BEACH SIDE FUN

For those familiar with the buzzing metropolis known as the city of London, especially for those who live there or spend a lot of time there due to work, a getaway from the hustle and bustle of that hectic city life every now and then must be an absolute must. In order to distance yourself from the chaos of the city, however, you do not have to go very far from the city of London itself. The British coast offers some great retreats and get aways for those looking for absolutely any kind of vacation away from the London sky line. If you happen to be staying at the Montcalm hotels in London the staff will be happy to help you plan a short trip out of the city to these idyllic shores. Getting here is quite simple too. All you have to do is hop on to one of the trains heading out of the many London train stations and you will reach your destination soon enough.

1.  Margate  - Just 2 hours away from the city this hipster beach side town has some famous claims to its name including T S Eliot writing part of The Wasteland during his time here and Turner having painted the town. There is also a vintage amusement park called the Dreamland that is tones of fun to visit regardless of how old you are. Follow it up with some delicious grub from Fort’s Café (which also serves a yummy mac and cheese and scrumptious breakfasts) or some pizza with a view at the British Pizza Co on the sea front and some good Kentish cider at the alehouse called The Lifeboat. It’s a great place to do some vintage shopping as well.
2. Southend – on – Sea  - Home of the world’s longest pier, this once happening town that has been featured in many famous magazines including Vogue and the Rolling Stones is now a quiet retreat. You could also visit the amusement park called Adventure Island or the Sea Life aquarium. Well worth building up an appetite for are the burgers at places like Mangetout an Henry Burgers. For those who enjoy a good drink you will be spoilt for choice in this town. There is The Pipe of Ports which has yummy pies and delicious wines along with some rare port wines. The Crooked Billet, Ye Olde Smack and The Peterboat are also great places to knock back a few. To try some Essex classics like the Canvey Island iced tea sneak into the inconspicuous Black Cat, a cocktail bar tucked away behind a pizzeria in the town.
3. Whitstable – This picturesque sea side town must not be visited without a camera in hand. With a strong fishing industry, along with a strong smell of it, this peaceful town is a sea food hoggers paradise. The Whistable Oyster Fishery dishes up some delicious crustaceans and molluscs. The town even hosts an annual oyster festival. To wash it all down, sit back and enjoy a drink at the local Michelin starred pub called The Sportsman. This is also a great town for boats men and wind surfers to visit.
4. Hastings – Nicknamed “the new Brighton” this sea side get away is boasting one of the most happening piers in the country. It hosts farmers markets and film festivals often enough and has a great refreshing energy to the entire place. The Jerwood Gallery is a stunning place to visit and is currently running an exhibit of Quentin Blake and Lowry. Tuck into some deliciously fresh seafood at Rock a Nore Kitchen and enjoy many a drink at the aptly named First In Last Out bar.
5. Broadstairs – In less than 2 hours after your departure from London, you can find yourself at this stunning and dramatic coastline. The most happening time to visit this place is during the Dickens festival every year (where people suitably dress up as characters created by the iconic writer) or the Folk Week music festival that takes place towards the end of August every year. A great place to catch some stunning sunset views is Peens Café Bar that also has a delicious fare that you can order from. Wyatt & Jones is a great place to tuck into some delicious sea food right by the sea shore to the sound of lapping waves. An absolute must not miss after you have feasted is Morelli’s ice cream which has become quite famous off late.

The Marble Arch by Montcalm London is an ideal stop over in the city en route to any of these destinations. Pack your beach wear and head out to the coast to soak in what little British sun you can and enjoy the sand and the surf on these serene shores.

A FOODIES PARADISE

If you are hungry and the butterflies in your tummy are becoming uncontrollable there is really no better place to find yourself than on the streets of London.  Being such a cosmopolitan place the city of London has plenty to offer in terms of cuisines and dishes and brings to the table every imaginable form of delicious treat that you could wish for. The restaurants and eat out joints are available in large numbers and one really is spoilt for choice especially if you happen to be staying at the Montcalm Luxury Hotels.

