#Afternoon Tea Hyde Park Hotel

[grandroyale]

London’s Top 5 Most Legendary Music Venues

There are many incredible, world beating icons in London. Famous buildings, world class tourist attractions and amazing activities- but people often forget about London’s live music scene.

As one of the world’s greatest centres of culture it should come as no surprise that many of history's greatest musicians have played some pretty legendary gigs in London. The live music scene evolved heavily, but the big hitters always came back, and that is due to London’s many incredible venues.

If you’re visiting London for a legendary gig in the near future then book a room at the Grand Royale Hyde Park; it’s the best Hyde Park accommodation and one of the finest hotels near Bayswater Station. You’ll be perfectly situated to explore the city and check out some of London’s most famous live music venues.

Let’s take a look at the best of the best.

O2 Academy, Brixton

Formerly known as the Brixton Academy, this venue has been at the forefront of live music in the city since 1983.

It has played host to some of the biggest names from around the world like Madonna, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, Dr. Dre- it really has seen pretty much everyone through those iconic doors.

It was originally opened as a cinema, but found its true place in the world of music. 

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert is not only an icon in the world of music, but also in the world of architecture and design. It holds one of the largest glass domes in the world, and is supposed to have near perfect acoustics.

It has hosted music since 1941 and really does attract musicians and audiences from every genre. The world’s greatest orchestras play in the hall, as well as some of the biggest bands and artists from all over the world- even Paverotti held the stage. 

Ronnie Scott’s

Musician Ronnie Scott opened this bar in 1959 as a place for local jazz musicians to jam and practice; since then it has become one of the most famous jazz clubs in the world.

Some of the biggest names to ever grace the stage have performed there including Ella Fitzegerald, Miles Davies, Nina Simone and Chet Baker- that’s a pretty impressive list.

Ronnies Scott’s is also where Jimi Hendrix tragically played his last gig in 1970, which cemented the club’s place in the musical history books.  

Koko

Originally known as The Music Machine and later as Camden Palace, this stunning venue really found its place in music and is now called Koko.

Madonna actually performed her first ever UK gig here, and it has hosted some incredible names since then. Prince, Coldplay, Lady Gaga and Kanye West to name but a few.  

100 Club

The 100 Club actually started off as a swing joint, but quickly became a mecca for live jazz. In the 70s some incredible names played at the club and cemented its name in history.

David Bowie, Louis Armstrong, The Rolling Stones and Oasis have all played here- and when Jimi Hendrix lived in London it was one of his favourite places to perform.

Music History in London

So there you have it, some of the most famous musical locations in the city, and some of the incredible musicians who have played them.

Enjoy a weekend of culture in the city, and maybe snag the finest afternoon tea near Hyde Park at the Grand Royal in the morning- you probably won’t want to travel too far after a night in one of these incredible joints!

[pandora-morningstar]

Moriarty the Patriot: Enola Holmes general headcannons

((this is my version of Enola and what I think she's like in Moriarty the Patriot))

1) She's they youngest at eighteen years old. Not long after she was born her father died and when she was around six years old her mother disappeared, leaving her in the care of her brothers. Sherlock practically raised her since Mycroft was always busy.

2) She dresses similar to Violet Evergarden, it's easier for her to move around and run. No complicated puffy skirts for her just a simple petticoat and stockings under her dress, but whe she has to attend a fancy party she will dress more appropriate, she also dresses in her brother's old clothes. She wears her hair in a braid that's tied in a bun.

3) Enola loves dogs, when she was a six year old child she had a long haired Dachshund called Otto, Sherlock give her the dog to help cheer her up after her mother's disappearance. She had Otto for a long time and now has a short haired Dachshund called König, which is German for king, she got the idea from a German guest at the hotel she was living in.

4) She's smart and sassy, her and Sherlock often have battles of witts to see who can piss Mycroft off the fastest. She uses her intelligence to help solve cases and her sass either gets her out of trouble or in more trouble depending on who she's facing. It's usually up to her brothers or Louis to save her.

5) Speaking of her brothers, Enola is closer to Sherlock since he raised her and allowed her to become her own person. She still has that familial love for Mycroft but she can't forgive him for trying to send her to a all girls finishing school just because he couldn't handle her since she was Sherlock's double. When she started living with Sherlock, the first meeting with Mycroft was awkward and involved him shouting about her being a stain on the family name and how their father would be rolling in his grave. He finally shut up when Enola slapped him across the face, she clapped back at him by saying that he was the worse brother in the world and he should be ashamed that he skipped out on his duty as the eldest to care for her and Sherlock. Now the wedge between the eldest and youngest is bigger, Sherlock takes Enola's side everything.

6) She has met the Moriarty brothers before, she met Albert when she had to give Mycroft some documents. She greeted Albert with grace before dumping the folder in Mycroft's desk with saying anything to him and left, when asked about it Mycroft just replied that she's moody. She met William and Louis on the train with Sherlock and Watson. She found William very interesting but she didn't have time to analyze him because she had to distract Louis form stabbing her brother.

7) Her and Louis have a true rivels to possible lovers relationship, always saving eachothers butts form danger. They bond over the fact that their the youngest and most stable siblings in their families. They often have afternoon tea at the Moriarty estate and gossip about their brothers, they also enjoy walks in Hyde park, playing chess and Enola even asked Louis to pretend to be her sweetheart so Mycroft wouldn't get the idea to marry her to someone, he agreed and they both enjoy the chaos it causes. Unknowingly to them Jack and Bonde have already planned their wedding.

(8 Speaking of Jack, he likes Enola she's a funny girl and enjoys watching her interact with Louis, he taught her how to use a knife. Enola likes him too and sees him as a father figure, she was grateful to him for teaching her how to use a knife like he does. He also like König.

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 7th March 2023

Buckingham Palace

The King and The Queen Consort today visited Colchester to mark its recently awarded city status and were received this morning at Colchester Castle Museum, Castle Park, by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex (Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst), the Museums Manager, Colchester City Council (Mrs Philippa Pickles) and the Mayor of Colchester (Councillor Tim Young). His Majesty, escorted by the Lord-Lieutenant, and Her Majesty, escorted by the Mayor, toured the Museum, viewing artefacts and displays, and meeting members of staff, volunteers and representatives from Colchester Garrison, community groups, local businesses, conservation projects and arts organisations. The King and The Queen Consort this afternoon visited Colchester Library, Trinity Square, Colchester, and were received by Rear Admiral Roy Clare (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex). Their Majesties met beneficiaries, volunteers and members of staff from Age UK and the Silver Line at an Afternoon Tea, and subsequently were briefed about the Library’s impact in the community through the Essex Year of Reading. The Prince of Wales, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Windsor Castle this morning.

Kensington Palace

The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this morning held an Early Years Meeting.

St James’s Palace

The Earl of Wessex this morning visited the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park, 40 Hyde Road, London N1. His Royal Highness, Patron, the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, this evening attended the “Make A Splash” Gala Dinner at the Londoner, 38 Leicester Square, London WC2. The Countess of Wessex, Patron, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association, this afternoon attended a Lunch at the Landmark Hotel, 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1. Her Royal Highness, Patron, Vision Foundation, later held a Meeting.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, this afternoon attended the Grand Military Meeting at Sandown Racecourse, Portsmouth Road, Esher, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey (Mr Michael MoreMolyneux).

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Grand Master, United Grand Lodge of England, this evening attended the Board of Grand Stewards Dinner at Brooks’s, St James’s Street, London SW1.

[clarabelleblog]

New Places New Faces

Beautiful Hotel Entrance at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London When it’s time for tea, it truly is time for tea, especially in central London, where there is an abundance of 5 star afternoon teas on offer. So for a recent birthday treat, we headed to the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge for a beautiful world tea extravaganza. The exquisite setting, delightful food,…

[wellourgerdes]

The Dorchester Hotel London

The Dorchester Hotel, London, UK The Dorchester Hotel, London, UK is a five-star Mayfair hotel, 1930s classic luxury hotel in Mayfair, with views over Hyde Park, is less than a mile from the tube station and designer stores of New Bond Street. Offering afternoon tea, exceptional service, superb breakfasts, a Michelin-starred restaurant and classic rooms,   Chic, uniquely styled rooms come with…

[aghotel]

Experience the Magic of Christmas at The Crown London Hotel

Indulge in the enchantment of Christmas at The Crown London Hotel, where the holiday season comes to life in the most spectacular way. Whether you’re a seasoned Christmas holiday enthusiast or simply seeking a warm and festive escape in the heart of London, we have everything you need to make your holiday season unforgettable. Join us for a joyful celebration brimming with mulled wine, unforgettable parties, delectable festive dining, ringing in the New Year with style, enchanting decorations, and a plethora of entertainment options.

Party in Style at The Crown: Our renowned Christmas Party Nights beckon you to revel in the holiday spirit like never before. Savor a delectable four-course meal and lose yourself in the rhythm of the night with the beats of our resident DJ.

