Sandra Anido

London Mayor Boris Johnson launched the Transport for London bike rental scheme in July 2010 and in the first year 120,000 people have become subscribers, more than five million journeys have been made and about 25,000 trips are completed every day.

If you’d like to know how the system works just watch this quick video. You can also get help with route planning here. However, if you are less interested in getting straight from A to B, and more inclined to take a pleasant ride though some of the most fascinating and scenic parts of the city, here’s my personal favourite, plus links to a couple of others for good measure.

Limehouse to Little Venice

Regents canal

The very best ride in London, I believe, is the route from Limehouse, just up river from Canary Wharf, to Little Venice in lovely Maida Vale. The best thing about it is the lack of traffic – you’re cycling westwards along the old tow path of the picturesque Regents Canal. The ride is flat, 8 miles long, and will take you about one and a half hours to complete. Having said that, there’s so much to enjoy along the way that you could make this trip last all day!

You start at Limehouse Basin, where the canal meets the Thames. An area rich in history, there’s now plenty of splendid modern architecture to admire, as well as a Hawksmoor church (St Anne’s) and plenty of impressive yachts in the marina. Soon you’ll arrive at Mile End Park where you can have a freshener at the eccentric 1950s throwback pub the Palm Tree (Haverfield Road, E3 5BH).

If you fancy a little detour the boot-shaped Victoria Park lies just beyond the entrance to the Hertford Union Canal (aka Duckett’s Cut). The Old Ford Lock is where canal boaters traditionally changed horses but your bike doesn’t need the same care and attention so carry on straight to the Hackney Gasworks.

Soon you get to the City Road Basin, once the largest trading centre along Regent’s Canal. You could stop for a pint at the impressive Island Queen pub around the corner (87 Noel Road, N1 8HD). There’s also the Canal Museum, or you could explore Camley Street Natural Park for some peace and quiet.

Once past Camden Town, where you can spend a few hours browsing the stalls at the famous Camden Lock Market. Next you come to the huge green expanse of Regent’s Park, and London Zoo. You could also take a short detour up to Primrose Hill for a spectacular view of the city. The cycle path skirts around the north of the Regent’s Park and then it’s on to Little Venice, where the Regent’s Canal ends and the Grand Union Canal begins. To celebrate completing your leisurely ride head for the kitsch theatre pub the Bridge House (13 Westbourne Terrace Road, W2 6NG), the fabulously ornate Prince Alfred and Formosa Dining Rooms (54 Formosa Street, W9 1EE) or the Warrington Hotel (93 Warrington Crescent, W9 1EH), a popular haunt of ageing pop stars that’s part of the Gordon Ramsay empire.

Tower Bridge to Albert Bridge

This ride takes you up the river, through the very centre of the capital, with stunning vistas unfolding on either bank as you take in the ten bridges of London Town. You can find details of this ride here.

Westminster to Kew Gardens

This route also follows the river, but takes you further upstream. You go from Big Ben and the London Eye, past the Tate Britain and the Iconic Battersea Power Station to world famous Kew Gardens. You can find details of this ride here.

Sandra Anido

The term haute couture is French for “high sewing” or “high dressmaking”. It refers to the creative process of designing and producing exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Made to order for a specific customer, it is usually cut from high-quality, expensive fabric. This is and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques.

Sounds French, but haute couture was invented by an Englishman

The term originated in the mid-nineteenth century and referred to the work of an Englishman Charles Frederick Worth. He was employed at several prosperous London drapery shops before moving to Paris in 1846. He was hired by Gagelin and Opigez, well-known Parisian drapers. While working in their shop, he married one of the firm’s models, Marie Vernet. Worth made a few simple dresses for his wife and customers started to ask for copies.

Worth urged his partners to expand into dressmaking, but they hesitated to risk their reputation in a business as low-class as dressmaking. Worth found a wealthy Swede who was willing to bankroll the venture and opened the dressmaking establishment of Worth and Bobergh in 1858.

