Limavady Chronicle - Features - 5 Star Hotels in London: One Way to Go

Features

5 Star Hotels in London: One Way to Go

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

London is a place of accommodation diversity. It can be 5 star hotels in London city or hostels and B&Bs hidden elsewhere.

It can be a summer holiday when spirits are high and the parks are filled. It can be a Christmas getaway, all about wrapping up and snuggling into the person next to you. It can be for foodies in search of diverse cuisine, for sports fans wanting an unforgettable experience, for fashionistas hunting the newest thing on trend, or those simply wanting to get lost in the experience as a whole.

Those that come for the food can eat at the likes of Pearl, Maze or Claridges and receive the very best in service and world food. It can be French classics at Le Gavroche, modern British food at Odette's in Primrose Hill or Anglo-Asian fusion at Benares.

It is then possible to get food with just as much flavour, maybe roughed up a bit more, on a budget. There are endless curry houses on Brick Lane, Lebanese and Iranian cafes on the Edgware Road, or Caribbean and Creole delights in Brixton and Stockwell. In London, your price bracket doesn't restrict what you can eat; it is possible to get food filled with flavour without having to break the bank.

For sports fans there is an endless choice. Some might be restricted by the time of year. For the tennis at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in the sport, then come in early summer. A little later and you can enjoy the most English of games; cricket. Although the season has become somewhat distorted with different versions of the game, nothing replaces the feeling of a test match at Lords or the Oval with the sun out and merriment in the air. For Rugby Union, the autumn brings with it visiting southern hemisphere teams, while the spring is about all things European and The Six Nations.

Any time from August right the way through to May is football season. The English Premier League is the most watched in the world, and a live game at any of the London clubs is heartily recommended, whether you choose Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Fulham or West Ham.

Visitors coming to London for the shopping have a number of choices. With a little searching it becomes easy to sniff out the little vintage stores; some are right in there with the big brands, while others are totally hidden away and on their own, just like the potential bargains inside. Portobello Market is particularly popular, and Camden remains busy although may have lost some of its charm from 20 years ago as more brands have settled.

You could always hit the high street. Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and other parts of Soho are awash with clothes stores catering for all tastes, whether it is gothic leather, dainty summer dresses or the sophisticated elegance of high-end cocktail dresses. Savile Row is also close by for the men to get measured up for tailored suits.

There are then those who come for a little taste of everything. While London attracts those who just want something specific, the range of entertainment on offer means that one can just take a nibble of everything. There is nothing to stop people shopping in the morning, heading to a football match in the afternoon and then to the theatre in the evening.

There are huge arenas such as the O2 or Wembley Arena that stage gigs with the biggest musical artists and comedians in the world. Alternatively, you can still find music and comedy in a pub down the road. London has an active circuit for comics, and there are plenty of unsigned and underrated musical artists playing away in the clubs and pubs of the city.

When in the centre of London, travelling by foot will provide the opportunity to witness London at its iconic best. From the black cabs and red buses that fill the streets, right up to the Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge that dominate London's skyline. You can wander from one to the other, or head to the South Bank and the London Eye. On a clear day it will provide a spectacular view of the city; just a decade old, it has become as recognisable as the classic buildings that surround it.

Essentially, London offers anything from cheap thrills to exclusive delights, with everything in between. The city has a reputation as one of the world's best for good reason.