London – A Luxury Holiday Destination?

After a recent trip down to the capital, I was reminded what a fantastic luxury holiday destination London can be. Like any other big city London certainly has its pitfalls; the traffic can be a nightmare, the underground is too hot, and everything is that bit more expensive, but I think you can forgive it all for that undeniable sense of energy and buzz that is symptomatic of any journey to the city. Few other modern metropolises can boast the kind of culture and history that is on offer within one square mile of London’s bustling boroughs; where gleaming skyscrapers are juxtaposed against classic monuments; where businessmen and bohemians rub shoulders, and there resides a spirit unlike anywhere else in the world, a distinct identity that is truly and indefatigably London. Ok, so perhaps that was a little overly poetic but it's hard sometimes not to be swept up in the romance of it all. There’s nothing quite like gazing up at the grandeur of Nelson’s Column or strolling leisurely down Pall Mall towards Buckingham Palace; it reminds me of visits I made to the city as a child and whether I am guilty of naivety or not, it certainly puts a smile on my face.   The list of things to do and to see in London is almost exhaustive, and this is a city that certainly can offer something for everyone. For lovers of retail, there are a plethora of shopping experiences to indulge in, from the most renowned designer boutiques to big department stores like Harrods. Night owls will embrace the bars and restaurants of Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus; while the landmarks of Westminster and Buckingham Palace are a must at any time of day. Of course, London is endowed with some of the finest and most traditional hotels in the world from the Park Plaza to The Goring, The Ritz to The Savoy. Depending on your budget, your taste and your preferred situation you will never be too far away from an award winning establishment or a daring new chic property. Although my passion for luxury travel runs deep one of the best ways to see the city from a visitor’s perspective is by renting a bike from one of the hundreds of Santander's Cycle Hire stations across the city. A departure from the cliché of the open-topped tour bus why not start on one of these ‘Boris Bikes’ as they have come to be known (named after the former Mayor Boris Johnson) which only for a few pounds primarily provides you with free 'Boris Bikes'reign of the city. Not the most flexible of contraptions at 23kg they are not light but still provide you with a fun and unique way to interact with the city. Indeed, one of the most exciting things about visiting London is the sense of discovery of getting off the beaten track and finding a few gems along the way. This ethos pays special dividends when it comes to dining. Londoners do love their food and hidden away all around the city are intimate eating experiences that offer excellent service and fantastic food without the air of pomposity which seems to invade some of the other more renowned institutions.

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