At every turn there is an appetizing opportunity waiting with its doors wide open. The city offers a range of cuisines for every budget. For those with truly gourmet taste there are 66 certified Michelin star restaurants that will allow you to tuck in to real feasts and experimental delights cooked up by the very best in the culinary industry. Absolute must stops for true foodies looking for the ultimate gastronomical delights include Gymkhana in Mayfair, City Social in Liverpool Street, The Clove Club in Shoreditch and Fera in Mayfair just to name a few of the many places that can blow your mind and wow your tummy.

One thing you will have to get used to though is the wait. All of these restaurants are really great and lots of people do want to get in. The system of table reservation has been done away with at most of these places and almost all follow a no booking system. This means that waiting in queue is just part of the outing and your meal and the experience is just that much better. Even the wait is now made interesting. Take for example your wait at Barrafina in Soho, where you get to order drinks and snacks while waiting for your table to be freed and readied. At 10 Greek Street the waiting service takes place at the pub next door where you can knock back a few drinks until you are called to your ready table.

Using its extensive history to the fullest, the city of London serves it all up on a platter, with cuisines from the east to the west and everything in between, London is the place to try authentic dishes from around the globe as well as some fabulously innovative fusion food. Step into the famous chef’s Gordon Ramsey’s Maze to have your taste buds truly wowed with some exotic flavours and fusions. A delicacy that must not be missed is oysters. Brought to the United Kingdom by the Romans and initially the food of the working class this humble dish has left its mark on the culinary world. In Spitalfields you can check into an oyster masterclass or enjoy oysters and cocktails at the Hix Bar in Soho.

For those in a hurry  or on the go London has plenty of street food to offer as well. There are some great weekly food markets that offer every type of cuisine from Japanese to Scottish delicacies, such as Broadway, Borough or Chatsworth Road in east London. Food trucks, especially KERB, are available in plenty all across the city, quite literally on every kerb and can fill your hungry stomach with great food on the go.

For those Saturday night revelers who wish to wake up late nothing beats a lovely Sunday brunch and London is the place to really tuck into one. Head over to maetro chef Jason Atherton’s  Berners Tavern for some sumptuous pancakes and for some unique fusion food try the bacon naans at Dishoom in King’s Cross.  Shoreditch and Covent Garden also offer some great options.  All of these are located near London City Suites By Montcalm.

To take in the best of British tradition in a culinary way a high tea is an absolute must.  The Langham’s Hotel allows you to sit back and enjoy a traditional high tea in real style in the luxurious Palm Court and its exquisite ambiance.  Cakes, pastries, scones, finger sandwiches and freshly brewed tea all make for the most sumptuous meal in the middle of the afternoon.

Whatever you wish to eat, whatever your mood may be, whatever portion size you want and whatever your pocket will let you; London will allow you to indulge your taste buds to the brim and then some more with extra portions. The sheer volume of what you can choose from will make London worth staying in for weeks on end and you are sure to never have your tummy complain or be bored.

Make the most of your trip to the city and along with all the other sights plan your eating joints into your itinerary. It will make your entire journey traipsing around the city that much more appetizing and you will quite satisfied and satiated by the end of every day.

Shopping on a Budget in London

London is well-known for its designer stores and luxury boutiques but amongst these pricey shops are many low cost retailers that allow you to buy great clothes, accessories and homewares while shopping on a budget.

If visiting the capital to experience the shopping centres in London then below are some shops to look out for on your travels where you can shop in style without breaking the bank. Most popular hotel the montcalm luxury hotels  accommodation in London is near to the city’s tube stations so the following shops are easily accessible via public transport throughout the city centre.

