#royal garden hotel kensington high street

[wellourgerdes]

The Royal Garden Hotel

The Royal Garden Hotel Kensington, London, UK This five-star Kensington hotel offers 24-hour health service, 3-AA Rosette Chinese cuisine, and breathtaking views of London.   A stay at the Royal Garden Hotel places you in the heart of London, right next to Hyde Park and in the vibrant Kensington area, on the border of Kensington Gardens, in a glass and stone structure from the 1960s. It is just…

[greenzeppelin519]

My Led Zeppelin Reunion Odyssey

Like everyone else, I'd first heard rumors of Led Zeppelin reuniting in June 2007. I assumed this was just another in a long line of rumors that seemed to materialize on an almost regular basis.

I didn't think much of these latest rounds of rumors until I received a cryptic email from my Zeppelin associate in September. He said it was definitely on and would be announced the public in a few weeks. I had to promise not to repeat this information to anybody until it's been officially announced.

The rumors and web sites were lit up with speculation, theories, denials, dreamers, skeptics and nay-sayers. Finally the day came when an official announcement was made and the Zeppelin world on the Internet exploded. There was to be a concert on Nov 26th, 2007 in honor of Ahmet Ertegun with Jason Bonham joining the rest of the band.

I immediately calculated the odds of getting a ticket, getting off from work and traveling to London. I didn't even have a valid passport. So I resigned myself to hearing about it and seeing clips of it on the Internet. I immediately assumed I would not be going and didn't entertain the thought an set myself up for disappointment. Like 20 million other fans over the world, I registered for a ticket online and didn't seriously consider having a chance at winning a ticket but it was definitely worth a try.

However, a few weeks after the concert was announced in Sept, I got an email from my Zeppelin associate saying "Pack your bags". I didn't quite know what to make of it and wasn't sure what he was referring to or if he was playing some sort of practical joke.

I replied to his email and asked something like "Is this what I think it is?" He said it was and it was serious and came from "the Source”, a reference I knew to mean his connection with the inner circle within the band, Jimmy Page's manager whom he'd known quite well since meeting him in 2003 at the release and premiere showing of "DVD" in NY.

A few days later he forwarded me an email from 'The Source" outlining the itinerary for picking up our tickets:

TICKET COLLECTION

As you are a friend of ours, you won't be required to pick up your tickets at will call with the 20,000 other fans - you will however need to go to the Royal Garden Hotel at 2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8 4PT. Tel: 020-7937-8000.

On Saturday 8th December, between the hours of 11.00am and 2.00pm, from the Royal Garden Hotel. Please ask for guest Mark Reiter in Room number 247.

On Sunday 9th December, between the hours of 11.00am and 2.00pm, from the Royal Garden Hotel. Please ask for guest Mark Reiter in Room number 247.

On Monday 10th December any uncollected tickets will be sent over to the o2 Arena. These may be collected from 10.00am onwards, at the box office at the o2 Arena.

Please note that you will be expected to provide ID in your name to collect your tickets.

A few things NOT to ask Marc:

Can I get passes? Can I get more tickets? Can I pick them up later? Are the seats good?

While you may be a friend of ours, that doesn't necessarily, give you the right to give him grief or to be ignorant - unless of course he really asks for it!

The show will start at 7.15pm with Bill Wymans All Stars. Led Zeppelin will be on stage at 9.00pm. The show will be over at 11.00pm…..

If you have any other questions regarding ticket collection please feel free to email me at XX@XXXX.com

Instantly calculating the odds of being able to find a flight, hotel, a passport and time off from work, I knew this would be a miracle to pull off. It all seemed too good to be true. It was all happening too fast.

It came out of the blue and didn't seem real. Would I have enough time to renew my passport? Would it all fall apart after getting a ticket when all hinged on getting a new passport? My old passport was needed to in order to get a new one and it sat 800 miles away in storage.

I didn't know if I could: 1) Get back to Philly or 2) Locate it and 3) Send in with enough time to be renewed and returned to me in time.

As it happened, I had to fly to Atlanta for work in early Nov. and I scheduled the flight to stop over in Phila. with a long layover.

I jumped in the rental car, drove to the storage place and immediately found the passport! Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Jimmy had broken his finger and the concert would be postponed until Dec 10th. Had the concert not been postponed, my worst fears would have been realized where I would have had a ticket but no passport. I actually did not have a ticket in my hand and was assured that I would be given one once in London. I booked a hotel and flight and everything seemed OK at that point.

Not so OK was the fact that our contact within Zep's camp was evasive and frequently unavailable. Our hopes we dashed and then a reassurance would come on the roller coaster ride that was getting tickets to the concert.

Many assurances were met with long intervals of silence that did not instill a lot of confidence that we, in fact, would have tickets in hand in London.

So travel plans made, I left for the airport only to be called by my boss asking if I was working that night. After multiple calls, I scrambled and found a replacement at the last minute.

Earlier as I was leaving, I superstitiously said that it would be a good concert if I'd seen a dog before the show. Well, I get to the airport and immediately see 2 German Shepherd working dogs. A good vibe straight away!

A long flight to London then met up with my two fellow Zep friends at Heathrow airport. The airport was swarming with Zeppelin fans from all over the world. The customs agent even asked if I was there for the concert. The atmosphere was buzzing with Led Zeppelin magic. Jumping on a train with our luggage, we were instantly identified as Americans among the Londoners. The plan was to get off the train and locate a particular hotel and pick up the tickets.

Arriving at the hotel, we were given the room number and excitedly knocked on the door. Upon entering the crowded room, we identified Jimmy's road manager on the cell phone and then sitting at a table making plans-mostly about tickets and passes. The room was filled with hangers-on, roadies, assistants and the obligatory model type named "Fern".

The 3 of us sat on the sofa as not to intrude on the proceedings. Finally, my buddy spoke with the manager and was told to wait.

Thirty minutes later, we were each given an envelope. It was spilling over with tickets, passes and multi-colored wrist bands. Huh? Were we given the right envelopes? These apparently were for VIP's as the passes were for rehearsal access, multiple after parties and everything a fan could possible want and more. I could only say "Thank you, thank you". We left the hotel and noticed a marble plaque on the ground that read "All Will Be Revealed". It was eerie.

Making it to the hotel, we had heard rumors of the stage crew also being there. I imagined Zeppelin style parties throughout the hallways. It has to be a rumor only as it simply would be too good to be true. We checked in to the hotel, the West India Quay Marriott which was $600/night when accounting for the exchange rate. I thought that rather steep but figured we were getting the tickets and passes for free so it was worth the expense. The girl at the desk said "It's taken care of". I looked at my buddy and didn't say a thing. We gathered in the lobby and asked "Did she mean what I thought she meant?". He thought so and we apparently were "comped" by the band. All 3 of us were staying at the hotel for 3 days for free. Unbelievable!

My two buddies went sight-seeing around London and to buy t shirts and souvenirs but I decided to stay in the hotel and rest from the long flight and avoid the gloomy, cold December weather outside. I hadn't brought warm enough clothing and could kick myself for not bringing my leather Led Zeppelin jacket!!

I stayed in and called friends from back in the States telling them I had made it to London and read all the Zep magazines I had picked up along the way.

One of the passes we were given was for the soundcheck/rehearsal. The O2 was only a mile away but we had to take a train to get there. We boarded the train and made it to the venue. We immediately met familiar faces and spent time with the Zep tribute band Led Zepagain, also members of FBO. While in line, we could hear the rumblings of "No Quarter" coming thru the doors.

After a 30 minute wait, we were escorted in to the stage area where we saw Robert, Jimmy, John Paul and Jason on stage casually working thru 'No Quarter',' Nobody's Fault But Mine' ,'In My Time of Dying' and a loose jam which was very cool.

There were maybe 100 people among the audience-mostly crew, charity people and contest winners. Robert got down from the stage and wandered around on the floor to listen to the sound and socialize with the crew and fans. I think one of the people he was talking to was his daughter or a close female associate who was laying on the floor right in front of the stage. During the rehearsal, Jason's son did a little drum solo met with a nice round of applause. Robert's voice sounded great and Jimmy's guitar sound was powerful! It was amazing to see the band rehearsing and in such a casual mood. It was the best of both worlds where they were the famous rock stars but also casual enough to just be themselves hanging out and enjoying the chemistry. All 4 band members seemed relaxed and upbeat. After about an hour, we were all asked to leave and were back in to the O2 corridors. From the performance we had just witnessed, we anticipated a powerful concert.

