Experiencing new destinations, exploring new cultures, enjoying new friends… travel is rich and exciting. While there are always new places to go, there are also some that require more than one visit. London is one of them. I recently went to London for my fourth time (second time as a solo traveler) and there was still more to discover because, you see, there is the London of tourists and the London of Londoners. When I go to this fabulous city, I like to enjoy a bit of both.

I like to see the major historical and cultural sites but I also like to explore the neighbourhoods that Londoners love. I find that this is best achieved by choosing a hotel located centrally but nestled in a community. This time, I stayed at Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury; it was perfect for this approach to the city.

Bloomsbury – a London of Londoners
Bloomsbury, as a neighbourhood, is known as a centre of the arts and education. London University is there and, of course, it is home to the famed Bloomsbury Group that included Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster. It continues to attract artists and is home to students as well as the wealthy.

At one end of the block where the Montague is located is Russell Square, a beautiful garden with a cafe that I can recommend. At the other end is the famed British Museum which is free to the public. Go a little farther afield and you enter more residential streets and more squares including Bloomsbury Square, Gordon Square and Tavistock Square. I loved wandering there, looking at the architecture and watching the people. It is very safe for a solo traveler.

Cool Hand Luke is just one of the many plays, musicals and operas on and around The Strand

Beyond Bloomsbury – easy walking to London Highlights
While I do use the London Tube if going farther afield, I prefer to enjoy this city (and just about every city I visit) on foot. Wandering south from the Montague I made my way to the Strand and London’s West End theatre district. From major musicals, to serious plays to the Royal Opera House, it’s all there.

Near the Opera House is Covent Garden, a great place for lunch and a little shopping. When I was there it was delightfully decorated for Christmas. After lunch, I ventured a little further south and walked along the Thames.

Returning back to my hotel, I had time to stop into the National Portrait Gallery and just a quick peak into St. Martin’s in the Field to see what this remarkable church is like. It was a full day, to be sure.

North Americans are not accustomed to fine hotels located in a neighbourhood environment, but in London, some of the finest hotels are not on main streets. Hotels like The Montague on the Gardens offer visitors a taste of the London that Londoners love.

Janice Waugh is author of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook, publisher of Solo Traveler, the blog for those who travel alone and moderator of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook, with almost 5000 members. She has been quoted in many media outlets including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times and USA Today. Janice also speaks about travel and the business of blogging.

The high point of 2011, for the romantics among us, was surely William and Catherine’s wonderful wedding in Westminster Cathedral. And the story of how he proposed, after flying her in a helicopter to a remote and inaccessible lake, overlooked by the dramatic snow-capped peak of Mount Kenya, takes some beating.

So, we have a challenge for you – and a wonderful prize.

To enter the Competiton:

Write us an account of how you, or your partner, proposed in the comments section below. Or, if neither of you has popped the question yet, give us a description of the most romantic occasion you have shared together. The entry judged to be the best by our Red Carnation panel will win a romantic night at The Milestone Hotel that is sure to be truly, madly, deeply and unforgettably magical.

To Win:

The hotel itself overlooks Kensington Gardens, and William and Catherine’s London residence, Kensington Palace – so you’ll feel like a prince and princess from the moment you arrive. In reception you’ll be given the full red carpet treatment – we’ll welcome you with a single red rose and two glasses of chilled Veuve Clicquot premium champagne, then show you to your splendidly luxurious suite. Here you’ll find a bottle of house champagne waiting for you, along with a dish of delicious chocolate dipped strawberries. Then, in the evening, you’ll be served a sumptuously romantic dinner in Chenestons, our famous fine dining restaurant – a quick glance at a sample menu and you’ll realise just how special an experience this will be! After dinner you’ll enjoy a Romantic Turndown then, when you awaken next morning, you’ll be served a hearty full English Breakfast.

If you can tear yourself away from the hotel (not easy!) you can wander over to Kensington Palace and see for yourself where William and Catherine spend their time when in the capital. On the other hand you might prefer a little shopping. Again, The Milestone is ideally placed – it’s just a few yards from the fabulous stores along Kensington High Street, while Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the boutiques of Knightsbridge are only a short walk in the other direction. Nearby Kensington Church Street offers the widest selection of art and antiques in London, with over 60 dealers, and there’s The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Victoria & Albert Museum are all just 15 minutes away on foot.

Your entry can be as short or long as you’d like and should be submitted in the comment section below – so what more encouragement do you need to “look in thy heart and write”?

Closing date for entry is 13th February 2012. Winner will be announced on 14th February 2012. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Prize valid until 31st January 2013, subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Black out dates may apply. Dinner includes one bottle of our house wine. Additional drinks are subject to charge.

