London is always pure inspiration

The best renovated classic that exists is undoubtedly London. I have a very close and familiar relationship with this fantastic city, it is always a good time to visit it, for multiple reasons. Last weekend I was lucky enough to return to London, after years of not being able to go due to international travel restrictions. Dreaming of the intense weekend that awaited me in my reunion with London. A thousand and one plans and only three days to be able to enjoy an agenda that was really marathon and that luckily was fulfilled almost in detail.

Many changes in London after Brexit?

Absolutely none, London is spectacular, as always welcoming and charming, as usual. This time I was lucky enough to enjoy a city dressed in gala, the previous week “Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee” had been celebrated seven decades on the throne, “god save the queen”

London is “amazing”

A conservative, modern, sophisticated city, with character, multicultural, elegant and very cool, this is London, in constant evolution.

The essentials of London that you cannot miss

Share those places where you have enjoyed and keep in your best memories, where it seems that time has not passed when you return.

Take note, you will love them and surely you will always want to return.

Melia London Kensington Collection Hotel, PHOTO: Inma Maynard

It is the first time that I visited London and stayed in a hotel, we had a family house and it was sold a few years ago. This time no one was waiting for me, my favorite aroma would not be there, my favorite food from Marks & Spencer would not be there either, nothing would be the same. I knew that feeling of “Home sweet Home” was not waiting for me when I arrived.

That’s why I made sure that my hotel was a special place, cozy and if possible in Kensington, our neighborhood. Luckily I found it Meliá London Kensington Collection Hotel. My surprise when I arrived is that they were waiting for me, they received me with the best of smiles and a cordiality with which they made me feel without a doubt at home.

A boutique hotel in which the difference is in the detail, I have thoroughly enjoyed this jewel of an absolutely ideal Victorian house, a completely renovated hotel, inspired by the industrial revolution and, of course, by one of its main standard-bearers William Morris, character and essence , a charming luxury Congratulations to all your staff!

Highly recommended, without a doubt it will also be your home in London, an important fact to keep in mind is the super location. The hotel is located a few meters from the Gloucester Road (Picadilly) underground line direct to Heathrow (40min).

Where to eat or dine

Kensington/South Kensington

If you want a delicious pizza or pasta, PizzaExpress an essential of always is already a classic, there is one just around the corner from the hotel.

There are also several Indian restaurants in the neighborhood that I like (London is the city where the best in the world are).

Zaika (Gourmet Indian Dining) A very charming place, housed in a Gothic revival building, designed in 1884 by Alfred Williams to house the London City Bank, protected and restored preserving all the heritage details.

Bombay Brasserie another one of my favourites, since 1982 it is an iconic restaurant and famous for its authentic and eclectic cuisine from Bombay and India. Fantastic colonial decor. always right.

A typical and ideal tea room is The Orangery Restaurantunbeatable to enjoy a tea in the gardens of Kensington Palace, absolutely a delight.

Right opposite Kensington Palace The Minestrone Hotel & Residencesa jewel of a boutique hotel in the purest English style, a point of reference, in a charming Victorian building, with an exquisite decoration of art and period furniture and in which every Sunday there is “Roast” an experience to the most pure British style.

I could go on but it would be too long…

Where to go shopping?

oxford street

essential, Marks & Spencer, Selfridges & Co, Boots.

Regent Street

must visit to Liberty a Tudor-style building that will leave you speechless.

Do you know its origin?

Arthur Lasenby Liberty was born in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, in 1843. He was employed by Messrs. Farmer and Rogers in Regent Street in 1862, the year of the International Exhibition. In 1874, inspired by his 10 years of service, he decided to start his own business, which he did the following year. With a loan of £2,000 from his future father-in-law, he took the lease of half a store at 218a Regent Street with three members. of staff…Years later…The emporium was designed by Edwin Thomas Hall and his son, Edwin Stanley Hall. They designed the building at the height of the 1920s fashion for the Tudor revival. The store was designed around three courtyards that formed the main focus of the building. Each of these courtyards was surrounded by smaller rooms to create a homey feel. Many of the rooms had fireplaces and some still exist. Take your time and go through all its sections calmly, it is a true wonder. It is essential to see the section of fabrics and rugs.

Another mythical place is hamleys.

Paddington Bear, Hamleys PHOTO: Inma Maynard

You will not pass through the door without entering and being swept away by the magic of the oldest toy store in the world, it was founded by William Hamley as “Noah’s Ark” in High Holborn, London, in 1760. It has moved to its current site in Regent Street, in London’s West End, in 1881.

piccadilly

Fortnum & Mason established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. His fame was due to the fact that initially he was completely dedicated to the sale of food (food hall), although it currently has several floors dedicated to other topics. It is also known as a reputable tea shop (tea shop), their picnic baskets are also a classic.

Fortnum and Mason is internationally recognized for its high quality products and being a symbol of the United Kingdom. It has been a royal provider for the last 150 years. Right next door and opposite you can enjoy the charming shops of Burlington Arcade, Princess Arcade or Piccadilly Arcade, Ladureé, Maison Assouline, Cath Kidston, etc… On the parallel street is Jermyn St. You will find everything you need to go dressed as a real “gentleman” in the mythical Hawes & Curtis, Russell & Bromley, Church´s Shoes, Hackett or Bates Hats.

Knightsbridge

Nor can you miss the famous stores Harrod’s in Brompton Road, Knightsbridge. There is a lot of history linked to this well-known place, a tourist attraction for London. The building is gorgeous, its interior is very curious, a display of luxury and glamor in each of its sections. The supermarket area is gorgeous, a wide variety of delicatessen along with a spectacular decoration will make you fall in love. On the terrace there is a fantastic buffet restaurant in the purest English style, without a doubt it is worth enjoying it.

Harrods department store PHOTO: Harrod’s

Other places with a lot of charm that you cannot miss?

Chelsea

OKA

One of my favorites is a very charming British decoration firm, well known for its mix of unique pieces for a timeless style.

Old Chelsea

No. FIFTY CHEYNE

Located in the heart of Old Chelsea, Iain Smith leads as Head Chef, creating an ever-evolving menu using the finest British ingredients, elegant and charming…

Kensington

DA MARIO

Da Mario restaurant is one of the most popular, it was a favorite of Princess Diana, in the heart of Kensington. Inaugurated by Mr. Mario Molino, who helped bring pizza to the UK in 1965. One of the founders of Pizza Express… Now run by his son Marco following and continuing the family tradition of good, healthy Neapolitan cuisine …

Without a doubt, it has been a luxury trip, I assure you that there is room for a few more articles, this is just a small sample of what you can find on your visit to London, it is inexhaustible, there is always a reason to return and enjoy art, museums, shows, nature, gastronomy, shopping, walks, architecture, culture.

Among the number of things I had time to do, I’ll tell you that I went to a hilarious party on a boat on the river, on Saturday morning, without fail at the flea market portobello already eat to Notting Hillwith a must visit (which I love) to “The Notting Hill Book Shop” and we finished our weekend at the Museum of Natural Sciences….