London Travel

Have you ever tried a flowering tea? It's rather magical watching the hand-tied tea ball unfurl in a glass teapot to reveal it's inner flower petals as the green tea infuses ready to drink.

Egerton House Hotel, a five star boutique hotel in Knightsbridge has added flowering teas to its afternoon tea menu so I paid a visit recently. As I sat at the table nearest the window in the elegant Drawing Room, and the late afternoon sunshine streamed into the room, I knew I was in for a treat. Please read my Egerton House Hotel Afternoon Tea Review.

Image: © Laura Porter

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is celebrating 100 years of this annual joy for west London. There's a lift on the ban of garden gnomes to help raise money for charity, and the show gardens are as fascinating as ever. I went to a preview day yesterday (the Show opens to the public tomorrow) so here are my RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 Photos.

Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog

The Museum of London Docklands has been in a converted sugar warehouse near Canary Wharf for ten years. The Museum tells the story of London's connection to the river and its importance to our city.

To celebrate this special anniversary there is a contemporary art exhibition called Estuary featuring the stretch of water from the Thames right out to sea. It's the reason London was built where it is but is now mostly overlooked so this was an interesting choice for an exhibition subject. Twelve artists are featured and there's a lot of film footage to see but it's a fascinating exhibition so well worth the time. Here's my review of Estuary.

• Museum of London Docklands Visitor Information
• Museum of London Visitor Information

Image: © William Raban

The latest exhibition at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace looks at fashion and style in the 16th and 17th centuries. There are over 60 portraits on display plus other objects to compliment the exhibition such as a lace collar than may have belonged to Charles I and a palace account book for Queen Mary II showing how much she spent on contemporary fashions. Find out more with my review of In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion.

Suggested Reading
• Royal London
• Guards Museum
• The Household Cavalry Museum

Image: © Laura Porter | London Travel Blog

Ever found yourself stuck near to King's Cross station with no idea where to get something to eat other than a pre-packaged sandwich from a newsagent in the station? With the ongoing improvements in the area foodies are being catered for and there are lots of recommended places to eat near to King's Cross and St Pancras stations. Here's my list of Where To Eat in King's Cross and you can add your ideas too.

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• King's Cross Free Tours

The Mind Body Spirit Festival is on from 24 to 27 May 2013 which includes a bank holiday Monday. This is the 37th anniversary of the event that covers healing, meditation, yoga, and all forms of holistic living.

It's the longest running event of its kind in the world, and challenges the way the public approach their health and happiness, bringing together curious, open-minded people with cutting-edge alternative practitioners. The workshops are one of the most popular attractions of the festival because they are all hosted by the world's most inspirational and best selling authors, teachers or well-being experts. Find out more...

London has no shortage of designer clothes shops but we also have secret places where you can buy the top of the range clothes at greatly reduced prices. Hackney in east London has quite a few of these fashion factory outlets but there are others in central London and across town. The London Fashion Factory Shops list will help you grab a bargain.

Suggested Reading
• Clothing Size Conversion Charts

Image: © D. Brouet | London Travel Blog

Kensington Roof Gardens is London's equivalent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

In the unlikely location 100ft above street level, on top of a department store building in the busy Kensington shopping area, you'll find a tranquil garden planted in the 1930s. It includes a Spanish garden, a Tudor garden, an English woodland garden and resident flamingos! Two more flamingos are joining Bill & Ben and Splosh & Becks in 2013 and you can visit them for free.

Later in the summer Alice in Wonderland and Romeo and Juliet will be performed within the picturesque Tudor Gardens. Tickets are priced at £65pp for adults and £40 per child which both include the play and either a BBQ or hog roast. Find out more and book tickets.

• Kensington Roof Gardens Photos
• Kensington Roof Gardens Information
• Babylon Restaurant
• Kensington Palace Visitor Guide

Image: © Bryce Edwards

This luxury design hotel is on the site of the original home of BBC Radio and the 10th floor Radio Bar is already proven to be very popular for its great views, cocktails and Champagne.

ME London has been fully designed by Foster + Partners who used the triangular footprint to create a central pyramid reaching up from the first floor to the Radio Bar on the roof. The black corridor walls won't be to everyone's taste but the fashionistas are already making good use of this five star hotel which only opened in March 2013. Find out more...

• See more London Luxury Hotels

Image: © Laura Porter

Established in 1932, the Open Air Theatre Regent's Park is the only fully professional, permanent outdoor theater in Britain. Its steeply raked auditorium is one of the largest in London with 1,240 seats, yet many say it feels much more intimate than any other theater.

Open Air Theatre Regent's Park in London has theatre, comedy, music and more for its 2013 summer season. Find out more...

• A Midsummer Night's Dream Review (2008)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream Photos
• Regent's Park Photos

Image: © Alastair Muir | London Travel Blog