London Events for Frequent Visitors

Even the most Jaded Visitor Finds London Has something to Offer

May 11, 2009

London is always worth a stay even for the most frequent visitors, whether checking out the latest blockbuster exhibit at British Museum or theatre show.

London is a bit like a jilted lover once taken for granted – accommodating, familiar and predictable; but oh so charming. It never runs out of new corners to discover, especially now as it prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Smart new boutique hotels are springing up at the unlikeliest places – like Hotel Indigo in 16 London Street, Paddington – an elegant boutique hotel which caters for travellers seeking exclusive accommodation.

At an average price of £98.75 a night for a standard double room, Hotel Indigo London-Paddington is competitively priced, offering subtle, elegant luxury and all modern amenities, including integrated LCD flat-screen television and high-speed wi-fi connection to the web. Paddington is a part of London mostly known for its three-star hotels and B&Bs, but with its fast connection to Heathrow via the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station and easy reach to Oxford Street , Mayfair shops and Soho, it is becoming an increasingly desirable location for London stay-overs.

This month, Selfridges which was established in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge, is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout May by staging a 'Big Yellow Festival' centered around the Yellow Cafe on the lower ground floor with outrageously behaved 'Selfridgette' hostesses, music and gay bingo every hour on the hour on Fridays, while catwalk fashion shows display some of Britain's edgiest designers on Saturdays and cabarets entertain shoppers on Sundays.

Selfidges which is only a hop and a skip from Mayfair and its designer boutiques, has undergone an amazing transformation over the past five years to rival both Harvey Nics and Harrods at the other side of Hyde Park. It has something to offer any fashionista – from classic Chanel to the most edgy of fashion in the Ladies Spirit department which sells labels such as Giles Deacon; Henry Holland and PPQ.

When it comes to bars and restaurants, Selfridges also excels. The Moët Bar on the ground floor mezzanine offers a menu featuring champagne and vodka cocktails designed by fashion luminaries like Alice Temperley, Julien MacDonald and Tracey Boyd. Located directly above the new Chanel boutique and overlooking the designer accessories hall, this bar is pure prêt-a-poser and the bar’s 32 seats are quickly filled.

Smart new bar-eateries and so-called gastro-pubs have appeared in London's newly regenerated spaces, where history and modern clean lines merge. South Bank around the corner from Waterloo Station has been revitalized with new bars, cafes and restaurants along the Thames. London’s eateries have changed out of sight since Terence Conran revolutionised the restaurant scene back in the nineties. Thanks to a new interest in food stirred up by celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and James Oliver, any London eatery is now guaranteed to dish up an excellent meal.

While staying in London, it is always worthwhile checking out British Museum's latest exhibitions. The current exhibit, Shah 'Abbas: the Remaking of Iran', which finishes on June 14, is part of an excellent series focused on great rulers, following the blockbuster exhibition 'The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army' in 2007 and Hadrian: Empire and Conflict last year. A London stay during summer is not complete without a visit to the new Shakespeare's Globe Theatre at Bankside. A faithful replica of the original Globe theatre, the open air arena has daily Shakespeare performances , except for Mondays, during the summer months.

The copyright of the article London Events for Frequent Visitors in N Europe Travel is owned by Eva Wiland. Permission to republish London Events for Frequent Visitors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.