I raised the blackout blinds in my room to one of the best hotel views I've seen in a good while.From my bed, I could survey the 900-year-old Tower of London's turrets and thick fortress walls.It was an overcast day, but the historic spot looks pretty epic on any given day.I had checked into the citizenM Tower of London. I like this hotel brand for being fun, funky and affordable with rooms starting from just £80.But the Tower of London location definitely boasts one of the best vistas of all the city spots.For those who aren't familiar with the Netherlands-based citizenM brand, it's motto is ...
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'It doesn't even feel like we're in London!' my friend exclaimed, as I showed her around the jungle-like innards of The Mandrake Hotel in Fitzrovia. If you've never set foot in this salubrious lair then I encourage you to, especially if you're looking for a bit of escapism in these testing times! I ventured to the tucked-away spot on a Monday afternoon, a few weeks after it reopened. Before I could enter the building my temperature had to be checked and luckily I passed the test. On walking down the pitch-black entranceway and down the inky corridor, it's like meandering into another wor...
Read more →Did you know there’s a sprawling school building just by Tower Bridge with a pretty mind-blowing Indian restaurant lurking inside and plush rooms to crash in after? Well, I had no idea The LaLiT London existed until a friend tipped me off about it and went to investigate. This boutique hotel is part of an Indian owned luxury chain and the only one outside of India. It is an impressive venue, housed within a red brick Victorian school building built between 1894 and 1896. Think high ceilings, large windows, parquet flooring and period wood detailing. After I finally found the entrance (t...
Read more →Department stores generally have an old fashioned dusty connotation but London's Selfridges offers so much more than your bog-standard shopping emporium as one of its newest ventures - courtesy of Richard Caring's Caprice Holdings - proves. On walking into the Brasserie of Light on the first floor you're transported away from the bright lights of the shop floor to an enchanting world of flying bejewelled horses (Damien Hirst's 24-foot jewel-encrusted creation dominates the main dining space) and cool club beats. Think a shiny chocolate box crossed with a fairground carousel ride, with a scat...
Read more →Beautiful books, snaffable cocktails and fine fodder aren’t a common combination but if you head down to Maison Assouline you’ll find all three luring you into a dreamy haze. The unassuming bookstore is located on Piccadilly and if you haven’t been in, I highly encourage you to. The store-cum-bar is housed within an old bank - designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1922 - and it boasts an array of period features, from dark wood panelled walls to sky-high ceilings and intricate cornicing work. The place is stacked with the dreamiest of books from Maison Assouline with subject categories to suite ...
Read more →Sailing away from the standard City bar format is Mrs Fogg’s in Broadgate Circle. The Mr Fogg’s chain of bars is one of my favourite in town, given its exploration theme, and the latest site, Mrs Fogg’s, sticks to the standards. The place was inspired by Aouda, the explorer Phileas Fogg’s Indian wife, in Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel, Around The World in 80 Days. Everything has been designed with her nautical travels in mind, with bar-goers invited to board the Rangoon steamer. The full name of the bar is Mrs Fogg's Maritime Club and Distillery. I ventured to the bar on a Tuesday n...
Read more →World-famous orange liqueur brand Cointreau and South Place Hotel have collaborated to bring a slice of Acapulco and its vibrant atmosphere to the Secret Garden at South Place Hotel, from June 29th until the end of August, with a truly tropical Margarita Loves Cointreau pop-up. Nestled on the first floor of South Place Hotel in East London, the Secret Garden, a veritable oasis of waterfalls and palm trees sets the scene for our celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the original Margarita cocktail. Taking inspiration from Acapulco where 'Margarita' Sames, famously said of her instantly icon...
Read more →They say 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' but who would dismiss a timely little nip and tuck? The London EDITION has performed a little maintenance to its Lobby Bar menu, without sacrificing familiarity, featuring a raft of new drinks and bar snacks... WE'LL DRINK TO THAT! With head bartender Robyn Wilkie at the helm, the Lobby Bar’s creative team has concocted an inspiring array of new cocktails, featuring the perfect mixture of fresh new recipes and returning classics. Highlights include the Havana Moon: a thoughtful twist on the popular classic, made with Havana 7, caramel stout and waln...
Read more →Newly opened and hotly awaited, The Mandrake is an independent hotel tucked away in Fitzrovia. Owned by Beirut-born businessman Rami Fustok, the RIBA-award winning converted hotel is a five star sensory experience whose hedonistic properties seep from every nook and cranny; from the eclectic art curation and bamboo-clad garden terrace to the polished hotel suites and Michelin-star restaurant that lie within its walls. Waeska Bar at The Mandrake is located on the ground floor at the heart of the hotel, surrounded by an opulent collection of taxidermy, a luxury red velvet booth and miscellaneou...
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