SPRING is on its way so it's the perfect time for a short break to London to blow away some of the winter blues. We opted to catch the early flight to London Luton to make the most of our two days, however the downside to this decision was hitting the tube at rush hour. The only silver lining was that it’s a quick way to get immersed in the frantic pace of London life. As we came up to ground level at Marble Arch station, we could hear the noise getting louder as the commuters went about their everyday lives. I was glad we were on holiday.
We stayed at the Grosvenor House Suites, a short walk down Park Lane. It markets itself as a European style of accommodation with individual apartments overlooking Hyde Park in a hotel setting. It has all the comforts of staying in a five-star Mayfair hotel with 24-hour room service, spas and restaurant, plus the convenience of having a generous-sized bolthole in the heart of Mayfair. Each suite has a separate sitting room, dining area, bedroom and fully equipped kitchen. If you want to upgrade for more space and luxury there are four luxury penthouses each costing around £10,000 a night.
The Grosvenor House Suites are on the doorstep of one of London’s main shopping districts and a short hop from the exclusive stores of Bond Street. If you would rather opt for culture it's a quick taxi ride to the Victoria and Albert Museum and close to the Royal Albert Hall.
On Saturday afternoon we took the tube to Notting Hill Gate and ambled through bustling Portobello Road market. I spotted an original Banksy art work among the brightly-painted terraced houses, one of which was a former home of George Orwell.
In Orwell's day this would have been a very different area. Today the district is an affluent and fashionable place to live. The market is best known for its antiques, and young fashionable scene, and there are plenty of stalls selling cutting-edge and vintage clothing as well as high-end interior design pieces. Despite the gentrification you will still get all the banter of the London traders and it's well worth haggling with them to get the best deal. It is well worth a visit, if only to say, "Oh, my gran had one just like that!"
Craig Alexander was a guest of Grosvenor House Suites. Prices start at £474 per night. Call 020 7518 4444 or email ghsreservations@jumeirah.com
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