Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

27 February, 2024

London has been named the best European city for foodies......


London has been named the best European city for foodies, as new data reveals it has the highest number of 5-star reviews for restaurants, cafés and bars. 

Paris is next in second place, while Barcelona follows in third. 


Dutch lifestyle magazine, Dailybase, checked Tripadvisor data to uncover the number of 5-star reviews for eateries in European cities. This resulted in a ranking of 193 cities in Europe where Tripadvisor data was available. 



Taking the crown as the best city in Europe for foodies is the UK’s capital London, with an impressive total of 2,906 5-star reviews for its eating and drinking establishments. London is renowned for its traditional pub culture where you’ll find homemade pies and roast dinners, as well as a plethora of Michelin Star restaurants to tantalise your tastebuds, making it the perfect destination for your next city break. 

The French capital, Paris, closely follows in second place, with a total of 2,898 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor for its eateries. Foodies are clearly enjoying Paris’s culinary specialities such as escargot and entrecôte, which is a premium cut of steak to relish with chips in top-rated French bistros and cafés. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Rank 

 
 
 
 
 

City 

 
 
 
 
 

No. of 5-star Tripadvisor reviews 

 
 
 
 
 

1. 

 
 
 
 

London 

 
 
 
 

2,906 

 
 
 
 
 

2. 

 
 
 
 

Paris 

 
 
 
 

2,898 

 
 
 
 
 

3. 

 
 
 
 

Barcelona 

 
 
 
 

1,475 

 
 
 
 
 

4. 

 
 
 
 

Rome 

 
 
 
 

1,407 

 
 
 
 
 

5. 

 
 
 
 

Athens 

 
 
 
 

1,403 

 
 
 
 
 

6. 

 
 
 
 

Madrid 

 
 
 
 

1,395 

 
 
 
 
 

7. 

 
 
 
 

Lisbon 

 
 
 
 

1,177 

 
 
 
 
 

8. 

 
 
 
 

Berlin 

 
 
 
 

1,074 

 
 
 
 
 

9. 

 
 
 
 

Prague 

 
 
 
 

1,015 

 
 
 
 
 

10. 

 
 
 
 

Milan 

 
 
 
 

814 



The lively city of Barcelona takes the third spot, with a total of 1,475 5-star Tripadvisor reviews for its restaurants, cafés and bars. Popular for its exciting nightlife, this Spanish city will wow foodies with its tapas, which includes patatas bravas, which are cubes of potato in a spicy tomato sauce, and as well as the classic rice dish, paella.   

Rome ranks fourth, with 1,407 reviews awarding the Italian capital city 5-stars for its food and drink joints. As well as sampling the street food bites in Rome, venture into the city’s restaurants to try traditional pasta carbonara and cacio e pepe, two simple yet flavourful spaghetti dishes, to find yourself in foodie heaven.  

07 July, 2023

Large swathes of air space over London to close during U.S. President Biden's visit.

 




The UK's Civil Aviation Authority is issuing notices to pilots warning them not to fly under 3,500 feet over large swathes of the skies over London during a state visit by the U.S. President.

As part of an overarching security operation, the Secretary of State for Transport has ordered the change in flying regulations to keep the skies safe and free of traffic at lower altitudes.  

The majority of restrictions apply to the air space over London Stansted, central London and a corridor between London and Windsor. 

Between 1900 and 2300 on 09 July and 1200 and 1600 on 10 July no aircraft is to fly under 3,500 feet in a wide area over Stansted (area A on the map).

During the same time, an air corridor between Stansted and Central London will be restricted air space under 2,500 feet. (area B on the map) 

A wider area of sky over Central London will be restricted under 2,500 feet between 1900 on 9 July and 1600 July. (area C on the map)

A corridor between London and Windsor between 0900 and 1600 on 10 July will also be out of bounds to all aircraft under 2,500 feet. (area D on the map)

These restrictions do not apply to certain official aircraft, including police, coastguard, air ambulance and The Kings flight helicopters.  There are also exceptions for planes that are approaching or taking off from the key London airports, as long as they are being controlled by air traffic controllers or the RAF. 

