Bow, Tower Hamlets: All you need to know about London’s new eastern hotspot October 30, 2014 Everyone knows how well Hackney is doing in the property stakes, with house price increases outstripping any other borough in London over the last 12 months. But how about its neighbour Tower Hamlets? As a borough, it’s building more new homes than any other in the country. Bromley-by-Bow, in particular, has been popular with [...]
Merchants Walk in east London: Affordable house prices, yet very commutable October 30, 2014 As the fringes of the City soar in both popularity and price, first-time buyers and young professionals on modest incomes are looking to move a bit further afield. In this case “further afield” means 15 minutes away by Tube. Bow in Tower Hamlets, east London, has seen a spurt in popularity as a result, [...]
48 Hours in… Sydney October 24, 2014 Where to Stay Shangri-la, the Asian luxury hotel group that currently occupies The Shard, also has a home in Sydney, with breathtaking views over the harbour. Head on up to New York-inspired Blu Bar to look out over the city at night. Shangri-la.com What to Do Become a Sydney connoisseur by hopping into Richard [...]
Reviving an Aussie institution on the Great Barrier Reef October 24, 2014 Backpackers heading to Australia aspire to conquer the three Rs; Reef, Rocks, and Rock. Admittedly, it gets a bit repetitive towards the end, but if you follow the three Rs you’ll get a basic understanding of the country’s vast and extreme landscape, namely the Great Barrier Reef, The Rocks in Sydney and Ayers Rock. But [...]
Art review: Rembrandt: The Late Works, The National Gallery October 20, 2014 ★★★★★ Rembrandt knew he was a genius. You can see it in his eyes as they stare witheringly from his self-portraits in the first room of the National Gallery’s new exhibition, Rembrandt: The Late Works. Authentic Rembrandts are such a big draw for art galleries that few museums are willing to loan them [...]
Film review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles October 20, 2014 ★☆☆☆☆ Cert 12A “There’s nothing wrong with a bit of froth”, protests Will Arnett at the start of Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles 3D. “Sometimes, people just want candy.” He’s arguing the case for the light-weight, lifestyle news that he finds himself making with a less-than-impressed Megan Fox. I have a sneaky suspicion [...]
Film review: Palo Alto October 20, 2014 ★★★★☆ Cert 15 In Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age film Boyhood, being a teenager looks like a lot of fun. The sense of possibility is palpable, and the world seems like an endless stream of opportunities for the taking. In Palo Alto, being a teenager looks bewildering and the world seems utterly incomprehensible. Adapted from [...]
Luxury in the air at Earl’s Court’s Lillie Square October 20, 2014 The designers behind the north hall of Covent Garden Market and the Met Bar unveiled a new collection of luxury penthouses in Earl’s Court to bring it up to the standard of its illustrious west London neighbours. The penthouses are part of the Lillie Square development, a residential scheme that’s the centrepiece of the regeneration [...]
Focus On… Lewisham: find suburbia in Zone Two October 20, 2014 Property developers are constantly searching for the “next creative hub”, following those impoverished artists to underdeveloped places around London to find the smartest investment before the others do. South London has seen its fair share of this behaviour in recent years, with the meteoric rise of Brixton and Peckham as desirable, sociable places for young [...]
Why a fireplace could add serious value to your home October 20, 2014 It's universally acknowledged that art not only beautifies the home but is generally a good investment. And Owen Pacey, owner of Shoreditch’s Renaissance antique furniture specialist and restorer, thinks there’s no better way to keep your bank balance warm than buying a fireplace. “Look,” he starts matter-of-factly, “If I went to view two Georgian [...]
