august pond-hopping
May 28th, 2010
While Londoners flock down to the Mediterranean, August is the time for a Yankee invasion. Restaurants aren’t as crowded, it’s easier to get tickets to coveted West End shows, and Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors (see our full round-up below). Two of the city’s hottest hotels, the Metropolitan and The Halkin, are also offering discounted rates, making it easy to hop across the Atlantic for a British mini-break. The hotels sit in a prime locale, sandwiched by Hyde Park and the Buckingham Palace Gardens, perfect for summer strolls and picnics.
At The Met, book ahead with the “Ultimate Savings” offer to get a City Room from £179, roughly $257 (compared to the standard rate of £390, a savings of 55% and roughly $305) with a minimum of two nights. (Must be booked at least seven nights in advance, valid through December 31, 2010.) Over at The Halkin, “Extend that Weekend Feeling” is discounting weekend rates by 20% when guests stay three nights. A double room starts at £450 a night, roughly $650. Three nights at that rate would £1350, or roughly $1950, but with the discount it’s only £1080 ($1560), making it a savings of about $390. Use that little bonus to load up on Top Shop must-haves or to procure tickets to a West End show. After a day of finding quirky antique treasures on Portobello Road or numerous crossings of the Thames, relax and take in the green views from one of the 51 rooms overlooking Hyde Park at the Metropolitan. At The Halkin, fill up on Thai fare at Chef David Thompson’s nahm, the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star.
Herewith, our round-up of August’s key events…
Music Festivals
What: a two-day festival featuring artists Kings of Leon, Passion Pit, Imogen Heap, and many more
When: August 21-22
Where: Hylands Park and Weston Park
What: celebration of 80s music, dressing up encouraged
When: August 20
Where: Remenham, Oxon (about an hour from London)
What: David Guetta, Audio Bully, and more pump out dance music in the last summer festival at Victoria Park
When: August 27
Where: Victoria Park
What: The last concert in August promises to be one of the best parties of the summer.
When: August 29
Where: Clapham Common
Hyde Park in the summer
Art Exhibits
What: An exhibition celebrating the artist’s influence in 20th century sculpture
When: Through August 15
Where: The Tate Britain
Victoria & Albert: Art & Love in London
What: An exhibition featuring over 400 works from the Royal Collection gathered during the lives of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
When: Through October 31
Where: The Queen’s Gallery
What: An exhibition focused on the new and exciting artists coming out of the UK in the past few years
When: June 2-October 17
Where: The Saatchi Gallery
West End Shows
What: David Hirson’s fun 1991 play tells the story of a dramatist leading an acting company in the 17th-century court of Prince Conti, starring Joanna Lumley, aka Patsy from Ab Fab.
When: June 28-August 28
The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
What: Enjoy this comedy in Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre.
When: August 14-October 2
Into The Woods at London’s Open Air Theatre
What: Watch the celebrated Sondheim play outdoors in Regent’s Park
When: August 5-September 11
New Restaurants
Bar Boulud – Knightsbridge
This New York gem opened a British outpost in May with two bright rooms, a charcuterie counter, and a lounge.
Petrus – Belgravia
Gordon Ramsey’s French restaurant opened in March and boasts a glass wine case with 2,000 bottles.
Viajante – Bethnal Green
Opened in April, this eclectic new spot is in the former Bethnal Green Town Hall.
The Milroy – Mayfair
Just opened in May to the public, the restaurant serves up modern European fare and occupies the space that once housed Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.
More
What: A huge street fair set up by London’s West Indian population, full of food carts, steel drum bands, and crazy costumes.
When: August 29-30
What: Operas in the open air, set in beautiful Holland Park.
When: La Forza del Destino, August 4, 6, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm
Francesca da Rimini, August 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 at 7:30pm
Fantastic Mr. Fox, August 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm
What: Take advantage of summer sales at this fashion forward hot spot. The chic flock here for the latest from Lanvin, YSL, and Rodarte.
Leave a Reply
Categories
- ALICE MARSHALL PR
- CLIENTS
- Almanac
- AndBeyond
- Belmond
- doyle collection
- Fife Arms
- guinot institut paris
- island outpost
- Kalesma
- la reserve hospitality collection
- nantucket island resorts
- nayara hotel, spa & gardens
- park hyatt hotels
- ponant
- royal mansour
- Shou Sugi Ban House
- Sugar Beach
- the chatwal
- UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa
- Virtuoso
- visit napa valley
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
- Dromoland Castle
- napa valley
- Paradero Todos Santos
- TOPICS
- Uncategorized
Archives
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- July 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- February 2018
- December 2017
- June 2016
- April 2016
- November 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- May 2015
- February 2015
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- March 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008