Fitzrovia & The West
See and do
There are some great finds among the bric-abrac and old wares at the Portobello Markets. Get there early to beat the big crowds and grab a great British pub lunch after you’ve snapped up that antique clock, vintage vase or pair of moccasins. The main antiques market is on Saturdays. ÒPortobello Rd, London. Notting
Hill Gate. London has one of the best theatre scenes on the planet. Redefining the term ‘hot ticket’ is Harry Potter and the Cursed
Child, at the Palace Theatre; Potterphiles should book their tickets to this before booking their UK flights. ÒShaftesbury Ave, London. www.nimaxtheatres.com. Leicester Square/ Tottenham Court Road. Until Dec 10.
Eat and drink
Score a table outside, order a pint of prawns, some chicken liver pâté and a glass of the Beavertown Gamma Ray and you’re in business at the
Westbourne, a pub that’s been a Notting Hill favourite for decades. Ò101 Westbourne Park Villas, London. +44 20 7221 1332. www.thewestbourne.com. Royal Oak. Tucked away at the back of the hip London Edition hotel, the Punch Room, with its vintage design and furniture, classic cocktails served in fashionable glassware and the vibe of a lounge room, wins us over every time.
Ò10 Berners St, London. +44 20 7781 0000. www.editionhotels.com/ london. Tottenham Court Road.
Stay
At the Como Metropolitan London in Mayfair, 144 modern, spacious rooms and 19 apartments overlook Hyde Park. Find classic cocktails aplenty at the Met Bar, and Nobu tucked away on the first floor. Perhaps the biggest drawcard for this hotel are the treatments on offer at the Como Shambhala Urban Escape, where, after a Shiatsu or Thai massage, there’s a special wellness room service menu to be had in your room. Ò19 Old Park Ln, London. +44 20 7447 1000. www.comohotels. com/metropolitanlondon. Hyde Park Corner.
Getting there
British Airways ( www.ba.com) flies daily to London via Singapore on modern Boeing 777300ER aircraft featuring First, Club World (Business), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and World Traveller (Economy) cabins. A ticket in Club World offers flatbed seats, restaurant-calibre cuisine, French and Australian wines, hundreds of hours of entertainment on demand and great British service from check-in to disembarking.