Glimpses of Hyde Park through intricately paned windows, elegance and the rich aromas of Ceylon in Kensington’s Milestone Hotel create a matchless setting for the High Tea ritual.

Upon arrival, I was immediately offered a glass of champagne, a practise that should be more common as far as I’m concerned. It didn’t hurt that the bubbly itself is from the world’s oldest established champagne house, Ruinart.

Afternoon Tea by the fire at The Milestone Hotel

Beneath an extraordinary portrait of Noel Coward in a yellow matador’s ensemble, an effortless waiter took us through the teas. Though I was tempted to go with a traditional Earl Grey or Darjeeling, I chose Russian Caravan for something exotic. The intoxicating infusion is designed to emulate flavours of 18th century tea brought to Russia on camel caravans, picking up the smoky aromas from travellers’ campfires along the way.  

Luckily I didn’t succumb to some eighteenth century impulse to swoon back against the sofa amidst the comforting clinks of bone china, because soon sandwiches, petit scones with clotted cream and pastries were laid upon our table. From the arrangement on the customary three tiers, I drew a sublime chicken and chopped almond sandwich. It must be said though, that the strawberry éclair took trumps with fantastically light choux pastry, fresh strawberries and white chocolate glaze.

After a magnificent afternoon, I decided sneak a peak of the rest of the property. I discovered the Milestone’s utterly delightful equestrian themed bar, and naturally resolved to return for entirely different kind of ritual in the very near future.

By Lucy Heavens

With a festive chill in the air and the hotels sparkling Christmas lights twinkling in the night, there was a feeling of mystery and excitement in the air as we (The Marketing Team) approached The Leopard Bar.  We’d been sent summons from the team at The Rubens, 41 & bbar to join them for a night of ‘Euphoria’ – fun, food & drink and indeed it really was!

We were greeted at the Leopard Champagne Bar with a glass of champagne, a promising start, and an explanation of the events and challenges to come…

Champagne at The Leopard Bar

Fish & Chips and Champagne!

The first challenge was to sample two glasses of Champagne one a house Champagne and the other from a £5,000 bottle with a glass of water requested to cleanse the palate the competition was on! One by one we went, nibbling on mini fish & chips as we sniffed, tasted, examined and tried to bribe the barman. With the winner announced, ‘time to move along’ our hosts cried…

Kids treats at The Rubens

Fun & Adventure – not just for kids

Task two took us to one of the Junior Suites at The Rubens at the Palace where to our amazement the Director of Fun and Adventure, John Goncalves, had been let loose to create a kid’s haven, showing us how family friendly the hotel can actually be. There were sweeties, been-bags, bath toys, mini robes & slippers, teddy bears and games, not to mention Disney tunes creating a magical ambiance.  As we sampled the beer (strictly for adults) and mini burgers the General Manager, Malcolm Hendry, rolled up his sleeves and stepped into goal. Now this was a mini goal and he is not such a mini man so the challenge to score a goal was tough, but three succeeded and we were whisked from the kid’s toys, with pockets full of sweets onto location three…

Our bbar leopard

The wildness descended to bbar

Mojitios!

The next stop – 43 Below – the private party space underneath bbar (perfect for a Christmas party!), next door to the hotel.  Lined up along the bar were icy Mojitos with a suspicious looking character at the end of the bar purring in a leopard jumpsuit, complete with ears! Miaow! With appetites akin to a lion we devoured Boboite Spring Rolls as we completed the next challenge – naming the Big Five. With three beautiful South African hotels this should have been easy… 

Romantic treats at 41

The Perfect Proposal

From bbar to five star, we entered the magical doorway into Hotel 41, where we were whisked up to one of their fabulous Hospitality Suites. The lights had dimmed , we followed the trail of rose petals into the room and were swooned by the romantic tones from the ipod, candles and scents surrounded us as we were led into the adjoining room and there before us were more drinks and treats but first we had to perform a task. Famous for its proposals that take place in the hotel – we had to (one by one) get down on bended knee and propose to the Director of Sales, Steven.  The competition was stiff and the lines a little cheesy to say the least but true love cannot be mistaken and the lucky winner was congratulated with a specially designed Engagement Cake (double chocolate fudge too!)  Sadly, after such a heartfelt experience we were dismayed to discover Steven to be already married!! Shock horror!

Frozen Delights

Frozen in excitement

Getting even louder still,  it was with a heavy heart that we were then moved to our final destination the Cavalry Bar. Our mission here was to name this Tequila based icy cocktail by this time we were buzzing with ideas and the final possibility of claiming valuable points. In third was ‘Frostbite’ deemed too controversial given Scott died from this, second came ‘ The Final Glacier’ but the winner went to ‘Frozen Planet’  – very topical given the current BBC series showing at the moment (although some suspected it was the fact this idea came from the social media manager that won the top spot!)

