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From the 15th to the 19th centuries, the River Thames in London would periodically freeze during the winter, and when it did, Londoners would take advantage of its solid state by organizing frost fairs. These carnivals on the ice were marked by singing, dancing, puppet shows, and even horse racing, and everybody in old London town would come out to join in the winter fun. It's been years since the Thames has frozen solid, but the frost fair spirit lives on every December at the Bankside Winter Festival. From December 12 - 21, 2008, the area known as Bankside will be transformed into a spectacular outdoor festival commemorating the holidays, with traditional English treats, a proper bar serving mulled wine and ale, and a winter market with more than forty stalls where visitors can find one-of-a-kind gifts. But it's not all eating, drinking, and shopping. Running along the length of the Thames from the Globe Theater to the Tate Modern, festival-goers can join Frost Fair Guided Walks that focus on Bankside's connection with the river and its rich theatrical history. And those who don't feel like walking can relax and enjoy the Lantern Parade or procession of traditional Thames Cutters as they sail by. It's a uniquely English way to usher in the season, and convenient to several Starwood properties, including the luxurious Le Méridien Piccadilly.
Recently in UK Category
Ring In the Holidays Like a Londoner at the Bankside Winter Festival
Thursday December 11, 2008
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More Business Dinners in London City
Monday October 27, 2008
Headed to London's financial district on business? You've probably already figured out that The Park Lane Hotel is the closest Starwood property to The City. Here are a few new places to continue your business over dinner:
• L'Anima is a beautiful new Italian restaurant that's sure to impress with its minimalist space and lusciously modern dishes.
• The very popular Le Bouchon has opened a second location, Le Bouchon Breton, near Spitalfields Market just this month. Early reviews show its youth, but if you're looking for something traditional yet new, here's your place. The steaks are excellent.
• Hix Oyster & Chop House updates the classic London chop house and nails it — which means it may be tough to get a reservation.
• One place not to go is the recently opened Bel Canto. It's not that the food's not good — but it may be hard doing business in between opera-singing servers.
Starwood Insider - Niall Twamley - A 007 Travel Day in London
Monday October 6, 2008
Niall Twamley is the Branded Experience Analyst at the Starwood Cork CCC office.
London has featured as a location for many films down through the years. One of the most exciting scenes filmed in the city was the opening of the 1999 James Bond film, The World is not Enough which featured a boat chase down the Thames towards what was the Millennium Dome, an exhibition centre built to celebrate the year 2000. It is now a concert and events venue and has played host to many of the world's big musical performers.
For those who want to learn more about the background to the James Bond series, the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth is playing host to For Your Eyes Only, an exhibition honouring Ian Fleming, creator of the iconic book series which spawned one of cinema's most enduring film franchises. The exhibition features original manuscripts by Fleming as well as props and costumes from the films. The exhibition runs until March 2009, so there is ample time to catch it and whet your tastebuds for the next film in the series, "The Quantum of Solace" due this October.
Visit Twickenham Stadium, the Home of English Rugby
Friday October 3, 2008
Rugby is one of the toughest and most entertaining sports around, and the world capital of this "elegantly violent" game can be found in London. The Twickenham Rugby Stadium is England's largest rugby stadium and the second largest arena after Wembley, and when it's filled to its 82,000-fan capacity the place absolutely roars with excitement. Home of the Rugby Football Union, "Twickers" hosts matches between some of the top teams in Europe, including England's home test matches, the Guinness Premiership Final, and the Heineken Cup. Matches are held throughout the year, so check the schedule to find one that coincides with your visit, and cheer your team on. Alternately, drop by the stadium's World Rugby Museum, with interactive displays that relate the rugby's colorful - and sometimes bloody - history, as well as a tribute to the sport's global reach today. Starwood has properties throughout the London area, including the nearby Sheraton Skyline Hotel & Conference Center.
The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
Tuesday September 23, 2008For more than 40 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia was at the service of the Queen of England, taking nearly a thousand official voyages around the world and entertaining heads of state and celebrities of all kinds. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip helped design the yacht in 1952 and took trips all over the world in the decades after, making Elizabeth one of the most traveled monarchs in history. With her every comfort in mind, she was known to say the yacht was the only place on earth she could truly relax. Decommissioned in 1997, today Britannia is open to visitors who wish to experience the grand old seafaring traditions of the British monarchy. A self-guided tour takes visitors through five of the yacht's magnificent decks, including the fabulous State Apartments, lounge areas, and even the engine room. It won't take long for you to admit that it's an awfully nice way to get around, if you happen to be the queen. Docked in the port of Leith in Edinburgh, the yacht is convenient to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.
Cruise Your Way to Art on the Tate Boat in London
Friday September 5, 2008London's Tate museums are some of the city's most beloved attractions, drawing thousands of visitors every year, and they're linked by one of the most creative forms of transportation you've ever seen. Art aficionados in London who don't mind feeling the motion of the ocean should make their way to the Tate Boat. This 220-seat catamaran with interior and exterior designs by Damien Hirst, but don't worry, no dead sharks or taxidermy were involved, just a whole lot of polka dots. The Tate Boat plies the waters of the Thames river between Tate Britain and Tate Modern every forty minutes during operating hours. It even makes a stop at the London Eye for those who desire a heightened view in the city between museum hopping. Starwood has several London properties, including the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel, London.
