Tag Archives: UK

The Browns Hotel. London,UK

Hotel of the Week, , , , ,

On my last trip to London, I found that the Brown’s Hotel was the British equivalent to the New York Plaza Hotel. With its classic style, elegance and attentive service, guests feel as if they were part of the Royal Family.

In 1837, the former valets of Lord and Lady Byron, James and Sarah Brown, decided that London was in need of better housing for travelers. Thus, the Brown’s Hotel opened its doors as London’s first hotel. Over the 175 years of its operations, the hotel has lodged a plethora of famous guests like, Alexander Graham Bell, Rudyard Kipling and Agatha Christie. In fact, Winston Churchill was quoted saying,” I never stay in hotels. I stay at Brown’s.” Today, the hotel has done a fantastic job maintaining the old-charm of the building while making sure to live up to its luxurious reputation.

Located in Mayfair, the Brown’s is in the heart of London. Only a few blocks away from Regent and Bond Street, guests are just minutes away from London’s best shops and art galleries. In addition, the hotel boasts gorgeous views of the greenery in Green and Hyde Park.

But before you leave the property to explore London-town, be sure to attend the award winning “High-Tea” served in the English tearoom. Guests are given the choice of 17 different teas to choose from in addition to scones with clotted jam, cucumber sandwiches and much more. And if you are overwhelmed by the amount of teas, the hotel has two “tea sommeliers” who are present to make sure guests chose just the tea they want.

And when it comes to rooms, the Brown’s does an excellent job living up to its standard of luxury within each of the 117 rooms. Each room is decorated to embody the traditional British formality with a touch of charm. And in terms of suites, it is no wonder that the Brown’s housed so many famous figures. In the Kipling suite, guests can sit back and relax while reminiscing on the fascinating history of the property.

Overall, the Brown’s was a must-see during my trip to London and should be for all Posh Voyage travelers out there!

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Number Sixteen. London, UK

Hotel of the Week, , , ,

One of my favorite discoveries during my rapid getaway to London was hotel Number 16. To pedestrians, this white-stucco Victorian terrace appears to be an upscale home to some Londoner, and not a quiet boutique hotel.

Enter the hotel’s warm and inviting lobby where guests can escape from the commotion of busy London town. Each of the hotel’s 41 rooms are individually decorated to make a stay at hotel Number 16 unlike that of any other. The décor is just the right mix of contemporary-chic and classic English, making for an aesthetically pleasing experience. Rooms vary in size and some even offer a private courtyard overlooking the property’s meticulously kept gardens.

Although the hotel has no restaurant, they serve afternoon tea in the garden, and have a simple yet yummy room service menu. The drawing room and library are the perfect common area for guests looking to unwind after a day exploring the city. Whether you are curled up by the fire with a cup of tea or enjoying a cocktail at the hotel’s honor bar, hotel patrons have the perfect balance of cozy and chic.

Also located in South Kensington, guests are closely situated to the tube station that connects to major travel hubs like Heathrow and Paddington Station. And for guests looking to explore the area, London ‘hotspots’ like Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Harrods and the Natural History museum are all within walking distance of the hotel.

When it came time for my stay to end, I was devastated leaving this London gem. But good news is, there will be plenty more trips to London which means, plenty of more stays at Number 16.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

The Blakes Hotel. London, UK

Hotel of the Week, , , ,

During my journey to London, I searched the city high and low for new hotels to add to the Posh Voyage London guide. Through my travels, I discovered The Blakes Hotel- an incredibly unique property located between South Kensington and Chelsea.

The Blakes Hotel made its grand opening in the late 1970’s as one of the first boutique hotels. Where Asian-chic meets classic British design, the decor is eccentric and unlike that of any hotel in London. Rooms are individually themed- ranging from British Raj to Egyptian paradise-which makes for an exceptional stay.

Although the Blakes is located in the quiet residential area of South Kensington, guests are just seconds away from the hustle-and-bustle of London’s hip area, Chelsea. A five-minute stroll can take you to the stylist Brompton Cross where stores range from individual boutiques to high-end department stores like Harrod’s. In addition, the Blakes is closely located to some of London’s most famous recreational areas like Hyde Park or the Kensington Gardens.

Once you finish exploring the hotel, be sure to make a reservation at the Blakes restaurant for a dinning experience that mixes Thai cuisine with Mediterranean tapas. The walls of this stylist restaurant are lined with exotic bird feathers from regions like the rainforest of South America. But the highlight of my stay was afternoon tea in the Japanese Garden where guests are offered a variety of teatime classics like scones, petit fours and cucumber sandwiches accompanied with a wide-selection of teas.

Thus, for an unforgettable stay in London, be sure to check out the Blakes Hotel!

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.