That afternoon back at the hotel, I got a call from one of my buddies who said "Quick, get to the lobby. Jimmy's guitars are down in the lobby in cases!". I jumped on the elevator and made it to the lobby but the gear had disappeared as fast as it had arrived. Apparently it was true that the road crew was staying at our hotel after all. But there were no hot groupies running the hallways, unfortunately.

Later that night, there was a planned social gathering at a local pub called "The Pilot" where Zep fans from different online fan groups had agreed to meet. Royal Orleans, FBO, Achilles Last Stand and representatives from the official forum were all meeting up that night at "The Pilot".

Nech, Mike and I wandered over to the Pilot thru the cold night. Images of American tourists waiting to be pounced upon by a stray werewolf (to quote from Nech, himself).

I was especially looking forward to meeting up with Annie Hollinshead, the organizer of the Knebworth event planned for the following August and Kevin ,a native Brit who I'd been in contact with for years but have yet to meet. Annie and I had been corresponding by phone and Skype for the previous 6 months in preparation for the Knebworth event and a book of collected fan stories to be given to Jimmy on his birthday for the previous 6 months or so. But I had yet to meet her too.

Upon arriving at "The Pilot", I met up with Kevin and Annie where I recounted the afternoon's events at the rehearsal.

There was a festive atmosphere at the pub where long held friendships were renewed or realized in the real world for the first time much like Annie, Kevin and myself. We met up with a guy who claimed to have recorded the Honolulu 71 concert who presented us with photos and his story of being at that concert.

There also was a guy from Sweden outside the pub looking for tickets. It was a great environment but all 3 of us were absolutely starving as none of us had a thing to eat since arriving. The rush of events and location of the venue and hotel did not lend itself to access to restaurants. The pub had no food at that hour and we were all about to pass out. We made our way back to the O2 which was the closest place that had any food at that hour and split a pizza with Annie, Kevin and a mate of his. I think we finally got to bed back at the hotel around 2 or 3 am.

The day of the concert, we all met up in the one hotel room and did multiple checks for tickets, passes, wrist bands and identification that we were told would be required to get in to the building. After a frantic search for a misplaced ticket, we headed to the train station.

We boarded another train and met a few fellow Zep fans from all over the world, including a group of drunken British business men and another American. Arriving at the O2 , the atmosphere was cold but electric with anticipation. Fans spilled in and were spread out all over the place. The news media had camped out all over the grounds of the enormous venue grounds, covering the hottest news story all over the world for that day and days afterwards. I said to nobody in particular “I wonder if there will be any celebrities here"-not realizing this event was THE social event throughout all of Europe for everybody including non-Zeppelin fans. Models and celebrities from all over had descended on the event as the place to see and be seen. A huge inflatable blimp outside the venue reinforces the omnipresence of the might Led Zeppelin. I was thinking how nice it would have been to have actual airships flying over the O2.

We arrived at the door and were let in just on showing our wrist bands. We weren't even asked to show our driver's license or any of the checks put in place to prevent ticket scalping. It would have just taken too long and the security was not enforcing the identity checks put in place, at least not as strictly as had been announced.

We then made our way up the ramp to where our seats were and realized the seats were in the VIP area!! At this security check point, they were looking for cameras and recording devices with a metal detecting wand. Jimmy's road manager was there and came over said to the security guy "It's OK, these guys are OK" and were let thru the line without any bother. We were seated to left of the stage up on the 2nd level from the floor. At some point, I grabbed a sandwich which I think was $18. The seats could NOT have been better. We were up about halfway of the first section on Jimmy's side of the stage.

One of the guys ran in to some friends and went on a quest to find other friends from Europe. I met up with a fellow American and FBO member who now lived in the UK and we hung out talked about the show and who else was there we knew. One of my buddies made it down to the side of the stage and was talking with the crew who were guarding Jimmy's guitars by the stage. He came back and said he also spoke with Brian May from Queen who was there with his girlfriend. A few minutes later there was a buzz to my left as Marilyn Manson arrived with his actress girlfriend (Evan Rachel Wood). And I could have sworn I saw Nuno Bettencourt sitting to our left. (it turns out that it was him).

The warm up acts were given polite applause but nobody was interested. It was awkward for them as nobody was there to hear them. Everybody was only there to see Led Zeppelin and it was painfully obvious to the bands on stage (Foreigner etc.) and to the fans. There was a really nice filmed tribute to Ahmet and then a very nice filmed documentary of the band.

Then I noticed Jimmy come to the side of the stage and was stretching his legs limbering up before the show. Finally the lights went down and a roar came up thru the crowd.

The first chords of Good Times Bad Times raised the roof. It was a powerful, palpable sound!

The set list continued as follows: Ramble On Black Dog -"Good Evening" announced Robert. He commented on Ahmet and the fact that there were fans from 129 countries at the show. In My Time of Dying-Powerful For Your Life- Was met with a huge roar. It was rumored to be played at the show but nobody was certain it would actually be played at the show. Trampled Under Foot (During the beginning of each song, I dialed my buddy AJ was at work who was recounting which song was being played to his Zep fan office mates.) Nobody's Fault But Mine No Quarter- Very powerful. Since I've Been Loving You-Great Dazed And Confused was great with Jimmy using his bow and the laser pyramid. My friends Annie and Kevin were in the front of the stage at this point and I was happy that she realized her lifelong dream to see Jimmy in concert which she had never done up until this night. Stairway To Heaven introduced by Robert as "This is for you, Ahmet" then "We did it Ahmet" afterwards. The Song Remains The Same Misty Mountain Hop Kashmir was the highlight of the night. Robert's vocals were great and the visuals were perfect and mesmerizing. The crowd reacted to this song the most. Someone threw a bowler hat up on stage at this point, in dedication to John Bonham, I assume. Jason Bonham came to the front of the stage and turned around to face Robert, Jimmy and JPJ in an "I'm not worthy" gesture. -Encore: Whole Lotta Love Rock And Roll

After the lights went up, I noticed that Richard Cole was standing 2 rows in front of me. I elbowed Mike and whispered "That's Richard Cole!!". He said "How do you know?" I just knew as I'd seen an interview with him on the E! Channel and he looked the same as in the interview. In the meantime, my buddy from NY spotted Mo Jones making her way out of her seat beneath us and to the left. He spoke with her briefly but she didn't recall him from their meeting in NY in 2003. She was there with her grandchildren and preoccupied with them. We reluctantly filed out of our seats and the place was buzzing. There was a bottleneck in the corridor as friends and fans were mulling around talking about the experience. My buddy was talking with Warren Haynes from Government Mule who was really nice. A minute later, I noticed Ben Harper and his girlfriend Laura Dern walking around. I took the chance and tapped her on the shoulder and told her that I loved the movie "October Sky" which is one of my favorites. She lit up and said "Thank you!" and was really sweet. She's tall! I could see that her boyfriend asked her what I'd said to her and I'm assuming she told him I commented on the movie. Meeting her was icing onthe cake. An actress from one of my all-time favorite movies after the Zeppelin show! So we gathered together and were looking for how to get to the backstage area. There was a group of us all lost and apparently looking for the same place. Richard Cole was standing among us and looking for the same place. The elevator was crowded and he got on the next one. We found the corridor leading to the backstage area and got in line with our wristbands prominently displayed. Who was standing in line in front of me? Richard Cole, of course! Amazing. He's pretty tall too…six feet two, I would say. I wanted to reach out and talk to him but thought better of it. I regret not at least saying "Hi" to him. We entered the back stage area and got something to drink. My buddy and I found an area to stand and observed the crowd pass by. Eddie Kramer walked by! (I’d met him at a record convention in 1988 so I immediately recognized him). Lulu the British singer was there too. Lots of model types were milling around. The atmosphere in the backstage area was electric with anticipation of any of the band members showing up, of course. A small group gathered in front of us: Richard Cole, one of the guys from Oasis, Chad Smith, the drummer from Red Hot Chili Peppers and a few other cool musicians stood around talking about the concert. Richard Cole was maybe 10' in front of me the whole time and I really wanted to ask him for an autograph. But he was on his cell phone most of the time and I didn't want to intrude. It turns out that my buddy managed to get a photo with him which was cool. Damn, I should have been more forward with that! So were standing around and all the sudden a murmur covers the room like a wave. Jason Bonham shows up to our left. He's with his son and is surrounded by maybe 10 people including my buddy who has a nice conversation with him. I could tell that Jason was really gracious and really friendly with all the fans. A few minutes later, Jimena Page makes an appearance. Like a streak across the room, she disappeared somewhere among a crowd, I think because I didn't see her after then. However, Jimmy's son, James Page Jr was there to my right and had a conversation with my buddy from NY. (He was very indifferent to being a world famous guitarist's song according to my buddy and apparently very down to Earth from what my buddy told me of their conversation) About 30 minutes later, John Paul Jones arrived surrounded by 15 people. He was glowing and obviously happy about the performance. He was inundated by questions from all around him. Again, I was so tempted to try to talk to him but didn't want to intrude and probably couldn't have penetrated the throng of people around him.

