Tread off the beaten path on your next trip to London

Everybody who has visited London has definitely seen the popular tourist posts and landmarks that form an essential part of all travel itineraries. At times it is good to move off the beaten path and explore the unusual or quirkier side of the city. Of course first you need to find a suitable accommodation to settle into and finding the right location is of paramount importance. If you plan to stay in a hotel in London, it is advisable to choose a central location like Hyde Park, which would offer easy and convenient access to various parts of the city.  Finding a suitable hotel will not be a problem, with a slew of quality hotels like the Park Grand Hyde Park, which offers a luxurious stay while being affordable in cost.

Once you have settled in and are ready to explore the more unusual side of London, you can set out to the Liberty Store on Great Marlborough Street, which is considered to be the embodiment of a British emporium. It started way back in 1875 and flaunts a mock Tudor facade with a rather unusual layout. Don’t be fooled by its appearance as you will find the latest in fashion-wear, besides retro designs for both men and women’s clothes. In the accessories department you can find the coolest eyewear and sunglasses, designer handbags and shoes of every conceivable pattern and range. If you have a thing for scarves then this is just the place to visit.

Instead of dropping in at Hyde Park which everyone visits, how about a trip to Richmond Park where you can casually stroll amidst the gardens and ponds or rent a bike to ride and explore the place? At the end of the day you can enjoy a traditional English High Tea accompanied by some delectable scones, while being seated in the classic Pembroke Lodge which offers a magnificent view of the Thames Valley.

Pay a visit to Madame Tussauds with its amazingly lifelike interactive exhibits, or the Chamber of Horrors and Spirits ride which take you back in history to the times of the Tudor, although this will set you back a fair bit. Visit the Museum of London and relive the history of the city, while viewing the rather garish gold coach of the Lord Mayor and the Georgian Pleasure Garden with mannequins dressed in attire dating back to past ages.

London is truly a remarkable city in all aspects and you need to explore the different facets of the city to experience the magic of the city!

Enjoy a Romantic Break in the Heart of London

There are many factors of London life which draw visitors from around the world. For many it is all about the culture on offer, from opera and ballet to some of the best art galleries ain the world and theatrical presentations ranging from traditional musicals in the West End to innovative drama on the South Bank. People with children, in particular, flock to London as a place which offers education as well as fun and entertainment, and creates memories which will stay with them for the rest of their lives and draw them back when they have children of their own.

For some though, London makes the ideal destination to get away from all of the concerns of everyday life for a couple of nights and reconnect with the person the closest to them. Perhaps you could opt to leave the kids behind for once, staying with the grandparents, while you enjoy a romantic weekend away. Although London is crowded, busy and often hectic and noisy, it is still full of the kind of quiet tranquil places that make the perfect venue for a more romantic getaway. First and foremost there are those quiet corners of greenery scattered about the city – parks and gardens which offer a chance to stroll hand in hand away from the noise and bustle and canal paths where you can walk and stop at a little waterside café, perhaps even taking a slow, relaxed trip on a canal boat as the sun begins to go down.

The good news is that there are also plenty of romantic hotels in London, so every aspect of your trip can play a part towards fostering that magical feeling of togetherness. For a romantic break to truly hit the spot, you ideally want to stay in a smaller, boutique style hotel, where the atmosphere is more personal than in a hotel that is part of a larger more corporate chain. The Park Grand Hyde Park is just such a hotel, and if you visit www.parkgrandhydepark.co.uk then you’ll be able to see precisely the kind of ambience the hotel sets about creating. 

The rooms are luxuriously appointed and come complete with all of the most modern amenities, including en suite bathrooms, plasma screen TV and complimentary WIFI, whilst the hotel offers an intimate atrium in which you can share a drink at the end of the day, and a delicious buffet style breakfast to enjoy first thing in the morning, either full English or continental, either one of which is perfect to set you up for the rest of the day ahead.

The hotel is situated just around the corner from Paddington station, within easy reach of Hyde Park, Portobello Road market, Notting Hill and the oasis known as Little Venice. This is a waterside area formed where the Grand Union canal meets Regents canal, and is home to a plethora of bars and waterside cafes which form the perfect backdrop for a romantic meal for two or just a few drinks towards the end of a balmy summer’s day.        

Enjoy Fine Food and Drink Around Hyde Park

Staying in London can be an expensive treat since, as is the case with most capital cities, it boasts a higher overall cost of living than the average city. Although costs such as accommodation can be reduced by shopping around and grabbing a quality bargain, and travel becomes less expensive once you know to take advantage of things such as a day travel pass, the costs can easily begin to build when it comes to factors such as eating and drinking. London has more than its’ fair share of top of the range restaurants, many proud to have been awarded one or more Michelin stars, and those interested in the latest food fashions and directions could spend the duration of their trip to London sampling the best cuisine on offer.

There are certain districts of the city which are famed for a link with specific types of food. On Brick Lane, for example, you’ll find some of the UK’s most famous curry houses and Indian restaurants, whilst Chinatown, naturally, is home to some of the best traditional Chinese cuisine available. 

Other areas, such as Portobello Road and Camden Lock, offer delicious street food from all around the world at very reasonable prices, and wherever you’re staying in London it will be possible to eat and drink well whilst, if you search carefully, not breaking the bank.

The area around Hyde Park offers excellent options, both as a general location and in terms of the many restaurants in Hyde Park. As far as the location in general is concerned, the fact that it sits very close to the centre of London means that it makes an excellent place to base yourself no matter which aspect of London life you find most appealing. 