After spending the previous 3 hours eating and mixing all sorts of alcoholic drinks, the obvious choice for concluding the night was to head back to bbar for a few more drinks and delicious platters of South Africa inspired cuisine. All in all, a perfect night full of fun, food and a lot of drinks!

Often when entering a hotel one can feel a little overwhelmed by the impressive lobby, frantic reception team with a queue of guests waiting to check out or the grumpy concierge who you don’t want to bother as they seem preoccupied trying to secure a dinner reservation for an important guest and not really getting anywhere… not so at The Chesterfield Mayfair!

Chris Campbell

A sense of calm and unhurried attention is immediately evident from the moment you walk through the door, it’s smiles all round and warm greetings from the well turned out team behind the front desk that make you feel very much at ease and amongst friends. Probably the brightest smile of all, and certainly the most captivating comes from Assistant Concierge Chris Campbell who is eager to assist new guests as well as bid a fond farewell to those departing. It’s Chris I have come to meet and he has already bowled me over with his demeanour and very likeable character, I am really looking forward to getting to know him and delving into the unknown world of the concierge.

The word concierge originates from French, meaning “keeper of the keys”, originally referring to the literal  holding of keys to a stately home or large building, as the role of the concierge has grown the meaning now refers to the holding of the secrets of the local area. The foremost requirement for the concierge is an indepth knowledge of the area with a passion for discovering the best spots suited to their guests needs and making sure they have the ability to obtain any request. 

Throughout an average day Chris tells me he finds himself assisting guests with directions around London to make them feel like locals rather than tourists, working his contacts to get an extra table squeezed in to seat guests at a top restaurant and charming the theatres for last minute tickets to London’s West End Shows.

Chris takes great pride in personally sampling the finest restaurants in the area or the latest West End theatre smash in order to provide the best possible advice to guests and visitors to the hotel and the city, some may see this simply as a “perk” of the job but Chris is professional to the nth degree, taking extensive notes on his experience and getting to know the right people at the venue to ensure a seamless booking for his guests.  He fondly recalls his favourite restaurant in Mayfair (besides  Butler’s of course); the Michelin starred  Greenhouse Restaurant on Hays Mews just around the corner from the hotel, serving contemporary French cuisine, and smacks his lips as he describes the  spicy Black pudding which accompanies the white Herefordshire pork – perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea for sure but his animated description is beginning to win  me over – I now will have to try it for myself.

One of the highlights of Chris’s career, he tells me, was his first trip to see The Lion King on stage.  A great lover of this Disney classic, and having watched the DVD a hundred times, he was full to bursting with excitement when he was invited to the show with his wife and children.  He was overjoyed by the performance, as were his kids, it even brought tears to his eyes!  Of course now, whenever families are staying at the hotel, he practically insists they see this show together claiming it to be one of life’s most memorable moments for young children (and their parents). 

The Society of the Golden Keys

So far I am thinking the life of a concierge is a charmed one but it’s not all fun and laughter, Chris is currently hoping to secure the pinnacle of concierge status when he will be interviewed by the Society of the Golden Keys in November and hopefully earn his “stripes” as an official concierge gaining the much coveted gold cross-keys pins, worn on either side of the lapel. Formed in Great Britain in 1952, The Society of the Golden Keys is part of the international and somewhat mysterious ‘Les Clefs D’Or’, whose members are acknowledged as having a wealth of  “professional gravitas, integrity, local knowledge and impeccable recommendations“.

We wish Chris all the best and have every faith that next time we see him, he will be sporting his new pins… and we can’t think of anyone more deserving”

by Sasha Kerman

Let us get you into the Christmas spirit early this year while we celebrate the forthcoming opening of our new Alpine Lodge. We are giving two chances to win a one night stay for two people at the Montague on the Gardens.

To be in with a chance to win, help us complete our 12 vodkas of Christmas by creating a special Christmas themed flavour you’d like to see on the menu. We have 10 delicious flavours so far including Cinnamon, Spiced Apple and Candy Cane, we simply need a further two to add to our menu.

To enter please email winterwonderland@rchmail.com, or comment below with your new idea of flavour and we’ll pick the two best flavours to win:

• A one-night stay in a luxury room for two people including breakfast
• A Festive afternoon tea for two
• A bottle of their own flavoured vodka to keep

So get creative! Points will be awarded for originality of mouth-watering flavours that will help keep us warm while we’re in our Winter Wonderland this December!

