All Blog Posts Tagged 'London' (63)

Upon turning from apartment building to hotel back in 1971, the Athenaeum

instantly became the latest and greatest in upmarket if buttoned-down hostelry swank in Britain's capital, attracting top celebs of the day. Inevitably, plenty of other properties have …

One is the loneliest number, or so the lyrics to a certain song tell us. In the past, the solo traveller has traditionally been an unusual sight, a rarity in a world of travelling couples and families.

However, these days, the so called ‘lonely’ solo traveller can…

Fireworks in Madrid, Spain ring in the New Year

New Year's Eve…

Once again I can say that "I survived WTM London." World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry is held every year in November at London's Excel conference center. WTM is a vibrant must-attend four-day business-to-business event, presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to travel professionals from over 160 countries. By attending WTM, participants gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest…

Imagine my surprise to discover I wanted to write a glowing article for my newest travel series “Best of London” about a department store!  (Just when did I fall and hit my head, anyways)?  But no, there were no mishaps involved.  If anything, our discovery was what I would term a “happy accident” as we wandered down Piccadilly Street, the atmosphere vibrant on this uncommonly sunny London day.  We paused to focus on the historic grandness all around us – and what should our eyes…

Hundreds of curry lovers, food experts and restaurant owners from across the world gathered in London for a gala ceremony to recognise the talents of chefs, the unsung heroes of the kitchen. The awards are the brainchild of Syed Nahas Pasha and his brother, Syed Belal Ahmed,…

Londoners suffered collective withdrawal symptoms when the Olympic Games ended on August 11 and are now hoping to recapture some of the drama and excitement when the Paralympics  begin  on 29 August. This is a good time to reflect on what the Games achieved and whether this fervour can be…

Before the Olympics started, I wondered here on tripatini if Londoners knew how lucky they are right now. Well, it seems having the torch relay in London the week before, then the spectacular opening ceremony, and finally landing in third place in the medals tally have brought some positivity to the masses. That and a break from the near continuous rain we had endured for…

The London Olympics 2012 got under way with a spectacular opening ceremony viewed by an estimated 27 million people in the UK and one billion world-wide. A commentator described the curtain-raiser master-minded by award-winning film director, Danny Boyle, as bold, British and bonkers. This probably sums up…

So the Olympic Games have finally begun! Friday’s opening ceremony was viewed by people all over the world, and countries are already starting to rack up medals in events like swimming, cycling, and judo.



Londoners have of course been anticipating the…

From July 27th to August 12th, England hosts the Olympics at sites in or nearby greater London. Our traveling foodie, David Latt, recently made a stop in London to search out affordable and interesting places to eat. Long disparaged, English food has had a renaissance with innovative chefs following global trends in the pursuit of locally sourced,…

In 2012, London is having one of the most exciting years in its history, with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this past June and now the 2012 Olympic Games starting on 27 July. But are Londoners proud? Do they realise how lucky they are? Are they embracing the summer of fun…

This summer much of the world's eyes will be on London, England and the Summer Olympic Games. Perhaps the world premier sporting event begins on July 27th and continues until August 12.  Needless to say, such a major event, even for a city as large as London is no simple matter.  Organizing such a major event is no easy matter.  For example the Olympics will have over 23,000 security professionals and it is estimated that security alone will cost more than one billion British pound sterling.…

Every November, now for as long as I can remember, I spend a week or two, ok, last year three in London for the World Travel Market, London's massive travel show. One of the first things that I do after I park by bags at my digs in Canary Wharf is to hop the tube a couple of stops to perhaps to  the greatest outdoor-indoor food market in the world, Borough Market. Situated by London Bridge, and a stone’s throw from the River Thames, Borough Market is food lovers…

Americans embrace travel insurance as a hedge against Olympic hassles

The 2012 Summer Olympics have provided a welcome boost for airlines, hotels and other travel suppliers that will benefit from an expected jump of more than 30 percent in the number of global travelers going to London compared to the same period in 2011.  Now it appears that travel insurance providers are among…

From the world's most famous technology corporations based in Silicon Valley to the international robot exhibitions in Tokyo, tourists are embracing the concept of tech destinations, almost as a sneak peak of the future. 

London, UK: Currently rated as one of the best European cities for tech start-ups, London has been flirting with all kinds of gadgetry, turning restaurants and hotels into…

Since 2004, UNESCO has been promoting cities where literature plays an important role, including festivals and literary events and the existence of libraries and bookstores. Cities like Melbourne, Dublin and Edinburgh were given the chance to promote their local creative scene, as part of of being chosen as…

The thought of a flight delay can fill any roving traveller with dread, but fear not, after much travelling we have found the best airports to get stranded in:

1. Geneva Airport, Switzerland

You have just returned a…