Bond Street, Mayfair, London by Dickbauch

Eating, drinking – and sleeping it all off

Mayfair offers a wide selection of quality restaurants, bars and cafes to suit any visitor on any budget, but it would be a sin to not jump straight to Mayfair’s most famous export: luxury. The district is not short of Michelin-starred restaurants; Le Gavroche, Nobu and Maze being three of the best examples. There are other incredible eateries too; steak-lovers are advised to make haste to either Goodman or the JW Steakhouse, whilst those in search of the view should head to Galvin at Windows, at the top of the Park Lane Hilton. There are plenty of cheaper bites to eat around Mayfair; Fino’s near Marble Arch and Allans near Grosvenor Square are two local hideaways.

There are plenty of places to water it all down as well. Mayfair plays host to some of the most famous bars in town such as the infamous Mahiki and the award-winning Connaught Bar. There are plenty of pubs as well – some of which date back hundreds of years. The Punch Bowl and the Audley on Mount Street are a couple of local favourites and are routinely packed with after-work drinkers.

Mayfair is perhaps best-known for its hotels; it has a concentrated collection of grand and exclusive properties to choose from. Many Mayfair hotels have been around for generations such as Claridges and The Connaught, however the usual suspects are on the scene too; Marriott operates three properties in the neighbourhood; with rivals Starwood, Hilton and Intercontinental on the scene as well.

Out and about

One of the principle past times in Mayfair surely has to be shopping – especially for those with a taste for the finer things in life. Nowadays, new and trendy names in fashion and quality goods such as Carolina Herrara and Marc Jacobs rub shoulders with established British names such as Purdey and Alfred Dunhill. It is a stark contrast to the principle shopping centres of Oxford and Regent Street – yet these are only a few minutes’ walk away from Mayfair. Those yearning to seek out the Victorian way of life may wish to amble along Burlington Arcade, near Piccadilly.

For a more relaxed take on Mayfair, there are nearby Hyde Park and St. James’s Park, as well as Grosvenor and Berkeley Square. There is even a local library for the bookworms.

Although the main reason people were drawn to Mayfair in the first place – the ‘May Fair’ – has long gone, there is still plenty to attract those in search of a more relaxed, traditional and opulent take on London life. And with its proximity to Underground stations and many more well-known landmarks, there is really no reason not to visit.

The article was written by Samantha Jordan in association with Rhodium. The mid-thirties property blogger from London, UK loves the Mayfair lifestyle, the fantastic choice of bars and restaurants and of course the glorious shopping opportunities.

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Wandsworth, London, England, UK by Herry Lawford

There is a steady influx of newcomers to the city every year, including a sizable proportion of new residents who are planning to make London their new home. If you’re thinking of joining them, here are four neighbourhoods that are well worthy of inspection. They are located in four very different parts of the metropolis, and each one of them has its very own individual character.

Wandsworth

Located relatively close to the centre of London, the south-western suburb of Wandsworth is an attractive neighbourhood that has managed to retain something of a village feel to it. The area that lies closest to the river is home to some extremely swish (and expensive) houses and flats, so there may be parts which are only affordable to some. There are also some close-knit communities consisting of narrow streets in which everyone seems to know everyone else – one of the many charms of the borough.

Hackney

A jewel in the crown of the famous East End, Hackney is one of those rare places which are genuinely loved by many of its residents. This area is, and always has been, a veritable melting pot of communities from various parts of the world, and it’s this congregation of cultures which gives it a wonderfully bohemian feel. East London has always been known for its celebration of diversity, and in Hackney this is evident everywhere.

Photo of Hackney, London, UK by Ewan Munro

St John’s Wood

Leafy, dignified and elegant, the north-western suburb of St John’s Wood offers residents a quiet and relatively tranquil existence amid wide avenues and beautiful parkland. There’s something wonderfully continental about the neighbourhood, and the existence of a recognisable café culture among the pavement eateries merely adds to the atmosphere. For commuters, the fact that the centre of London is only a short tube ride away adds to the convenience.

Photo of St John’s Wood, London, UK by Xakaxunknownx

Chiswick

One of those neighbourhoods that feature a healthy mix of residents from all walks of life, Chiswick is popular with locals and visitors alike. In the area around Chiswick Bridge, you’ll find plenty of people enjoying walks along the edge of the Thames on a summer afternoon, and many more making the most of the hospitality offered by the various pubs that are located throughout the neighbourhood.

David Showell was born and brought up in London and still lives in the south-east of England. He works for http://www.carrentals.co.uk/.

The post Moving to London? Here are Four of the Finest Neighbourhoods appeared first on Best of European Union.

Twenty days prior to the July 2nd race, a total of 10 contestants will be draw to compete in the first event of the year. The remaining 7 contestants will participate in the second event on August 16th; along with the top three contestants from the July race. Three days before each race, the contestants are assigned the horse that they will be running in the race.

The Palio di Siena is considered to be one of the most famous and historic of festivals in the whole of Italy which takes place every year in the Piazza del Campo square; a fan shaped earthen race track. The actual festivities of the event start on June 29th and will continue on until August 13th of each year.

Horse race, Palio di Siena, Tuscany, Italy by Janus Kinase

On race day, there is a special mass held in Siena where the contestants and their horses are blessed before the start of the competition. Trial runs are held until around 3 in the afternoon; after which a procession makes its way throughout the historic town center of Siena. The procession ends at the Piazza del Campo just in time for the 4:30 official start time of the Palio di Siena competition.

The race is composed of three laps around the Piazza del Campo which is roughly 1,000 meters in all. The winner wins a victory flag for their neighborhood known as the palio. It is a huge honor to win the Palio di Siena.

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