Bargain treats in luxurious London
HOLIDAY HERO
EVERY week our Holiday Hero NEIL SIMPSON takes an in-depth look at an important holiday topic, doing all the leg-work so you don’t have to. This week: Amazing staycation deals in London.
LONDON is calling if you want an early summer staycation for a fraction of the normal price and with a host of fun extras thrown in for free.
Hotels in the capital are on track to reopen as the next stage of lockdown eases on May 17, but as Britain’s borders are expected to stay closed to overseas visitors for some time, 35 of the best names in luxury hospitality are joining forces to attract homegrown guests.
These include the Dorchester, The Savoy, Brown’s, Corinthia and The Athenaeum, not to mention smaller gems such as Dukes in Mayfair and The Cadogan in Chelsea.
It will give you a ( hopefully) unique opportunity to explore the city without crowds. After all, overseas tourists usually make up some 60 per cent of visitors in attractions, galleries, museums and theat res – without t hem, socially distanced sightseeing will be easy.
The main Hotel Week promotion runs from May 28 to June 6, but many in the scheme plan to keep their prices discounted until the end of June.
Book a participating hotel and you will be invited to try a host of guest-only experiences such as pizza- and cocktail-making classes, transfers by vintage car from London railway stations and room upgrades.
If you love music and shopping, it’s hard to find a better place than the Hard Rock Hotel near Marble Arch. There you’ll find the milelong stretch of Oxford Street on the doorstep, offering everything from Selfridges department store to one of the capital’s biggest Primarks. Eat close to the hotel at buzzy St Christopher’s Place or stroll to Carnaby Street and Soho. The original Hard Rock Cafe is a short walk away as well.
Back at the hotel, freebies include money-off in the Rock Shop and a free memorabilia tour. Double rooms from £149 a night.
Royalty fans love the Hilton on Park Lane. The 28th-floor Sky Bar is famous for its views across Hyde Park, but staff can also let you in on some ‘secret’ viewpoints that look into the back garden of Buckingham Palace.
Car- lovers will appreciate the location, too. The parking area in front is where the super-rich leave their Lamborghinis and Maseratis before strolling to the nearby casinos of Mayfair.
Check in during Hotel Week and enjoy a complimentary breakfast and a free picnic basket to take across Park Lane into Hyde Park. As the sun goes down, sip on free cocktails or mocktails in the hotel’s Trader Vic’s bar. Doubles from £799 a night.
The vibe is vintage chic for guests who are checking in to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, which is in the heart of the gloriously restored railway station that is now also home to Eurostar.
The golden age of train travel comes alive in the Booking Office Bar and Restaurant, with fine dining courtesy of chef Marcus Wareing in The Gilbert Scott – named after the architect who designed the building in 1873.
Book a room for the promotion period and you can book a second for half price. Lunch for four is also free.
Check in with children and it’s only a short stroll away from King’s Cross station, the home of platform 9 ¾ which needs no explanation to Harry Potter fans. Get two rooms from £429 a night.
Other hotel chains joining in include Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons and Intercontinental groups.
Find details and claim discounts at hotelweeklondon.co.uk.