Enjoy an Eggs-traordinary April
With Easter falling in the middle of this month, whose thoughts don’t turn to everything chocolate… yum!
Whether it’s a dark chocolate indulgence with a hint of chilli or a good ol’ milk chocolate egg, Easter certainly provides the perfect excuse for any chocoholic to indulge.
London is blessed with a plethora of World class chocolate shops, so with chocolate on our mind, here are just a few for you to explore when you next visit The Cavendish, London.
Swiss, Belgian or British – what’s your favourite?
With her majesty celebrating her birthday this month, we’re sure she’ll receive some of her favourite sweet treats from Royal warrant holder Charbonnel et Walker. This British stalwart of chocolate making has been producing mouth-watering delicacies since 1875 so they must be doing something right! Situated in the Royal Arcade, Bond Street, just a short stroll from The Cavendish, their pink champagne truffles are believed to be one of the Queen’s favourites.
Belgian-trained master chocolatier Gerald Coleman, has been creating delectable chocolates since founding Artisan du Chocolat in 2000. His No1 salted caramels original continue to be a firm favourite and you can even create your own personalised bar within Selfridges on Oxford Street if you fancy going the extra mile this Easter.
Just around the corner from The Cavendish, on Piccadilly, is Prestat which has competed with Charbonnel et Walker since 1902. Renowned too for their truffles, Roald Dahl was said to ‘adore Prestat chocolate truffles’ and even featured them in the plot of his adult novel “Uncle Oswald”, whilst other famous fans include Paul McCartney and Tina Turner. Ensure you try their London gin truffles on your next visit!
And last, but certainly not least, if Willy Wonka is your hero, don’t miss out on a trip to one of Paul A Young’s shops in London to experience daring yet weirdly pleasant combinations such as orange, bergamot and lavender or even Marmite truffles! Made in small batches by hand with totally natural ingredients, love it or hate it, these award-winning contemporary combinations are definitely worth a taste test.
Four fun-filled days
This month supplies us with the longest bank holiday weekend before the Jubilee celebrations in June, so fill them to the brim with things to do and see close to The Cavendish.
From the traditional Good Friday performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall or a free performance of the spectacular The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square (two live performances at 12pm and 3.15pm) to hidden trails and Easter kids activities at Kidzania (4-18th April) there is something for everyone. If you’re up for it there’s even a mad scavenger hunt around Golden Square, Soho on Easter Saturday (16th April) so if you can get a team of like-minded individuals and fancy your chances at winning a chocolate making/tasting experience, then head to www.bucketrace.com/public-tickets to get tickets to take part in this daft but creative treasure hunt, like no other, around the city.
And if you’re still feeling energetic by Easter Monday, there is always the 10k fun run for Easter goodies around Regent’s Park that children can take part in too.
Make sure you check out the opening hours for transport in London across the holiday as some services will change or be reduced across the weekend.
Drip, drip, drop little April showers…
And if those infamous April showers hit, where can you dive for cover?
Well, there are plenty of indoor activities taking place across the capital. Why not catch the tail end of the Francis Bacon: Man and Beast exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts (until 17th April) and at the same time experience the work of Kawanabe Kyosai (The Isreal Goldman Collection) one of the most exciting Japanese painters of the 19th century in his first UK exhibition in nearly 30 years. The Royal Academy is literally a short hop across the road from The Cavendish.
Follow in the footsteps of the Royals, both old and new, with a visit to Kensington Palace where you can explore the intriguing King’s staircase and see the latest exhibition; Life through a Royal Lens, which depicts the Royal family’s relationship with the camera including some of the most iconic images ever taken at Kensington Palace. And don’t forget until Easter Sunday, there is also the return of the Lindt gold bunny hunt around the palace and gardens which is included in your admission ticket but does need pre-booking if you have children with you who want to receive their chocolate after tracking down the gold bunny statues and clues. www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/
If you’re around for the Queen’s actual birthday on 21st April, listen out for the 41-gun salute to her majesty which will be fired from Hyde Park to mark the occasion.
Whether we continue with lovely spring sunshine or experience the short thrills of some April showers, enjoy Easter, enjoy London, enjoy your stay at The Cavendish and everything the capital has to offer visitors this month.
https://www.thecavendish-london.co.uk/hotel-special-offer