Rather than a city with a single, unified style, London is a collection of distinct neighborhoods, each with their own unique character. One walk around the British capital and you’ll discover the distinction is marked by the architecture of each—from the pastel flat facades of Notting Hill to the stately, stark white townhouses of Kensington to the 19th century, industrial brick buildings of the South Bank.
The city’s melange of styles is best represented in its hotels, which range from converted townhouses to restored historic landmarks. An influx of contemporary global brands are balanced with cherished local collections, resulting in a city that strikes the perfect balance of tradition and modernity, and has something for every design taste. The one commonality they share is a kind of warm hospitality that feels more like you’re visiting a bed and breakfast in a quaint English town, rather than a bustling city of more than 9 million people.
Whether you love art, design or are simply seeking a hotel rich in character, you’ll want to check in to these stylish stays the next time you’re in London.
Amidst the bustle of High Holborn, the impressive Rosewood London is hard to miss with its own private laneway giving way to a grand courtyard entrance. The Belle Époque building feels fit for royalty with its original Edwardian details and Grand Pavonazzo marble staircase. Interior designers Tony Chi and Martin Brudnizki transformed what was previously the headquarters of the Pearl Assurance Company into a five-star hotel with 262 contemporary chic guest rooms and 44 suites, including the standout five-bedroom Manor House Wing, which is the only suite in the world so large it has its own postal code.
In the ten years since opening, Rosewood London has become a destination for locals too, who line up outside to taste the freshly-made hand pies served daily from window counter at the Pie Room, and inside, to sip the creative cocktails at the popular Scarfes Bar, which British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe describes as his “personal gallery.” Aesthetically-minded foodies won’t want to miss the ‘Art Afternoon Tea’ served in the Mirror Room where the pastries are works of art in their own right.
You don’t have to stay here to admire this distinct pyramid-shaped glass tower—as one of the tallest buildings in Europe, The Shard is impossible to miss. But with sleek contemporary rooms offering some of the best views in the city, architecture aficionados would be remiss not to stay here. Floors 34 to 52 of the impressive Renzo Piano designed building belong to this Asian hotelier and not a square inch of the hotel has wasted the view.
From the 202 guest rooms and suites; to the sauna, infinity pool and
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If your loved one loves seafood, embrace that passion with this year’s Valentine’s Day gift. Aquatic creatures, bivalve inspired fashion, maritime feasts and more all will woo a person whose love language is totally understandable under the sea. Show your Valentine you love them more than all the oceans with these gifts for seafood lovers.
Marriott and Hilton joined all the major hotel groups this week in providing updates on their hotel development pipelines as they gathered at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles.
An explosion of colorful, engaging painting shows provide a welcome antidote to the short days and general lack of sunshine that can make winter in London a tad dreary. Here are six essential art exhibitions to visit over the next month.
I began my exploration of the countless bike paths in New York City as soon as I arrived. As a longtime cyclist in London, I knew that cycling is a satisfying way to get to know a city as a newcomer, and it’s no different in New York: you whip through neighborhoods, witnessing the landscape changing character dramatically between blocks. (My first ever bike ride took me past the copper-colored mansions of Brooklyn Heights, along the tourist-crowded cobbled streets of Dumbo, through Hasidic South Williamsburg and ended outside a crummy dive bar on Grand.) Riding a bike also requires a certain mindset, a kind of calm hyper awareness as you assess your surroundings. It means that you really notice things on a bike: potholes and perfectly flattened rats that need dodging, but also scraps of conversations, or the gauzy silhouette of the Empire State Building peeking out behind skyscrapers to signpost where you are.
If you're ever wondering aloud where the hottest mid-winter celebrations take place, those in-the-know might quietly respond, “St. Barts.” The island's luxe air of mystery and remoteness are part of what makes it a seasonal staple for jet setters and superyachts as they follow the sun to the Caribbean in winter. The festivities rage on until the St. Barths Bucket Regatta in mid-March, but what most visitors don’t realize is that the island is practically a year-round one, since the only time hotels typically shut is at the height of hurricane season (late summer).
It’s a new year, but when it comes to world-class food and drink, it’s still the same ol’ London. Meaning there's no Shoreditch—err...shortage of options across this perennially dynamic cityscape. With literally thousands of restaurants and bars worth exploring, there’s obviously no way we can include everything on one measly list. So the task here is to highlight some places that are doing something especially awesome this winter season. Whether you’re in town for a short stay, or a longtime local, check out what’s on below and you’re certain to be satisfied.
With a pedigree rooted in classical Greece and a fair claim to the mantle of France's second city, Marseille is an intense, high-octane place that never stops moving. In the last decade, this noisy, once-notoriously unglamorous port has morphed into a quietly cool influencer. With its eclectic choice of museums, churches and coastal parks in a sprawling metropolis famously stitched from 111 wildly diverse “villages,” Provence’s all-consuming capital deserves far more time than a quick weekend.