Cirque du Soleil just seems to get bigger and better. The latest show to hit London, Totem, features some jaw-dropping set design, with moveable stages and dazzling lighting effects. The costumes are another highlight, with intricate ensembles spinning on to the stage, leaving you spellbound. For instance, the Crystal Man's leotard is encrusted with more than 4,000 mirror fragments! There’s even electric use of UV paint on some of the outfits, with the glow in the dark patterns creating mind-binding optical illusions. As with all of the Cirque du Soleil shows, there is an overarching theme...
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If you’re looking for a hotel that’s polished from top to toe, in a way that it speaks for itself and no boasting's needed, then head to The Hari. This tucked-away spot, consisting of 85 rooms including 14 suites and a penthouse, is well-worth checking out, not only as a place to stay but also for its classic Italian restaurant, cosy terrace and lively mezzanine bar. The ten-storey tower oozes luxury with a sexy edge, courtesy of interior designer Tara Bernerd (also behind celebrity-favoured Blakes Hotel). Think low lighting, warm colours, eclectic modern art, brushed brass and slabs of marble...
Read more →If you're looking for a convenient weekend getaway, then look no further than the Isle of Man. The self-governing British Crown dependency is literally a one-hour 15-minute flight from London Gatwick and it only measures 32 miles long, so you can explore much of its stunning landscape in a few days. If you're worried about the weather, the place looks even more dramatic with a spot of wind and rain and there are dozens of cosy places to perch. Come the summer, you'll definitely want to take a dip in the Irish Sea's glistening blue waters! And of course, there's the famed TT motorbike race in...
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 →If you’re a movie and music buff then I can’t recommend the Royal Albert Hall's Films in Concert series enough. During the season, a selection of classic titles are shown on a giant screen with a live orchestra playing. I went to a matinee performance of Home Alone in the run up to Christmas and was left spellbound by the whole thing. The place was packed out with many audience members wearing Christmas jumpers for the occasion. Taking a pew in the stalls, I sat transfixed as the magic unfolded. I’d got my mum tickets to see BBC's Blue Planet screened in a similar fashion and shed raved a...
Read more →For those who have never heard about Edible Cinema, I encourage you to check it out. The events, which run throughout the year, marry film and food together in a thoroughly unique way. Each movie-goer is supplied with a tray of numbered mystery boxes before they enter the screening room. These little pots contain a bite-sized tasting menu - both solid and liquid - tailored to specific moments in a movie. A man in front the screen then instructs when each box should be cracked open. Polly Betton, the London creative who masterminded the concept, presented her latest showing The Red Shoes t...
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 →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 →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,...
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