Things to do in London – The Hidden Gems
Sightseeing tips for the discerning business traveller to one of the world’s s busiest cities
The city of London is home to the busiest airport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world in terms of both domestic and international flights. This sprawling city boasts a diverse population of around 10 million, and yet, is characterised with unique economic districts. For example, the ‘City of London’ area is the main financial district, home to the Bank of England, London Stock Exchange, and Lloyds. Holborn houses the city’s legal district, with the Royal Courts of Justice and various legal offices, the West End is the place for creative and fun-loving individuals, and higher educational institutions are mainly found south of Euston.
London is ranked among the ten cities with the highest-rated public transportation networks in the world, so it is extremely easy to get around, whether you are in the city for business, leisure, or a mix of both. There is an extensive range of sightseeing, shopping, food, and drink options to select from, but this guide will throw light on a few hidden gems in the city:
Where to Stay – The Clermont Victoria – this four-star hotel occupies the upper floors on the northwest end of the Victoria station. This is a fantastic location, because many of the city’s popular attractions are within a short walk from the hotel, and it is easy to get to or from The Clermont by bus, train, coach or taxi. The hotel has over 300 rooms, each featuring a mini fridge with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks (with Superior rooms offering alcoholic options), coffee machines and Good Sleep Guides. There are three food and beverage spaces in the hotel; the intimate and elegant ‘Reunion Bar’, the ‘Tea Lounge’, which is open during the day and used for hotel breakfasts and afternoon teas, and ‘The SOAK’, a recently refurbished bar, dining and lounge space.
Great New Attraction – Frameless – this is the UK’s largest permanent multi-sensory art installation. Frameless is an immersive art experience sited at Marble Arch, near London’s famous Oxford Street. Using special projection technology, 42 selected art masterpieces have been arranged in four themed galleries in a manner that makes the art come alive and places the viewer within the actual art piece. The state-of-the-art projectors wrap images and videos around the walls, on the ceilings and across the gallery floors, with high-fidelity sound providing tasteful accompanying music. The overall experience will last for about an hour and a half, and viewers can move freely across the galleries in any order they please. Frameless also has a large cafe space, a gift shop and a ‘Blank Canvas’ area that can be hired for private events where you can also project your own imagery.
Entertainment – SOUND London – This three-in-one (bar, café, and sports bar) entertainment spot is in the Cumberland Hotel, on the corner of Oxford Street and Park Lane. SOUND features live music 7 days a week and is open until 2am from Thursdays to Saturdays. The cafe brings a mouth-watering modern spin on some classic American-style dishes, including burgers and cheesecake, alongside signature cocktails such as the ‘Green Goddess’ and ‘Sound Storm.’ Customers can also sign up for SOUND’s cocktail masterclass with expert mixologists – an exciting activity for a group of friends or work colleagues.
Shopping (With An Interesting Twist) – Borough Market – London’s premier food market sits in the heart of the city, just by the London Bridge rail terminal. Borough Market’s is a place for foodies, with a rich heritage (around 1,000 years of history) which is part and parcel of its appeal. The Market is run by a charitable trust for the benefit of its community – producers, farmers, and fishermen from all over the country. Fridays and Saturdays are when one really can experience the market in full swing. The Monmouth Coffee Shop and Brindisa (try their chorizo sandwich) are some of the most popular spots in the market.
Amazing New Discovery – English Sparkling Wines – sparkling wines, predominantly white and rosé wines with significant carbon dioxide content, are produced all over the world. Arguably, the most popular sparkling wines are produced in the Champagne region, in northeast France, which is why the name is commonly used to describe most sparkling wines. Most English sparkling wines are made from similar quality grapes, grown under similar conditions and with the same techniques as wines from the Champagne region. The popularity of English sparkling wines, designated as ‘English’ or ‘English Regional’ has been growing, slowly, but steadily, over the past few years. These wines, described as “high quality” among connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike, are regularly beating the competition – Champagne (French), Cava (Spanish) and Prosecco (Italian) – in blind tastings, although they are currently unable to match the scale of production. Wines from Digby, Wiston Estate and Simpsons come highly recommended, and are available in selected stores or online.
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