A few hours had gone by. JPJ and Jason stayed about an hour or so. Finally, ushers came in and announced that we all must leave. After much prodding, we were forced out of the backstage area and made our way to the after party at the Indigo Club. After another line and wrist band checking, we entered the Indigo. Solomon Burke, the blues artist was on stage. What I would assume were record company people and friends of the band were milling around. We were all pretty tired at this point but managed to stick around until 3 am or so. Not much was really happening at the Indigo but we hung out and made the most of it. Finally leaving the O2, we attempted to flag down a taxi. We were told that it would cost $100 or so by a rather rude taxi driver who wasn't interested in taking us anywhere so close as our hotel. We were starving, tired, elated, and cold and lost in the area around the O2. We even tried to flag down a regular bus and a double decker bus for 2 hours. We finally grabbed hot dogs off of a vendor working out of a cart there for working people on their way to work at 5 am.

Eventually we got a gypsy cab who took us back to the hotel. My flight back to Chicago was at 11:30 am that morning and Heathrow was all the way on the other side of London which entailed taking 3 trains to get to the terminals. I slept for an hour and left the hotel at 7 am where I toured the London subway system to get to the airport and board the plane. Lots of hung over American Zep fans were on the shuttle bus and plane on the way back to the U.S. Everybody was recounting the previous night's events….still buzzing from the once in a lifetime experience. Fortunately the plane was almost empty and I stretched out across 4 seats to sleep the whole length of the flight back home. Carrying my cache of souvenirs, I made it to the rental car and back to the hotel. That night I went in to work and recounted the whole story to my fellow co-workers. It all had not sunken it that I was actually there. A few weeks later, I had all the mementos framed from this amazing trip.

[decofilm]

4 Best Hotels to Enjoy a Luxurious Stay in London

The city of London offers a plenty of things like world class shopping, fantastic business opportunities, excellent dining and top-rated attractions and several business events. This attracts both leisure and business travellers to visit the capital city of England. One thing, which the London city never fails to disappoint, is the hotel accommodation. The Health and Safety hospitality services strictly ensure that the hotel accommodations in London maintain a high standard of cleanliness and service and govern the English hospitality strictly. This is why people who visit London never rave about the hotels in the London city. To make your leisure or business trip hassle free, comfortable and relaxing, you can book the best hotel and hire a professional London chauffeur service.

There are many types of hotels in London like boutique hotels, budget hotels and luxury hotels, from which you can choose the right one that suits your requirement and budget. Here is a list of the best hotels in London you can choose from!

If you have almost any inquiries relating to exactly where as well as how you can work with chauffeur hire london, you’ll be able to email us with our web-site.

1. London Lodge Hotel

The London Lodge hotel is a 3 star town house hotel with 28 luxurious en-suite rooms. You feel home away from home as you find Free view television, telephone, mini-bar, writing desk, wake up calls, hairdryer and high speed internet access free of charge along 24/7 room services, breakfast and Cafe at Stephanie's cafe bar gets delivered directly to your bed room and many more. Never the less you get London chauffeur service & Taxi services on request to local Limo transports and even its located just 7 minutes' walk to the Public transit of Earls Court underground station which is served by the District and Piccadilly lines. London Lodge Hotel prides itself on its quality and personalized service to give care and focused services. Many consider this hotel as their 'London home' and every visitors check-in to this on every return to the As a greenest city in the world and preserve some of the beautiful parks like Hyde Park, Holland Park, and Kensington Gardens near to Kensington Palace in Europe, London is a key destination for many travellers. London Lodge Hotel ensures a safe and wonderful stay for visitors to London. Whether you are in London for business or pleasure, let the London Lodge be your London home too.

2. Bulgari Hotel, London

Situated in the heart of Knightsbridge, Bulgari Hotel, London features 85 beautifully luxurious spacious rooms and suites connected to elegant bar, restaurant, 25 m swimming pool, Spa, private cinema, and stunning ballroom. Hyde Park and Knightsbridge Underground Station is just a 5-minute walk from the hotel while Oxford Street can be reached in 20 minutes by tube. It's just 15 minutes' walk away from The museum district of South Kensington and Royal Albert Hall; However 24/7 London chauffeur service & Taxi services are available at your call; Bulgari Hotel considered to be one of the best rated hotel in London as it takes care of all sorts requirements of customer to give a long pleasurable and comfortable stay. You can enjoy the classic recipes, cocktails and talking to the staffs is so easy, as they speak your language.

3. Milestone Hotel Kensington:

Located between central London's Knightsbridge and Kensington districts, the boutique Hotel Kensington is a choice of many due to its 5-starfascilities, with pool, fitness centre, and luxurious spa. Good food, homemade cookies, seasonal fruits and candle light are really a complimentary for everyone who checks in here. Hyde Park Gardens, is just 10 minutes' walk and many shopping complex near by insists you to take a chauffeur service to visit nearby places and sightseeing. The Victoria and Albert Museum, the world-famous Harrods Department Store are just 1.6 km away. If you are a first time traveller, get an easy check in to Milestone Hotel in London by hiring a chauffeur service.

[centralparkcollection]

How far is Paddington from London city centre?

How far is Paddington Station from the London city centre? If you are choosing where to stay in London, you will need to understand how long it will take to get around the city. The last thing you want to do is spend half of your holiday riding the Tube! Fortunately, the centrally located hotels near Paddington Station spare you from winding up in such a situation. 

How far is Paddington from the London city centre?

London’s city centre is generally defined by the City of Westminster borough. In fact, this borough includes the neighbourhood of Paddington. Therefore, when you choose a hotel such as the Royal Eagle Hotel, London, you are already in the centre.

However, let’s look at some key neighbourhoods in Central London and how close they are to Paddington.

Distance from Paddington to Little Venice: 0.7 miles

Distance from Paddington to Notting Hill: 1 mile

Distance from Paddington to Soho: 2 miles

Distance from Paddington to Buckingham Palace: 2 miles 

Distance from Paddington to Covent Garden: 2.5 miles

Distance from Paddington to King’s Cross: 2.5 miles

Distance from Paddington to Big Ben: 3 miles

Distance from Paddington to South Bank: 3.5 miles 

Distance from Paddington to the City of London: 4 miles 

How to get around from hotels near Paddington Station

Paddington Station is one of the city’s major mainline rail stations. Fast, regular trains link to Heathrow Airport while the Underground is served by the Bakerloo, Hammersmith & City, Circle, and District lines.

All you need to do is pick up an Oyster card to pay for your journeys. Alternatively, a contactless credit or debit card gives you the same fares. 

As an alternative, you can take a bus from outside the station. Bus services connect the station to such landmarks as the British Library, Tate Britain, Oxford Circus, Portobello Road Market, and Kensington High Street. 

In fact, you can even walk to several nearby attractions.

Things to do near Paddington 

There are so many attractions in and around Paddington. Here are some of the best things to do while staying at hotels near Paddington Station.