Festive Feasting: For a memorable gathering with friends, family, or business associates, The Crown Pub & Grill invites you to a fantastic festive lunch. Share laughter and joy as you savor the delectable offerings of the season.

Festive Afternoon Delights: Whether you need a moment of respite after a busy day of Christmas shopping or a delightful prelude to the festivities, our festive afternoon tea promises to fill your heart with holiday cheer and your spirits with anticipation.

New Year’s Extravaganza: Bid farewell to the past and embrace the future in style at our New Year’s Eve Party Night. Delight in a sumptuous four-course meal and dance your way into the New Year with the electrifying tunes of our resident DJ.

For detailed information about dates. menus and pricing, please visit: www.aghotels.co.uk/the-crown-hotel/christmas-in-london/

Extend Your Celebration with an Overnight Stay

Planning to attend a Christmas gathering? No need to fret about taxis or designated drivers. Make the most of the festivities with an overnight stay and a scrumptious breakfast.

Double Room for sole occupancy from £120 BB per night Double/Twin Room for double occupancy from £130 BB per night Triple Room occupancy from £170 BB per night Family Room from £190 BB per night

The Perfect Location

The Crown London Hotel enjoys an ideal location for exploring the vibrant capital city and offers excellent transportation links to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Regent Park, Wembley Stadium, Paddington, King’s Cross, and St Pancras International. Brondesbury Park and Cricklewood overground stations are a mere 5-minute drive away, while Kilburn Tube station on the Jubilee line is conveniently located just a 10-minute walk away. You can also catch buses to Central London and other areas from The Crown Bus Terminal situated near the entrance of the hotel.

Learn more: www.aghotels.co.uk/the-crown-hotel/

Contact our events team: 020 8452 4175 | sales@thecrownlondon.co.uk

[centralparkcollection]

Memorable Moments from Guests of Central Park Hotel

The saying goes that if walls could talk they would recount hundreds of anecdotes and stories. This sentiment couldn’t be more appropriate when talking about historic hotels in Central London. Whether a hotel has been on the scene for ten days or ten decades, they receive guests from all over the world. Hotels bear witness to family holidays, honeymoons, solo adventurers, and crucial business meetings.  

Memorable Moments from Central Park Hotel 

Central Park London is one of the best hotels in the West End close to cultural attractions, dining, and public transport. All guest rooms are thoughtfully styled and equipped with all the necessities for a comfortable stay. 

This is a collection of comments from past guests who have shared their experience of staying at this budget-friendly boutique hotel near Hyde Park and Paddington Station. 

Personalised service 

 “Everything was perfect during our stay. We had some requests for our room before the holiday and it was delivered just as we asked so we really appreciate that. Wonderful staff and a great place to stay for a great price.” - Couple, Lithuania, September 2022

Guests are welcome to communicate any personalisations required ahead of check-in. The hotel staff will be happy to oblige with any requests. 

VIP treatment 

“We received a room upgrade which was nice. The room was spacious and clean. The staff were helpful. The location is great! Right on the underground line which we used to go in and out of the city easily.” - Group, Ireland, September 2023

Wherever possible, the staff at this hotel will go the extra mile to pamper and surprise their first-time and repeat guests. 

Attentive hospitality 

“We requested an iron and it was promptly delivered.” - Couple, Ireland, October 2023

All rooms at Central Park London are equipped with the essentials and it never hurts to ask the front desk if an item is amiss. 

Full English breakfast

“Nice bar and a great English breakfast.” - Solo Traveller, United Kingdom, September 2023

Even British travellers appreciate the chance to wake up to a traditional breakfast! The breakfast offering at this hotel is exemplary and should suffice until afternoon tea. 

Safety

“The room was comfortable and I always felt safe. The breakfast is wonderful whether you get the English breakfast or the continental.” - Solo Traveller, United States, September 2023

A safe location is a crucial element when booking hotels in Central London. This property is situated in a peaceful residential neighbourhood with street lighting close to public transport.

Unique events

“It was the perfect location for a Bruce Springsteen concert and at a great price.” - Couple, United Kingdom, July 2023

“This hotel is in the perfect location for gigs in Hyde Park.” - Group, United Kingdom, June 2023

Seeing a legendary musician guarantees a memorable trip but having a wonderful hotel to call home adds another component to the overall success of the trip. Central Park London is the most convenient hotel for festivals and events in Hyde Park. Book now to secure a stay over the Christmas season. 

[bike42]

Saturday September 23, 2023

Funny moment on our flight to London yesterday: the steward came down the aisle offering “afternoon tea,” which we both declined. But then we saw “tea” actually meant a cute little tray of tiny sandwiches and we called him back. So I had “tea” with a sparkling water. Just goes to show you that even when you speak the language you can still be confused!

Uneventful trip to Heathrow, we reclaimed our bags and bought tickets on the Heathrow-Paddington Station express train into London. It felt like a ten minute ride, I’m not sure how long it took! We arrived at Paddington and had an easy five minute walk to our hotel. We checked in and got settled. I was perusing Facebook before we went out to dinner and I saw that our former BrightStar colleague, Heidi (Partain) Eccles had posted that she was actually staying in our hotel - Paddington Chilworth. I messaged her and we made a plan to meet for breakfast in the morning.

I’d searched out local pubs and thought The Bear Pub (as in Paddington Bear?) sounded cute, but it was rather plain so we ended up down the street at The Pride of Paddington, lively pub scene and a vacant booth! We ordered Guinness, and split a burger and fish & chips while we watched a Women’s Futbol game on the tele - England vs Scotland. Then back to our room for a good nights sleep - starting week four and we’re getting a bit exhausted!

Heidi had owned a BrightStar franchise in Connecticut. She was very successful and I enjoyed being on the Marketing Committee with her (she was an expert, I was there to represent the owners without a marketing background … my role was to advocate for them to ‘dumb it down’ for the rest of us). She sold her business almost two years ago. She’s had some significant health issues (a rare lung and brain cancer) but has a wonderful attitude and has defied the odds with “amazing chemistry” she says. She and her husband travel a lot as she really knows how to live for each day. She’s in London with a friend who hadn’t ever travelled internationally- here for a week. It was really fun to meet her for breakfast and catch up with each other’s lives.

After breakfast, Jeff and I took a 90 minute stroll. Gorgeous morning in London and being a Saturday the streets were alive with runners, families and of course, tourists. I had a navigational error, so our first 30 minutes was walking out and back in the direction opposite Hyde Park! But we rerouted and did a fast lap around the lake in the park and back to our hotel just after 11am to pack and head to the train station.

We had a two hour ride to Exeter, arriving about 2pm, and a 0.2 mile walk up a very steep hill to tonight’s accommodation - Telstar Townhouse. Somehow I booked a room for 4 (was concentrating on getting a room with an en-suite bath), but it’s a nice little garden room out back. An extra bedroom to spread out our bags, as we’ll leave here in the morning ready to hike again!

I sat in the garden while Jeff took a snooze. Nice to enjoy the sunshine after out wetter days in Scotland. We walked about a mile into the city center of Exeter, a vibrant college town with an international vibe. Lots of shops, and lots of frisky young people … Jeff remarked that you could almost feel the level of hormones! We found an Italian restaurant where we got a lighter dinner with some yummy salads, then walked back to our hotel for a couple games of cribbage (I’m in a funk).

[abbyindenhaag]

the good things in life are sometimes expensive (oops)

Okay SO today (Wednesday) was admittedly a splurge day but it was very worth it. 

Event One: two-hour privately-guided horseback ride in Hyde Park. This was a mix of instructional and fun and was exactly what I wanted. I will admit that part of the motivation was wanting to ride a horse in “Rotten Row” which is where fancy people in I want to say the 1800s went to ride socially, at least according to Books (of the fictional variety). Kind of astonishingly, Rotten Row still exists, but minus the chaperones, top hats, and sidesaddles. And invitations to balls from young men for whom young ladies are secretly yearning. 

ANYWAY, that was part of the motivation, but it was not all (or even mostly) cosplaying fancy English people from a bygone and deeply unequal era! I also just like riding horses, especially in a fun place with lots to see. And I was doubly happy to get some instruction because it has been about 15 years since anybody has corrected my horseback riding and every year or so when I do my Intermittently-Semi-Demi-Annual Trail Ride With Mom I have the vague feeling I am embarrassing myself and earning the scorn and contempt of my horse, plus sometimes there is a young Horse Lady who suggests I “change diagonals” and I remember that I still don’t know how to figure out which one I am on. We didn’t do any arena work this time so I still don’t know about diagonals, but Millie my guide was super amiable and also had several helpful suggestions about gripping the reins tightly (I kept messing this up), keeping my elbows tucked in and pulled back, tucking my heels under the horse’s belly and sitting back further in the saddle, which all helped a bunch. I could definitely get into horseback riding (again?) if given sufficient time and money; I loved how it is kind of a whole-body experience that requires obsessive attention to technique and completely occupies my mind the whole time. And it’s just exciting to be atop a honking big creature. 