Relaxed Refinement in London
Tuesday August 26, 2008
The Belgravia neighborhood of London is posh. The Sheraton Belgravia counters the neighborhood vibe with informal luxury and an air of relaxed refinement. It's only fitting, then, to recommend nearby restaurants that match its attitude. The obvious answer is Motcombs, a modern English restaurant and bar (pictured) in the heart of the neighborhood. It's quite popular with locals and London celebrities, but you'll never feel like an outsider. (You might also visit its sister restaurant, Bow Wine Vaults, near St. Paul's Cathedral.)
For a treat, see if you can find your way to The Grenadier, a classic English pub with a history: it was once the officers' mess for the Duke of Wellington. The pub is hidden on a side street (called a "mews") and even boasts its own ghost story. Order beef Wellington (of course) and, if you're in the mood, one of their legendary Bloody Marys.
The House of Viktor & Rolf At London's Barbican Art Gallery
Monday August 25, 2008I've been infatuated with things like Barbie doll wedding dresses, miniature rooms, and modern day princesses all my life. That's why I'm particularly intrigued by a new exhibition that runs through September 21, at London's Barbican Art Gallery, six tube stops from the stylish Le Méridien Piccadilly.
The Dutch fashion design duo Viktor and Rolf have created a display that showcases the past fifteen years of their work, but instead of the real, life-sized versions, the displays of silver-plated evening gowns, brass bell-embroidered overcoats, and other avant-garde designs were all executed in miniature. Porcelain dolls with China-white faces adorned with color palettes from actual Viktor and Rolf fashion shows, wear costumes of whimsical surrealism. One blue-eyed babe with teased-out blond hair is wrapped in a downy red frock that resembles a blanked pulled off the bed. A pair of silken pillows frames her face. Another slim figure elegantly wears a swath of white satin. A large script embroidered with red thread reads "I love you," creating the most literal wedding dress imaginable. It's positioned nearby the mini rendition of the actual gown the duo designed for the Dutch princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau. Viktor and Rolf's dolls pose within an enormous white doll house. Stark walls provide the perfect backdrop for the designers' sublime creations, as well as a space to project footage from fashion shows past.
The Edinburgh Festival and its Fabulous Fringe
Thursday July 24, 2008It's almost time for Edinburgh Festival, the largest collection of arts festivals in the world. Every August, singers, musicians, comedians, magicians, filmmakers, photographers, scientists, librarians, and people who defy category gather in this ancient Scottish city to put on an amazingly diverse set of performances that's like no other. Fans of traditional classical music, opera, dance, and theater come in droves to the Edinburgh International Festival, which this year features the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and a performance of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart by Malthouse Melbourne. Also, included will be a Discover Kymaerica talk by Charles and Ray Eames' grandson, Eames Demetrios, who is currently chronicling his journey to Edinburgh on youtube. Other August festivals include the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, but the party veers sharply toward the wild and weird when the Edinburgh Fringe gets going. Look out for stilt-walkers, shamans, fire-eaters, jugglers, and deejays playing eclectic electronic music to crowds of screaming fans. It's sensory overload in the best way. Guests at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh will no doubt find a performance or three to enjoy.
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More Fast Bites in London
Wednesday July 16, 2008I usually focus on restaurants that stand out in a particular city — the cream of the crop, or regional specialties. Sometimes, though, you just want a quick and easy meal to refuel in the middle of a busy day. Chain and fast food restaurants typically fill that role in the States, but what about overseas? How do you know what fast food joint is worth trying, and which to avoid? In this occasional series, "Fast Bites," I'll point out a couple indigenous chains and fast food options that are reliable options for a good meal on the go.
First stop, London! Say you're staying at Le Méridien Piccadilly. Here are some spots to watch for, all within a mile or so of the hotel:
• Carluccio's was started by one of the pioneers of Italian food in the UK, and the commitment to the cuisine shines through even as the chain has grown to 34 locations. Try the best-selling penne giardiniera, topped with deep-fried spinach balls.
• Masala Zone is a good, affordable option for Indian. Mixed platters called "thali" are the best best deals, giving you plenty of food with a range of flavors. The atmosphere is clean and kid-friendly.
• Looking for a burger? Look no further than Gourmet Burger Kitchen, which offers up more than two dozen varieties. The beef comes from grass-fed Scotch Aberdeen-Angus cattle and they're piled high with toppings from avocado bacon to thai red curry and grilled pineapple.
By far the biggest chain on this list (180 locations in the UK and elsewhere) is Nando's, but it's hardly McDonald's. Here you'll find Portuguese-style roast chicken seasoned with your choice of sauces, from mild lemon herb to extra hot, plus two sides. Their signature "peri-peri sauce" can be addictive — fortunately, it's available bottled.
What Are You in the Mood For?
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