Wander the canals of Little Venice – perfect for honeymooners

Go for a morning jog in Hyde Park – or hire a bicycle or pedal boat 

Photograph the Italian Gardens – a true hidden gem

Catch sunset at Primrose Hill – recommended for couples 

Follow the Paddington Bear Paw Print Trail – great with kids

Tour the Sherlock Holmes Museum – no need to read the books first

Take selfies with the waxworks at Madame Tussauds – book tickets in advance to avoid the queues 

Visit Kensington Palace – great for families

Where to stay near Paddington 

In terms of where to stay near Paddington, look no further than the Royal Eagle Hotel, London. This Victorian-era property is furnished with modern rooms that accommodate couples, families, and business travellers alike. All units have a private bathroom and complimentary Wi-Fi. 

Friendly staff are available to provide tailored recommendations for what to do and where to eat while staying at hotels near Paddington Station.

[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.

[inexpensiveprogress]

Fireworks

Here is just a brief collection of Ravilious Firework pictures. During the war Eric wrote that the naval ship’s gunfire were like fireworks, I haven’t included those war works, but just the actual depictions of festive images. 

 Eric Ravilious - Fireworks - Mural at the Midland Hotel, Morecambe, 1933

The mural above was painted by Eric Ravilious and his wife Tirzah Garwood for the Midland Hotel in Morecambe. The hotel was designed by Oliver Hill. The murals in the dining room were in two parts, Fireworks and Flags, or Night and Day as they are also known. The race to complete works in time for ‘a grand opening’ of the hotel would mean the newly plastered walls they were painting the mural on had not been left to dry sufficiently. The diaries of both Eric and Tirzah tell of how leaks from the roof and cracks in the wall had also hindered the painting. The paint bubbled and chipped off within a year and the mural, only two years old was painted over.

The whole mural was repainted in 1989 for the filming of the Agatha Christie novel - Double Sin. Below you can see Hugh Fraser in front of the repainted mural. It is not precise, but good enough, the original pagoda building’s windows were circles, in the repainting they were rectangles. 

 Scene from Agatha Christie’s Double Sin, ITV, 1990

The painting below Alan Powers suggested might have been a study for the mural design by Ravilious. I think it shows a young artist in his bedsit flat in London, Bawden made a similar work in his etching, ‘London Back Garden, 1927’. As a friend of mine called it, “a stacked up world with too many people and not enough money”. 

All his life, fireworks were an important and special source of inspiration for Eric’s work, and were made use of in many different ways. By now he and Tirzah had moved from Kensington to Hammersmith, but not before Eric had painted an elaborate watercolour of Bonfire Night, as watched from the roof of their house in Stratford Road. †

 Eric Ravilious - November 5th, 1933

Below is another good example of Fireworks featured on the Coronation Mug by Ravilious for Wedgwood. The examples show wild fireworks on one side and on the other side firework fountains above the royal heraldic beasts.

A fun fact is that the shop Dunbar Hey were the first to stock the mug and the first customer was Wallis Simpson. 

 Eric Ravilious - Design for the Coronation Mug of Edward VIII for Wedgwood,  1936

The final of the pictures comes from the book High Street, a series of lithographs by Ravilious with text by J.M.Richards, then husband of Peggy Angus.

 Eric Ravilious - Fireworks - from the book High Street, 1938 Given the Second World War was coming I thought the inclusion of Mosley and his Blackshirt’s in the newspaper board highly interesting. If I was penning one of the many books on Ravilious I would say how Mosley and the fireworks were interlinked. That they would predict the horrors of the war to come and the domestic Ajax was a mockery of such views - Thankfully I think posturing after the fact is horse-crap. 

† Helen Binyon - Eric Ravilious: Memoir of an Artist, 1983

[grandplazakensington]

6 Palaces and Castles in London Open to the Public

London is well known for its rattling and beautiful places, including castles, museums, and many historical sites that add a beautiful travel history to your Baedeker. Some of the places you might have to visit if you’re staying in Park grand London hotel to make your trip worth remembering. Our goal is to promote tourism and make the fundamental foundation of your entire “London Experience.” You would have substantial places underneath this passage, which you must explore.

You can also read: Find Your Zen at Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden

1. BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The world recognizes Buckingham Palace as The Queen’s residence, the center of governmental and royal ceremonies, and the setting for the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony.  The Palace is easily accessible from one of the budget hotels in Kensington High Street.

THINGS TO DO: Discover the stunning State Rooms, accessible to guests for ten weeks each summer.

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH: Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, and St James’s Park

2. KENSINGTON PALACE

As well just like a famous guest objective, Kensington Castle is the authority London home of TRH, The Sovereign and Princess of Grains, and their youngsters. Kensington Palace is the official residence of The Prince of Wales. There is more chances to see the royalty if you visit this Royal Palace in close vicinity to Park City Grand Plaza Kensington located in central London. Isn’t it fancy?

THINGS TO DO: most part of the palace is available for tourists, and even you can visit the Kensington Garden as well

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH: High Street Kensington, Noting Hill Gate, and Queensway 

3. TOWER OF LONDON

The Tower of London, sometimes known as the Tower, is a famous landmark in London. Its structures and grounds have formerly functioned as a royalty, a menagerie, political imprisonment, an execution site, an arsenal, a royal mint, and a public records office.

THINGS TO DO:Our responsibility is to guide tours for the Tower for about two million to three million annual visitors of London tower. You can also buy online tickets from our grand park accommodation to avoid unusual queueing.

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH: Tower Hill

4. KEW PALACE

On the banks of the River Thames, the British royal palace known as Kew Palace, among the Kew Gardens grounds. There are only a few pieces left of the original enormous complex. The prominent survivor is referred to as the Dutch House and dates to 1631, despite being built on top of an earlier structure’s undercroft.

THINGS TO DO: botanical gardens and swings must be experienced

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH:Kew Bridge, Kew Gardens, and Richmond 

5. HAMPTON COURT PALACE:

Hampton Court Castle is a Grade I recorded regal royal residence in the London Ward of Richmond upon Thames

THINGS TO DO:Base Court, lavish State Rooms and Apartments, and many more areas of the palace

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH: Hampton court

6. WINDSOR CASTLE

The oldest and biggest inhabited castle in the world is Windsor Castle. Visitors are warmly welcomed throughout the year

THINGS TO DO: you can tour the royal apartment and royal collections

WAYS AND NEAREST TUBE TO REACH:Windsor Eton & Central

CONCLUSION

Cultures, the companies that support them, and the products they produce are all made into commodities thanks to tourism. The cessation of this blog is to promote the momentous places and castles of London, which are near the grand park hotel, and their guests must explore those places

[parkgrandkensingtonlondon]

A Visitor's Guide to Exploring London's Colourful Neighbourhoods

One of the things I love about walking around London is the many beautiful areas to explore. The city boasts 32 boroughs, each with something unique to offer. However, discovering London's hidden corners is best done on foot. Luckily, this vibrant capital is pedestrian-friendly, making it easy to find quirky and bright areas, mainly when staying at central properties like these Hotels Near Earls Court London. Here is a visitor's guide to exploring London's colourful neighbourhoods.

Hampstead

Known as one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in the city, Hampstead is renowned for its picturesque streets, cute shops, and sprawling Heath.

In addition, Hampstead is filled with hidden gems like the Holly Bush and Fenton House's tucked-away gardens. 

Kensington

Kensington is one of London's most elegant neighbourhoods due to its abundance of mews streets and royal residences. Kensington Palace Gardens and Kensington Church Street offer a variety of interesting details, such as impressive real estate. In addition to a bustling high street, pubs decorated with flowers, and candy-cane-striped buildings, there's a lot to see and do in this city. Visitors looking to spend most of their time in this area can book a stay at this Park Grand Kensington Accommodation.

Chelsea

One of the prettiest neighbourhoods in London is Chelsea, which is located next to South Kensington. Its side streets are bursting with colour, from pastel houses on Bywater Street to rainbow row homes on Godfrey Street. The King's Road isn't just about colours; it is also a great shopping destination and offers a view of the Thames and historic houses. Nature lovers will enjoy walking around the cosy side streets of Chelsea and exploring the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Knightsbridge

Luxury shopping and over-the-top house prices characterize Knightsbridge. Affluent and beautiful, this is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in London. While here, make sure to head to the many food halls at Harrods and take in the orange brick architecture on Pont Street. Knightsbridge is the ideal designer shopping spot for luxury Kensington London Hotels guests.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is one of those neighbourhoods that always makes the list of places to visit in London. Known for its colourful houses and vibrant market, this place is popular with travellers and locals.

