Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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United Kingdom : London - August 2009

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August in London sees the locals eeking out the last of the sunshine, as people pack out the parks by day and crowd the streets in early evening. Meanwhile, Notting Hill braces itself for the biggest party of the season as the carnival (30-31 August) rolls into town, bringing with it gorgeously costumed dancers and crowds of around one million. Tabitha Lasley and Richard Bence shake their tail feathers

Getting around

London is served by Gatwick Airport, which is 46km south of the city centre.

Bus: National Express coaches to London Victoria take one hour 35 minutes. Single tickets cost €9,80/£6.60 and the service runs 24 hours a day.
Train: The quickest way to get into the city is by taking the Gatwick Express to London Victoria. It takes 30 minutes and runs every 15 minutes from 5am to 11.45pm. A single ticket costs €22,60/£15.90.
Taxi: Outside rush hour, a taxi to the city centre will take about an hour and cost €114/£77.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is at 1 Lower Regent Street (tel. , visitlondon.com).

WEST: KENSINGTON, CHELSEA & NOTTING HILL

This is the London peddled by glossy magazine supplements – pastel, porticoed houses, organic delis and Ugg-wearing yummy mummies (such as local resident Claudia Schiffer) sipping coffee en route to yoga.

Must eat – Try the regional tasting menu at El Pirata Detapas (115 Westbourne Grove, tel. ). This month, it turns its attention to Catalonia, so expect tapas like cod samfaina (Catalonian ratatouille). Clarke’s (124 Kensington Church Street, tel. ) serves top-notch English grub and champions seasonal produce. There’s also a bakery and shop selling lovely pickles, pies, quiches and soups to perk up a picnic in nearby Holland Park.

Dance the night away – Liquid Nation (161-165 Ladbroke Grove) is designed by 10 students from the University of the Arts London, each responsible for a different part of the venue. This is a bar ‘for the people’ with all drinks priced at €3/£2.50, live music and DJs from Thursday to Sunday, and a 1990s night on Wednesdays. Otherwise, see Londoners bid a fond farewell to summer at the Notting Hill Carnival (30-31 August).

Shop til you drop – Recover from the excesses of carnival at Hydrohealing (216a Kensington Park Road) and indulge yourself with the spa’s hydrocushion massage.

SOUTH: BLACKHEATH

If you’re venturing south of the river, where cab drivers fear to tread, break yourself in slowly with Blackheath. This is south London-lite: a pretty little village with lots of green space only 10 minutes from London Bridge.

Must eat – Chapters All Day Dining (43-45 Montpelier Vale, tel. ) pulls in a local crowd. Come here for heath views and hearty dishes such as pork belly with white bean cassoulet.

CENTRAL: MARYLEBONE

This civilised little quarter seems a world away from the dash and chaos of Oxford Street, even though the high street here hits it head on.

Sleep soundly – The Marylebone Hotel (47 Welbeck Street, tel. , doylecollection.com, rooms from €134/£115) has large, airy rooms and a good restaurant downstairs. Book into the Penthouse Suite and you’ll get your own terrace.

Must eat – Trishna (15-17 Blandford Street, tel. ) serves bracing, contemporary Indian food. Try the hariyali bream with mint and coriander. If you’re after something slightly gutsier, head up the road to Caffé Caldesi (118 Marylebone Lane, tel. ), which serves generous portions of Italian classics such as fegato alla griglia (grilled calf’s liver with onion sage sauce and spinach).

EAST: THE CITY

Come here in the week to see the capital’s engine room at its bustling best. Weekends in the financial district have an eerie, ghost-town feel.

Sleep soundly – Andaz Liverpool Street (40 Liverpool Street, tel. , hyatt.com, rooms from €102/£88) is one to bookmark if you have an aversion to chintz. The rooms are bold and modern, decorated in a stark red and white palette.

Must eat – One of the hotel’s dining options, 1901 Restaurant (40 Liverpool Street, tel. ) serves accomplished English food, including Worcestershire chicken with baby gem lettuce, and south coast red mullet. For something on the hoof, Pilpel Falafel and Houmous Bar (38 Brushfield Street, tel. ) serves golden slices of heaven with warm, sweet pitta bread.

Must drink – Head to the airy skylit bar at 1 Lombard Street (1 Lombard Street) for an orange bellini with lavender syrup.

Compiled by Tabitha Lasley and Richard Bence