TRAVEL NOTES May 22, 2011 ALL ABOARD! EUROSTAR TO AVIGNON Paris? So over. Well, not quite, but as the weather gets warmer southern France does hold a certain allure. Lucky then, that Eurostar has started offering direct weekly services to Avignon, pictured above, the beautiful town in the heart of Provence. From July 9th to September 10th this year, passengers [...]
THINK ROOMS… with LateRooms.com May 22, 2011 THE ST DAVID’S HOTEL & SPA 5* Havannah Street | Cardiff | CF10 5SD A modern icon of the city, The St David’s Hotel & Spa stands proudly on the edge of bustling Cardiff Bay. With its striking glass-fronted design every room here enjoys spectacular floor-to-ceiling views across the water, creating a real tranquil atmosphere [...]
Cosiness meets luxury in the new generation of pub hotels May 22, 2011 IF you’re skipping out of town for a weekend, you don’t always want the ultra-plush, waited-on-hand-and-foot trappings of a smart hotel any more than you want the chintz and limited comforts of a B&B. For cosiness, convivial hospitality and excellent nightcap options, a stay at a pub with rooms can be the answer, not least [...]
Floral menus, fruity fare and shops galore May 22, 2011 IT’S here! Chelsea Flower show opens tomorrow and 157,000 gardening lovers – the lucky ones who managed to get tickets – are set to descend on the chi chi London locale. Gardeners aren’t the only ones getting in to the spirit this year. Throughout Chelsea and its surrounds, London’s finest bars, boutiques and eateries are [...]
Pirates series hits the rocks May 19, 2011 FILM REVIEWS PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Cert: 12A IN the fourth episode of Disney’s adventure franchise everybody is searching for the Fountain of Youth. But it’s the series itself that feels long in the tooth, groaning under the weight of its pointlessly prolonged existence – pointless, that is, unless you’re a Disney [...]
Chelsea in bloom as Flower Show lands May 19, 2011 ALL those months of composting are coming to fruition as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show arrives. From Tuesday the area will be in full bloom with the world’s finest gardening talent on display. City A.M. rounded up six of the show’s hotly-tipped highlights. AUSTRALIA GARDEN This marks the debut for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne [...]
ALSO OUT: May 19, 2011 DVD BLACK SWAN Natalie Portman on Oscar form in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller. THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 1 Surprisingly effective US TV hit with Brit Andrew Lincoln. THE NEXT THREE DAYS Formulaic thriller with Russell Crowe. GAMES L.A. NOIRE (PS3, X360) 1950s Los Angeles gangsterland is brought to scintillating life. THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF [...]
How to become George Clooney’s neighbour May 19, 2011 NABBING a sneaky peak of George Clooney sun bathing is surely priceless. And yet after some investigation, it turns out it might not be as expensive as you’d think. For the sum of €850,000 you could actually own the apartment next door to Clooney on Lake Como – an apartment that benefits from views directly [...]
KENNINGTON, SW9 May 19, 2011 AMELIA STREET Price: £280,000 This one-bedroom first floor flat is located close to Elephant and Castle’s shops and transport links. It has a large, well-lit living room, kitchen and bathroom. Contact: Foxtons on 020 7801 1111 or go to www.foxtons.co.uk RAVENSDON STREET Price: £850,000 This three-storey early Victorian house has three bedrooms, a garden and [...]
BUY May 19, 2011 MANAGING PARTNER OF BLACK BRICK PROPERTY SOLUTIONS Q. I am thinking of buying a second home in the country. I’ve found something really lovely, but the house has been on the market for over a year. Should I be worried? A. Don’t panic, the country house market is very different from central London. Prices are [...]