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T I M E O F F I N
…
LONDON
See
2012 is the Olympic year London has
been waiting for, and the obvious draw
is the Olympic Park. But if it’s your first
visit to the capital you simply have to
start your tour in
WESTMINSTER
.
The iconic sights from
BIG BEN
to the
Houses of Parliament will spark many a
cinematic memory.
WESTMINSTER
ABBEY
isn’t far and even 10 Downing
Street is just up the road. Once you’ve
ticked those boxes, cross the river on
Westminster Bridge and stroll along the
SOUTH BANK
. From here you can
catch a glimpse of the London skyline’s
main players: the London Eye,
ST PAUL’ S CATHEDRAL
and the
Gherkin in the City. Street performers
will entertain as you walk along the
Thames riverside. If you’re into art,
TATE MODERN
is a must for the
enormous turbine hall alone, but the
smaller Hayward Gallery in the
Southbank Centre is also usually
worth a visit.
For those who have done the
mainstream sights, a good way to mix
with the locals is to meander through the
many markets, such as
BOROUGH
MARKET
for food, Columbia Road for
flowers and Portobello for antiques and
vintage fashion.
CAMDEN
MARKET
is still popular with goths
and Spitalfields Market offers a mixture
of fashion, music, jewellery and
children’s toys. And the next pub is
never far – a very British way to end
the day.
Drink
What would England be without its pub
culture? There’s a pub on every corner
and come 5pm on a Friday you’ll see
office workers pile into the nearest one
for a pint or three. Tucked away just off
Kensington High Street, a great place for
shopping away from the crowds of
Oxford Street, is the
DEVONSHIRE
ARMS
►
37 Marloes Road, London
W8 6LA, +44 (0)20 7937 0710, www.
thedevonshirearmskensington.co.uk
◄
,
a cosy yet cool Victorian pub with an
eclectic vintage interior. The home-
made Sunday roast is ideal to soak up
their certified cask ales.
If it’s fine wine you’re after,
GORDON’ S WINE BAR
►
47
Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NE,
+44 (0)20 7930 1408, www.
gordonswinebar.com
◄
with its
extensive list of world wines, won’t
disappoint. You’ll find it in a small, dark
cellar near Embankment where the
smell of full-bodied reds oozes from the
walls. With no mobile reception and a
bottle of Barolo Bussia in front of you, be
prepared to lose track of time.
If, however, you’re in town to party, there
is no better club than
FABRIC
►
77A
Charterhouse Street, London EC1M
3HN, +44 (0)20 7336 8898, www.
fabriclondon.com
◄
. Repeatedly voted
best club in the world by
DJ
magazine,
its three rooms with pumping sound
systems and legendary vibrating dance
floor (it becomes a giant bass drum) will
have you moving and shaking. It’s also
entertaining to perch on the spiral stairs
with other clubbers trying to catch their
breath – but don’t expect deep
conversation. This place is party central!
Sleep
BROWNS
►
Albemarle St, London
W1S 4BP, +44 (0)20 7493 6020,
www.brownshotel.com
◄
offers
British luxury and history in one.
Located just off Bond Street and Regent
Street it certainly has a desirable
address. Originally opened in 1837, it
has seen many important guests over
the years, including Theodore Roosevelt
and writers such as Oscar Wilde and
Agatha Christie. It has undergone a
major transformation since Rocco Forte
took over in 2003. His sister, the
celebrated interior designer Olga Polizzi,
has redesigned the rooms to create a
contemporary yet quintessentially
British feel. However, location and
luxury come at a price.
Famed for its value for money, by
contrast, is the
HOXTON HOTEL
.
A perfect blend of designer interiors and
affordable prices, not to mention its
proximity to the bars on Hoxton Square,
make this hotel a great starting point
from which to explore the East End of
London
►
81 Great Eastern
Street, London EC2A 3HU, +44 (0)20
7550 1000, www.hoxtonhotels.com
◄
.
In line with the British tradition of bed
and breakfast, a new model of
accommodation is emerging.
FORTY
WINKS
►
109 Mile End Road,
London E1 4UJ, +44 (0)20 7790 0259,
www.40winks.org
◄
follows the new
concept of a reasonably priced home
from home. This four-storey Queen Anne
townhouse will charm you as soon as
you step inside its fashionable and
fantastical space.
Eat
London’s gastronomic scene has a lot
more to offer than fish and chips. From
Michelin-starred restaurants to
authentic street food, you can eat your
way around the globe in the English
capital. But the best way to start the day
is with a traditional English breakfast at
THE ALBION
►
2–4 Boundary
Street, London E2 7DD, +44 (0)20
7729 1051, www.albioncaff.co.uk
◄
.
The cafe and grocery, which sells the
most delicious freshly baked pastries, is
part of Terence Conran’s Boundary
project, which houses three restaurants,
a hotel and the city’s favourite rooftop
bar in trendy Shoreditch. Try the fried
duck eggs for an extra twist.
If you like meat, you’ll love
ST JOHN
in Clerkenwell
►
26 St John Street,
EC1M 4AY, +44 (0)20 3301 8069,
www.stjohnrestaurant.com
◄
. Based
in an old smokehouse near Smithfield
Market, the restaurant is famed for its
exhaustive carnivorous fare: be
prepared for tongue, marrow and
intestines. Once the offices of
Marxism
Today
, the venue is now a popular venue
for business lunches.
From Vietnamese on Kingsland Road to
Chinese in Chinatown, London’s ethnic
mix is reflected in its multitude of
culinary hotspots. But the nation’s
favourite dish is still an Indian curry.
The recently opened
BOMBAY
CAFE DI SHOOM
in the heart of the
West End
►
12 Upper St Martin’s Lane,
London WC2H 9FB, +44 (0)20 7420
9320, www.dishoom.com
◄
is a
contemporary interpretation of
Bombay’s 1960s cafes, serving spicy
chai from 8am to dinner and cocktails
late into the night. The calamari with
lime and chilli with slow-cooked house
black daal is a must.
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