The London Edition makes a great home base for 48 hours in London
Credit to Author: Dave Pottinger| Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 21:39:45 +0000
London is one of my favourite cities. Having lived there in the late ‘80’s this metropolis has gone through such a renaissance in the past decades with an extraordinary culinary scene, spectacular museums and art galleries, not to mention a city full of history…and we can’t forget shopping! I’m usually exhausted by the time I leave, as I try to take in everything!
It’s impossible of course, but there I was again this time with only two days to spend in this seemingly ongoing city…and I found out you can still pack in a lot in 48 hours!
11 am Arrival to London
The lobby of the London Edition.
My hotel is the London Edition, a glorious landmark hotel originally built as five separate conjoining classical homes in the late17thcentury, then converted into the Berners Hotel in 1909. During this period, the hotel enjoyed a dazzling reputation entertaining the city’s high society to royalty. Located in central Fitzrovia, this stylish historic building was reopened in 2013 with 173 stylish guest rooms, designed by the creative genius of famed international hotelier Ian Schrager in conjunction with the award-winning Canadian interior designers Yabu Pushelberg.
Through the hotel’s original doors, guests enter a simple glass-walled vestibule leading into the magnificent vaulted lobby where you are greeted by an oversized polished silver sphere light by German Industrial Designer Ingo Mauer.
Most hotel lobbies are always a sense of organized chaos, but here the designers have created an atmosphere kin to that of a modern private club, complete with modern wing-backed chairs and oversized deep, tufted leather sofas paired with pale green velvet sofas, softly lit by Salvador Dali-inspired floor lamps.
Afternoon: Exploration
It’s a short jaunt to Kensington Gardens and the Serpentine Gallery as well as the Serpentine Pavilion. Established in 1970, this small but impressive gallery has become a leading arts institution showcasing emerging and established artists from around the world.
The Serpentine Summer Pavilion 2019 was designed by Serpentine Pavilion 2019 designed by Junya Ishigami.
Adjacent to the gallery is the annual summer pavilion, which has become a site for international architectural experimentation. The Serpentine’s annual architectural commission showcases new temporary buildings by international architects from June to October. This year’s monolithic slate pavilion structure was designed by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami. Following the curved lake of the Serpentine you enter the great lawns of Hyde Park where world class events and concerts are held, as well as the Diana Memorial Fountain, a beautiful circular water walkway designed to reflect Diana’s life and symbolizing her quality and openness.
8 pm: Dinner
The Slipstone is a short jaunt from the hotel in the Fitzrovia neighbourhood. Winning the Restaurant of the Year at the GQ Food and Drink Awards in 2017, this intimate modern bistro features an eclectic menu showcasing the best from the region’s suppliers and purveyors. Snacks include simple crisp radishes, which are paired with a aromatic anchovy cream to cod tempura with a seaweed infused tartare sauce. For starters, roasted kohlrabi, a uncommonly used turnip, is raised to a pedestal by being simply roasted and served with goat’s curd, miso, hazelnuts and currants. Middle White pork, a Yorkshire heritage breed, is served as a thick cut chop, wonderfully seared and served with a wonderfully viscous reduction.
8 am: Breakfast
At Berner’s Tavern, I indulge in the traditional Full English of Dingley Dell sausages (from a family pig farm in Suffolk), eggs, roasted tomato, smoked bacon, portobello grilled mushroom to a moist, rich morsel of Stornoway black pudding, from the western isles of Scotland.
Berners Tavern at The Edition London.
10 am to 3 pm
It’s time to walk breakfast off by strolling down towards Charing Cross to cross the Thames on the Hungerfors and Golden Jubilee Bridges, onto the wonderful South Bank walkways. At the foot of the bridge is the National Theatre, which has been producing classic and cutting edge productions for more than 40 years.
Walking along the South Bank seawall, you’ll get spectacular panoramic views across the Thames, from the signature St Paul’s Cathedral. And it’s along this pathway that you’ll come to some of my favourite sites in the city.
Situated in a former power station, the Tate Modern is the country’s national gallery of international modern art dating from 1900 to today. Opened in 2000, this is certainly one of the most important modern galleries on the globe. As with most of the city’s major museums, admission is free so go early to avoid the masses.
Farther down is Borough Market, London’s oldest food market serving the region since its inception some 1000 years ago. Set in the shadows of the magnificent gothic Southwark Cathedral, this massive market was predominantly the city’s wholesale market up until the last century along with Convent Garden situated across the river. Today, stallholders come to trade from various regions of the United Kingdom as well as major European importers with a cornucopia of fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, cheese, meat and game, to artisan baked breads and pastries, not to mention the many popular food truck vendors.
5 to 7 pm Cocktail Hour and Dinner
For cocktail hour, try one of the 30 specialty punches or a craft cocktail in hotel’s intimate Punch Room, a modern reincarnation of London’s 19thcentury private clubs.
English celebrity chef Jason Atherton heads The London Edition’s spectacular Berners Tavern, a spacious dining room with 18-foot vaulted ceilings surrounded by walls hung with a Trunk Archive curated series of photographic portraits, landscapes and still-lifes in the manner of a private collection.
A traditional starter of Melton Mobray Pie, the wonderful pork terrine wrapped in pork gelatin and hot water crust pastry is carved tableside and presented with its various garnishes to a sublime steak tartare enhanced with crisp, thin radish slices to a beautiful deconstructed BLT salad.
A magnificent somewhat ubiquitous cod fillet, comes with a golden seared crown, laying on a throne of herbed tender fava and broad bean medley.
To end, a magnificent show of flambéed Baked Alaska. Traditional done at its best.