Another fun thing about the horse ride was that because of the upcoming coronation there were lots of Professional Horse People (e.g. Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment) training in Hyde Park. Millie was very excited to see the “Drum Horses”, who were giant Shetlands who apparently will have the job of hoisting gigantic drums that their riders will play during the ceremonies (talk about honking big creatures...). We also saw army-type men doing arena work and a convoy of 4 horses who looked like they were practicing for a parade, in addition to a couple of miscellaneous police-types who just looked like they were on patrol or warming up. These men were all mounted on much finer horses, which Millie and I admired for their lighter feet and friskier air. (We were seated on relatively sturdier Irish Cobs.) I tried to ask why all the riding stable staff and students I have ever met are women, while mounted police and honor guards are inevitably men, but didn’t ask it well and didn’t really get an answer. I suppose to be in the police/cavalry you have to be interested in combat-type stuff as well as ceremonial horse dancing, and riding schools are a form of teaching so that gets female-coded, but I still don’t really understand where the male horse police come from. Maybe there are just so few positions that even though men make up an infinitesimal share of riding students, there are still enough people to fill the roles. ANYWAY II, this was a fun time, right up there with the Icelandic ponies and tolt-ing on the beach, so A++ would definitely ride again.

Fun Event Two requires less elaboration, but we went to Afternoon Tea at a nearby hotel and it was just what the doctor (my stomach, after a light breakfast and two hours of riding) ordered. Actually I didn’t like the desserts at all, but luckily since Bart was uninterested in the sandwiches I was quite full by the time they came around. And he was mainly there for the tea and the scones, so it all worked out, Jack Sprat-style. Nobody cares, but the savory dishes were, from worst (not that bad but wasn’t in the mood) to best (wow I want to be able to order this at will): salmon and dill cream sandwiches, effectively-egg-salad on brioche, coronation chicken sandwich (in other places this is called curried chicken but I am calling it by its silly name because I recently learned that Elizabeth commissioned it as the official Dish of her Coronation, why is that a thing), and lemon-asparagus-caviar quiche. I kept dropping the caviar all over my lap so it was a good thing we were tucked away in a corner where I couldn’t embarrass us. However this did result in my nibbling the dropped caviar from my fingers and I learned it barely had any flavor and didn’t contribute to the taste of the dish, which made me wonder: why bother? 

Bart is currently at his own Big Splurge, which is a Liverpool-West Ham match, and I am very excited for him and hope he has a good time.

[bayswaterinn]

A Guide to Experiencing All of London in One Week

When planning a city break, a week can feel like a long time – that is, until you start listing all the attractions that you want to visit and the things you want to see and do. Combining history with experience, and boasting immersive family attractions within walking distance of some of the best accommodation in Bayswater, London is a city where a week can pass in a flash.

That’s why creating an itinerary and coming up with a plan to schedule your time is crucial – with this blog introducing not only the best things to do but also where to eat, sleep, and enjoy morning and evening walks.

Days 1 & 2

Having just arrived at your hotel in London, the first couple of days are about acclimatising yourself to your surroundings – identifying the best cafes and coffee shops, exploring the city on foot, and indulging in some local delicacies from Borough Market and the many street food vans and boutique eateries.

Your first evening in London is one we recommend spending high in the sky, with a booking at the Sky Garden or tickets to the London Eye.

Days 3 & 4

Following a couple of days in the city of London, experiencing all the attractions within walking distance of your discount hotel in London, Days 3 & 4 are largely focussed on the attractions outside of the city. Windsor Castle is one such attraction which is highly worth a visit, not least because it was the favoured residence of the Queen but because as an attraction and town to visit, Windsor offers a lovely blend of culture and outside and natural spaces.

The other thing to add to your list for experiences outside of the city centre is the Harry Potter Studios tour in Watford – perfect for families, and worthy of a full day out which can be accessed via car, train, or coach.

Days 5 & 6

Back to central London for days 5 & 6, and this is when we recommend booking tables at some of the best restaurants near Bayswater and ensuring that you get tickets to at least one West End show.

The Tower of London is located close enough to the West End that you can head straight to your chosen show from an afternoon tour at the tower, or why not keep it light-hearted with a self-guided tour of your choice of museum or gallery.

Day 7

The final day of your London experience is all about soaking up those last few traditional and classic British experiences and viewpoints – with our advice being to find a high end afternoon tea to really send you home with a full belly and great memories of your time in the city.

The Bayswater Inn Hotel Hyde Park is located close to a number of hotels and restaurants which serve aesthetically pleasing and delicious afternoon teas to diners, making this a great way to soften the blow of checkout and leave you with one final treat to enjoy.

[signaturetownhouse]

Unusual things to do in London

Home to film sets and green spaces, royal palaces, endless bars and night clubs, and a mix of some of Britain’s most modern and innovative structures alongside architecture from throughout history, you will find that virtually every London city guide is packed full of exciting things to do and see.

In this article, we’re focussing specifically on the weird and wonderful, introducing you to some of the more unusual things to really make the most of your 2 night stay in London, with deals, discounts, and inspiration aplenty.

First up, to the river Thames itself – a landmark that flows through London and forms a core part of the city skyline.

Enjoy a unique cruise down the river Thames

Yes, there are a variety of different cruises and ways of enjoying the river Thames, from party boats to afternoon tea vessels, small speed boats and grander, more elaborate day cruise experiences. But did you know that you can also hire a floating hot tub and make your way along the river from the comfort of your very own party-inspired hot tub? Perfect for hen parties, stag dos, and those visitors who want to embrace and weirdest parts of life in London, these hot tubs allow drinks, small gatherings, and all the games and people spotting you can do from the confines of your tub.

TV games brought to life

If you don’t already know about London’s affinity for escape rooms – where have you been? A great way to build bonds and test ties with your friends and family, a real escape room experience sees groups shut in a space that they must work their way out of by solving various clues, with a new escape room popping up on a near weekly basis.

However, if you are staying centrally at the Signature Townhouse London Hyde Park or a similarly central hotel, there are other lifesize games that you can experience and enjoy – namely the Crystal Maze which is an exciting new experience available in London.

Enjoy the Royal Parks on horseback

Did you know that you can ride through Hyde Park in London on horseback? As long as you do, of course, use one of the vetted and approved horses from the Connaught Village stables, then this experience is very much available to riders of all abilities.

And if horseback isn’t your thing, why not experience Regents Park by bike, or head to Green Park and wander down to the Mall.

Up at the O2

This particular experience over in East London combines everything that many tourists are looking for – with excellent city views, a memorable experience, a great photo opportunity, and of course something different and unique to tell friends and family about. Clip into the bridge that takes you up and over the O2 exterior, and enjoy a daylight or twilight walk with a stop at the top to take in the view.

All of this and more is available during your next trip to London.

[thechilworth]

Spending The Day In South Kensington, London

London has many fantastic areas, all of which seem to offer something different. You can enter different parts of the city and discover completely different things- Camden offers amazing youth and counterculture, Soho has high end shops and bars and Brixton has incredible live music. 

South Kensington offers an excellent mix of experiences for tourists and locals alike. You can take a stroll in nature, visit a world class exhibition, dine in a Michelin starred restaurant and shop till you drop- all in one area!   

Make the most of your stay at The Chilworth London, Paddington by taking advantage of the amazing location and exploring the local area- but don’t forget to head back to enjoy the best afternoon tea near Paddington Station at your hotel! 

Here is a quick guide to South Kensington and everything it offers!  

Kensington High Street

Apart from just being a pleasure to stroll down, Kensington High Street has a lot to offer. Amazing shopping with international fashion brands, great food and a tonne of interesting and unique boutique shops. 

You could spend the afternoon sampling fine organic foods, hitting the shops and maybe grabbing a coffee in one of the fantastic coffee houses.

The Museums

London is world renowned for its fantastic museums, and three of the city’s heavy hitters can be found in South Kensington.

The V&A

Otherwise known as the Victoria & Albert museum, this collection is incredibly eclectic and has something for pretty much everyone. 

Displaying arts, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, sculpture and a lot more; all covering 3,000 years of human culture, design and artistry. 

There is no other collection as eclectic or complete anywhere on earth.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is a family favourite, and well, pretty much one of the best museums in the city. 

Come face to face with a terrifying T-Rex, experience the power of an earthquake and discover nature’s lost creatures in this stunning collection celebrating the history of the natural world.

The science Museum

The science Museum is a great place to take young kids, although it would be crazy to say that this is not a great place for people of all ages. 

Get hands on with science, learn about the universe and discover the building blocks of life. This place will blow your mind and get you involved in the action!

The Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the city’s most iconic buildings- and one of the key locations for live music, sport and entertainment in the UK. 

Architecturally speaking this building is a marvel. It holds one of the largest glass domes in the world, clocking in at an incredible 620 tonnes. Not only that, it also offers perfect acoustics inside the building. 

