London Weekend for GF's Birthday
Discussion
Big birthday for my girlfriend at the end of July, she wants a nice piece of jewelry or a designer handbag...
I could just buy it and give it to her but we both (she) would rather she chose it so i'm thinking of doing a night/weekend in London with a day shopping to get the gift.
Travel - we'll be coming from Exeter way. I'm thinking train as I can't be assed finding suitable parking and trying to manage the whole congestion charge stuff. We shouldn't need car over the course of the weekend.
Hotel - What or where do you suggest? 2 nights and I'd pay up to or around £200 a night for somewhere nice, or, recommend somewhere that's worth blowing the budget for?
Shopping - Bond St/Mayfair? Oxford St? Can we realistically do a few shopping areas in a day?
Food and Drink - I'd like to visit the Ginstitute (http://portobellostarbar.co.uk/ginstitutelondon/the-timetable/) at some point. Evening meal(s), other than the 'famous' places i'm not too clued up, any reccomendations, again, budget wise i don't mind spending up to £100 each inc wine on a spot on meal but no £500 fine dining stuff.
Any general pointers or ideas welcome, i've been to London a few times but not recently and usually only for work so not up to speed on planning a weekend there.
I could just buy it and give it to her but we both (she) would rather she chose it so i'm thinking of doing a night/weekend in London with a day shopping to get the gift.
Travel - we'll be coming from Exeter way. I'm thinking train as I can't be assed finding suitable parking and trying to manage the whole congestion charge stuff. We shouldn't need car over the course of the weekend.
Hotel - What or where do you suggest? 2 nights and I'd pay up to or around £200 a night for somewhere nice, or, recommend somewhere that's worth blowing the budget for?
Shopping - Bond St/Mayfair? Oxford St? Can we realistically do a few shopping areas in a day?
Food and Drink - I'd like to visit the Ginstitute (http://portobellostarbar.co.uk/ginstitutelondon/the-timetable/) at some point. Evening meal(s), other than the 'famous' places i'm not too clued up, any reccomendations, again, budget wise i don't mind spending up to £100 each inc wine on a spot on meal but no £500 fine dining stuff.
Any general pointers or ideas welcome, i've been to London a few times but not recently and usually only for work so not up to speed on planning a weekend there.
nyt said:
There are quite a few 5* hotels available in your budget: http://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?#&destin...
You can easily do all of those shopping areas in a day. They are close together. You should also add Harrods (much better these days) and possibly Selfridges & Harvety Nichols. All have excellent customer service and are close.
Dining: I assume that you have good restaurants where you live so consider going for an experience. Perhaps something in the Shard or Sushi-samba (very cool outdoor cocktail bar attache dot a good restaurant).
Edited to add: If you like Gin then http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-pubs/214-bermon... is pretty interesting. Easy walk from the Shard if that's where you decide to go.
Didn't realise the Shard was somewhere we could visit in that respect, thought it was just a business centre/offices. Shows how aware I am of London!You can easily do all of those shopping areas in a day. They are close together. You should also add Harrods (much better these days) and possibly Selfridges & Harvety Nichols. All have excellent customer service and are close.
Dining: I assume that you have good restaurants where you live so consider going for an experience. Perhaps something in the Shard or Sushi-samba (very cool outdoor cocktail bar attache dot a good restaurant).
Edited to add: If you like Gin then http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-pubs/214-bermon... is pretty interesting. Easy walk from the Shard if that's where you decide to go.
Edited by nyt on Monday 8th June 09:26
We both love Sushi, so Sushi Samba sounds like a perfect way to indulge. Will look into the 214 Bermondsey for drinks too.
Cheers!
Cheers chaps, really like the look of the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, think that could be the winner.
Transport is going to be the biggest ballache it seems, not sure if I fancy leaving my car in a park and ride type car park for 48hrs+, will need to do more research as to the best way to do it. Train is extortionate too!
Transport is going to be the biggest ballache it seems, not sure if I fancy leaving my car in a park and ride type car park for 48hrs+, will need to do more research as to the best way to do it. Train is extortionate too!
Very interesting points!
Just spent the last half hour on the justpark.com website, looks superb. £30 for a space right in Mayfair, 5min stroll from the hotel I like.
However.. how does one deal with the congestion charge? Do i phone ahead and register my car or do i just drive and they send me a bill or what? I like the freedom of having the car, that way we can arrive and leave and detour as we wish, rather than
worrying about train times to and from the city.
Think we will have to visit the shard! Everyone seems to rave about it.
Thanks again guys.
Just spent the last half hour on the justpark.com website, looks superb. £30 for a space right in Mayfair, 5min stroll from the hotel I like.
However.. how does one deal with the congestion charge? Do i phone ahead and register my car or do i just drive and they send me a bill or what? I like the freedom of having the car, that way we can arrive and leave and detour as we wish, rather than
worrying about train times to and from the city.
Think we will have to visit the shard! Everyone seems to rave about it.
Thanks again guys.
Thanks guys, loads to go on. Actual trip won't be until mid July but want to book as much as I can now.
