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London City Guide

There is so much to see and visit in London it can be very daunting. However When The Meeting's Over offers you a very quick snap shot of hot hotels and cool things to do.

 

Top 5 Hotels in London

Yotel1. Cool capsule: Yotel Heathrow Airport

The  Yotel opened in Heathrow's terminal four in December 2008. ‘I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to the sleeper bed in British Airways first class. I went to sleep with the conundrum of how to make a Japanese capsule hotel acceptable in the west and woke up realising the solution was around me: all I needed to do was find the designer of the BA first class cabin and ask them to help me design a hotel." Says Simon Woodroffe, founder of Yo Hotels. You can book Standard or Premium cabins for a whole night (if your flight is cancelled, for example) or in four-hour segments if you just want to have a power nap. All have (en suite bathrooms, flat screen TV’s, free WiFi and 24 hour in cabin service.

Click here to view more images & video >

From £29 for four hours, £98 per night B&B. yotel.com

2. City slicker: The Zetter

The Zetter , designed by Michael Benyan and Mark Sainsbury, is an old Victorian warehouse building in the heart of Clerkenwell, a short cab ride from the new Eurostar terminal at St Pancras.It has been transformed into a 59-room boutique hotel and restaurant designed around a  spectacular centraol atrium. Praised by The Times, Time Out and Wallpaper* among others, The Zetter was also voted one of the world’s ’50 coolest hotels’ by industry bible Conde Nast Traveller. Rooms range from ‘bijou’ to roof top terrace.
From £155 room-only per night. thezetter.com 

+44 (0)20 7324 4444  The Zetter St John’s Square 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, London  EC1M 5RJ

3. Luxury budget: The Hoxton

The Hoxton Urban Lodge, where urban living meets country lodge lounging, opened in September 2006. Close to  Old Street tube and the City of London, The Hoxton provides easy access to Moorgate, Finsbury Square and Liverpool Street. Brought to guests by the entrepreneur behind fast food sandwich chain, Pret a Manger, the idea behind The Hoxton is affordable luxury for business travellers with rooms rentable by the day and 6 meeting and event rooms. There are roaring fires and cool cocktails, Frette linen and flat screen TVs and free wiFi.There is also plenty to do after work with the curry houses of Brick Lane, Tower of London and performances at the Barbican are within easy reach.

From £130 per night B&B. hoxtonhotels.com

 

4. Chic and cheerful: Guesthouse West

Located in the heart of Notting Hill gate, a 10 minute taxi ride from Paddington station, this is a 20-room B&B with a difference – you can pay by the night, in the normal way, or if you think you might become a regular you can invest in a room. In return you get to use it 52 nights per year and receive a rental return the rest of the time. This is a converted former Edwardian family home now sleek with wood, leather and pristine bedlinen. Deluxe doubles and Terrace rooms are ensuite with wireless broadband and flatscreen TVs. In summer the main terrace is a popular hangout for locals as a break from shopping in the cult outlets of Ledbury and Chepstow Road.

 

5. Historic Art Deco: Claridges

In the heart of Mayfair,  Claridge’s hotel is perfectly placed for the city, London’s shopping districts and leafy Hyde Park.The Art deco interior has recently been refurbished by David Linley design company leaving it elegant and sumptuous. Stars, socialites and the crowned heads of Europe have enjoyed this 5 star hotel for over 100 years and it is still London’s most stylish. Click here to view more images & video >

From £200 a night   claridges.co.uk

 

Top 10 Restaurants in London

1. The Wolseley

The Wolseley is a café-restaurant in the grand European tradition located in St James’ on London’s most famous of boulevards, Piccadilly. A former car show-room commissioned by Wolseley Cars in 1921 as their West End showroom it now shimmers with glamour and opulence ; definitely one to impress. It is open all day for breakfast, brasserie meals such as grilled halibut, calf’s liver, roast chicken or a splendid afternoon cream tea.