·         & Other Stories

This is a fashion brand, owned by H & M, that offers women a wide range of chic work wear, shoes, bags, accessories and beauty products to create their own personal style or story. & Other Stories started as a beauty line 3 years ago and quickly came onto the shopping scene as a fully-fledged fashion brand. Stocking looks for the urban industrial to the softer, feminine style there is something for every woman who is fashion savvy with prices kept as affordable as possible. This store is rated number 5 in ‘Time Outs’ list of the 100 best shops in London. The nearest tube station to & Other Stories is Oxford Circus.

·         Muji

Muji is a Japanese concept store that sells low cost practical items and neat storage solutions for the home office and wardrobe. They sell useful gadgets and stationary to bedroom furniture and furnishings. They have a particularly good quality kitchenware range and their clothing range, for men and women, is worth browsing if you are looking for a simple wardrobe. The main branch in London is near to Covent Garden tube station.

·         Tiger

Tiger is a new store near Tottenham Court Road tube station and is a Danish brand that sells brightly-coloured plastic accessories you never knew you needed. There is an exciting range of kitchen and home accessories as well as amazing and fun party bag fillers, kids’ toys and back to school equipment. Seen as a really posh pound shop, a trip to Tiger is definitely worth making.

·         Zara

This womenswear store is a Spanish high street store and is the main store women use to look for that catwalk inspired outfit for a fraction of the cost. The store, on the corner of Bond Street and Oxford Street, is Europe’s biggest Zara store and has been well established in the Capital for over a decade. Zara use high quality products and materials and low prices that won’t leave you feeling guilty for treating yourself to the latest style. Zara is an international brand with over 700 stores in 70 countries and is a very strong competitor for the higher priced designer brands.

·         Beyond Retro

This store has 12 years of experience in selling vintage clothing for both men and women with vibrant 20^th century fashion. They have 9 stores between England and Sweden and each store has its own treasure trove with its own unique style. Beyond Retro is also part of a global movement and recycles upwards of 500,000 items of clothing each year to bring new purpose to excess clothing and accessories. If you are a festival teen or trendy twenty-something then you will be amazed at Beyond Retro’s selection.

·         Monki

Monki is a store that many say ‘puts a smile back into fashion’. The brand came about by 3 friends dreaming of a different world of fashion that by working together they made come true. With fabulous clothes at low prices, this new store in Soho is popular with young women looking for that high-fashioned budget wardrobe. Monki is number 51 in ‘Time Outs’ list of the 100 best shops in London.

·         H & M

H&M offers fashion and quality at the best price and is particularly popular with teens who want a huge choice of pure fashion to fill their wardrobes. With this Oxford Circus H&M having a complete makeover turning 3 floors into a massive 6 floor store containing a vast amount of changing rooms on each floor, modern music and a well-stocked shoe boutique, many shoppers have an enjoyable shopping experience in what is probably now the best fashion store on Oxford Street. 

·         Absolute Vintage

This store is located on Shoreditch High Street offering great vintage items of clothing shoes and accessories for both men and women. Starting as a market stall in Portobello, the company progressed to having concessions in many designer stores across the country which has led to them now owning 3 stores across London for those people looking for unique vintage gear that has been hand-picked from around the world due to its time lasting quality and era defining design. Clothes start for £1 in the bargain bin and a whole outfit can easily be purchased for under £100. Some items need to be inspected to ensure their quality although there is a huge selection to look through to find that perfect item.

·         Decathalon

This warehouse sized London store is best for bargain running gear and cycling equipment. You will also find reasonably priced equipment for mainstream ball sports as well as swimming, surfing, fishing, horse-riding and many other popular sports.  Decathalon is a French brand and this store in Rotherhithe holds London’s biggest collection of sports equipment.

·         Primark

This Primark store in Marble Arch opened in 2001 and is laid out over 3 floors. The clothing lines and footwear are on trend and well within budget for women, men and children and you can fill huge paper bags with clothes and still have change from £50. Being so cheap has its downside for this store though with queues always long and changing rooms always full resulting in a not so pleasant shopping experience but it’s a small price to pay for the bargains you will discover.