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with Robert Walshe www.robertwalshe.com
Weekend Hotspot – Pullman London - St Pancras World famous for its architecture, history and traditions, London is a city that never rests. One can walk the streets taking in the history of centuries. Various shopping districts and street markets offer everything from designer labels to bargains, while it is also well worth stopping by one of the most popular department stores - Harrods, Knightsbridge. This eight-storey building is an
London Eye.
ideal place for shoppers as well as a popular tourist attraction. Fantastic for window shopping, the food hall alone is worth seeing. My favourite “Selfridges” on Oxford Street have everything from designer clothes to high street brands, books, furniture and more. “King’s Road” a short tube or taxi ride away is by far one of the cities smartest fashion streets, having evolved from the cutting-edge of bohemia and innovative fashion in
the 60s to a more genteel place to indulge in retail therapy, albeit with a notable presence of trendy young Londoners (including many so called Sloane Rangers). It is a very attractive street that retains the atmosphere of a small town whilst being in the heart of the city.If you want to bag a few bargains, then be sure you pay a visit to one of London’s bustling markets. Portobello Road already famous for antiques since the 1950s. Now there are numerous stalls offering everything from fruit and bread to of course antique! They sell everything from food to flowers, modern art to antiques, and clothes to curios. With such a large range of goods on offer, expect something for everyone. The London Eye, the world’s largest “Ferris Wheel” offers breathtaking views of the city. The best thing about the ride is that all the activity lies beneath you as you take in the panorama. The National Gallery dominates Trafalgar Square where the finest examples of European art, ranging from 1260 to 1900, are included among the 2,300 paintings filling its halls and rooms. Works on display include those of Botticelli, Monet, Van Gogh & Rembrandt. www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Selfridges on Oxford Street London.
With so many places to stay I decided on Pullman London - St Pancras, a luxury hotel on Euston Road right next to the world famous railway station and a short walk from Euston ideally located for the Eurostar terminal. Once a Novotel this hotel has been transformed into a chic four star property with a £12m refurbishment. All 312 stylish rooms have rich colour schemes and stylish furnishings with mini-bar and full bathroom. The views from the higher floors, looking south over Bloomsbury, are some of the best in London. Downstairs, the openplan lobby design is cool with leather benches, parque floors and a shiny bar, and in the background, an open-plan kitchen. Their ‘intelligent breakfast’ menu is clever with a daily choice between two energising smoothies, a blend of spinach,
papaya, pear with chia, flax seeds and spirulina or an acai smoothie made with bananas, cucumber, mango and acai powder. Brainenhancing mains dishes include omega-3-packed chia and turmeric omelette with green teff pancakes, kefi yoghurt and mushrooms. For best rates see www.pullmanhotels. com Next door venture into the British Library where you will find original drawings from Leonardo Da Vinci, Dürer and Michelangelo. Lyrics written by the Beatles alongside work from Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare. The revitalized King’s Cross neighborhood is also home to a number of top bars and restaurants. Aer Lingus operates daily flights from Dublin and Belfast City airports to London Heathrow. For best fares see www.aerlingus.com
Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio in Northern Ireland and Travel Editor for River Newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com