London is where the first Hard Rock Cafe was born in 1971. Now the capital has landed its own hotel to match. Hard Rock Hotel London is located within the former Cumberland Hotel, once a haunt of Diana Ross and Jimi Hendrix. The transformation from what it was to what is now is quite astounding. On walking into the 1,000-room venue you're transported to a kind of Las Vegas-la-la-land of colour, sound and playfulness. The 370-seat restaurant opens out on to the lobby area and the circular central bar looks a bit like a fairground carousel, with rainbow-coloured lights pulsating across the ...
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You always know when you’ve found a good place when you’re reluctant to write about it, in fear of giving the secret away. But letting you in on a hidden gem... add the Aman to your Venice must-see list. This hotel, restaurant and spa is opulent and discreet. A slice of heaven on earth. The complex is housed within a grand 16th century palazzo, which is still owned by the family and leased to the Aman. The original features are intact, with dreamlike frescos, playful plasterwork and magical murano glass chandeliers. Careful care has been taken to blend the old with the new and the Aman’...
Read more →In less than an hour I'd landed into Gatwick, railed into London, settled into my hotel room and was indulging in a brief respite in my robe. I'd checked into The Nadler Victoria on a Thursday evening after flying back from Venice and it was proving to be the perfect little post-airport stop. The chic 73-room hotel is located a hop and a skip from the main train station, where the Gatwick Express pulls into, and it's on the doorstep of Buckingham Palace if the royals are your thing. I'd been given a king double room on the second floor, room 204. After navigating the very dark corridors ...
Read more →If you want a taste of classic, upper crust New York, head to the deliciously understated Mark Hotel. This historic spot, which boasts 150 Art Deco-influenced rooms and suites, recently swept to international fame after Meghan Markle picked as the place to host her baby shower party. She booked the hotel's lofty penthouse, which comes in at an eye-watering $75,000 a night. As soon as you pull up to The Mark, you're transported to a world of refined luxury, with suited doormen ready to greet you and well-groomed guests wafting in and out. The lobby features low ceilings, sparkling monochr...
Read more →If you’re looking for a spot to stay with the city on your doorstep then pack your bags and head for The Trafalgar St. James. This hotel boats a top location, with rooms and a magnificent rooftop looking out over Trafalgar Square. From the National Gallery to the West End, there’s a wealth of options to keep visitors busy. I checked into the hotel on a Friday before Christmas and the small lobby area was a hive of activity with people wheeling cases through. The check in process was swift and I was directed to room 506 on the 5th floor (in total there are 131 rooms at the hotel). I liked ...
Read more →I hadn’t been to The Bloomsbury Hotel for some years but on a recent visit there I couldn’t believe the transformation. The historic 153-room property underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment last year masterminded by interiors pro Martin Brudnizki, who has worked on iconic London venues such as The Ivy and Scott’s. The place now oozes sex appeal, with luxuriously warm interiors enveloping you from the bustling concrete world outside. A few of my friends had mentioned the Coral Room, which is an impressive bar located on the ground floor but I ventured to the hotel on a Monday night to...
Read more →It's somewhere I've walked by numerous times, but now I know what's lurking inside 30 Portman Square it's somewhere I'd definitely recommend as a more luxurious spot to stay in the city. The rather austere-looking building is home to the five-star Hyatt Regency London The Churchill, named and decorated in honour of the former Prime Minister. Not only does the place boast a prime location - around the corner from Marble Arch tube station and Hyde Park - it also serves up top notch service and delicious food, with a Michelin star restaurant on site. The moment you step into the Hyatt Regency,...
Read more →Finding a good central hotel can prove tricky with pricing usually not offering what you expect. But the new Assembly London appears to fill a gap, with simple and funky rooms starting at £150. The hotel boasts a super convenient location, literally opposite Leicester Square tube station. It is like a neatly wrapped parcel, with the compact building it’s housed in utilised to its full potential. On walking into the Assembly it feels a little like a hip bar or nightclub with black and hot pink interiors. Check in at the small reception desk was swift and I was handed a key to my room on th...
Read more →I’ve lived in London for more than a decade but there’s always new things to discover. Last month, on a walk through the historic area of Clerkenwell, I stumbled across the Malmaison hotel and a few weeks later I decided to check it out with a friend from out of town who was visiting. The guesthouse boasts a lovely location, overlooking a small grassy park with plane trees yawning high into the sky. It’s just a stone’s throw from Farringdon tube station, but its leafy surrounding makes it feel a world away from the bustle of London. From the outside the Malmaison looks a little unapproacha...
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