Closing date for entry is 11th November 2011. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Prize valid until end of March 2012, subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Festive Afternoon Tea will be replaced with Traditional Afternoon Tea from January 2012.

Go Alpine in Bloomsbury with Montague Lodge!

Dirk Crokaert

A wood deck is not just for summer. Here at the Montague on the Gardens we’re turning ours into a veritable winter wonderland – perfect for the après….without the ski. General Manager Dirk Crokaert invites you to wrap up warm and get yourself down to Bloomsbury for some Yuletide fun and games!

The Wood Deck at the Montague on the Gardens is one of London’s best kept secrets – a delightful oasis of peace and tranquillity in the very heart of the city, overlooking the enclosed trees, lawns and sculptures in the gardens of the Bedford Estate.

It is already the perfect summer venue, but what do you do with it in the winter?

This year we’re embracing the winter chill by turning our Wood Deck into a ski lodge perched high up in the mountains.

A screen of pine trees suggests a secluded clearing amidst a forest while snow machines, life-sized reindeer, snowmen, racks of skis, piste maps, lanterns and fairy lights all add to the feeling of being in Lapland. To help combat the cold, and the lightly drifting snowflakes, there’s a sizzling barbecue serving grilled bratwurst, mini turkey burgers and other delicacies. Roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, mugs of steaming hot chocolate and big woolly rugs will all help to keep you lovely and snug during the long winter nights.

On the deck there’s a vodka bar serving a selection of 12 different flavoured vodkas – one for each day of Christmas. A few shots of these and you really will think you are somewhere between Val d’Isere and St Anton! (Feel a little dizzy? It’s the altitude!).

So if you’re finding it a little hard to get yourself into the Christmas spirit then the answer is simple – grab your gloves, goggles and woolly hat and head for the slopes of Bloomsbury.

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.

Jim Cameron

The National Gallery. Open 361 days a year and free of charge, it houses a spectacular collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Contains over 2,300 works, including many famous works, such as van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus, Turner’s Fighting Temeraire and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Tate Britain. Free entry to the world’s largest collection of British art from 1500 to the present day. Highlights include masterpieces by William Hogarth, the eighteenth-century portraitists Gainsborough and Reynolds, the animal painter George Stubbs, the artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood who revolutionised British art in the nineteenth century; and in the twentieth century of the work of Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon and the Young British Artists (YBAs) of the 1990s.

Blake and Constable have dedicated spaces within the gallery, while the unique Turner Collection of about 300 paintings and many thousands of watercolours is housed in the specially built Clore Gallery

The V & A Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum. The world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. This spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa.

The holdings of ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, silver, ironwork, jewellery, furniture, medieval objects, sculpture, prints and printmaking, drawings and photographs are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world. The museum also possesses the world’s largest collection of post-classical sculpture – the holdings of Italian Renaissance items are the largest outside Italy. Admission to permanent collections is free.

The Royal Academy of Arts. Holds the unique position of being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate. The Academy now enjoys an unrivalled reputation as a venue for exhibitions of international importance. Their summer exhibition, held every year without interruption since 1769, attracts around 10,000 works.

Tate Modern. Created in 2000 from a disused power station Tate Modern displays the national collection of international modern art. It includes important masterpieces by both Picasso and Matisse and one of the world’s finest museum collections of Surrealism, including works by Dalí, Ernst, Magritte and Mirò. Its substantial holdings of American Abstract Expressionism include major works by Pollock as well as the nine Seagram Murals by Rothko. Tate has significant collections of Pop art, including major works by Lichtenstein and Warhol, Minimal art and Conceptual art.

The Tate Britain

Shakespeare’s Globe. The Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse, first built in 1599, where Shakespeare worked and for which he wrote many of his greatest plays.

Each year the theatre season runs from April to October with productions of work by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as modern writers. Each year over 350,000 members of the audience experience the ‘wooden O’ sitting in a gallery or standing as a groundling in the yard, just as they would have done 400 years ago.

The Courtauld Gallery. The Courtauld Gallery is one of the finest small museums in the world. Its collection stretches from the early Renaissance into the 20th century and is particularly renowned for the unrivalled collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. The Gallery also holds an outstanding collection of drawings and prints and fine example of sculpture and decorative arts.

The British Museum. Founded in 1753, the world’s first national public museum now has nearly 6 million visitors a year. Admission is free and it houses seven million objects representing a rich history of human culture. For a brief introduction to highlights of the collection see the museum’s A history of the world in 100 objects programme.