Empress Elizabeth in a dress by Charles Worth

Dressmaker to nobility

Worth was soon patronised by the French Empress Eugénie, and after that by many titled, rich, and otherwise notable women. Catherine Walters and Cora Pearl, the famous demimondaines, and Pauline von Metternich, an Austrian princess and musical patron, were Worth devotees, the infamous beauty Virginia Oldoini, Countess di Castiglione was often dressed by him. He also dressed actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt and singers such as Nellie Melba. Many of his customers travelled to Paris from other countries, coming from as far away as New York and Boston.

The most iconic client of his was Elizabeth, Empress of Austria. Obsessed with her appearance she followed a strict and draconian diet and exercise regimen to maintain her 20-inch waistline, wasting away to near emaciation at times. Estranged from her husband, Emperor Franz Josef, she restlessly roamed Europe and was eventually stabbed by an anarchist in 1898. This occurred on the shore of Lake Geneva, directly opposite what is now Red Carnation’s Hotel d’Angleterre – you can see a statue marking the spot directly opposite the hotel’s Windows restaurant.

He also dressed actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt and singers such as Nellie Melba. Many of his customers travelled to Paris from other countries, coming from as far away as New York and Boston.

The father of the catwalk

Rather than let the customer dictate the design, as had previously been dressmaking practice, four times a year he displayed model dresses at fashion shows. His patronesses would pick a model, which would then be sewn in fabrics of their choice and tailored to their figure. Worth was sufficiently successful that he had to turn away customers. He completely revolutionised the business of dressmaking. He was the first of the couturiers, dressmakers considered artists rather than mere artisans.

Red tape is introduced

In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris based in Paris. Their rules state that only “those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves” of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992. However, the term is also used loosely to describe all high-fashion custom-fitted clothing, whether it is produced in Paris or in other fashion capitals such as Milan, London, New York and Tokyo.

The sixties – all change

In the 1960s a group of young designers who had trained under men like Dior and Balenciaga left these established couture houses and opened their own establishments. The most successful of these young designers were Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges, Ted Lapidus, and Emanuel Ungaro. Japanese native and Paris-based Hanae Mori was also successful in establishing her own line.

The 1960s also featured a revolt against established fashion standards by mods, rockers, and hippies, as well as an increasing internationalization of the fashion scene. Rich women no longer felt that a Paris dress was necessarily better than one sewn elsewhere. So while Paris is still pre-eminent in this world, it is no longer the sole arbiter of fashion – hence the popularity of London Fashion Week.

Sandra Anido

Antonio has been perfecting his martinis for forty years, and everyone who tastes them agrees that all other martinis pale by comparison.  So what’s his secret?

Antonio started his career in 1963 behind a bar in San Domenico before moving to San Remo on the Italian Riviera.  He then spent some considerable time as Barman at Duke’s Hotel, the bar where Ian Fleming reputedly came up with his classic “shaken not stirred” line for his hero James Bond. 

Over the years he has made the martini his own signature drink, and developed a style of preparation that’s quite unique. When guests ask whether he shakes or stirs his martinis his reply is as dry, and smooth, as his version of the classic cocktail.  “James Bond, he has a licence to kill, but not a licence to make martini.  I no shake, I no stir.”

Whilst he will prepare vodka martinis he much prefers to use gin, Tanqueray being his favourite.  The bottle is stored in the freezer, as are the glasses, and this is crucial – he uses no ice, because this would dilute the effect.  His martinis are more potent because they are not watered down!

Preparation takes place directly in front of the guests (in the glass rather than in a shaker) and is a piece of spellbinding theatre.  He places a small table beside them, and then lays out everything he needs.  Then he takes a tiny bottle of vermouth and shakes a couple of drops into the bottom of each glass.  Next he pours in the icy cold gin, until it bulges over the top of the glass, defying gravity.  Immediately one asks oneself “How am I going to get that onto the table in front of me, without spilling it?”

He then takes a slice of fresh peel from a Sicilian lemon – he buys them fresh, every day, from an Italian delicatessen, insisting that nothing but the best Sicilian lemons will suffice.  He then cracks the surface of the lemon zest with a dramatic flourish, before running it around the outside rim of the glass to impart a subtle tang of lemon.  He then drapes the cracked zest over the rim of the glass, before lifting it and placing it before you in one swift motion.  Not a drop is spilt, leaving onlookers gasping in amazement!

