London

Essential Great Britain: Travel Smart Chapter

A travel guidebook chapter for Fodor's Travel Guides, September 2023

"Britain and America are (in the phrase attributed to playwright George Bernard Shaw) “two countries separated by a common language”. Knowing some British idioms can be helpful..."

Essential Great Britain: Experience Chapter

A travel guidebook chapter for Fodor's Travel Guides, September 2023

"Great Britain and the United Kingdom: what’s the difference? GB is the landmass comprising England, Scotland and Wales; the UK also includes Northern Ireland and some smaller isles..."

Essential Great Britain: Experience Chapter

A travel guidebook chapter for Fodor's Travel Guides, January 2019

"Heston Blumenthal, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay are just the tip of the culinary iceberg, as chefs nationwide now indulge their passions for high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients..."

How London Became a Great Culinary Capital

An article for 36 Hours (The New York Times), January 2016

"Traditionally, London does not have a sterling reputation for food. Yet, over the last 30 years, the city has experienced a culinary revolution, and is now cited as the world's foodie capital..."

Catch Champagne Bar: London’s Finest Fizz

An article for About Luxury Travel, May 2015

"With a blend of traditional and contemporary design, Catch fuses Victorian grandeur with 21st century chic. Sit at the bar for a curated Champagne tasting or just unwind at a private table..."

London’s Most Luxurious Experiences

An article for About Luxury Travel, March 2015

"Even in a city renowned for fine dining, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is an uncommonly opulent experience. Try the seven-course tasting menu with its sommelier-selected wines..."

Out to Brunch: The All-Week Brunch Trend

An article for SO/HO Magazine, October 2014

"This late-morning meal now rivals lunch and dinner as the most creative cuisine of the day - throughout the week. So how has this dining phenomenon taken off all around the world...?"

London’s Gastronomic Revolution

An article for Destinations of the World News, September 2014

"In the 1980s, a gourmet restaurant may serve you a three-course menu of a prawn cocktail, a kidney-crammed pie and a worryingly wobbly dessert. 30 years on, things are very different..."

Celebrity Hotels: Where the Stars Stay and Play

An article for The Johnnie Walker House Edit, August 2014

"Perhaps the most famous celebrity hotel on earth, Chateau Marmont, which opened in 1929, drips with Hollywood history. It's been a favourite check-in of film stars throughout history..."

Stay for Free: Sleeping with Strangers

An article for National Geographic Traveller, May 2014

"I am folded in half. My knees are tucked up to my chin - my chin tucked into my chest. I can’t even feel my feet. In fact, my only sensation is the sharp jabbing below my shoulder blade..."

The Boutique Boom

An article for SO/HO Magazine, March 2014

"A good hotel stay is no longer only about high thread count linen and 24-hour room service; guests today are looking for stylish, independent properties that offer unique experiences..."

How London Surpassed Paris as Dining Capital

An article for USA Today, March 2014

"How has London's dining scene transformed itself from the butt of French jokes to the king of continental cuisine in a mere 30 years? It is down to immigration, inclination and inspiration..."

Chef Collaborations and Exchanges

An article for SO/HO Magazine, December 2013

"It is a regular evening. You turn up at your regular restaurant and are shown to your regular table. Then you are handed your menu, which bears zero resemblance to the regular one..."

Brand Boutique: Defining a Hotel Sector

An article for The Huffington Post, October 2013

"London's boutique hotel sector is booming. Despite a climate of declining hotel occupancy and the spluttering economy, the capital's boutique hotels have enjoyed startling success..."

How to Design a Boutique Bakery

An article for SO/HO Magazine, September 2013

"At boutique artisan bakeries that have seen a boom in the past two years, design and decor are as vital as the dough. From Singapore to London, here are the finest bakery boutiques..."

Eccleston Square Hotel, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, August 2013

"Eccleston Square Hotel is a nirvana for contemporary tech lovers. Each room boasts a 3D TV, luxury massage bed, personal iPad, remote-controlled curtains and smart glass panels..."

London’s Best International Dishes

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, August 2013

"London's diverse range of influences results in a great gastronomic smorgasbord. This is a city in which you can sample cuisine from almost every nation and region around the globe..."

PRIVATE AIR AT THE BADA FAIR

An article for Private Air Magazine, May 2013

“The award was given to a rare Queen Anne gilt gesso dressing table, shown by Mackinnon Fine Furniture and described by the judges as 'an object of spectacular fragility and rarity'..."

London Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, May 2012 - May 2013

"The story of London is a tale of two cities. One narrative is an urban landscape littered with long-established landmarks, time-honored art and culture and a stubborn hint of Britishness..."

The Boutique Streak

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, April 2013

"Despite a significant slowing of Britain’s economy in recent years, the boutique hotel sector has been expanding at an extraordinary rate. How have the boutiques bucked the trend?..."

St. Ermin’s Hotel, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, April 2013

"From the outside, St. Ermin’s is a classic British hotel - all red bricks and green courtyards. But step inside to discover white sinuous rococo plasterwork that curves throughout the lobby..."

London’s Top Afternoon Teas

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, April 2013

"The perfect option for lighthearted luxury, the Mad Hattertakes you on a trip down the rabbit hole, with menus hidden in vintage books and teapots decorated with kings and queens..."

The World’s Best Airport Architecture

An article for Private Air Magazine, March 2013

"For the majority of the 20th century, airport terminals were built for function; safe, efficient and uninspiring buildings made to deliver people from road to runway. But that's changed..."

LONDON’S MOST EXPENSIVE RESIDENCES

An article for Private Air Magazine, March 2013

“Ask any Londoner and they’ll tell you the city has always been a pricy place to purchase a home. But in the last few years, property prices have soared to truly astronomical levels…”

The Dorchester Hotel, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, February 2013

"This luxurious London landmark is probably best known for its traditional English residential facade festooned with wrought-iron balconies. And yet it's the interior that really impresses..."

The Goring, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, February 2013

"Still run by the family who built it, The Goring provides the height of luxury. The intimate hotel has just 69 rooms and suites, yet each is individually designed to ensure ultimate elegance..."

The Savoy, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, January 2013

"Often called “London’s most famous hotel,” The Savoy was opened in 1889 as the first truly high-end hotel in the country. And it's been at the very forefront of decadence ever since..."

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

A hotel guide for Forbes Travel Guide, January 2013

"Situated at the heart of Knightsbridge, this one-time Gentleman’s Club now comprises 198 of the finest rooms and suites in the capital, along with two swish restaurants and a lavish spa..."

The Rise of the No-Choice Restaurant

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, September 2012

“Commonly known as a prix-fixe (fixed price) or table d’hôte (host’s table), the idea is simple: restaurants offer a set menu at a set price, so they can focus on just a few perfected dishes…”

London’s 10 Best Secret Sights

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, August 2012

“London attractions like the Tower of London and Big Ben welcome millions of tourists each year. But there are other, lesser-seen, secret attractions concealed amid the urban bustle..."

Noma Restaurant Pops Up in London

An article for Forbes Travel Guide, July 2012

“The restaurant - named the best in the world on S. Pellegrino’s list three years in a row - will close shop in Copenhagen later this month and relocate to the ballroom of Claridge’s hotel..."