Head out of London to the new generation of old hotels April 17, 2011 GRAND old mansions, it’s obvious to say, make terrific hotels. History, character, beauty, location – they’ve got ‘em, and tourists want ‘em. However, the formula has become more than a little staid in a few places, and a bit of shaking up is always welcome. It was the opening of Hampshire’s Lime Wood a year [...]
THINK ROOMS… with LateRooms.com April 17, 2011 THE KINGS HEAD Main Road | Hursley | Winchester | SO21 2JW Enjoy the warmest of welcomes at this gorgeous Georgian coaching inn. The Kings Head is located in the historic village of Hursley and oozes real character and atmosphere. Each room is individually designed, boasting antique furnishings and feature fireplaces, and food lovers will [...]
TRAVEL NOTES April 17, 2011 EASTER IN DUBROVNIK…If you’re still looking for somewhere to escape over this weekend’s Easter holidays, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens, an extensive resort overlooking the Adriatic from the ancient Croatian coast, may have just the package. The resort enjoys a long sweep of beach (possibly a bit cold for a dip just yet), a top grade Anne [...]
Stuck for Easter? Try out an old Paris classic April 17, 2011 NOT everyone who visits Paris has a Carrie Bradshaw moment. That is to say, when fizzing with excitement to have touched down in the City of Light, you fling open the shutters of your Parisian hotel room on to a glittering view of the Eiffel Tower. In my experience, even in a decent three-star, the [...]
High time for creating rooms fit for Royalty April 14, 2011 THE Royal Wedding is just two weeks away. Come on, be honest, you are kind of interested and a bit curious. The truth is that there is something fascinating about the lives of the English aristocracy. Perhaps it is the Jane Austen we read as teenagers or the English heritage sites we were dragged round [...]
HENDON, LONDON April 14, 2011 DOWNAGE, NEAR PARSON STREET Price: £1.35m This five-bedroomed detached family home stretches across 3,030 sq ft and three floors. It has a landscaped garden, two separate garages and a long driveway with space for more than one car. Contact: Aston Chase on 020 8455 3538 or go to www.astonchase.com TENTERDEN GROVE Price: £699,950 This mews [...]
The Swiss town that’s emerging from the shadows April 14, 2011 ANDERMATT – a sleeping beauty of a village, nestled in the Urseren valley in central Switzerland – is set to be awoken from its slumber and transformed into one of the Alps’ major year-round holiday destinations. The prince in question here is the self-described “town-developer” Samir Sawiris. He plans to revolutionise the town’s tourism industry [...]
PROPERTY NEWS April 14, 2011 NEW DOCKLAND HOMES LAUNCHED Hamptons International has launched Streamlight, a new development in the London Docklands. The developers hope it will be completed by the autumn. It will consist of 133 homes, spanning across three buildings, including a 24 storey tower. The tower will house a range of apartments. Prices start from £295,000. BATTERSEA COTTAGES [...]
INTERIORS April 14, 2011 CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT DESIGN CONSULTANCYAPD INTERIORS Q.Dear Andrew, I would like to entertain outside this year so what preparation should I do now to make the most of my garden? A.Entertaining outside is always a nice way to spend a warm evening and it is even better if you can extend your home outwards to [...]
SPRING’S key looks April 14, 2011 SPRING is (or certainly was) here. So what should you be wearing? The big looks this season are a mercy for the fuller-figured woman – or anyone tired of the super-clingy and the drab. Instead, it’s all about floral graphic prints (Oasis, Ted Baker, Monsoon, Erdem, Louis Vuitton), colour blocking (Uniqlo, Benetton, Zara) and the [...]