All that Glitters…
As the nights draw in and the golden colours of autumn begin turning into the sparkling chill of winter; we look forward to the glittering festive season and all that means for visitors to central London and especially our guests here at The Cavendish in the heart of Mayfair.
If you’re planning a visit as you prepare for Christmas, we’ve pulled together a few ideas to make your stay with us all the more special with things to see, do and enjoy whilst still leaving time for that all important Christmas shopping and some ‘you time’ here at the hotel!
Lighting the way
One thing that is synonymous with the festive season must be lights! And London is full of them offering visitors the opportunity to get the festive feeling from November onwards. Of course, Regent Street and Oxford Street will be at their glittering best, illuminating the capital’s main shopping area, but check out Carnaby Street too as it celebrates 25 years of spectacular light displays. This year’s theme looks back on the street’s iconic Christmas displays of the past years and once again it is collaborating with the Choose Love charity which raises money for refugees and displaced people across the globe.
Just around the corner from The Cavendish, in Grosvenor Square Mayfair from 23rd November, will be the dazzling ‘Ever After Garden’ display. Over 20,000 illuminated white roses will be placed in memory of someone providing a tranquil haven where people can meet and remember friends and family who they have lost. The display is free to view but donations can be made to support the work of the Royal Marsden Cancer charity. This will be the third year the garden has been dedicated to the memory of loved ones and has raised over £250,000 for the charity, so it is well worth a visit when you stay with us for a moment of quiet reflection. The same design team behind the Ever After Garden also creates ‘Christmas at Kew’ in the Royal Botanical Gardens where lights and immersive displays run from 16th November to 3rd January around the beautiful winter setting of the gardens.
More than just a market, it’s a Christmas market!
London is home to a plethora of markets all year round but as the festive season comes into its own, so do the markets. Hyde Park once again plays host to Winter Wonderland, a cornucopia of fairground rides with over 100 ‘wooden cabin’ market stalls, an ice-rink and this year, Thor’s Tipi which is a bar dedicated to God-ly drinks bringing a Viking inspired experience to the market within three giant Scandinavian tipis. Whether its mulled wine, hot chocolate or prosecco and more that take your fancy, it’s the perfect spot for a bit of Christmas indulgence whilst you’re out and about soaking up the festive atmosphere.
Or try a visit to Southbank Winter festival which runs from the 3rd November to the new year serving cheese, mulled wine and cocktails with a mixture of stalls. More markets can be found at Selfridges on Oxford Street which hosts its own outdoor event; Covent Garden which will be dusted with snow again this year from the daily snow flurries which create a mesmerising winter feeling for young and old alike; as well as Leicester square being transformed into a Christmas spectacular with the addition of stalls selling hand-crafted goods, food, drink and, being in the heart of Theatreland, fabulous jaw dropping shows in the 1920’s style Spiegeltent. Entry is free and the market runs from 12th November to 3rd January.
Can you keep a secret?
Pop over to Kensington from The Cavendish in Mayfair and discover London’s Secret Garden. Tucked away in the back streets, but opposite Gloucester Road tube, five ‘igloo’ domes spread across an acre of garden provide a unique environment to enjoy a festive glass of fizz or rest your feet after some shopping in nearby Knightsbridge.
Closer to home when you’re with us, Igloos feature again at Fire and Fromage at Jimmy’s – a pop-up restaurant homage to The Alps overlooking the Thames at Somerset House on The Strand. With a raclette and S’mores bar along with the igloos and fire pits, pop-up maestro Jimmy Garcia brings a true taste of mountain life to London this winter.
Don’t be an Artful Dodger
There are also some wonderful art displays currently on show in the capital. Apart from the Royal Academy, which is just a two-minute walk from The Cavendish, ‘Frameless’ at Marble Arch Place is a brand-new, walk-through immersive art event that brings famous works of art to the digital generation. From the creators of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, Frameless is the UK’s biggest digital art experience featuring the work of iconic masters such as Cezanne, Kandinsky, Monet and Rembrandt. To book, visit www.frameless.com
For a free art-fix though, visit the Wallace Collection at Manchester Square, just off Oxford Street, where 28 rooms house a collection of 18th century French furniture and paintings providing an enthralling glimpse into aristocratic life with free children’s activities also taking place during November and December. A great to distraction to break up a bit of Christmas shopping madness.
Make it a Christmas cracker
With all the wonderful delights that the festive season in London holds for visitors, if we’ve tempted you to a visit to Mayfair this winter, book with us on our pre-paid rate and you’ll save up to 10% on the best available rate at The Cavendish, making any early Christmas present even more cracking! And don’t forget to sign up for our free ASR rewards programme to earn points every time you stay with us or another Ascott residence.