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 →I hadn't stayed in a London hotel since February so I was unsure what to expect in the times of the coronavirus. But after checking out the reopened The Resident hotel in Covent Garden, I can say with all honesty that I feel confident to go hotelling again. This slick hideaway, which is one of five in the brand's portfolio, is located just a short walk from Charing Cross station and opposite one of my favourite bars, Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration on Bedford Street. Before my visit, I received an email informing that a mask should be worn for check-in and a temperature check would be take...
Read more →Scrap the humble pillow chocolate, it's all about tart at the new Page8 hotel in London. On walking into my spacious deluxe double corner room on the third floor of the centrally located hotel, I was surprised to find a slice of chocolate tart waiting for me. But this is just one of the ways, Page8 - which has 138 rooms spanning five floors - is looking to make its mark. Other quirky features include large windows to let in natural light, an artisanal coffee bar in the lobby instead of a stuffy breakfast room and Swedish-designed air purifiers to 'help guests breathe as nature intended'. ...
Read more →I’ve been to Buenos Aires several times and knowing where to stay can always be a bit of a quandary. But if you’re looking for some killer views and classic comfort, not to mention a sunny rooftop pool, the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center comes highly recommended. A friend had recommended the place for an overnight stay on my way back From Antarctica to the UK. It was a quick Uber ride from the domestic airport AEP to the Sheraton on a Friday night and check in in the sparkling marble-clad reception was efficient. The friendly receptionist directed me to a king room o...
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 →Location, location, location is what it's all about when it comes to the Kimpton de Witt Amsterdam. What's more, this slickly designed hotel boasts a top notch cocktail bar from the same team behind White Lyan, Cub, Dandelyan and Lyaness on the premises. I checked into the 274 room historic Dutch building on a Thursday afternoon. It's literally a hop and a skip from Amsterdam's central train station, which is the Eurostar hub from London and less than 20 minutes from Schiphol airport. From the outside the brick building doesn't look like anything special, but a garden wall and neon light...
Read more →If you're the type of person who likes efficiency and ergonomics, then the quickly expanding citizenM hotel chain is worth checking out. I dipped my toe into the brand recently, with a stay at citizenM Bankside, which boasts a great location on the doorstep of Tate Modern and down the road from Borough Market. On walking into the hotel, you're immediately hit by a distinctive design aesthetic, which blends clean contemporary style with a good dose of playful flair. A sexy black and red colour scheme runs throughout and there are modern artworks peppered around the place. In the lobby, I ...
Read more →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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