Catch some live comedy, the BBC proms or even a game of tennis at this incredible venue.

A Day in South Kensington  

South Kensington has plenty to offer, and is absolutely one of London’s most beautiful destinations. If you don’t believe me, just visit one of the two Royal parks that border the area; Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. 

Once you’ve explored this magnificent area you’ll be ready for a visit to the best spa near Paddington, at your hotel; The Chilworth. Then you’ll have the pick of the most fantastic restaurants Paddington, London has to offer for a spot of dinner.

[grandroyale]

The Best Luxury Things to Do in London

As a city with some of the globe's wealthiest people, London falls nothing short of providing an opulent lifestyle. In addition, it is home to the world's most famous royal family and some remarkable real estate located in luxurious neighbourhoods throughout the city. Travellers making their way to this magical city can expect to splurge at top designer shops in Knightsbridge to spend a night at stylish hotels like the Grand Royale Hotel London. To give you an overview of how to enjoy an indulgent holiday, we've created this list of some of the best luxury things to do in London.

Enjoy a scenic dinner cruise.

Dinner, wine, and entertainment await you on a memorable cruise along the iconic Thames River. While eating on the boat, you'll see several London attractions and enjoy a delicious four-course meal. Then, as you enjoy music and sparkling wine, you can admire the city at night.

Sip tea at a luxury hotel

A trip to London would not be complete without experiencing afternoon tea, which is one of the quintessential English experiences. Luckily, London is home to several restaurants and hotels that pride themselves in serving the best high-tea experience in town. Afternoon Tea Hyde Park Hotel offers guests several options, each with curated dainty sweet and savoury treats.

View the city from above

From viewing the city at night from The Shard to hopping onto the iconic London Eye, this vibrant capital offers a lot of viewpoints to travellers. However, we recommend a scenic helicopter ride over the city to avoid touristy crowds and indulge in a luxury experience. The beauty of seeing London from above makes a helicopter tour an enjoyable day trip. Several helicopter tours include lunch and champagne to complement your scenic flight.

Enjoy a relaxing spa day.

 London has many great day spas, often located within the city's most extravagant hotels. Spa days will help you relax from the stress of travel and help you slow down your pace as you see the city. In addition, for travellers looking to spoil a loved one or create a memorable experience for a mom-to-be or bachelorette party, then a spa treatment in the city is the way to go. Also, groups seeking to spend a weekend in the city can check out these affordable yet stylish Triple Room London options.

Book a stay at a luxury hotel

While a night at one of the high-walled mansions on billionaire's row is nearly impossible for many, there are several ways of getting a taste of luxury stays in London. The city is home to many elegant hotels that will cost you a small fortune to enjoy how the other side lives. However, for budget travellers looking to enjoy all the benefits of a luxury hotel stay, try checking out these Discount Hotels in Hyde Park.

Other things to do

An exclusive Michelin-starred dinner

Learn how to make chocolate truffles

Embark on a VIP, chauffeured tour

[joshjacksons]

Joshua Jackson interview with "Mr Porter" (2021)

Minutes before Mr Joshua Jackson joins me in a booth for a Friday afternoon drink at a vibey hotel bar in Santa Monica, he’s confronted by his past. Or rather, a woman in her early twenties who is binge-watching Dawson’s Creek, the teen show about a close-knit group of high-school friends coming of age in a sleepy American town, which made Jackson incredibly famous between 1998 and 2003. The series, which also made household names of Ms Michelle Williams and Ms Katie Holmes, went off air 18 years ago, but is now streaming on Netflix, to the bemusement of Jackson, who played lovable rogue Pacey Witter. “This girl was like, ‘Are you...?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, I am. He got old. I’m sorry to break it to you,’�� he says, before ordering an iced tea and a charcuterie board to tide him over until dinner time. “It always surprises me when young people say they’ve just got into Dawson’s Creek. I’m like, ‘Is it a costume drama to you? Do you feel like you’re watching a historical documentary?’”

The idea of a Friends-style reunion episode or a Sex And The City revival feels equally far-fetched to Canadian-born Jackson, now 43 and wearing it well in a pale green linen shirt and tailored linen trousers by Oliver Spencer that complement his fading brown hair and Cali-tanned skin.

“I don’t know why you’d want to [bring it back],” he says. “Nobody needs to know what those characters are doing in middle age. We left them in a nice place. Nobody needs to see that Pacey’s back hurts. I don’t think we need that update.”

And Jackson doesn’t need Dawson’s Creek. From Mr JJ Abrams’ sci-fi series Fringe (2008-2013) to the Golden Globe award-winning The Affair (2014-2019), from Ms Ava DuVernay’s ground-breaking true-crime drama When They See Us (2019) to the recent Ms Reese Witherspoon and Ms Kerry Washington-produced Little Fires Everywhere (2020), he has commanded the small screen – with a collection of dynamic and diverse work – ever since.

His latest role as Mr Christopher Duntsch, the Texas surgeon convicted of gross malpractice when 33 of his patients were left seriously injured after he operated on them and two of them died, in chilling Peacock crime drama Dr Death, is only stepping his career up another gear.

“I’ve never played anyone irredeemable before,” says Jackson, who is joined in the eight-part series (based on the 2018 Wondery podcast of the same name) by Messrs Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin. “He is charming, gregarious and has a high-level intellect, but he’s also a misogynist, probably a sociopath, certainly a narcissist and a complete incompetent who is incapable of seeing himself.”

If Duntsch is terrifying, then Jackson’s portrayal is even more so. The artist formerly known as Pacey is virtually unrecognisable (thanks to prosthetics) in the opening scene, but the real challenge for Jackson was allowing himself to view someone who is so “spectacularly evil” as a human being in order to walk in his shoes. “It’s a more damning portrayal of the man to make him into a human being, rather than just make him the bad guy,” he says. “He really believes he’s the hero, he’s the genius and that he’s the victim, so once I got past my own judgment, all the other things fell into place.”

Jackson might have his pick of stellar roles – and challenges – now, but it has not happened by accident. Take it from someone who has been in the business since landing his first job aged 14 in Disney’s live-action movie series The Mighty Ducks, opposite Brat Pack alumnus Mr Emilio Estevez.

“You try to make it look like it happens accidentally,” he says, “but there is no way to do this and not be ambitious. I’d say I’m extremely ambitious because I’ve been doing this cutthroat job for nearly 30 years. I’m in the pay-off phase of my career now. One of the benefits of surviving for as long as I have is you get to learn from your own mistakes.”

Such as? “I wouldn’t say, ‘I wish I hadn’t done that,’ because it all becomes bricks in a path, but [after Dawson’s Creek] I was not choosy enough about the things I was doing. You get stuck. You start trying to perform the performance you think people are hoping to see you do. I was so used to working all the time that I just worked all the time. There was definitely a conscious moment in my mid-twenties when I realised I wasn’t really enjoying the work that I was doing. My manager at the time just said, ‘Take a breath. You’re burnt out.’”

The turning point came in 2005, when Jackson was offered a role in the two-hander Mr David Mamet play A Life In The Theatre, opposite Sir Patrick Stewart. “God bless him, Patrick could have made my life miserable because I had no idea what I was doing, ” he says. “I hadn’t been on stage since I was a kid and now I was in the West End in over my head. But it reminded me that I actually enjoyed being an actor, that it’s not about the red carpet or travelling around the world. What I really enjoy is working on good material with good people.”

It’s no surprise Jackson’s time on Dawson’s Creek led to a career crisis. From the ages of 19 to 24, he lived with his fellow cast mates in Wilmington, North Carolina, filming day in, day out, in an arrangement he likens to college. “You get to the end and they’re like, ‘Here’s your degree. Go live now. You’re an adult. Go out into the world,’” he says.

But most graduates don’t have to deal with global fame. “It’s transitory. You’re only ever cool for a moment and then you become much less cool. I was always pretty dubious about flatterers,” he says, recalling a time he was stung in London in the mid-2000s. “I went on a date in Hyde Park with a woman whose name I will not use – she was socialite-famous – and she was acting completely bizarre, looking over her shoulder the whole time. I came to find out that she had hired a photographer to follow us through the park and gave a whole story to the tabloids about how I was going to meet her family.”

It was his growing fortune, rather than fame, that caused Jackson the most anxiety. “Suddenly, at 19 years old, I was making more in a week than most of my friends’ parents would make in a year,” he says. “It was lovely to have the money, but it was that feeling of nobody is worth that kind of money. You feel like a fraud and it took me a long time to forgive myself for not being the thing that I was perceived as.”

Born in Vancouver, but raised in Topanga, California, until he was eight (before moving back to Vancouver following his parents’ divorce), Jackson bought his childhood home in 2001 and lives in it today with his wife, British Queen & Slim actor Ms Jodie Turner-Smith, and their 15-month-old daughter.

