Archive for the ‘london weekends’ Category

The Mamma Mia film certainly has created a furor on the West End too as everyone is clamouring to see the live version on stage. “I know the film is great but there is no substitute for the energy of a live performance” the girls agreed. Lets use it as an excuse for a girlie trip to London and fit in some retail therapy too. How could I argue the logic, with hotel breaks available until April from £89 including a night in a 3* hotel and a ticket for the Mamma Mia show it would have been rude to refuse. Mamma Mia Break

My teenage sons friends nabbed me the other day. You have something to do with hotels they queried?
Mmmm said I ? Well we want somewhere to stay in London for a night in October when Dean gets back from his army training. OK I said London is not cheap though, shall I just look for somewhere simple like a fairly central Travelodge. Perfect they said, we may stay two nights if we can get a better deal. I found a choice of 3 Travelodges for them to choose from all reasonably priced and fairly central - The Travelodge Farringdon - close to Kings Cross, The Travelodge - Marylebone and The Travelodge -  London City Road.

My clothes mad mate Kate called …..have you seen the amount of great clothes and bargains in the summer sales !! I fancy a trip to hit Oxford St do you have any hotel deals available? Absolutely how about The Cumberland - quite the coolest hotel in the area, right at The Marble Arch end of Oxford St and on special offer you can SAVE 25% at weekends or there is The Royal Lancaster only a few minutes walk away from Oxford St. with weekend savings of over 20%.

My neighbour and newly appointed parish councillor rang me very serious…now that I have entered the world of politics I really think I need to understand more about the country’s political system, Houses of Parliament Tour package deal which includes and overnight stay and the tour or just get you some Houses of Parliament Tour tickets I said, which do you prefer?

My very educated archealogist  friend Richard rang me on skype hot from his latest dig excavating ancient toilets in deepest Peru. The disjointed skype delayed words finally filtered through ” I know you are going to think me crazy but I want to go and see the Tutankhamun Exhibition before it finishes at the end of August. I believe it is at the O2 Arena, could you sort out a deal for me, with rail tickets, hotel etc. No problem I said I have a deal already in place with a choice of hotels from £ 80 per person including a night in a hotel and tickets for the exhibition, just choose a  hotel and I will sort it out - Tutankhamun Exhibition Hotel Package.

My ex work colleague Lorraine lit up my phone this morning before I had even finished my muesli…I have got to see him, I have still got a crush on him after all this time and despite his “history”. I take it you mean George I ventured - with flash back images of her boogieing round the handbags to ” wake me up before you go go”. Absolutely I know he will never be mine but I can still dream. He “George Michael”  has announced his final 2 concerts at Earls Court in August. Now when Lorraine had this crush she was a mere child herself, now almost a gran I did have to wonder about the enduring power of the teenage crush. I presume there will be a gang of you and you will want rail tickets and an overnight in a hotel as well I asked, cereal spoon poised to take down all the details. Have you had a ridiculous teenage crush you still harbour - do let let me know I might even tell you about mine … a clue it involved lots of tartan !

My posh and well connected mate Rupert rang, I need a really nice hotel on the weekend of the 21st June, we have been invited to Sir Richard’s party at an exclusive venue in Kensington and “not going” is not an option. Ah well says I then in that case money will be no object. The 5* Royal Garden is on High St Kensington, within crawling distance of the venue and very nice, I warmed to the task I will get you a park view and you can look down on The Royal’s - not for the first time I am sure I teased gently!  I also have a great deal on first class rail so you can travel in style too or are you taking the Bentley .Well my budget is around £120 tops he says plus cheap rail tickets if you can get them. OK says I .. understandably now a lot less enthused, then how about The Copthorne Tara or Kensington Close a bit further to crawl and not as glam but ideal for the purpose and I will do the special National Express East Coast restricted ticket deal for £46 each. Perfect he said lets go for it. Do you have go to these type of glam events and if so do you push the boat out or like Rupert save the pennies…do let me know and reply back.

My husbands car mad mate rang me in a flat spin - get it!. I want to go to the British International Motor Show at ExCel the last weekend in July - where in gods name is Excel… Well think Docklands and then keep going I joked although not entirely, as ExCel it is pretty much out on  a limb. Your best bet is to stay over in London I said. I can sort out a break which includes rail travel to London, a night in a decent hotel and entry to the Motor Show itself. Fab he said let’s do it I’ll probably take the boys too if you can get me a triple room. Have you got experience of the do’s and dont’s of taking kids to the British International Motor Show ? Do reply back, it would be good to have some advice to share with him before his trip.

Undoubtedly the next hottest show to hit London’s West End, tickets are now on sale for Oliver’s January 2009 debut. Since the role of Nancy was cast on Saturday, my phone has been red hot. We really fancy going to see the show and making a weekend of it has been the request from a wide range of my closest friends.- couples, families, my elderly mum and her gang of chums and even from some of the girls. I have been able to offer them a wide range of options and prices depending on where and when they wanted to stay. The good news is that whilst the theatre tickets have been snapped up , January is a great time to go to London when hotels tend to discount prices and rail deals can also be available. What do you think about the choice of Nancy - do post back your thoughts.

My former colleague and dear friend contacted me from Fife. The Rotary Club fancies a weekend knees up in London, sometime in the Autumn. We did it a few years ago and it was a great success. Can you recommend something? We want first class rail travel, coach transfers between hotel, station etc, a top london theatre show matinee performance and a black tie dinner dance at the Ritz on the Saturday night.

Well within a couple of  hours I had the whole thing sorted and a great deal for him at  under £300 per person. So watch out London you are due to be invaded by the Scots in autumn who are going to paint the town red…Reply back if you have advice on what else they should do to make the most of their weekend south of the border.