  • The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB
  • Piccadilly Circus or Green Park tube.
  • Tel: 020 7499 6996 thewolseley.com

 

2. Chez Bruce

‘My food is most definitely based upon classical and regional French cooking. I would more readily look towards the works of Elizabeth David, Jane Grigson, Richard Olney and Larousse for inspiration, than the most fashionable uber Chef.’ says Bruce Poole. Every dish in this smart yet local restaurant is delightful: for example, rabbit came in various ways (terrine, rillettes, rolled breast, along with seared prunes and baked shallots): all full of flavour and the whole thing a visual treat. You need to book way in advance and you must ask for seats by the window.

Well worth the taxi ride out to Wandsworth.

  • Chez Bruce, 2 Bellevue Rd, SW17 7EG
  • Tel: 020 8672 0114 chezbruce.co.uk
  • Wandsworth Common rail.

 

3. Momo

Momos is based on a Mediterranean souk with North African food. Ornate lanterns, low brass tables, sumptuous Eastern rugs ,vibrantly coloured shishas contribute to the feeling of being in a fantasy casbah. The sour-sweet flavours of the meat and fruit tagines are superb and couscous is gorgeous. The cocktails and mint teas are delicious, with the modern desserts also excellent.

  • Momo, 25 Heddon St, W1B 4BH
  • Tel: 020 7434 4040 momoresto.com
  • Piccadilly Circus tube.

 

4. J Sheekey

In the heart of  Covent Garden, J Sheekey is a restaurant offering the finest fish, shellfish and seafood. Old favourites such as fish pie and fish cakes are perfectly cooked and presented or choose sophisticated Modern European fare that is equally accomplished – salt-baked bream, chargrilled octopus with capers and sea purslane. The restaurant is open from 5.30 so you can eat before the theatre. The Oyster bar next door is open all day if you want to pop in for a glass of champagne and a dozen oysters.

  • J Sheekey, 28-32 St Martin’s Court, WC2N 4AL
  • Tel: 020 7240 256 j-sheekey.co.uk
  • Leicester Sq tube.

 

5. Hakkasan

Described by Time Out as ‘a world of decadence, of sultry 1930s Shanghai style with James Bond intrigue.’ It is an impossibly decadent setting for the Michelin star award winning modern Cantonse menu of Chef Tang Chee Hwee. The bar which serves oriental-inspired cocktails is separated from the central dining area by a lacquered latttice of carved Chinese screens. Here the food is sublime - take sweet-and-sour Berkshire pork, with its tang taken from pomegranate instead of the usual pineapple. Try having lunch from the dim sum menu which is great value and superb. 

  • Hakkasan, 8 Hanway Place, W1T 1HD
  • Tel: 020 7907 1888 hakkasan.com
  • Tottenham Court Rd tube.

 

6. Maze

Maze is  Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant. It breaks the formal traditions of french cuisine by adopting Asian style tasting dishes, which are created to an incredibly high standard. For example you can try Braised octopus, oxtail vinaigrette,dehydrated black olive, 

fine herbs and confit lemon. A deep dip into the many tasting dishes is more quixotic than the traditional menu.

You will need to book way in advance for this one.

  • Maze, 10-13 Grosvenor Sq, W1K 6JP
  • Tel: 020 7107 0000 gordonramsay.com
  • Bond St tube.

 

 

7. L'Autre Pied

L’Autre Pied recently won its first Michelin star for its chef Marcus Eaves. He has taken haute cuisine techniques and pared them down for a more convivial affordable place with great elan:”My monkfish cheeks, pommes puree and braised oxtail had the sort of flavours that roll around the tastebuds like Brigitte Bardot on satin sheets.” said Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, of London Lite.

This is a small restaurant and tables are quite close together, so it is really a place for small groups of diners.The lunch and pre-theatre menus (6-7pm) are extremely good value at £20.95 for three courses. 

  • L’Autre Pied, 5-7 Blandford St, W1U 3DB
  • Tel: 020 7486 9696 lautrepied.co.uk
  • Baker St or Bond St tube. 