Because you lack his confidence, and steady hand, you have to take your first sip without raising the glass to your lips – and the effect is unforgettably powerful.  The flavour of the lemon zest hits your taste beds a millisecond before the freezing gin, creating an explosive taste sensation.   As Antonio is fond of saying himself  ”two is not enough and three is too many”. 

To accompany your martini Antonio provides little bowls of mixed olives, some stuffed with chilli and some with anchovy.  There’s also a selection of nuts to nibble, and little fingers of warm cheese on toast. Each of these, with their strong individual flavours, perfectly complements the martini, so it’s a magic combination.   

Half way down the first glass and your tongue is loosened – so Antonio confesses that part of his job is being a good listener.  “I have a few loyal regulars, who come in four or five times a week.  Sometimes we stay up until two or three in the morning, talking.  I don’t just mix the drinks, I am their friend.”

Small wonder, then, that those in the know swear these are the best martinis in London.  But they only tell their very closest friends – it’s a secret few are eager to share! Listen to Antonio’s podcast

Sandra Anido

I remember the sense of disappointment I felt as a child after Christmas.  And to some extent I still feel that way!  If you share that sense of disappointment then why not give yourself and the kids an early treat and take a weekend break in London?   It’s one of the very best times to visit – it’s less crowded than usual, and there’s loads happening.

Two of London’s very best things to do with kids are the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum.  As they are both directly over the road from the Egerton I would say that, wouldn’t I?!  But they are fantastic – entertaining and educational for all ages, plus you could spend days in there without ever becoming bored.  However, the bad news…in school holidays and at half term the queue to get in stretches for hundreds of yards.   So, two tips – go on the weekend, and stay on the doorstep so you get in before everyone else!

Right now is a great time to visit the Natural History Museum.  The outdoor Ice Rink is open until January 17th.   Plus the Natural History Museum’s New Darwin Centre is now fully open.  The first phase, containing 22 million zoological specimens stored in alcohol, opened in 2002.  Now you can also venture into the final piece of the project – a 65-metre-long (213 ft), 8-storey cocoon-shaped structure, which houses 17 million insect and 3 million plant specimens.  Highlights for visitors include:

• An interactive tour of the cocoon to see the museum’s collections and the projects of world-class researchers working at the centre
• The Attenborough Studio: where you can discover more about the natural world and current scientific issues through multimedia, talks, and face-to-face encounters with scientists
• Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity: dedicated to the study of the UK’s natural world and a haven for wildlife groups, societies and researchers

At the Science Museum, as well as all the regular stuff, they offer some spectacular exhibitions.  “Dan Dare and the birth of High Tech Britain” is on for the next few months, plus until April you can see “Fast Forward”, a temporary exhibition that showcases 20 examples where F1™ technology is impacting on our lives.

If all this is a little too highbrow for you why not visit the ABBA World exhibition in Earl’s Court?  Again, it’s relatively near the Egerton, and open from January 27th until March 28th. It’s a must-see presentation of 25 rooms of memorabilia, music, footage, images and a fully immersive ABBA experience!  Plus, there’s plenty of interactive activities to bring a little bit of ABBA into your life, including:

• Perform with ABBA where you appear on stage with the band via stunning 3D holographic technology
• Try your hand on the decks to recreate the ABBA sound
• ABBA Quiz test your ABBA knowledge!
• Sing-A-Long and dance with ABBA
• Be part of an an ABBA video and appear on an ABBA album cover, then see your handywork later online!

Of course there’s bags more to see and do with the kids in London over the next couple of months, but this will just give you a taste of what’s on our doorstep here at the Egerton.  What’s more, don’t forget that we have two brilliant offers for families:

• Children under the age of 16 stay for absolutely nothing when sharing a room with their parents, with in-room movies and a games console included for extra entertainment
• Book one room and save up to 50% off the second.  Again you receive complimentary in-room movies and a games console!

Hope to see you soon!