Mentioned by Santorini Dave
26 BEST HOTELS in LONDON (Luxury, 5-Star, 4-Star)
"This historic London retailer was established on Regent Street in 1875, dealing mainly in rare oddities imported from Japan, and also purveying an in-house line of floral and graphic fabrics. Don't be fooled by the shop's antiquated exterior, as today brands like Nike and Dr. Martens are lining up to collaborate with the storied retailer, which has stepped up to compete with other respected retailers in London and across the UK by bringing in collections from Givenchy, Margiela, Tom Ford, and others."
"Arguably the most beautiful department store in the world, Liberty is housed in a fairytale Grade II-listed Tudor revival building built in 1924, seven years after founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty died. A maze of cave-like rooms is laid out around three central atriums, stacked high with merchandise and artistic displays. The store’s fabric department—where visitors can admire Liberty’s world-famous patterned, print, and floral fabrics—is a must-see."
"Housed in an eye-catching mock-Tudor building, Liberty of London is a must-visit for many tourists to the city and is most famous for its “Liberty print” fabrics which are also available in the form of clothing, furniture, and accessories. Liberty silk scarves start at around £150 and fabric starts from £22.50 per metre. Liberty has taken part in several designer collaborations with brands including Manolo Blahnik, Barbour, Nike, and Uniqlo."
"With Art Deco-inspired interiors, The Dorchester’s spa oozes 1930’s glamour with a modern edge. From manicures to full-body scrubs their treatment list is extensive and all are highly tailored to clients’ needs. Facilities include a mani-pedi suite, relaxation room, and male and female aromatic steam rooms and experience showers."
"Decadent art deco features line The Dorchester's exclusive spa. Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, W1K 1QA. Tube: Hyde Park Corner Station"
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"Sopwell House Hotel is a grand affair, with more than 100 rooms, two restaurants, a spa and 12 acres of grounds to its name. Among all of that the best place to relax is in the cocktail lounge, where afternoon tea is served. It’s a long, breezy room that begins with a marble-topped bar and stretches all the way to a library, with little alcoves and giant sash windows along the way."
" A combination of hotel, leisure complex & conference centre, the former Georgian country home of Lord Mountbatten is just a 20-minute train ride ..." Read our full review"
"The 10,000 square-foot agua spa at Sanderson in London's Fitzrovia is a dazzling all-white space providing pampering, spiritual relief, and tranquillity. With walls of white, flowing curtains, the 14 all-white treatment rooms, chill-out zone and meditation beds creates a cloud-like ambiance with the sound of running water added to the atmosphere. Try the Natura Bisse signature treatment that analyses your skin and creates a programme designed specifically for your skin or the Natura Bisse Diamond Experience offering a multi-sensory cosmetic lift using ingredients that penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin, providing the firmness necessary to stimulate regeneration and reinforces the skin's natural defence system."
"The Tom Dixon-designed Thames-side hotel has transformed this part of the South Bank. The designer’s first complete hotel comes with portholes and a curved copper hull as well as a little bit of disco-ball shimmy in the air. His aesthetic flows down to the subterranean spa, where a huge copper droplet appears to drip through the ceiling from in the relaxation lounge."
"Housed in a jaw-dropping 1929 building, the Porchester is one of London’s more authentic spa experiences — jolly steam room and knockout sauna included. If you like pools, this is the place to be!. There is a large pool for lane swimming to work those back muscles into shape, or a plunge pool for cooling off after a sweltering detox in one of the three Turkish baths."
"When a park is home to a few Princes and a Duchess or two, you know it’s going to be good. As well as green spaces abundant enough to dodge the crowds, you’ll find historic monuments to explore, fountains to both splash about in and admire, myriad art installations, and free exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery a short walk away from its namesake lake. Now that’s a walk in the park."
"Hyde Park opened to the general public in 1637, and this was by order of King Charles, but it was not the reason why the park came into existence. In 1536, the park was acquired by Henry VIII, the first member of the royal family. The primary reason he acquired this large area of space was to turn it into a hunting ground."