 

 

8. Wild Honey

Anthony Demetre and Will Smith’s second restaurant is sleek and stylish and set in Mayfair. They aim to use the freshest seasonal produce at great prices: such as rustic, warming plates of rabbit, venison, wild duck and belly pork with a wine list of 50 bins available by glass or carafe. This restaurant reeks of quality.

 

9. Automat

Automat is an American brasserie in the heart of Mayfair. It is consciously cool in an Amercan black and white Diner kind of way and very New York. Londoners have questioned whether it is necessary to use beef from Nebraska but feel it is so delicious that it almost is. It is open from 7am until 12 midnight.

  • Automat, 33 Dover Street, Mayfair London W1S 4NF
  • Tel: 020 7499 3033 automat-london.com
  • Grreen Park

There is a no booking policy for tables of less than six, so enjoy the wait and kick back in the divine ground Nightlife), a destination in itself.

 

 

10. Nobu Berkeley

You don’t need to book for tables of six and under for this restaurant so enjoy the wait at the gorgeous, glamorous bar with full height windows boasting fabulous views over Hyde Park and many A listers and business hot shots. The owner is celebrated Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa and executive chef Mark Edwards who creates Japanese dishes with South American influences: yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, crispy pork belly with spicy miso, rock shrimp tempura, & freshwater eel 

Note: seats to the left of the staircase (up from the ground-floor bar) are a celeb-free Siberia.

 

 

TOP 5 ATTRACTIONS LONDON

1. London Eye

The London Eye really is essential to visit: it is an iconic landmark and symbol of modern Britain. The 32 capsules carry around 10,000 visitors every day. You can see 40 km and as far as Windsor Castle on a clear day. It is expensive but if you go on a good day it really is spectacular. I went up one autumn afternoon just after the rain when the sun was coming out from behind the clouds and London sparkled. Breathtaking.

Book online or be prepared to queue for ages! 

  • www.londoneye.com
  • Adults £17.50, child £8.75
  • Champagne flight £35  
  • Opening times May and June 10am-9pm, July Aug 10am- 9.30pm, Sept 10am-9pm, Oct –April 10am- 8pm

 

2. River Cruise

A perfect way to see London without the traffic. You can board at Westminster Pier outside the Houses of Parliament and go all the way down to Greenwich. You will see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, County Hall,  St Paul’s Cathedral,  Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Thames barrier and Royal Naval College. You can hop on and hop off if you want to break the journey.

3. Tate Modern 

This collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day is housed in the former Bankside Power Station in North Southwark. Exhibitions change frequently and apart from special exhibitions it is free to visit. You'll often find enormous 'installations' in the Turbine Hall on the ground floor. Don't forget Tate Britain - you can take the Tate Boat between the two Tates and the London Eye.

 

4.Tower of London

In the early 1080s, William the Conqueror began to build a massive stone tower at the centre of his London fortress. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. Through the centuries that followed, successive monarchs added to the fortification.The crown jewels are kept in the tower – an attempt was made to steal them in 1671 but they are still there!.10 monarchs are associated with the tower and three English queens were executed  there, including Queen Anne Boleyn – who is said to still haunt the Tower.

 

5. British Museum

‘A museum of the world, for the world’ the British Museum contains Aztec artefacts under the reign of Moctezuma 11 1502 -1520,  the Rosetta stone dating from 196BC and the earliest known image of Christ and the Elgin Marbles from ancient Greece.

 

LOCAL’S TIPS FOR LONDON

 

  1. Go by bus rather than Tube - takes a bit of working out but at least you get to see London, and everything is nearer than you think.
  2. Go to museums and parks (they're free) – Hyde Park has the beautiful Serpentine lake and Gallery www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde_park/
  3. Invest in a good street map
  4. Go and walk around the Square mile (the City) (Faringdon Underground station). It has fantastic architecture and if you go on a weekend... it's EMPTY. Take a sandwich though as everything is closed.
  5. South Bank is good for a wander now, plenty of free street entertainment in the summer, work your way down to Borough market and with all the money you are saving, treat yourself to supper in the Oxo Tower for decent food and great views. www.harveynichols.com