However, Portobello Road isn't the only thing to see here. Many shops and restaurants in Notting Hill attract people from all over London. We recommend booking a stay at the Hotels Near Gloucester Road Tube Station for easy access to this part of London.

Holland Park

Located next to Notting Hill, Holland Park often leaves visitors feeling enchanted. Beauty abounds in the park. One of the most spectacular sights in the city is its stunning spring tulips and summer roses. In addition to the Japanese garden, a peacock enclosure adds a magical aspect to the space. Nevertheless, Holland Park goes beyond the green space, especially the picturesque crescents and colours that fill the streets around it.

Other places to check out:

●      Belgravia

●     South Kensington

●     Dulwich

[businessweekme]

The 16 Best New Restaurants Opening in 2019

The year ahead looks promising for London diners as high-profile chefs and restaurateurs from the U.K. and around the world prepare to open new restaurants, even in the face of Brexit concerns.

Here’s the ones we are most awaiting.

Bob Bob Cité

This long-awaited establishment in the City financial district is the baby brother of Bob Bob Ricard, one of London’s most glamorous restaurants. At the original, in Soho, each table is a booth equipped with a button to press for emergency supplies of Champagne. The new dining room in the Leadenhall Building (aka the Cheesegrater) will serve an accessible menu created by chef Eric Chavot, who previously held two Michelin stars at the Capital. The Russian owner, Leonid Shutov, says there have already been thousands of reservation requests. It’s been a long wait. The opening was earlier scheduled for January 2018. Bob Bob Ricard is known for posh comfort food such as lobster macaroni. 122 Leadenhall St., EC3V 4AB. Opening: March 25.

Adam Handling Chelsea

Adam Handling is a Scottish chef who first made his name in East London, serving modern British cuisine at the Frog. He’s edgy and creative and in some ways was a surprise choice to head the whole food operation at the luxury Belmond Cadogan Hotel. As chef-proprietor, he’ll be responsible for everything from breakfast, through afternoon tea to room service. But attention is focused on the flagship restaurant. “There will be six starters, six mains and six desserts, plus a tasting menu,” he says. “And we’ll be serving lots of old-school Burgundy and lots of Champagne by the glass. It is going to be very elegant.” (Chef Adam Simmonds will head the kitchen.) Handling is known for fun snacks such as cheese doughnuts and dishes such as mackerel with oyster, apple and cucumber. 75 Sloane St., SW1X 9SG. Opening: March 1.

Darby’s

Irish chef Robin Gill is best known for the Dairy, a quietly ambitious neighborhood restaurant in Clapham. The ambition is on an entirely different scale at Darby’s, opposite the new U.S. embassy in Nine Elms. This 5,000 square-foot (464 square-meter) establishment in a new development will feature a bakery, a 360-degree bar and an oyster bar, as well as an all-day dining room with an open kitchen. (Darby’s will also serve a dramatic sky pool that traverses to the next building.) There will be live music, too. “I took a lot of inspiration from big establishments like Balthazar and other places in New York,” Gill says. “There will be a big menu with dishes that people want to eat. It’s going to be old school, not current and fashionable.” Darby was his father’s nickname. It sounds like a labor of love. Dishes are likely to include burgers, steaks and lobster rolls. 3 Viaduct Gardens Road, Embassy Gardens, SW11 7AY. Opening: Late March.

Soutine

This St. John’s Wood establishment is the latest from the owners of the Wolseley, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. It’s named after the Russian-French painter Chaim Soutine, and the menu will be largely French. “In terms of its role in the community, it will be similar to Fischer’s (Marylebone) and Colbert (Sloane Square),” King says, referencing two of the group’s other neighborhood restaurants. “But it will be individual and has been created for this location and this community. St. John’s Wood has fantastic heritage in terms of artists and that was the catalyst for the idea.” The group is best known for central European dishes such as schnitzel. 60 St John’s Wood High St., NW8 7SH. Opening: April.

Others to Watch

Chef Nathan Outlaw will open a seafood restaurant at the Goring hotel in Victoria in the “late spring.” Outlaw holds a total of three Michelin stars at his two fish restaurants in Cornwall. The Goring traces its history to 1910 and is a favorite of the royal family. Cronut king Dominique Ansel plans a second bakery in Covent Garden. Details are under wraps, and the New York-based chef won’t even disclose the exact location. The opening is scheduled for “late spring.” Claridge’s has plans for a new restaurant to replace Fera, which closed on Dec. 31.

There is widespread speculation it will be a New York import but the hotel won’t confirm and has no immediate plans for an announcement. Chef André Garrett has taken over as executive chef at the Corinthia hotel and plans a new direction for the Northall restaurant, with a menu incorporating a broad fish and seafood selection influenced by the Mediterranean. Chef James Lowe of Lyle’s and his general manager and business partner John Ogier plan to open a wine bar and bakery in Borough in the “spring/summer,” Eater London reported.

Lyle’s places at 38 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings. Lowe is known for seasonal dishes with just a few ingredients, such as beetroot, cured Gloucester Old Spot and horseradish. Chef Jason Atherton told Square Meal he plans to open a 16-seat restaurant called H.O.M.E. next to his flagship Pollen Street Social. Guests will buy tickets to dine on a set menu. (No details yet on the likely opening date.) Atherton holds a Michelin star at Pollen Street Social for dishes such as saddle of rabbit, pancetta, salt-baked turnips, tarragon. Spanish chef Quique Dacosta, who holds three Michelin stars at his flagship in Alicante, plans to open a restaurant in Fitzrovia in coming months. Details may be released next week, but it’s already known the focus will be on rice dishes and Spanish ingredients.

Dacosta is known for his modern cooking using local produce. D&D London, whose establishments include Sartoria, plan to open a 9,257-square-foot (860-square-meter) restaurant in the “spring” on the 14th floor of a new development, 120 Fenchurch St., adjacent to Leadenhall. Instagram favorite chef Salt Bae plans to open a U.K. outpost of his Nusr-Et steakhouse in the Park Tower Knightsbridge, later this year. No details have been announced. The Turkish chef is best known for the theatrical flourish with which he seasons steaks at the table. Nusr-Et has 18.6 million Instagram followers.

Allegra restaurant will open at the Stafford hotel, Queen Elizabeth Park, in April. Chef Patrick Powell, formerly of Chiltern Firehouse, will serve a modern European menu in the seventh-floor restaurant, opening out onto sky gardens. Chef-patron Jackson Boxer of  St Leonards will open Orasay in Notting Hill early this year with chef Andrew Clarke. The 50-seater restaurant on Kensington Park Road will focus on seafood. Boxer and Clarke are known for their cooking over an open fire. SpiceBox vegan curry restaurant will open in Walthamstow on Jan. 29 after a soft opening (with 50 percent off food) from Jan. 23-27. The former street-food operator will serve dishes such as jackfruit jalfrezi and a three-grain pilau.

The post The 16 Best New Restaurants Opening in 2019 appeared first on Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East.

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[btcbunch]

Chief Engineer - Melia London Kensington (United Kingdom) To Start Immediately

Chief Engineer – Melia London Kensington (United Kingdom) To Start Immediately

Job title: Chief Engineer – Melia London Kensington Company: Meliá Hotels International Job description: located near the capital’s historic Royal Parks, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, and a stone’s throw from the iconic… across the world (subject to local right to work rules) High street discounts: with Perks at Work Paid time off to volunteer… Expected salary: £35000 per year Location:…

[theemilyholt]

Top 6 Things to Do in the West End

The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a region of Central London, west of the main city centre and to the north of the River Thames. This part of the city is home to the best hotels in London including the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings and entertainment venues.

The West End of London is also home to some of the most affluent boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea. Most celebrities prefer this place for its exclusivity and the many high-end restaurants, bars, and luxury hotels London. If this doesn’t attract you to visit this part of London then, maybe the following things to do will.

Westminster Abbey

Located in the heart of the city in the borough of Westminster, you will find this magnificent architectural structure that is the coronation site of London's royal family. This church attracts people from across the globe, hoping to get a glimpse of where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their nuptials. 

Address: 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom

When to visit: Mom – Sat from 9:30 am

2.    Buckingham Palace

The next must-see attraction in London is one of the most exquisite palaces ever to be built. Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch. Located in the heart of Westminster, this palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. Buckingham Palace is open to the public during the summer months. 