“My father unfortunately was not a good father or a husband and exited the scene, but that house in Topanga was where everything felt simple, so it was a very healing thing for me to do,” he says. Fast-forward to 2021 and his baby daughter now sleeps in her father’s childhood bedroom. “There was a mural of a dragon on the wall in that room that I couldn’t believe was still there, years later. The owner [who sold him the house] said, ‘I knew it meant a lot to somebody and that they were going to come back for it some day.’”

Becoming a first-time parent during a pandemic sounds stressful, but it afforded Jackson months at home with his wife and child that his normal work schedule wouldn’t have allowed.

“I now recognise how perverse the way that we have set up our society is,” he says. “There is not a father I know who works a regular job who didn’t go back to the office a week later. It’s robbing that man of the opportunity to bond with his child and spend time with his partner.”

Despite his obvious career ambitions, fatherhood has changed Jackson’s priorities in “every possible way”, he says. “It’s 100 per cent changed how I approach my work and my life. That has been made so clear to me in this past year. For me to feel good about what I’m doing day to day, my family has to be the central focus.

“There are plenty of things left for me to do, but now the thing that gets me excited is experiencing the world through my daughter’s eyes. I can’t wait to take her scuba diving. I can’t wait to take her skiing. I can’t wait to read a great book with her. I’m not worried at all she’ll be a wallflower. She’s been a character from the word go.”

Jackson met Turner-Smith, 34, two days after his 40th birthday. He had been single since his 10-year relationship with German actress Ms Diane Kruger ended in 2016. “I was not looking to fall in love again or meet the mother of my child, but life has other plans for you,” he says.

The couple met at a party. Turner-Smith was wearing the same The Future Is Female Ejaculation T-shirt Ms Tessa Thompson’s character, Detroit, wears in the 2018 film Sorry To Bother You. “That’s what I used to break the ice. I shouted, ‘Detroit!’ across the room. Not the smoothest thing I’ve ever done, but it worked. We were pretty much inseparable from the word go. It was a whirlwind romance and I can tell my daughter I literally saw her mother across a room and thought, ‘I have to be next to this woman.’”

A self-confessed “useless” shopper, Jackson gives his wife full credit for his current wardrobe. He is jewellery-free, apart from a wedding band and a gold signet “JJ” ring on his little finger (a present from his wife), and discovered tailored sweatsuits (by Stampd and Reigning Champ) in the pandemic.

“Jodie has influence in the way that a wonderful wife encourages you, through love, to dress well. She was like, ‘We’re going to throw away all the sweatpants from your past and I’m going to get you some that actually make you look like an adult male and you will still feel comfortable around the house,’ and I’m like, ‘What an amazing idea!’ Who knew you could get sweatsuits that actually look good on your body?”

Jackson’s style has evolved, he says, “from slovenly teen to it’s-nice-when-your-clothes-actually-fit-you”. The penny dropped after he auditioned for his former co-star Estevez, who was directing the 2006 Mr Robert Kennedy biopic Bobby. He said to me, ‘You only got this job because I know you. You came in here to play a very well-put together 1960s political operative and you’re wearing jeans and a hoodie.’

“I had to grow up a little bit. We are very much raised in Canada to never, ever show off, so it took me a while to recognise it’s OK to look good when you go out.”

Still, when you’ve grown up in front of the camera, “every pimple literally documented”, and lived (very successfully) to tell the tale, you can probably be forgiven for the odd fashion faux pas.

“I wore a silk Ascot to an event once in Paris and I still have nightmares about it,” he says. “I looked like Fred from Scooby Doo, but you live and learn.”

[beautifulletdownfics]

Terrible to Meet You - A Harry Styles One Shot - Act 4, And love blooms in hearts not fields

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Harry wants to get out of the house. Alex wants to get home.

Alex meets Harry at at crossroads. Harry meets Alex on a one way street.

A coffee shop OU fic feat. lattes, lamingtons & that Great Unfathomable Feeling.

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Story Page Here Terrible to Meet You Playlists My Masterlist Here

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7 Minutes 'It doesn't seem like long, but my whole world has changed'

Harry's insides were shaking.

He could feel it vibrating up and down his spine, circling his ribcage and then settling uncomfortably at the back of his throat. The nerves and anxiety sped around his body the closer to the Heathrow they got.

Tears threatened to pierce his eyes each time he looked over at Alex beside him. She was staring out the window saying silent goodbyes to London as they drove. 

Harry really didn't understand how this moment came so quickly. He knew that Alex's feelings were as mixed as his. Harry wanted her to go home, she'd been trying all year. Heartsick and homesick, she'd pushed through living on the other side of the world to her family as the world suffered through something horrifying.

After getting the email, her last week in London was bittersweet. It was spent packing up her room and saying goodbyes for the second, third times. Harry helped her organise herself, and then put himself in isolation with Alex for her final 48 hours. She needed to present a negative COVID test to Australian officials before she could fly. Getting tested and locking themselves away together for two days was a special kind of magic, really. They didn't have to share each other.

After Harry, Alex was saddest to say goodbye to The Daily Dose. 

She was going to miss Paul. Despite his eccentricities, he somehow managed to always keep the tone light and playful with her, and generally, the days passed quickly. Alex left Sydney for London after a gruelling university course left her feeling unmoored and unsure of herself, her time working for Paul had been an enormous time of discovery and healing for her. 

He'd been a source of comfort and support for her, especially in the last year, and he was the shoulder she'd cried on far too often. Alex loved making coffee despite how most people saw the job. There was a satisfaction in the process, even in the daily grind—the cleaning, the busyness, the dead patches—and Alex liked leaving the cafe in the afternoon with the smell of coffee seeping out of her but a clean shop locked up ready for the next day. 

She was going to miss that. But at the same time, Alex felt ready to go on and do more with her time now. The university degree hanging in her parent's study didn't feel like a straight-jacket anymore, and she was looking forward to finding work in her field. 

 London had been home for four years, though. She had many great memories here, not the least of which it was the city she flew the coup and found herself in. And the magic she thought was lost seemed to have redeemed itself in the final months of her being there.

She found herself, and then, she'd found Harry.

&&&

Saying goodbye to Harry was the hardest thing Alex had ever done. 

They'd both cried the night before, but when it was time to part at the airport Harry was steadfast in his encouragement of her leaving. (Despite himself) He'd never once said he (seriously) didn't want her to leave, or that she shouldn't. He'd never implied it would spell doom for their relationship. Harry was 100% sure that Alex going back home to Australia was just the next line in their story, and certainly not the last one. 

"You get home safely, okay?" Harry told her sternly, holding her face between his hands at the drop-off line. Both their masks were down around their chins, and Harry hated the tears he couldn't stop Alex from shedding, "This is a good thing, Al, you need to be home right now."

"I know," she nodded bravely, frowning as her chin wobbled, "But I don't want to leave—

"Shh, no," Harry shook his head and leaned closer, "You're not leaving me, you're going home.”

"When am I going to see you again though," she cried out, finally giving in to the (slightly) hysterical emotions that were bubbling just below the surface. 

Harry's heart rattled watching the wave of doubt hit her. He pressed his lips into her hairline and held her for another long moment.

"You'll see me in Dubai on your stopover," he'd said, rocking her against his chest, his words hurried against the material of her shirt, “You'll land, use the bathrooms, and then FaceTime me. That's when you'll see me next. And then, you'll see me when you get to Sydney and call me again. Okay?

"Okay," Alex parroted quietly.

"Okay … You really have to go now," Harry looked behind her to where the doors to the terminal were.

She nodded and reached up onto her tippy toes, letting Harry press his warm lips against hers once last time. Alex squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold in tears but also the feel of him. His smell, where his body began and ended, how it measured up next to hers. 

Their hearts reached out, trying to feel the other pressing through their chests from the other side. You're mine, you're mine, they said to each other.

"I love you," Harry told her, not for the first time.

Seeing the red wetness around Harry's eyes, Alex threaded her hands through his hair, "I love you, too."

He pressed a quick kiss to her lips again, "Go."

Harry's belief that they were going to be okay was unwavering. 

If 2020 taught him anything, the whole world could change in a matter of weeks, so why not the entire outlook of his life as well? Why couldn't his meeting Alex change the course of both their lives moving forward? Something about meeting her felt like a one-time event, like something worth risking everything for. And he would, Harry told her numerous times that last week.

And as she walked away from him and into Heathrow, and Alex believed him.

&&&

Alex cried as her flight landed at Sydney International Airport. 

She'd watched the harbour out her window as the plane circled the city, that perfect Sydney turquoise blue gleaming back up at her and it made her chest ache with relief. 

Home.

Sydney airport was a stark change from the Heathrow she left behind. Their flight was met by police, abundance and army officers. It wasn't frightening though, Alex found herself swallowing back tears this time because she was so soothed by the fact she was back in Australia. Everyone was friendly and helpful, getting the flight of returning citizens through the airport and onto buses to the quarantine hotels. Alex's drove straight into the city centre and as soon as they started going by familiar places and landmarks she wasn't the only one teary in their seat. 