St Paul’s Cathedral. The present building dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is generally reckoned to be London’s fifth St Paul’s Cathedral, all having been built on the same site since AD 604. The cathedral is one of London’s most famous and most recognisable landmarks. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world. Houses over 200 memorials and tombs of famous British figures including Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Samuel Johnson, The Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson.

The Wallace Collection. Situated in an historic London town house its 25 galleries boast unsurpassed displays that include famous paintings by artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez and for its superb collections of eighteenth-century French paintings, porcelain, furniture and gold boxes, probably the best to be found anywhere outside France. Entry is free.

If you get around even half of these attractions and you’ll need one of the Milestone’s legendary traditional afternoon teas to help you recover from an overload of the arts!

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.

Dirk Crokaert

Ribs, burgers, wings, anything they can drench in sticky sauce – North Americans like to barbecue big time. It’s so much a part of their culture that they assume the whole deal must have originated on their side of the Atlantic.

The way they tell it the original Spanish adventurers who arrived in the Caribbean noticed that the natives would slowly cook meat over a wooden platform – the Spaniards described the process of smoking and charring as barbacoa. By the 19th century this method of cooking, with various refinements, had spread across the American South.

Because barbecuing doesn’t require expensive cuts of meat (why bother when you’re just going to slather it in sauce and cook it ’til it falls off the bone?) it became a dietary staple for impoverished Southern blacks. The first half of the 20th century saw a mass migration of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities, and as they moved, they took their recipes with them. By the 1950s black-owned barbecue joints had sprouted in nearly every city in the US.

Barbecue varies by region, with the four main styles named after their place of origin: Memphis, Tennesee; North Carolina; Kansas City; and Texas. Memphis is renowned for pulled pork-shoulder doused in sweet tomato-based sauce (eaten on its own or as a sandwich). North Carolina smokes the whole hog in a vinegar-based sauce. Kansas City natives prefer ribs cooked in a dry rub, and Texans … well, Texans dig beef. Eastern Texas’ relative proximity to Tennessee puts it in the pulled-pork camp, but in the western segment of the Lone Star State, you’re likely to find mesquite-grilled “cowboy-style” brisket.

Locals defend their region’s cooking style with the sort of fierce loyalty usually reserved for die-hard sports fans. Just as you’re better off not mentioning the Yankees to a Red Sox fan, it’s probably best not to proclaim your love for Texas beef to anyone from Tennessee.

However, if the truth be told, the idea of grilling meat in the open was around long before Columbus set foot in the New World – it goes all the way back to the point where our ancestors discovered how to control fire (about 400,000 years ago)

A Shish Kebab over coals

Just type the word Kebab into Google and the idea that cooking over hot coals is somehow unique to North America becomes truly preposterous. It is Persian in origin – invented by medieval soldiers who used their swords to grill meat over open-field fires.

The dish has been native to the Near East and ancient Greece since the 8th century – an early variant is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey as well as in the in the works of Aristophanes, Xenophon and Aristotle.

Turkey has its Döner and Shish kebabs, while India and Iran have a wealth of regional variations, including the tandoor. Satay is popular in the south east while in Korea they have Bulgogi (literally meaning “fire meat”). Yakitori is the Japanese version of shish kebab. Nomadic Mongolians also like to barbecue meat using hot stones. In Hong Kong, pork barbecue, or char siu is made with a marinade of honey and soy sauce, and cooked in long, narrow strips.

Grilling meat over charcoal is equally popular in Southern Africa, where it is referred to as a “braai”. Then there’s the “barbie” downunder. Asado, or grilling, is considered the traditional dish of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and southern Brazil.

Around the Mediterranean meats are usually marinated in lemon juice and olive oil before grilling. In Alpine countries they have raclette where cheese is melted on a hot surface. Shashlik is the Russian version of shish kebab, while in Germany they enjoy “grillen”.

Spit-roast

So, finally, to London. Grilled food outdoors is incredibly popular here , so much so that as soon as the sun is out every busy pavement from Covent Garden to Chelsea and Camden to Clapham is packed with people desperate for a bit of al fresco – even if the setting is far from idyllic.

That’s when the terrace and wood deck at the Montague on the Gardens comes into its own. As the name suggests, it overlooks the gorgeous private gardens of the Bedford Estate. Green and peaceful, secluded and sunny, totally removed from the crowds of people and the noise of traffic, it’s a little corner of tranquil heaven right at the heart of the city. There’s nowhere better for enjoying spectacularly sophisticated barbecues and refreshing cocktails – eat your heart out Texas!

Every Sunday until 18th September, between 12:30pm and 14:30 why not join us on the Wood Deck for our very special Sunday Spit Roast lunch, with live music it is the perfect place to enjoy the sunshine.