Address: Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

3.    Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is a popular museum with locations in touristy cities across the globe. The museum was founded by Marie Tussaud and it offers a display of life-size figures of some of our favourite celebrities and other public figures.

Address: Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom

When to visit: open daily till 4 pm

4.    Transport Museum

One of the things that gives visitors to London peace of mind is the incredible public transport system. Head over to the transport museum in Covent Garden and find out how one of the greatest road networks in the world came about. 

Address: Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB, United Kingdom

When to visit: Open daily from 10 am – 6pm

5.    Harrods

This is the UK's shopping hub, and this should come as no surprise as it is home to the busiest shopping street and the largest department store in Europe. You can expect to find all the top luxury brands from Gucci loafers to the latest Chanel collection.

Address: 87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL, United Kingdom

6.    London Zoo

Located in Regents Park is the world's largest scientific zoo. The zoo and the park are a great escape for enjoying a family fun day, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Address: Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom

[yestenaciouscollectiondreamstuff]

Where to Go When You Want to Eat Oysters in London

Dining is one area where compromises rarely work – when you feel in the mood for certain food, no replacement will do. In particular, craving for oysters may not be easy to satisfy unless you can find a really good restaurant that knows how to prepare them. In London, there is a tradition of devouring those delicious, snack-sized molluscs, and you can find many amazing venues that have a proven track record in serving them. In other words, guests of Montcalm hotels probably won’t have to venture very far to find first-class oysters.

Since you don’t want to take any risks when it comes to seafood, we recommend you try one of the following, well-known restaurants:

Wright Brothers

This is a chain of restaurants with presence in South Kensington and several other locations in London, and it’s world-famous for its oysters. In fact, it serves six different kinds of oysters, some originating from France and Ireland, while guests can choose between several recipes. If you are staying at Royal House London or another hotel in the old core of London, you should probably give this place a chance to impress you.

Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill

With a tradition spanning back for more than a century, Bentley’s is the first seafood restaurant that knowledgeable locals will suggest. Anyone familiar with the menu will tell you there is far more than tradition to enjoy here – the restaurant serves only authentic oysters from British waters and is run by an experienced chef. Conveniently located in Mayfair, Bentley’s deserves consideration no matter where in London you might be stationed.

Oystermen

Fresh oysters are the main fare at this Covent Garden restaurant, so you can imagine that the owners take great pains to have them delivered daily. The menu is loaded with unique dishes, so this is a place where you go for a gastronomic adventure and exploration of new tastes. They recently expanded the premises, and you have a good chance of finding a free table even if you call them to make a reservation for the same day.

Swift

If you are the type to prefer dining in Soho, this fine restaurant on Old Compton Street presents you with a great opportunity to combine exquisite quality with friendly prices. At Swift, there is a dedicated oyster hour when martinis and shellfish are at a discount. It won’t take more than one visit to understand why this place enjoys such a lofty reputation among the local foodies who know their oysters.

Wiltons

High-end dining establishments also serve oysters, and Wiltons is the perfect place to enjoy seafood in luxurious settings. It’s located at St. James’s and can be easily reached from nearly all luxury hotels in London. Keep in mind that Wiltons was founded in the 18th century, so their oyster recipes are tried and true. However, the restaurant has them on its menu only seasonally, from September to May, excluding the summer months.

[grandplazakensington]

All about Kensington and its Fashion Street

There's nothing retail therapy cannot fix! Yes, shopping from your favorite brand, or sipping on a frappe while strolling through a street filled with retail, is all you need to relieve stress. Talking of shopping streets, we certainly cannot miss London's oldest and most loved, Kensington High Street. With a mix of store outlets, café, and residents, this place is the real OG.

You can also read: Find Your Zen at Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden

The street is home to top-notch department stores, high street retailers, and of course, luxury fashion. Rightfully called the Royal Borough, the Fashion Mecca of London, there's something for everyone here.

History of Kensington High Street

Built almost a decade ago, Kensington Street was the heyday for department stores as it was the ultimate shopping experience. The street was a hub for fashionistas, and would see many celebrities walking through paved streets. To cope with the increasing number of shoppers, the Kensington Arcade and the High Street station were renovated in 1937. This led to the beginning of a new chapter in Kensington as many bigger and more impressive buildings and retail shops was built, which shaped the High Street into the present picture. You can find an affordable stay in one of the budget hotels in Kensington while alluring the great history of Kensington High Street in Central London which is famous for shopping in the present time.  

Kensington High Street Today

Today's shopping scene at Kensington is anchored by bustling shoppers, luxe retail shops, attractive hotels, and aesthetic cafes. It is a huge street hailing down from Hammersmith to the Kensington Gardens. The street can be identified by high-end shopping brands such as American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Gap, Next, Zara, Monsoon, Jigsaw, and Uniqlo. Apart from clothes, you have plenty of shoe shops to lurk around as well, such as; Kurt Geiger, Russell & Bromley, Clarks, and Dune. Park City Grand Plaza Kensington is just a walk away from the popular shopping sites in Kensington High Street.

Scattered between designer shops, you will find several artsy restaurants and cafés that boost your energy levels to shop a little more. Not to miss here is London’s largest Whole Foods branch, which is easily any food lover’s paradise.

Walking to the middle of Kensington High Street is its stunning church. The very Instagrammable Kensington Church, with a flower shop at its base,is surely a head-turner. In this part of the street, you will spot multiple high-end British brands like Sweaty Betty, L.K. Bennett, Reiss,& Neal's Yard Remedies, and many more.

Best Spots to Shop in Kensington

Although Kensington High Street is completely submerged in shops, there are some of our favorites that make up our ‘best spots list.' Here are some best spots in Kensingston that you must visit;

Hobbs

Orsini Vintage

TK Maxx

Massimo Dutti Kensington

Decathlon High Street Kensington

Zara

Marks and Spencer

When to Shop?

Shopping stores in England are generally open throughout the week. The shops open at 9 or 10 am on weekdays and Saturdays and remain open until 6 or 7 pm. Since Thursday is a late shopping day, the shops may remain open until 8 or 9 pm. Whereas on Sundays shops open from midday to nearly 5 or 6 pm.

[brfdaily-blog]

Wednesday 15 May 2019

Mr Andrew Stephenson MP was received by The Queen today and delivered up his Wand of Office upon relinquishing his appointment as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.

Mr Craig Whittaker MP was received by The Queen upon his appointment as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household when Her Majesty handed to him his Wand of Office.

General Sir Nicholas Carter (Chief of the Defence Force) was received by The Queen.

The following were received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon their appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassadors: Mrs Jessica Hand (the Republic of Angola), Mr Barry Lowen (the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria) and Mr Robert Macaire (the Islamic Republic of Iran).

Dr Robert Hand, Mrs Lowen and Mrs Macaire were also received by Her Majesty.

Mr Nigel Phillips was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Governor of Falkland Islands and Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Mrs Phillips was also received by Her Majesty.

...

On behalf of The Queen, The Prince of Wales hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Also In Attendance

The Duchess of Cornwall

The Princess Royal

The Prince of Wales, Patron, Step Up To Serve, this morning attended a Meeting at St James’s Palace.

His Royal Highness, President, the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, afterwards held a Meeting.

The Prince of Wales, Royal Founding Patron, the Prince’s Teaching Institute, this afternoon held a Meeting.

His Royal Highness, Patron, Prospect Burma, this evening received Dr Michael Marett-Crosby (Chairman).

...

The Duchess of Cornwall, Colonel-in-Chief, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, this afternoon received Colonel Paul Hughes (formerly Honorary Colonel).

...

The Duke of Cambridge, President, the Football Association, and Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, this morning attended the launch of a new mental health campaign at Wembley Stadium, Middlesex.

His Royal Highness, President, the Football Association, afterwards received Mr Mark Bullingham upon assuming his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Wembley Stadium.

...

The Duchess of Cambridge this afternoon visited the Royal Horticultural Society Back to Nature Garden, jointly designed by Her Royal Highness, in the gardens of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3.

...

The Duke of Sussex this morning attended a Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Meeting.

...

The Duke of York today carried out the following engagements in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

His Royal Highness this afternoon attended a Lunch given by Mr Ban Ki-moon.