However,  the restrictions do apply to all other types of aircraft, including unmanned aircraft (drones) balloons, kites, parachutes or parascending parachutes or paramotors. 

The full briefing sheets have been issued in the normal way by the CAA and NATS and is available on their website




 

Travel service provider Trip . com sees 145% flight booking surge from US to UK


Leading travel service provider Trip.com has seen remarkable flight and hotel bookings growth from outbound US travellers to the UK and the rest of Europe.


Despite high global inflation, long-haul travel sentiment from US travellers to Europe is improving. Trip.com flight booking data reveals a remarkable year-over-year increase of 145% from the US to the UK in the first half of this year.

This surge in air travel highlights the growing demand for transatlantic travel and the increasing interest of American travellers in exploring various European destinations.

Trip.com hotel bookings for the UK reveal that London, Edinburgh and Manchester are the top three most popular destinations for US travellers.

At the forefront of facilitating seamless travel experiences with its all-in-one app strategy, Trip.com's impressive booking growth further solidifies its position as a leading travel service provider.

Data on travellers from the US to the whole of Europe is further encouraging, with flight bookings growing 101% over the same period. London (UK), Barcelona (Spain), Paris (France), Rome and Milan (Italy), Athens (Greece), Lisbon (Portugal), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Dublin (Ireland) are the most popular flight arrival cities for US travellers to Europe.

22 March, 2023

A guide to celebrating the Coronation in London......

London is gearing up for another royal year of celebration, as the city prepares for the crowning of a new monarch for the first time in 70 years. With less than 50 days to go, the Coronation of King Charles III is set to bring together visitors from all around the world to London, where the official ceremony and celebrations will take place.

From the official line-up of events, to themed experiences, city-wide decorations and royal sites you can visit all year round, Visit London has rounded up the best ways visitors can be a part of the Coronation in the capital.

Take part in the official Coronation Weekend programme

Saturday 6 May: The Coronation of King Charles III will begin with a procession (known as the ‘King’s Procession’) from Buckingham Palace to the location of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony will not be open to the public, but those looking to watch the ceremony on the big screen can head to one of many pop-up screenings in central London, such as in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. The Secret Garden Party will run all weekend long, with food and drink aplenty, and is free to enter.

Sunday 7 May: London and the rest of the UK are invited to take part in The Coronation Big Lunch, during which communities will come together to share food and fun in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship. Sunday evening will star the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, and while the public ballot is now closed, there’s plenty of events running across London to make the most of the celebratory atmosphere. An interactive guide to all Coronation events taking place in London and across the UK can be found here.

Monday 8 May: A nationwide bank holiday will be held to mark the occasion, with the new King and Queen pioneering ‘The Big Help Out’, a charitable initiative encouraging everyone across the nation to get involved with local and national projects. Details on how to get involved in London-based endeavours can be found on the official website.  


19 January, 2023

Emirates to resume second daily flight to London Stansted



Emirates is ramping up its London Stansted operation by resuming its second daily service to Dubai from May 1, 2023, in response to strong demand.

The additional flight will operate using the airline's wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with its acclaimed 'Game Changer' First Class product.

The world's largest international airline began serving the airport in June 2018, initially with a daily flight, then a twice-daily service in March 2019. 

The route was suspended during the COVID pandemic but was reinstated in August 2022.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said: “The return of Emirates' second daily flight to Dubai is exciting news for passengers and a huge boost for London Stansted Airport, London and the East of England. The decision to have 14 weekly flights from Stansted is a demonstration of the airline's confidence in the demand for long-haul travel from the airport. Since the airline returned to the airport in the summer following the COVID pandemic, the route has been extremely popular, providing onward connections to locations all around the world."