"Well, here it is," Alex said to the phone screen not long after, tilting it around to show off the hotel room around her, "Home for the next fourteen days."

"Snazzy," Harry whistled as she pulled back the sheer curtains to reveal a staggering blue sky and then bright green treetops. He was sitting at his kitchen table with a cup of tea and a drizzly London morning just beginning, "And a view! Is that a balcony? Or a window?"

"A balcony but it's locked. I did get to smell the salty, beautiful harbour in the two-second walk from the bus into the hotel though." Alex settled on the bed in the middle of the room, the bedding crisp and clean underneath her, "I am literally inside this room for two weeks. No outside time. But I can see people outside walking around and having picnics in Hyde Park without masks on, so it'll be worth it."

"That seems unreal."

"It's like another world here," Alex agreed, yawning and finally feeling her body start to relax. "Anyway, how was your day yesterday? Wait, no, today?"

Harry laughed, "You've lost two days, I think. But it was good. I went and saw Paul, we had a cry together."

"Don't," she warned him, feeling the combination of over-tiredness and emotion simmering in her throat, "I've just travelled thirty-six hours, and I fucking miss you already, I'm not beyond completely losing it right now."

He smiled gently, "Have a shower and get into bed. I'm so glad you're there. Does it feel good to be home?"

"So good," Alex admitted, almost feeling like it was a dirty thing to be admitting to Harry, "Jess is going to come and wave at me from the park tomorrow with Noah. My mum's already sent a bunch of food to my room."

"You're exactly where you need to be," Harry told her. 

Alex couldn't hold back her tears any longer, the guilt she felt—the pain of leaving Harry—wasn't any match to finally being where she'd wanted to be all year, "Yeah, I am."

&&&

Figure 8 'Lovers hold on to everything'

Four days into her quarantine, Alex started training herself to do headstands.

"It's harder than it looks! But I'm getting there now," She laughed, propping her phone up against the leg of the bed and crawling to the wall opposite. She was now on Day 11, and Harry had been getting an update daily.

"Please don't injure yourself," Harry moaned, getting a great view of her bum as she crouched down facing the wall and then rose up, kicking her legs up with her palms flat on the floor.

"See?" The blood all rushed to her head, and Alex's hair fell down over her face at the same time her t-shirt moved, revelling her belly and bra to Harry. 

"Much better than yesterday," he told her, "Maybe tomorrow we could lose the bra?"

Alex laughed, her arms shaking as she came crashing to the ground. She was still working on the landing. 

Just as she was about to reply, she heard a knock on the door, "Oh!" 

"Dinner?" Harry guessed, watching her leap to her feet and disappear from view. A moment later, her legs walked across the screen, and Harry rolled over in bed to try to rid his phone screen of the glare coming from his windows open to the new London morning. "Oi!"

"Calm your farm," Alex tutted, retrieving her phone and grinning at Harry, "You'll never guess what I've got today."

"Hmm," Harry hummed in mock thought, "Let me guess, chicken and rice. A cookie and a ridiculous allotment of fruit?"

"Two bananas, an apple and four apricots."

"S'practically a fruit basket!"

"Tomorrow I get a glass of wine," Alex was already chewing, "Friday night drinks!"

"Friday date night?" Harry suggested, his fingers twitching with the want to be feeling her body between his sheets again, "You're fun when you're a little tipsy."

"Excuse me, I'm always fun!"

Harry laughed, "I can't believe you're so upbeat still. I'd been expecting a dip at some point. I would think a lot of people don't do so well in isolation for two weeks."

"I've got Australian daytime TV and a boyfriend who sends fun gifts,” she eyed the collection of books and puzzles Harry had organised, “I am looking forward to Sunday though."

Harry couldn't imagine how much Alex was looking forward to getting to see her family and friends when her time in quarantine ended, "Did you get tested today?"

"Yes," Alex screwed up her face, the memory of the swab up her nose still fresh, "Fucking hurt."

"Last one," he encouraged. "What's the first thing you're going to do with your brother when he picks you up?"

She halted before putting the next mouthful of warm, lacklustre dinner in her mouth, "It's supposed to be sunny and warm on Sunday, but I don't get released until the evening. So I think we'll just go to mum and dads for tea. Jess and Matt are going to be there."

"A large gathering in the home!" Harry looked scandalised, but he was smiling. 

"I know, it's all very 2019," Alex joked. 

Harry let out a long sigh from his chest, "I'm so happy you're there, but I miss you."

"You too," she said quietly.

"Hey," Harry called out, not having meant to dampen the mood, "Three sleeps until you get to meet Noah."

The mention of her nephew made Alex smile, "I'm gonna squeeze him so hard."

"Will you FaceTime me there?"

"O'course," her mouth was full, but she nodded emphatically. "My mum asked if we were going to have live music at all family events now."

Harry's laugh exploded out of him, he liked Alex's family very much already, "Happy to oblige."

"Because of you she's also back on Nathan about giving up the trombone in Year 8." Alex told him, "He was previously the musical hope for the family, but he stopped when the girl he liked at fourteen said she would only date a rugby player … Consequently, that girl is also responsible for how Nathan broke his nose."

Harry could sympathise with Alex's older brother, "We do crazy things for love."

&&&

"Could you say that again?"

"Were you not listening?"

"No I was, I just like hearing it in your accent."

"Harry," Alex complained, "I'm already shit at this."

"You're not!" He insisted, trying desperately to keep the grin at bay. 

Alex frowned at him and pulled the hotel duvet up to her chin, crossing her legs and slipping her free arm across her chest. Harry's heart was racing, hearing her talk about how his words were making her feel was incredible. Almost as good as physically having her. Almost.

"Al," Harry stilled at the defeated look on her face. His smile disappeared, "Sorry, I wasn't teasing."

"I'm no good a phone sex, it feels weird."

"I know it does at first," he tentatively reassured her, hoping not to draw attention to the fact that over the years Harry had become sort of good at phone sex. By virtue of necessity, such was his regular travel schedule. "I promise it can be great, and we can only get better at it. You're not no good. On the contrary, I'm enjoying myself very much."

She was finding it difficult. And even more so, trying to learn Harry and what he liked—how his body responded—without actually having his body physically there felt impossible. Phone sex was awkward and difficult, and Alex was more self-conscious then she'd ever been, trying to navigate intimacy with Harry through a phone screen. There was a divide there. He was right though, the undercurrent to what he said was that they'd have to get better, there was no other choice. It was all they had.

"Show me what you were doing," Harry beckoned gently, sensing Alex relaxing back into the moment. "And just imagine I'm there, don't apologise for angles or lighting. I don't care."

It was her last day in the hotel, and Alex had woken up with an ache between her thighs. Harry Facetimed her the instant he got the photo of her lying in the sheets, her torso exposed and wishing for his touch. He'd been sitting at home on his Saturday night, watching the first five minutes of half a dozen things on Netflix yet not finding his mind was able to focus on any. 

Alex he could focus on though. 

Her five seconds of bravery felt far away now, but Alex slowly pushed down the bedding again, "I was thinking about you going down on me."

Harry smiled, "Go on."

&&&

Nineteen 'I felt you in my life before I ever thought to'

Three months passed. 

The dreaded milestone ticked over which meant Harry and Alex had been separated the same amount of time they'd spent together in London.

It hadn't ever felt like this for Harry before.

He'd never known what this kind of missing someone was. Previously, he'd missed people, but not with a yearning or a longing that made his chest ache. Not with the kind of force that had him lying in bed at night unable to switch off the channel tuned to Alex.

What time was it in Sydney? Had he already sent her that link? Did she say she was spending the day with her dad? What could he say to get her back in that bikini from the day before? 

Missing Alex felt like having an itch inside his mind he couldn't scratch.

But in a sense, how much he wanted to be with her only made his consequent decisions easier. 

"You're hopeless!" His manager laughed him from LA, the whole team on the weekly check-in Zoom call. Generally there wasn't a lot to report between them, projects were on hold or cancelled. Harry had decided not to go back to the States to work on a few smaller things—a fashion shoot, a TV guest appearance and a small role in a film—giving his legal team some work in getting him out of contracts, but that was mostly sorted now. 

If he was going anywhere, it sure as hell wasn't across the Atlantic. 

"Not hopeless," Harry replied diplomatically, "It's something else … But it's not hopeless. It almost feels like having the answer and being the little kid jumping up and down on the spot, dying for the teacher to hurry up and ask the question."

A series of blank looks came back at him. Harry sighed. He'd never been bad at explaining his personal life before. It was always so rational, the relationships made sense or happened in a usual way. He just couldn’t shake the notion that all along, people had been right. 

When you know you know. 

He'd found Alex. 

That was as simple as it was to him. But it didn't settle everyone else the way it settled Harry. 

Alex. 

Did the name not tick a checkbox in their heads too? 

"So, you're going to Australia?"

"I just want to know what it could look like," Harry amended the assumption, but yes, he was going to end up wherever Alex did, and if that was Australia then that was that. 

