Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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United Kingdom : London - June 2010

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London in early summer is a hive of activity as sun-seeking city dwellers enjoy a post-work pint. If you’re feeling cultural, the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition (14 June onwards, royalacademy. org.uk) is a seasonal highlight, while the City of London festival (colf. org) sees exhibitions and openings from 21 June to 9 July. Chris Peck takes to the streets

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).

SOUTHBANK

Stroll the banks of the river Thames from Tower Bridge to Waterloo and take in London’s history – from ancient foundations and medieval dungeons to mid-century warships and modern glass monoliths.

Culture vultures – From 3 June, fashionistas will be flocking to Somerset House (Strand) to see an exhibition celebrating 20 years of fashion house Maison Martin Margiela.

Must eat – Nestled in the Design Museum with stunning views down-river to Canary Wharf and up through Tower Bridge, Blueprint Café (28 Shad Thames, tel. ) will satisfy any famished foodie. The juicy onglet de boeuf (steak) is heavenly.

Dance the night away – Achieving legendary status almost as soon as it opened, Shunt (20 Stainer Street) is located right under London Bridge station. Open on Friday and Saturday only, the venue plays host to everything from club nights to theatre sets, with the programme changing weekly.

CHARLOTTE STREET

Off bustling Oxford Street, Charlotte Street is worth seeking out as a haven of serenity in the big city.

Sleep soundly – The most stylish address in this part of town, the Charlotte Street Hotel (15-17 Charlotte Street, tel. , firmdalehotels.com, doubles from €270/£230) exudes an understated elegance that’s reminiscent of a sumptuous country manor.

Culture vultures – The British Museum (Great Russell Street) is a five-minute stroll from Charlotte Street. During June you’ll be transported to the gardens of South Africa as the museum joins forces with specialists from the Royal Botanic Gardens to bring a corner of the Southern Cape to the centre of London.

Must eat – Mennula (10 Charlotte Street, tel. ) serves tasty Sicilian-inspired dishes including rabbit wrapped in pancetta. Or for sweet things, head to the courtyard of Suka, the restaurant in the nearby Sanderson Hotel (50 Berners Street, tel. ), where they’re serving a Mad Hatter-inspired tea party with fizzing cupcakes and tongue-twisting lollipops – plus a glass of champagne for parents.

HAMPSTEAD

The definition of an urban village, Hampstead extends from cute boutiques and cake shops to wide, open expanses of heathland offering unbeatable views over London.

Culture vultures – Kenwood House (Hampstead Lane) houses an incredible display of rare paintings, and over the summer it also hosts a series of excursions and concerts. There’s an introduction to the British bat on 23 June, where you can watch the flying mammals feed over the pond, while on 26 June, Blondie headline one of a series of summer concerts.

Must eat – Gaucho Grill (64 Heath Street, tel. ) can indulge any al fresco dining desires with its outdoor barbecue and terrace (complete with automated canopy in case the British summer tries to dampen spirits). You can enjoy the finest Argentinean steaks washed down with delicious wine.

Shop til you drop – Tear yourself away from some of the world’s best department stores and explore the smaller boutiques on offer, such as CoChineChine (74 Heath Street) – a treasure trove of established and up-and-coming labels.

Compiled by Chris Peck