A second daily flight to Stansted is also expected to boost trade and economic growth in the region. 

Popular inbound markets include Australia, UAE, India, South Africa, China, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Emirates passengers travelling from London Stansted will also have access to more destinations across the airline’s global network with convenient connection times. 

Several popular destinations for UK travellers are Brisbane, Melbourne, Male, Seychelles, Bali, Singapore, Colombo, Bangalore and Bangkok.

Richard Jewsbury, Divisional Vice President, Emirates UK, said: “Since we recommenced services to and from Stansted in August 2022, bookings have continued to surge from the London hub. It is fantastic to be scaling up operations even further this year offering passengers increased connectivity ahead of the popular summer holiday period. Stansted is a key hub for Emirates in the East and Southeast of the UK, and we look forward to welcoming even more passengers onboard.”

The airport recently announced the opening of a new double airbridge enhancing its capability to handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380. 

Emirates became the first airline to use the new bridge, which enables passengers to board and disembark wide-bodied aircraft more quickly and comfortably.







14 January, 2023

New Hyatt Regency hotel opens in London.....

Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment has opened, the 142-room hotel marks the eighth Hyatt-branded property in London and is part of Hyatt Hotels UK growth plan.





Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment is conveniently located, just a five-minute walk to the capital’s political epicentre, Westminster, home to landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. A short stroll along the River Thames from the hotel leads to the South Bank, an area celebrated for its world-class arts and cultural venues, whilst nearby Vauxhall Station provides direct access to many of the city’s major travel hubs.

“London remains a priority market for our planned brand growth in the U.K., and we are delighted to add Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment to our expanding list of properties in the capital,” said Felicity Black-Roberts, vice president of development of Hyatt Europe. “This is the third Hyatt Regency branded hotel in the city, further demonstrating how Hyatt is intentionally growing our brand portfolio in the U.K., bringing our most renowned brands to the in-demand markets where our guests and World of Hyatt members want to be.”

Guestrooms


A total of 142 well-appointed, contemporary guestrooms make the most of the enviable riverside spot, with many featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that provide immersive views of the city’s iconic skyline. On the 14th floor, a range of executive suites offer king-size bedrooms, spacious, modern bathrooms, and relaxing lounge areas, accompanied by a private balcony for guests to enjoy exclusive panoramas across London.

Dining


For those looking for a multifunctional setting to share, socialize and collaborate, POTUS bar and restaurant delivers a diverse and distinctive menu of North American classics alongside traditional British favourites. Meanwhile, the rooftop restaurant, cocktail bar, and shisha terrace Mezemiso serves authentic Lebanese and Japanese cuisine to create an incomparable dining experience overlooking the memorable sky-high views of the city.


Amenities


The hotel’s additional amenities reflect the Hyatt Regency brand commitment to encouraging productivity and peace of mind. This includes an on-site fitness centre fitted with the latest Technogym equipment, and five technology-enabled meeting rooms, which have been designed to inspire connection, offering 15,273 square feet (1,419 square meters) of combined meeting space for a range of events, from business conferences to group gatherings.

“We are pleased about the collaboration with Hyatt to open Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment,” said Ivan Drinkwater – Cannon Corporate spokesperson. “The hotel is set to be the destination of choice for the millions of business and leisure travellers who visit this corner of London each year. Our team is ready to provide them with intuitive service and elevated experiences amongst the bustle of one of the city’s most popular areas.”

Hyatt Hotels have refused to curtail operations or investments within Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and continues to support Russian authorities. 