A hotel such as the Park Grand Hyde Park is just around the corner from Paddington train station, something which will come as a huge relief at the end of a long day travelling, whether you’ve come from another part of the United Kingdom or have flown in from abroad and taken the high speed rail link from Heathrow airport. Once you’ve actually arrived at the hotel, you can start making use of the Tube stations which are nearby as a means of accessing the Underground system and travelling all over the city. The website www.parkgrandhydepark.co.uk presents a comprehensive view of just what the hotel offers, in terms of boutique accommodation complete with amenities such as plasma screen TV’s and complimentary WIFI.

If food and drink is what you’re interested in then you’ll be delighted to discover the number of fine restaurants in the area, many of which are close enough to allow guests to be able to stroll back to the hotel following an evening or afternoon spent eating and drinking. The food on offer runs from the fine dining at Le Gavroche, where Michel Roux Junior prepares classic French cuisine, through Texture, which combines fashionable Scandinavian cuisine with fresh local produce all the way to titbits, an innovative vegetarian restaurant which serves buffet style food paid for by weight.       

Choose the Perfect Location for Your Stay in London

When staying in London, particularly if you’re visiting for the first time, one of the most important decisions you make could be one that is made long before you actually get there – namely the location of your accommodation. It may well be that you’re travelling to London with a specific destination in mind – perhaps a business meeting in the City, or a reunion with friends and family who live south of the river – in which case you’ll want to stay somewhere close to the actual place that you’ll be visiting. In the vast majority of cases, however, people travel to London with a much more open mind, determined to explore and take advantage of as much of what’s on offer as possible, perhaps after enjoying a one-off event such as a West End show or a sporting occasion.

For the average tourist, then, the key to the best accommodation is that it sits in a central location and allows easy access to the transport required to travel around the rest of the city. Hotels in Hyde Park meet these criteria with ease, as well as being within short walking distance of some of the finest local attractions, so the key choice remaining to visitors is to choose a hotel which offers the best combination of value for money, comfort and a warm and welcoming environment. 

The Park Grand, London Hyde Park is just around the corner from Paddington train station, making it a convenient destination from the whole of the UK and even, via the high speed rail link from Heathrow airport, from the rest of the world. In terms of scale it most resembles a bespoke boutique hotel, but it offers the luxury and service standards of a larger concern, with staff on hand and always willing to help when it comes to planning how to get the best out of your stay in London. The rooms are stylishly furnished and equipped with everything needed to make your stay comfortable, from free WIFI and a plasma screen television to an en suite bathroom and views towards St James Church in the east and vibrantly cosmopolitan Notting Hill to the west.

As well as being within easy walking distance of Paddington station, the hotel is close to several tube stations, making it the perfect base from which to travel around the rest of the city. The website www.parkgrandhydepark.co.uk gives a flavour of what the hotel offers, whilst also allowing guests to choose and book their room.

Whilst many guests will be tempted to access the underground lines and tour far and wide across the city, the truth is that this location also boasts a plethora of places well worth visiting which are no further than a very short walk away. One such example is Kensington Gardens.

 Although London is a vast 21^st century world city constantly alive with the noise and excitement of metropolitan life, it also offers quiet corners of tranquillity and relaxation, and the gardens at Kensington are emblematic of this. Positioned adjacent to Hyde Park, the gardens offer a respite in the form of ornamental Italian Gardens and the art work on show in the Serpentine Gallery.        

Bars near Hyde Park never Fail to Please

Bars near Hyde Park London are amazing. From quaint recluses to vociferous dance bars, there is a complete assortment of these entertainment venues spread throughout this area. Hyde Park is among the most happening locations of this capital city with leading office establishments, throbbing shopping centres, indulgent hotels, and enjoyable entertainment venues. Be it daytime or evening the entire Hyde Park area is enlivening. From mid day till midnight and even in after hours on weekends these bars serve with zeal and care.

From the rustic to the imperial
Hyde Park bars have interiors created from the pastoral to the ultra-urbane to cater to variegated demands of its clientele. At times you might feel to stay close to the countryside, while at other times you could desire a more serious ambience of learning as in a library. There could be moments when you would love to spend an evening with your beloved sighting an illuminated and vibrant London from above. Still again there could be occasions where buddies meet to remember good old times over a couple of drinks.

Each of these occasions carry a definitive mood and demand a particular ambience for celebration. Again there are occasions when you like to spend some tranquil moments relaxing with your favourite drink and accompanied by your most trusted people. If you stay in Hyde Park or its surroundings you are never disappointed as far as locating a perfect bar for chilling out or spending some quality times with your loved ones.

Bars for all occasions
You might walk into a bar depending on your mood and occasion. In case you want to treat your business associate, a bar with a refined setting would be perfect. In case this business associate of yours is visiting London for the first time, a rooftop bar offering a panoramic view of the entire city would be more appropriate. A lakeside bar would be an excellent choice for enjoying a couple of beer with your college batch mate. Sight and feel of the outdoors is sure to create a feeling of freedom and informality, the two basic tenets of friendship.

In case you need to discuss serious issues with your consultant, then a bar laid out as a library could be an ideal place. It is likely that people wanting to discuss serious issues would prefer the ambience of a library than a poolside.

Hyde Park bars are scattered over Mayfair, Kensington, Seymour, Bayswater, and Paddington. As a tourist you must not miss on these places.