury boutique hotel itself. Situated on Westbourne Terrace, near Hyde Park and a quick walk from Paddington, it’s central but a brilliant get-away.

But how’s this for interesting? With only today left until the Games start properly, hotel rates in London are plunging because the impact of the Games on summer tourism has been dramatically overestimated by planners. And apparently it’s still possible that late arrivals could grab some of the best deals.

Now that hotel prices look much softer, many travellers could make last-minute plans to see Olympic events, following reports that Locog, the Olympic organising committee, has bought “tens of thousands” of unsold tickets to sell to the public.

Indeed, as many as 100,000 tickets could still be available in the public system.

Joel Brandon-Bravo, UK managing director of Travelzoo, says: “Many hotels kept inventory back, hoping interest in the Olympics would allow them to charge top rates. As with the royal wedding, however, many hoteliers may have overestimated demand and are stuck with empty rooms to fill.”

For last-minute Olympic visitors chasing a ticket – plus a hotel – Thomas Cook, official short break provider to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has launched a range of new offers.

The new packages start at £199 each and according to Stephen Vaughan, managing director of Thomas Cook’s London 2012 partnership: “This special offer on some remaining Games Breaks is in response to what our customers want – the best seats at the Games with the most affordable hotels.

“These offers will not be around long – the opening ceremony is days away and attention is focused on the Games as the British public gets behind Team GB.”

Thomas Cook’s Games Breaks include a London Travelcard for the day of the event and breakfast at the hotel. They are great for those who’ve already managed to get a ticket in the ballot and now want a longer Olympic experience.

Among leading hotel chains, Best Western has special offers at several London hotels: at Best Western Palm Hotel, a short walk from Camden Market in north-west London, the lead-in rate is just £185 per room per night.

At Best Western Burns Hotel Earls Court, a two minutes’ walk from Earls Court Tube station, rooms start at £175; at nearby Best Western Cromwell Hotel, south Kensington, the lead-in is £195. Close to Gloucester Road Tube station, this quaint hotel is in a quiet, central location.

If you are happy to self-cater during your stay, central London apartments bookable at this late stage start at £35 per person per night, says HomeAway.co.uk.

The website features more than 700 private apartments still available to rent in the capital during the event.

According to HomeAway.co.uk, visitors are likely to find the best value for money in the London boroughs of Bromley, Croydon and Enfield, where average prices start from £234 for a studio flat to £1,813 (both per week) for a five-bedroom house.

The most expensive boroughs are Greenwich and Westminster.

But just remember, the situation is changing hourly. Don’t give up hope (and remember, wear your Adidas trainers and it might just make all the difference...)