"St Albans midweek lunch tried to review the Mad Squirrel its first day of opening but timings didn’t quite work out as they were originally only serving food from 1pm. This week however they were ready to serve us early bird customers with a very enticing lunch deal- 1 pizza and a half of beer (really all you need at lunchtime, whatever your sozzled brain might tell you) from the standard menu for £10 each. For those of you not familiar with The Mad Squirrel, it is on possibly the unluckiest restaurant spot in St Albans, previously home to the Bakehouse, La Vista and No Moo Moo (which didn’t even stick around long enough for us to review it)."
"Japan and Peru may be nearly 10,000 miles away from each other, but they have more in common that you may think. When Japanese immigrants first arrived in the south American country in the 19th century, they discovered a mutual love of raw fish, which lead to the creation of the fusion nikkei cuisine. Soho restaurant Chotto Matte is perpetually throwing a party to celebrate its love of nikkei food, with dishes on the menu including a star dish scallop aji amarillo nigiri, which sees sweet scallop mixed with sour, fiery South American chilli."
"One of London's coolest restaurants, Chotto Matte fuses Japanese and Peruvian cuisine through its innovative Nikkei menu. Pop over to the Soho spot for the chance to tuck into beef tataki and passion fruit salsa, sea bass ceviche and aubergine miso sushi, washed down with some of their sumptuous signature cocktails."
"Children can handle real torture devices at the world’s most notorious medieval prison at this museum in Southwark, on the original site of The Clink Prison, which dates back to 1144. You’ll find out about a day in the life of a medieval prisoner and hear tales of some of the gruesome prisoners. If you’re feeling brave, it’s a great place to spot ghosts: the prison is reputed to be one of the UK’s most haunted locations and is renowned for its ghostly sightings…"
"A rather arresting spot amongst London museums, The Clink spent some 600 years as one of the city’s most feared prisons. Far from the charming spot it is today, Southwark used to be a lawless place; prostitutes, heretics, and drunkards all graced the cells of The Clink at one point or another."
"The Clink Prison Museum was a prison in England that started in the 12th century and operated through 1780. Today, it is the oldest surviving prison in the country. Notable prisoners of The Clink include Father John Gerard, Father John Jones, Farther George Blackwell, and Edward Knott."
"Ranking among the top art museums in the world, London's National Gallery represents an almost complete survey of European painting from 1260 until 1920. The museum's greatest strengths are in its collections of Dutch Masters and Italian Schools of the 15th and 16th centuries. Among its highlights are a cartoon (preliminary sketch) of the Madonna and Child by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo's The Entombment, Botticelli's Venus and Mars, van Gogh's Sunflowers, and The Water-Lily Pond by Monet."
"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"
"The National Gallery is an art museum with a worldwide known collection of classical paintings. One of the most famous works is certainly the -Sunflowers- by Vincent van Gogh. Read which is the most well-liked British painting, where it is located and which other art works are definitely worth seeing ...Images, Info & Tips"
"Flat Iron Square is a hub for drinking, dining and dancing in the shadow of The Shard. The outdoor space is host to a flea market at weekends and various events throughout the year, as well as home to a winter ski chalet, Apres, designed for hot cocktails and cosy times. Under the arches you’ll find street food stalls spanning world cuisines, while next door is live music venue Omeara, its sister tequila bar Cantina and slightly-hidden-away wine bar Tap & Bottle."
"This snazzy food court/bar/venue, sprawled through some Borough railway arches, may look a tad shiny, but don’t be fooled: this is keenly curated stuff. Fab fare – from manti dumplings to ramen, Levantine bits and tip-top toasties – can be scoffed at outdoor tables under heaters (there are a couple of sit-in restaurants too). There’s also brand-new sister venue St Felix Place open now too."
"I have to admit that I only found this cool little street food market in London Bridge a couple of months ago, but it’s really quite brilliant. Sitting in the railway arches between Southwark and London Bridge, the market offers pretty much every cuisine imaginable, great wines at Tap & Bottle and a live music venue Omeara. That’s Saturday night sorted then."
"Soho is proudly unique and non-conforming, so you’d expect any gin distilled there to offer something that bit different. With 12 botanicals and made according to 11th century methods, the King of Soho doesn’t disappoint. Made by the son of late Soho personality Paul Raymond, this tipple is a love letter to the borough."