23 August, 2022

London solidifies its spot as a top global travel destination for North American travellers in 2022

Strong flight bookings and hotel occupancy rates demonstrates London as an “it” destination with a number of major events and happenings underway through the remainder of the year
New hotel openings and US-UK flight routes ensure the city is primed for US visitors this fall and winter
Top events include NFL London, Frieze London, the London Marathon and holiday favourites Christmas at the Kew and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park




London continues to be one of the top destinations for global travellers, with the UK capital reporting its strongest hotel occupancy numbers and flight bookings since the pandemic. The “it” destination celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this past spring with record crowds, top-notch entertainment and royal family sightings. Visitors from North America continue to outpace other international markets, ranking London among the top destinations on their travel bucket list.

According to the latest Traveler Insights Report from Expedia Group Media Solutions, London was the third most booked destination globally in Q2 and the second most booked international destination by North American travellers. London also ranked as the number one booked destination for travellers from the Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions1. Separate research from ForwardKeys reports that North American travellers are showing a strong appetite for visiting London this Autumn, with flight bookings up by 227% compared with the same time period last year. 

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were a major draw for US visitors, with data from Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the group that oversees six royal palaces across London and the UK, revealing that visitors from the US made up 45% of total ticket sales for the iconic Tower of London in June, up 27% compared to pre-pandemic sales.3 According to STR data, London’s hotels saw their highest bookings in June 2022 since July 2019, with a reported 83.1% occupancy4.


The second half of 2022 is poised to continue to see strong visitor numbers from North America with lots of exciting events, festivals, exhibitions and cultural activities for visitors to look forward to. Travellers to London will be able to enjoy cultural and sporting events such as Frieze London, NFL in London, the London Marathon, and concerts by major artists such as Drake, KISS and Swedish House Mafia. Furthermore, London is set to welcome visitors to the city during the most festive time of the year, to partake in events such as Christmas at Kew, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio, the Great Christmas Pudding Race or shop at the many holiday markets and winter pop-ups around the city.

Laura Citron, CEO at London & Partners, which runs Visit London, said: “London has been brimming with energy and excitement and it’s fantastic to see visitors from all around the world returning to our city. So far, 2022 has been a massive year for London which saw us celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, as well as the return of major sporting events, festivals, theatre shows and our world-class museums and galleries. We’re seeing a huge pent-up demand for North American travellers to visit London this fall and winter, with lots of opportunities for visitors to enjoy some of our world-leading cultural and festive activities for the rest of this year.”

More Flight Options for Visitors from North America


A number of airlines have recently launched new air routes to London making a visit to the city an even easier trip to plan for many. In June, British Airways became the first airline to offer a direct route to London from Portland adding a new route for visitors from the west coast. British Airways also resumed flights from Pittsburgh and San Jose to cater to increased demand. In the first week of August JetBlue flew its inaugural flight from Boston to London. Meanwhile, United Airlines also launched a new Boston to London route in March while increasing frequency of flights to London from Newark, Denver and San Francisco after data showed that London was one of the most booked international destinations, particularly amongst business clientele. In November 2022 Virgin Atlantic will launch its new Tampa to London route just in time for the holiday season. According to the latest flight data, on average there are over 100 flights a day from the US to London5.

Luxury Hotel Openings Hint Towards London’s Lasting Appeal


Major events and happenings such as Frieze London, Wimbledon and London Fashion Week draw affluent travellers who seek out luxury accommodations so it should come as no surprise that a number of luxury hotel brands are opening new hotels in London. One of the most anticipated hotel openings this year is the Raffles London at the OWO which is set to open in late 2022. The former Old War Office on Whitehall has undergone a renovation that will include 120 rooms, 85 residences and 11 bars and restaurants, including a rooftop restaurant and bar with views of The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Also slated to open later in the year Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced a new hotel in London’s Mayfair. In addition to a new Mandarin Oriental, the affluent neighbourhood of Mayfair is set to welcome two additional new hotels in 2023. The long-anticipated 1 Hotel is slated to open its doors in 2023 with a mission-driven, sustainability-focused design. This year St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announced it will open its first hotel in London with the new property in Mayfair set to open its doors in 2023.

 For additional destination and travel information, please go to visitlondon.com







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