"Who's in Australia?" 

The question wasn't to Harry, it wasn't about who he was going to Australia for., they all knew who Alex was. The question was about the industry—about Harry's career. It was who was in Australia for him to work with? Frankly, he didn’t see why the same people he worked with now couldn’t also be the people he continued working with either remotely, or with short trips abroad when travel allowed. 

"Obviously, it's not like everything can be done there," Harry offered diplomatically, "But at least for the foreseeable future, with the world how it is … Music as the primary focus, I want to write the next album there. Spend some time seeing the country too, I've always wanted to."

He got a collection of nods, and a few spoken agreements, assurances that it could work.

"This isn't a temporary thing," he said of Alex, looking at the faces who helped him run his life, "We're going to be navigating this for the rest of my career. So everyone's going to need to add Sydney time to their Clock app."

&&&

When he met Alex, Harry knew. 

When he landed in Sydney, Harry knew again. 

It was the right choice, it was the right place for him to be. All he wanted was to be moving in her direction; in the same direction as her. 

It was warm despite the late hour, the air was fragrant with it, in stark contrast to the London he left behind. 

He tried to think back to the last time he’d been in Australia, to what it felt like back then. 

If only he’d know then …

Harry opted not to apply for any special considerations or circumstances. He didn't want anything to jeopardise him being able to enter what was likely the world's most difficult country to get into now—especially seeing as Harry wasn't a resident, much less a citizen. Harry didn't want to hit the news. And despite evidence of people he knew in the industry being able to dictate where they quarantined on arrival, Harry requested nothing. He just wanted to fly in, go to whatever hotel they told him to, do his two weeks quarantine and then be with her. 

"Have you landed?" Alex's voice was urgent and tinged with excitement. 

Harry laughed, "Yes, how do you think I'm calling."

She squeaked, "You're here!"

"I'm here," he smiled under his mask, following the flow of fellow travellers walking through the empty airport, "Who ever heard of an International Airport having a curfew though? The pilot made the joke that if we were projected to land even a minute after 11pm, he'd have to turn around and go back to London. Which was like, a joke, but also not funny?"

Alex chortled, "You'll have to get used to the sense of humour here."

"Hang on," Harry saw a checkpoint of sorts ahead of him, "I have to go. I'll call you back."

"Call me from the hotel," she said, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

&&&

"Go to the window."

“Hi. What?" Harry could barely move his head off the pillow as his eyes struggled to open.

"Go to your window," Alex repeated, "Were you asleep?"

He sat up, heart thrumming quickly at the possibility of what he was going to see. A second before his mind had only barely been able to scramble together the cognitive function to swipe to answer the call. 

When he got to the window, Harry pulled back the curtains—he'd ended up at the same hotel Alex had been in too—his room looked out over Sydney's Hyde Park, the fountain and cathedral framing his window. Although his top floor room with a (locked) balcony was a little bigger than hers had been he still felt as if he was living in their FaceTime calls. He was sure he'd become more acquainted with the trees and greenery out his window as the days passed. 

"What am I looking for?" He asked, but Harry knew.

"I'm down here, can you see me? Blue jeans shorts … Yellow top? I've got a sign!"

Harry's eyes scanned the footpath opposite the hotel, there was a main road between him and the park. He'd been in the room less than 12 hours though, so he wasn't familiar with the foot traffic. 

"I can't… Wait, I see you," his mouth opened in a huge smile, "Hi!"

Harry waved and pressed his hand to the window as his heart waved down at Alex's. He felt like his insides were being swapped around inside him as he took his first look at her in the flesh in nearly thirteen weeks. She had sunglasses sitting up on top of her head and a The New Yorker tote bag over her shoulder. He bit his lip at all the exposed skin he was looking at, feeling it a cruel injustice in the fact he would be touching his girlfriend for a fortnight.

Alex was squinting up at the hotel, one hand to her forehead, blocking the sun while the other held her phone to her ear, "How high up at you?"

"Next to the yellow and red flag," he said, looking for a distinguishing feature. He'd fallen asleep to the sound of the rope flapping against the building.

Alex's voice took a teasing tone, "Oh, who's that sexy man with his shirt off in the hotel window?" 

"I can't read your sign."

"I only had a Biro," she lamented, shoving the makeshift sign under her arm, "It just says Hi."

"Hi," Harry leant his forehead into the window, "You look beautiful."

"So do you."

"You going to stand out there for the next two weeks?"

"Would you like me to?"

"Yes, please."

Harry watched her take a step back and lean against the wall to the park behind her, "I'd better get comfy then."

&&&

There was a couple in the room next door to Harry.

"I'm telling you, it's relentless," he implored Alex with his eyes, pausing for a second to listen to the sound of their bed hitting the wall, "They're at it constantly."

"Embrace it, some people are into that," Alex giggled from her parent's kitchen. She was making dinner for the whole family, with her AirPods in and Harry chatting to her as she chopped vegetables. "Let it get you in the mood, Harry. Is that voyeurism, or exhibitionism? I can never—"

"—Okay," He rolled his eyes, "Thank you, Comedian."

"You're just jealous you're not getting any."

"I really am," Harry said seriously, "If I have to wait, so should they."

Alex's laugh filled his ears, "It's alright, less than a week to go now."

"I cannot wait to be holding you," he said, longing in his voice. 

Harry had mixed feelings leaving London. He didn't know when he'd be back, but at the very least he was going to miss his first Christmas with his family. With England in lockdown, it was unlikely that even if he had stayed, he would be able to spend it with them anyway, but Harry would miss them. He already missed them. 

It wasn't like he missed Alex, though. And in all the conversations he'd had with his mum, or his sister, or anyone else, they'd all told him to go for her. They saw it in his eyes and heard it in his voice when he spoke about her. Or maybe their hearts knew as well, as though Harry meeting Alex had been locked away in them all and now the light to that room was switched on. 

So there he was, in Australia. To be with his love.

&&&

Ten Days 'Time has changed nothing at all, you're still the only one that feels like home'

Harry asked the nurse who took his last COVID swab to help him.

He hadn't requested anything up until that point, but he knew, even behind her protective gear, she was a friendly face. And he also knew that there were rumblings online that he was in Sydney. (All those spare and jet lag hours, he'd tried to stay off the internet, he really had) 

The good news was it was just rumblings, because why on earth would Harry Styles be in Sydney.

All it would take was one photo to confirm it though, which in a sense, was fine, he didn't care.

But Harry didn't want that photo to be of any of his first moments back with Alex.

Let someone snap a picture in a couple of weeks, on a random beach or coming out of a cafe somewhere. Just not his first day. Not when he hadn't seen her since the beginning of September almost three months ago.

He asked if the nurse could help him arrange Alex for access to the hotel car park because the discharge information pack he'd received directed him to organise pick up on the street. 

The next two days went slowly, those final 48 hours, waiting for a negative result and trying like anything to bat away fears that it wouldn't be the same. That somehow Harry and Alex would've lost the something that lit the spark in London. 

He hated that feeling—the doubt—and when he confessed it to his sister, she batted it away as nerves. She said life was always full of uncertainty and risks, the idea was to choose the ones you thought were worth taking. 

&&&

Alex stared at her legs as she sat, waiting for Harry in her dad's car.

It hadn't taken long to get the colour back to them, although mostly she was fixated on how she should have dressed a little nicer for the first time seeing Harry in months. She didn't even have proper shoes on, just the thongs that she'd kicked off the night before after coming back from the park with the dogs. 

Harry hadn't seen this side of her. This casual, probably more Australian sounding Alex. The one with bare feet and sunglasses holding her hair back. He'd met her family over video calls, but what would Harry think when he was in a room full of them? They were loud and could have distasteful senses of humour. There were family jokes that Alex had never thought twice about before but now worried Harry wouldn't appreciate. 

She'd slipped back into the comforting hum of life in Sydney so easily. Her friends, her family, her city. When she left Sydney hadn't felt like home, but as soon as she stepped back into it something in Alex let out a sigh of return. It was strange, leaving London just at the end of the summer months and falling straight into the beginning of a new summer here. 

In front of her, Alex sensed movement. The door she'd been instructed to park in front of opened, and a very tall man in an army uniform stepped into the underground car park, propping open the door with his foot. He pointed to Alex in the front seat and said something to Harry, who was the next person to appear, followed by a nurse in full PPE.

Alex felt an explosion in her chest, an electric shock or a bolt of lightning. Two hearts jumping up and down in excitement. 

She cracked the car door open and heard Harry thanking the two people escorting him, his hands moved as though they were itching to add a handshake to the gesture.

As soon as Alex was in his eyesight though Harry didn't think about anyone else. 

She emerged and hovered by the front of the car, waiting for Harry to approach her, as if unsure what she was allowed to do. The sight of her in an oversized hoodie and small athletic shorts warmed him instantly. She looked perfect, with a tan that evaded her in London and a brightness behind her eyes Harry was addicted to already. He liked the thought that he was an errand, that picking up her boyfriend was on a list of things for her to do that day. The word 'normal' flashed in Harry's mind, and any worry he'd had about her or him or them together being different from how he remembered it disappeared.