The Duke of York later was received by The President of the Republic of Korea at the Blue House, Jongno-gu.

His Royal Highness, Founder, Pitch@Palace, this afternoon held Pitch@Palace South Korea 1.0 at the Shilla.

The Duke of York, Founder, this evening gave a Pitch@Palace Dinner at the Shilla.

...

The Earl of Wessex this morning called upon the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia (Mr Marjan Sarec) at the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

His Royal Highness was later received by The President of the Republic of Slovenia at the Presidential Palace.

The Earl of Wessex, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, subsequently attended an “Urban Tribe” event held by The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Young People in Slovenia, Tivoli Park, Ljubljana.

His Royal Highness, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, afterwards attended a Roundtable Discussion on “#Worldready — for Jobs of the Future” held by the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce at Grand Hotel Union, Ljubljana.

The Earl of Wessex this afternoon departed from Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport for North Macedonia and was received later upon arrival at Skopje International Airport by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia (Her Excellency Ms Rachel Galloway).

His Royal Highness this evening attended a Reception for Chevening Alumni at Hotel Marriott, Maksim Gorki, Skopje.

...

The Countess of Wessex attended the Chartered Management Institute President's Gold Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner at Kensington Palace.

...

The Princess Royal attended a Gala Dinner to celebrate the restoration of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, London SE10.

As President, The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences, will join the CSC Leaders study tour groups in London.

Her Royal Highness, President, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, afterwards visited the Useful Simple Trust at the Clove Building, 4 Maguire Street, London SE1.

The Princess Royal, Patron, Catch22, this afternoon received Mr James McKenna upon relinquishing his appointment as Chairman and Mr Terrance Duddy upon assuming the appointment.

...

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 1/28/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday 28th January 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

MIA ON A HIGH – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley says she feels validated by Government’s decision to support the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) bid to host international cricket matches between West Indies and England at Kensington Oval. Given projections that Barbados stood to gain $80 million in foreign exchange, and following West Indies’ massive victory in the first Test that featured outstanding performances from four local boys, Mottley also pledged Government’s commitment to any sporting activity that would redound to the benefit of the country. In an interview with THE NATION after West Indies crushed England by 381 runs on Saturday on the back of sterling contributions from captain Jason Holder and fellow Barbadians Shane Dowrich, Kemar Roach and Roston Chase, Mottley expressed delight at the turn of events. “I am on top of the world. This is even more special for me. One of the first decisions I made after being sworn in as Prime Minister was to agree to host this match and the One-Day Internationals. To have this kind of validation with this kind of victory, it doesn’t get better than this – a  Bajan double century, a Bajan century, a ‘barriffle’ of Bajan wickets in the first and second innings, and then to have a Bajan sub as wicketkeeper when the chips were down,” she said. (DN)

PM MOTTLEY TO ATTEND CARICOM-UN TALKS ON VENEZUELA – Prime Minister Mia Mottley will join two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) colleagues in New York on Monday for talks with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the crisis in Venezuela. According to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat, issued on Sunday evening, the regional delegation will be led by CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris of St Kitts and Nevis, and will also include Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Grenada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter David, and CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque will also attend the talks at UN Headquarters. The meeting is a follow up to the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government at their Special Emergency Meeting on Thursday which discussed the ongoing conflict in Venezuela. The CARICOM Leaders agreed to request a meeting with the UN Secretary-General which he accepted. (BT)

CRIME QUERY – Months before the spike in crime at the start of the year, Barbadians had expressed concern, fearing for their lives and the safety of communities in the wake of an increase in gun and gang-related activities. They made their feelings known in a study on the public perceptions of crime and violence conducted by Dr Dwayne Devonish, a senior lecturer in management studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus late last year. In his survey, which polled about 1 000 people, more than 70 per cent described the crime situation as “bad” or “very bad” and all agreed crime had worsened compared to 2017. They laid the root cause of this increase squarely on unemployment, especially among high-risk youth, drugs and the state of the economy. Respondents believed that some of the crime was being perpetrated by “outsiders” of a given community, who were seeking revenge, or by rival gangs who were looking for “justice” or “possessions”. The police also came under fire in the survey. Some respondents stated their reluctance to report crimes they witnessed to police because of their lack of trust in the Force and perceived tardiness in responding to a report. They also feared being labelled or targeted as informants. (DN)

WOMEN’S TEARS – Amidst complaints that clerks at the maintenance courts were driving some women to tears, the Registrar of the Supreme Court has said staff will continue undergoing customer service training. Registrar Barbara Cooke-Alleyne made the comment as a guest on Starcom Network’s Brass Tacks Sunday. Cooke-Alleyne, along with Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch, were fielding questions from mainly female callers about the service and treatment they received when they journeyed to court offices to collect child maintenance. The Registrar apologised to several women who related their experiences on air. Two of the women spoke of being reduced to tears and of feeling humiliated after their interaction with the clerks who, they said, made them feel as if they were begging for money.  (DN)

CONSTABLES NOT FEELING SO SPECIAL – An old police mobile unit parked along St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, for many years is the “home” for Special Constables (S. C.) attached to the Southern Division’s  Tourism Patrol Unit. It has no running water; no bathroom facilities and no air conditioning. Instead, Special Constables have to use an old fan borrowed from a business in the area over a year ago. The only furniture the mobile unit contains is an old desk, a bench whose leather bottom is torn and tattered and an old chair.  When the Special Constables want to use the bathroom, they either have to telephone the nearby Worthing Police Station and wait for a vehicle to arrive to take them there or go to a hotel or other business place in the area.  “This is another example of how we are not special to the Royal Barbados Police Force,” said a disgruntled Special Constable who has long complained about their conditions of service. The Special Constables who are deployed to patrol the tourist belt pointed out that given the high level of gun crimes they are now required to work shifts around the clock to ensure that the visitors are safe; but noted their working  conditions are both unsanitary and unacceptable. (DN)

BADNESS MOVIE CLIP SPARKS PROBE – The Royal Barbados Police Force has launched an investigation to find out how a local film crew was able to drive into Central Police Station and film a scene for a movie. The NATION was reliably informed that police hierarchy was caught off-guard when Episode 10 of the popular movie series Badness aired in December showing a scene filmed on the compound of the station. In that scene, two men acting as police officers casually drive into the station located at Coleridge Street, The City, and proceed to drive around the entire compound as they discuss killing some men on the block. In the film, no real police officers are seen at the station and no sentry appeared to be at the gate. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Erwin Boyce said there was a protocol to be followed. “You can’t do that. You can’t just come in and do what you want to do. There is a certain protocol involved. You [have] to report to the station officer or an officer at the gate. “Obviously, it is something that we would investigate. I would assume that there is some effort to find out what happened.”  (DN)

17 DOGS TAKEN FROM HOME – Seventeen dogs, including 13 puppies, were removed from a house in Vauxhall, Christ Church, last week after concerns were raised about their welfare. The severely malnourished adult dogs, and flea- and worm-riddled puppies, which were kept chained to cement blocks, are now being treated at the RSPCA’s Cheltenham Lodge vet clinic on Spring Garden, St Michael. Chief Inspector Wayne Norville responded to the house after calls for assistance were made to the RSPCA. He told THE NATION the dogs appeared to be caught in the middle of a family dispute. (DN)