Hotel; Chesterfield Mayfair
Transport; Car, justpark.com for parking spot.
I intend to park the car on the Friday afternoon and go back to in Sunday afternoon and leave the city, not bothering driving around the city other than when we arrive and leave.
Much appreciated all, will look into all your suggestions for entertainment and food/drink, cheers.
Hotel; Chesterfield Mayfair
Transport; Car, justpark.com for parking spot.
I intend to park the car on the Friday afternoon and go back to in Sunday afternoon and leave the city, not bothering driving around the city other than when we arrive and leave.
Much appreciated all, will look into all your suggestions for entertainment and food/drink, cheers.
z4RRSchris said:
shard is gash for eating, sushi samba you won't get a table.
stick to Mayfair. can do all the shopping, eating and drinking you like. you'll be bankrupt by the end but that's all part of the fun.
shopping,
Mayfair mews for afternoon drink
back to hotel for a quick shag and get ready
Connaught for a drink
Mayfair restaurant of choice
get on the booze after
day 2 nice brekkie
go to the spa at the corintha for a few hours
get outta London
Love it, my kinda planning. Noted!stick to Mayfair. can do all the shopping, eating and drinking you like. you'll be bankrupt by the end but that's all part of the fun.
shopping,
Mayfair mews for afternoon drink
back to hotel for a quick shag and get ready
Connaught for a drink
Mayfair restaurant of choice
get on the booze after
day 2 nice brekkie
go to the spa at the corintha for a few hours
get outta London
Edited by z4RRSchris on Monday 15th June 13:42
Just to update for anyone interested...
Had a cracking weekend, went for the below;
Travel; Train. Plymouth - London Paddington. I wanted to drive but everyone told me not to bother so thought i'd travel first class on the train to ease my pain. Decent trip, 3 and a bit hours each way but pretty chilled out and plenty space for my big legs.
Hotel: The Arch. 5*, just by Marble Arch, was superb, would highly reccomend.
Entertainment: Went to see The Book Of Mormon on Friday night Saturday, we shopped... Mayfair, Bond St, Oxford St, Regent St, Hatton Garden (will come back to that), think we done the lot. She went for a Mulberry Handbag in the end, expensive but she loves it so i won't grumble too much. Sunday we just had some brunch and a wander then got the train home early afternoon.
Food: We were short on time on Friday Night due to the theatre so just grabbed a post theatre bite and bottle of wine at Jamies Italian, it was handy and had space for us available so went in... it was OK, not fine dining or anything special but good, quick grub, nice surroundings, good service etc.
Saturday night i'd booked Coya to eat... WOW. Unreal. We went for the tasting menu, what an experience, great service, great place, great food, can't reccomend it highly enough. Expensive at over £270 for two of us with wine but probably my best dining experience to date.
Only bum note was Hatton Garden, think i'd got the wrong end of the stick by assuming it was the place to go to look for jewellery? We arrived to find indians selling no box or papers rolex watches in s
tty glass cabinets in cheap shops, along with dodgy looking gold and tat. Not impressed. There was a few nice shops further up the street but none filled me with the confidence to part with decent money for a necklace should the GF find one she wanted. Fortunately she felt the same and nothing took her fancy so we ditched it.
Overall though, a superb weekend. Thanks for the suggestions all.
Brilliant weekend.
Had a cracking weekend, went for the below;
Travel; Train. Plymouth - London Paddington. I wanted to drive but everyone told me not to bother so thought i'd travel first class on the train to ease my pain. Decent trip, 3 and a bit hours each way but pretty chilled out and plenty space for my big legs.
Hotel: The Arch. 5*, just by Marble Arch, was superb, would highly reccomend.
Entertainment: Went to see The Book Of Mormon on Friday night Saturday, we shopped... Mayfair, Bond St, Oxford St, Regent St, Hatton Garden (will come back to that), think we done the lot. She went for a Mulberry Handbag in the end, expensive but she loves it so i won't grumble too much. Sunday we just had some brunch and a wander then got the train home early afternoon.
Food: We were short on time on Friday Night due to the theatre so just grabbed a post theatre bite and bottle of wine at Jamies Italian, it was handy and had space for us available so went in... it was OK, not fine dining or anything special but good, quick grub, nice surroundings, good service etc.
Saturday night i'd booked Coya to eat... WOW. Unreal. We went for the tasting menu, what an experience, great service, great place, great food, can't reccomend it highly enough. Expensive at over £270 for two of us with wine but probably my best dining experience to date.
Only bum note was Hatton Garden, think i'd got the wrong end of the stick by assuming it was the place to go to look for jewellery? We arrived to find indians selling no box or papers rolex watches in s
tty glass cabinets in cheap shops, along with dodgy looking gold and tat. Not impressed. There was a few nice shops further up the street but none filled me with the confidence to part with decent money for a necklace should the GF find one she wanted. Fortunately she felt the same and nothing took her fancy so we ditched it.Overall though, a superb weekend. Thanks for the suggestions all.
Brilliant weekend.
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