"Hi," he smiled wide as he tugged down the mask covering his face and stepped right into her personal space, his bag and suitcase abandoned behind him. 

Speechless, Alex breathed Harry in deeply through tears as she was tightly wrapped up in his arms. She couldn't bring any words to the surface, and so they just stood in silence, holding each other. 

After a moment Harry turned his face into her neck and pressed a slow, warm kiss below her ear, "Hello, hello, hello," he said between kisses. 

It only made Alex's crying increase, and she squeezed him tighter while leveraging herself higher up his body, not yet willing or able to step away. 

"Alex," Harry said her name gently, "Let me see you, please."

She leant back but covered her cheeks with her sleeves, peering over at Harry through blurry eyes, "Wait a sec."

He smiled and pulled her hands away by her wrists, "Give me a kiss."

&&&

"You're such a tourist," Alex laughed as she drove, watching Harry lean forward in the passenger seat and try to take a photo through the windscreen of the Sydney Harbour Bridge above them. 

"You know bridges are my passion," he said dryly. 

She smiled as he sat back and slipped his hand back into hers. 

"I quite like you driving," Harry said, eyeing her in the drivers' seat, "Look at you knowing your way around."

Alex grinned under her sunglasses, "We're in my city now, baby."

&&&

Harry's mouth hovered hotly over the skin below Alex's breasts. 

"Harry," she ran her fingers through his hair, hating the anticipation. 

His lips upturned at the impatience behind her saying his name. He pressed a kiss to the skin there, then another half an inch further down her tummy, "M'not in a hurry."

"I am," Alex urged.

"Oh?" Harry stopped and looked up at her, his elbows on either side of her hips as he held himself over her, "You are?"

"Yes."

"Going somewhere after this?"

She whined, whined, "No, Harry."

Alex hadn't taken him home to her family. Not yet. 

She drove an hour out of the city to a beach suburb with what Alex had deemed the nicest Airbnb. It was private, and without Sydney's usual cohort of international tourists, the area was deserted except for locals. They could hear the ocean from the bedroom and see if from the kitchen. She'd booked them two nights; two nights to reconnect and just live in the presence of each other without her family stepping in and inevitably stealing Harry's heart.

(Except, of course, it was Alex's heart who has his, all this time)

"Look at you, fuck," Harry said, tilting back up to take her lips in his, pressing his torso, his thighs, his stomach, his hardened crotch into her. "Fucking gorgeous."

"We can do slow later," she all but begged, her fingers digging into his exposed back, "Please. Just … Just please, Harry."

Alex felt his hand brush over her thigh, deliciously trailing over the sensitive skin just below her hip bone and down between them. His eyes dipped down between them only briefly before Alex was feeling the tip of him pressing into her exactly where she needed it. 

"Yes," her body relaxed into the feeling, remembering the London nights, the mornings and that first time in his living room. 

"Alex," Harry said her name like he could hardly believe it, and at the same time as wanting to savour the moment he was thinking of their first, hurried time as well. His hips snapped forward, remembering that time the rush came from wanting to taste, to experience something new and to have Alex's body for his own the first time. 

The urgency behind Harry's movements this time were for want of something had and sorely missed, something already claimed but given up for a time.

Alex's head was stretched back onto the pillow underneath him while she felt her body shift and squeeze around him. She wrapped her arms around his chest to feel him closer, wanting to hold onto him as he pumped in and out, sighing against her neck, trying to regulate himself.

"God, Al."

"Harry."

&&&

Four nights later, tucked into the spare room at her parent's house, Harry rolled over and took her hand. 

"I think we should get a place here."

"A what?"

"A flat, a house, we should rent something in Sydney." 

"Sydney?" Alex's tone elevated, almost touching the spinning ceiling fan above them.

"Yes, Sydney," Harry repeated, "You mentioned a job you liked the look of a few weeks ago, did you apply for it? "

"But what about London? That's where you live, God, what about your work, Harry."

"I want to be here, I'm not in any hurry to go back to what normal was. Normal didn't have you," Harry said, throwing out the script he'd built in his head the last month. His heart was doing the talking, extempore, "I've watched you this week, Alex, it's like you're a whole different person here. You're so happy and settled and joyful, which, by the way, I already thought you were but here … Do you really want to go again? Could you leave your family again?"

Alex felt her chest going into overdrive like everything was whirring around too quickly. She felt had to be honest, though, despite the way it made the fear climb further up her throat, "No. I don't want to leave."

Harry brought her knuckles up to kiss, "I don't want you to leave, either. So, what if we stayed? For as long as it's where you need to be?"

"But your family—

"—Doing this means one of us is always going to be away from someone," Harry told her, "I can handle missing my family, Al, I can't handle missing you. You're it."

"It just seems like too much to ask you to do, Harry."

"You're not asking," he insisted. "I can figure out how to work from here. London was my home base, I spent a lot of the year away anyway. And it's not that much further to LA for stuff, I … I'm saying I can make it work here, Alex. I want to make it work with you."

Alex's heart did a cartwheel, "You want to stay in Sydney?"

Harry's somersaulted, "I want to stay with you, yes."

The End.  &&&

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Thanks for reading, everyone! x Kate

Tag list: @afterhoursharry​ @beautifuleclipses​ @bumbershots​ @coffee-doodle-doo​ @decadentdonkeyflowerzonk​ @elemayox​ @ficsthatmakemeswoon @finelinesupremacy @greatestview​ @hatnightin2008 @ifiwereaboy2323 @ihearthemcallingforyou​ @just-damn-bored​ @kakaym​ @kara-246​ @lifeandsomethingelse​ @luminescencefics​ @micurq27​ @miorni​ @monpetitchouchou16​ @morethanamelodyy​ @piawhat @rubytersteege @staceystoleyourheart​ @stepping-into-the-light​ @steppingonoranges​ @stylesfics-xx​ @stylishmuser​ @toalltheboyswhowastedmytime​ @tpwkhoney​ @ursamajor603​ @veryplatoniccircunstances @wanderlustiing​​ @whatevarandomlygoes

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[aghotel]

Winter Wonders in London: The Crown Hotel’s Guide

Winter in London is a magical time when the city comes alive with festive lights, holiday markets, and a cheerful spirit that warms even the coldest of days. If you are planning a visit to London during this enchanting season, you are in for a treat. We have put together a guide to help you make the most of your winter adventure in London.

🎄 Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit with ice skating, thrilling rides, a Christmas market, and a Bavarian village with hearty food and mulled wine. Don’t miss the stunning ice sculptures, circus shows, and magical ice kingdoms. It is a winter wonderland for all ages and a must-enjoy winter activity in London.

🎅 Regent Street Christmas Decorations

Regent Street transforms into a sparkling wonderland during the winter months. Stroll along this iconic street and marvel at the breathtaking Christmas lights and decorations. The elegant displays and twinkling lights make for the perfect backdrop for your holiday photos.

🛍️ Covent Garden Christmas Market

Covent Garden is a hub of festive activity during the winter season. Explore the Christmas market where you will find unique gifts, handmade crafts, and delicious seasonal treats. Street performers add to the lively atmosphere, making it a charming place to soak up the holiday spirit.

⛸️ Ice Skating at the Natural History Museum

Skate under the stars at the enchanting ice rink at the Natural History Museum. Nestled among historic architecture and twinkling lights, this is a truly magical experience. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, this is the perfect place to glide into the winter season.

🎭 West End Musicals and Shows

London’s West End is renowned for its world-class theatre productions, and the winter season is no exception. Catch a dazzling musical or a heartwarming show with your loved ones. From timeless classics to contemporary hits, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Crown London Hotel: Your Gateway to Winter Wonders

Nestled in the heart of North West London, The Crown London Hotel is strategically positioned to maximise your enjoyment of all these winter activities. With proximity to Kilburn and Willesden Green Underground Stations, as well as Cricklewood Overground Station, you will have easy access to all popular places like Hyde Park, Regent Park and Covent Garden among others. After a day of winter wonderland adventures, you can retreat to the cosy comfort of The Crown. Learn more: www.thecrownlondon.co.uk

🎅 Christmas at The Crown

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at The Crown London Hotel. Whether you are planning a festive dinner with friends, a family gathering, or a corporate holiday party, we offer a range of options to make your celebration unforgettable. With delicious cuisine, cosy ambience, and impeccable service, The Crown is the perfect place to make the most of the magical winter season in London.

Party at The Crown: From £55.99 per person Festive dining and Afternoon tea: From £34.99 per person Christmas Day & New Year’s Eve party night: From £79.99 per person Christmas stay: From £120 BB For reservations, please contact us: 0208 452 4175 | sales@thecrownlondon.co.uk Learn more: www.aghotels.co.uk/the-crown-hotel/christmas-in-london