TREVOR BAYLISS WANTS ENGLAND TO SHOW MORE GUTS – Trevor Bayliss has questioned the “guts and determination” of his England side after their chastening defeat in the first Test in Barbados. Bayliss, the England coach, described himself as “speechless” after the team’s second batting collapse of the game and suggested some frank words would be exchanged within the squad after a performance that lacked “mental discipline”. While he defended England’s preparations and selection, arguing that several players had simply not performed and that the batting errors gave the spinners little chance to bowl on a worn surface, he did acknowledge that Sam Curran had endured the “first bad game” of his career and that Keaton Jennings’ struggles had him worried. “I think it gets down to a bit of guts and determination to get through those tough periods,” Bayliss said. “It’s not the first time that we’ve succumbed in a short space of time. The boys are in the dressing room hurting and I’d be worried if they weren’t. “Do they lack mental discipline? Personally I think so. You don’t have to have perfect technique to be able to score runs or take wickets: it’s how you go about using it. On this occasion we’ve certainly been lacking in that department. I’m not sure I can repeat what has been said [in the dressing room].” Bayliss did acknowledge West Indies’ fine bowling – especially in the first innings when Kemar Roach claimed a five-wicket haul – but felt England should have coped better throughout, especially when Roston Chase was on his way to an eight-wicket haul in the second innings. “They did bowl well, but every time a team does that we shouldn’t be expecting to get knocked over for 77,” he said. “In the second innings, the guys looked like they were trying, we made good starts but at this level you have to be able to bat longer than that. “Chase bowled a good line and a good length. He didn’t give us any easy runs to get off strike. He built that pressure up, broke down our techniques on a couple of occasions and there were some poor shots on some occasions. That adds up to eight wickets. “It’s not the first time this has happened. Every time we lose a wicket it’s the beginning of a collapse. And to be honest, I don’t know how to explain it. There’s nothing that stands out in your preparation or the lead up to the game that is any different to when we win. We have to work out what’s the difference between when we put on a partnership after losing a wicket and losing eight or nine quick ones.” The decision to omit Stuart Broad and play two spinners has been widely criticised in recent days, but Bayliss believes it was not so much the decisions that were wrong as the performances. He did suggest, however, that Broad had been missed and that his inclusion would be considered ahead of the second Test. “We made a decision in the belief that the five guys we picked would go out and bowl as well as they can do,” he said. “Unfortunately, on this occasion, they didn’t. “When we saw the wicket we were going to go with two spinners. Unfortunately, we didn’t bat well enough in the first innings to get through to the fourth or fifth day, where the two spinners could take advantage. And I think they would be disappointed [with their performance]. Chase bowled very few short balls, but we let them off with easy singles so you can’t put pressure on the batsmen. “It was down to Curran and Broad [for the final seamer]. Our gut feel was Curran as he has done well for us over the last six or seven games. It didn’t work out like that, the young bloke has had his first bad Test in his career. It won’t be his last but he’s a good young player who will learn from it. “One of his advantages of playing someone like Stuart is that he doesn’t go for too many runs, hopefully picks up some wickets, but gives us control. That stood out in this match, with only [James] Anderson and [Ben] Stokes being able to provide that line-and-length bowling and a bit of pressure on the opposition. We’ll have to revisit that in the next match.” While Bayliss celebrated the performance of Rory Burns, who made a career-best 84 in the second innings, he accepted Jennings’ struggles against seam bowling were a worry and also suggested that, in a perfect world, he would prefer to see at least one four-day, first-class games ahead of a Test series. “Burns has shown enough,” he said. “He looks like he’s been here for 20 or 30 Tests, not four. He’s still learning and will still get better. “Keaton is struggling a little bit. I’d be lying if I said we’re not worried about it and I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t been thinking about it. He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve got and he’s going to leave no stone unturned in making it better. “We prepared the same way as we did in Sri Lanka. Two two-day games. But we knew what we were going to get in Sri Lanka. Here we were a bit unsure. We were expecting it to be not as dry and go in with four seamers and one spinner. “Personally I would like to play some first-class games before the series, but you’ve only got four days scheduled, and if you want to give everyone a go, it is difficult. It’s the way of the world these days.” England fly to Antigua on Monday with the second Test starting there on Thursday. (BT)

GRAVE CALLS FOR MORE RESPECT TO BE SHOWN TO WINDIES – Chief executive officer of Cricket West Indies Johnny Grave wants more respect to be given to West Indies players. His comments have come in the wake of the regional team’s commanding win over England on Saturday, which saw them take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The Windies, the eighth ranked Test nation destroyed the number three rated English outfit by 381 runs inside four days at Kensington Oval on Saturday. Before the start of the opening Test match, former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described the West Indies as “very ordinary, average cricketers”, while another former player in Andrew Flintoff said the “world’s gone mad” after West Indies captain Jason Holder made 202 not out in the second innings. However, Grave described those comments as being “borderline disrespectful” and “completely unwarranted”. “Criticism of our players and suggestions that they’re not world class is unfair. They are so dedicated. We’ve got 11 cricketers here and many more in the region who want to play Test cricket,” the CEO said. “I saw Andrew Flintoff say he can’t believe Jason Holder got a double hundred, yet I think Jason Holder is a fantastic cricketer and has been performing so fantastically over the last 18 months – a brilliant captain.” The 41-year-old Flintoff averaged 31.77 with the bat and 32.78 with the ball in his 79-Test career, while Holder is currently averaging 33.86 with the bat and 28.29 with the ball in 36 matches. (DN)

CHASE WANTED SOME GLORY – Roston Chase didn’t have to look too far for inspiration to produce a career-best eight-wicket haul that helped West Indies complete a crushing victory by 381 runs over England in the first Test yesterday at Kensington Oval. The stimulus was the outstanding performances of his teammates on the previous two days.  “Yesterday, after watching those guys perform like that, I was happy for them but I was a bit jealous that it wasn’t me. So I guess that I really took my opportunity to get the spotlight on me as well in the second innings,” Chase cheekily told the media as he flashed a smile. “It was a great feeling to get career-best figures and I will just look to keep on pushing from here,” he said. “The pitch didn’t really assist me that much. I was really focusing on putting the ball where I want to put it in my area, despite what the batsmen were doing and that really paid off for me, with a little bit of variation in my speed.” (DN)

NSC OPENING LATE ON MONDAY – The National Sports Council (NSC) and all of its facilities, including the National and Netball stadia, will open at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28. An official at the NSC explained that the late opening is to facilitate a staff meeting. Persons are therefore asked to conduct their business accordingly. The National Sports Council apologizes for any inconvenience this late opening may cause. (BGIS)

STATUE FOR SIR WES - Sir Garry Sobers is about to get some company outside Kensington Oval. Windies fast bowling great Sir Wes Hall seems set to be honoured yet again, as plans are in place to erect a statue bearing his likeness near to Sir Garry’s iconic monument outside the Oval by November. Former chairman of World Cup Barbados, Chris de Caires, confirmed the news yesterday as part of his initiative with Cricket Legends of Barbados to pay tribute to all of the country’s great cricketers. “If you travel the world you would see that statues are used to promote images of nation-building, and someone like Sir Wes definitely fits that profile as not just a great cricketer, but a former West Indies manager, West Indies board president, Cabinet minister and priest,” said de Caires. (DN)

BALANCING MOTHERHOOD AND BUSINESS 101 – If you told Zoë Allamby six years ago that today she would be a mum to a bouncing, adventurous and beautiful baby girl while managing a booming make-up line, she wouldn’t have believed you.  But today she’s doing it and she’s doing it well.  Zoë is mother to Nala, a bubbly nine-month-old baby girl. She has also now started her make-up line CaribBeauty. Known to many as a model and as YouTuber, Zoe, who now lives in Delaware, said her life as it is now came as a quite a shock, especially becoming a mum. “Nala was one big surprise to us all. My husband Alan and I had plans for a child maybe around 30 or so or when we were more settled because we just moved up to Delaware for one of his jobs. Life happened; it was very unexpected but we just rolled with it and embraced it as it went on,” the 26-year-old said. The make-up line started just before Nala came into the picture but began booming when it was time to raise her new daughter. “CaribBeauty started out as a single highlighter ZoGlow, and when I was developing that Nala wasn’t in the picture. After the highlighter launched and did well, the lipsticks came, then I had Nala so I had to take a break. But I’m now back full force and distributing in the United States as well as Barbados,” she said. Zoë said since getting back into the game, her line has been doing well. (DN)

CHEERS FOR NEW BISHOP - A fanfare and loud cheers heralded the ordination and consecration yesterday of the new Anglican Bishop of Barbados. But the man of the moment, Reverend Michael Maxwell, shook his head in what appeared to be disbelief as hundreds of Anglicans rejoiced and welcomed their new leader after a lengthy and acrimonious election process that threatened to divide the church. It was just after 5:30 p.m. that visiting regional bishops removed the raiments of Maxwell’s former position and garbed him in the robes of the office as the 14th Bishop of Barbados. In a ceremony in the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, attended by Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson, members of the Cabinet, former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and current senators, including the Barbados Workers’ Union general secretary Senator Toni Moore, the visiting bishops anointed his head; gave him the staff with which to lead the flock; slid the ring on his finger and placed the mitre on his head. (DN)

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