A CAPITAL STAYCATION

Liz and I love to travel as many of you know and my bucket list continues to grow. But this year it has all come to a grinding halt – this dreaded virus has thwarted many of our plans and no doubt yours too, writes Tedd Walmsley

As I write there are only eight countries in Europe deemed safe to travel to without quarantine on return – so our thoughts and plans have turned to the UK and we hope to visit some of our favourite areas before the end of the year.

Where better place to start than in London and a trip to the iconic Stafford Hotel. I would argue there has never been a better time to visit our capital city, and while theatre-land waits for the green light to re-open there is still so much to see and do. The Stafford is tucked away and provides the perfect home away from home in historic St James – just minutes away from the Royal parks and palaces, Westminster and incredible shopping with a host of other available attractions and museums, which are open and safe to visit.

From check-in to check-out, the staff and service was superb. Discreet and helpful, it was a pleasure to stay and feel part of this extended family. We were taking advantage of the city break package outlined in this article, which meant a lovely upgrade to a stunning room and having travelled in from Oxford (another tick in our UK bucket list box) we simply spent the first afternoon relaxing and taking advantage of our room and its facilities.

Each room is individual and bespoke, but all have sumptuous fabrics, eclectic artwork and stunning design. The bed and linens guarantee a good night’s sleep and the marble bathrooms and plump soft towels provide the perfect backdrop for relaxation.

Our food and drink experience at the hotel and sister restaurant were nothing short of first class – our pre-drinks both evenings were in the iconic American Bar, which exudes sophistication and elegance. It’s a popular meeting place for residents and non-residents alike, and the odd celebrity here and there. Dinner on our first night was in The Game Bird and was a treat of modern British comfort food. Our highlight was the impressive beef Wellington to share, cooked to perfection and served with true style and panache. Our second night was a delicious Sicilian experience at the off-site Norma – a short cab ride away in Fitzrovia. The celebrated chef Ben Tish has created a charming and welcoming experience with a combination of southern Italian and Moorish influenced food which was a true treat for the tastebuds.

Breakfast as you would expect is also an experience, it’s unhurried and plentiful with an array of classics and combinations that could never disappoint.

By using the hotel as a base, we were able to walk just about everywhere, a morning stroll through Green Park and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace. We then took in the Royal parks and completed our morning with a shopping experience in Piccadilly.

The city break offer represents incredible value this autumn and with so little opportunity for foreign travel I can recommend wholeheartedly a trip to London and a stay at The Stafford. A combination of its position, quality food and service make it unbeatable and supports our UK tourism and hospitality sector with a bucket list staycation.

The Stafford
16-18 St James’s Place
St. James’s, London SW1A 1NJ
020 7493 0111
thestaffordlondon.com

Comments

comments

Tedd Walmsley

Be the first to know

To get exclusive news, be the first to know about our special offers and competitions, sign up to Live Magazines for FREE.

Tedd Walmsley managing director of Live Magazines shares his views on the latest topics in media.

Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn to join the conversation