LONDON

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS TO LONDON

FIND THE BEST HOTELS TO STAY

London: A Must for All You Fashion Enthusiasts out there

January 11, 2011 in London Entertainment, London entertainment, London Shopping,London travel, Shops in London, Things to do in London | Tags: London entertainment,London Shopping, London Travel, Shops in London, Things to do in London | Leave a comment

Where else will you find designer luxury brands accentuated deluxe malls on one hand, and myriad low priced but polished material festooned flea markets on the other, at the same place? Grab a ticket to London and you will find out. Fashion lovers are thrown open new and eclectic avenues at London, in form of finest of an array including, in vogue ensembles, chic accessories, stylish head gear, and foot wears. Londoners as well as fashion savvy travelers to the city can scavenge these shops and markets, for a bargain or two and flaunt off their proud possessions to their chums. Let’s look into some of these gems:

Upmarket Stores of London

Harrods- Ask anyone in Knightsbridge about this high class and lavish store and you will come to know. A brand to reckon with, Harrods have clients gracing it, from international celebrities to crèmes jostling and huddling for their designer ensembles. Besides, lay your claim to some exclusive array of wallets, purses and watches.

Harvey Nichols-Dedicating eight floors for shopping enthusiasts and frequented by men and women, this classic store is a sort of paradise for lovers of fashion, since its inception in the year 1880. Find a range of designer perfumes, sun glasses, and boots besides the regular stuff and many more. Tuck into sumptuous restaurants sited on the fifth floor taking care of your hunger pangs after you get tire of al that spree.

Inexpensive Flea Markets for All

Camden- Indulge in your beloved hobby for shopping, and splurging your heart out here. Where else you will find a host of musical instruments, junk jewellery and handicrafts at one place but here. Voracious readers will find themselves glued to this place, finding bestsellers at price tags that don’t cause them a bombshell.

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Market-Brimming with crafts and art pieces from Asian and American countries, bask here in this market located in Trafalgar Square. It is a pedestal for juveniles for grabbing cheap soccer stuff with delicious food stalls comprising this vibrant market.

Revel with Chinese New Year 2011 in London

January 5, 2011 in Entertainment, London events, London Events Guide, London tourist attractions, New Year Celebrations In London, New Year events | Tags: Chinese New Year Celebrations, Chinese New Year in 2011, London entertainment, London events, London Travel, London Updates, Things to do in London | Leave a comment

Chinese New Year commemorations are already in full swing with the date falling on 3rd Feb, 2011. Observing these celebrations from Feb 6, 2011, London is all geared up for this big event. Let’s see how the revelry is rolling up in various parts of London:

Where: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, and Chinatown

Time: 12 Noon -6 PM

Nearest Tube Stations: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and Charing Cross

When is Chinese New Year?

Involving the science and realms of both Gregorian and lunar solar systems, the date for Chinese New Year varies but begins usually between late January and mid February every year. Each year is denoted by an animal’s name according to twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac like Dragon, Snake, Rabbit, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, and Tiger. 2011 is fallen on the animal sign of “Rabbit”.

Role of London

Central London sees the biggest bashes outside Asia to mark this festive event probably because of the confluence of the Chinese communities inhabiting a large chunk. Not only Chinese but Londoners from all wakes of life indulge in this festive fervour. You can be a part of it by  getting your London hotels booked right away. Last year’s revelry is still fresh and etched in the minds of the people. The sheer splendour in Trafalgar Square in way of Chinese groups gyrating to the tunes of world class music, with huge and vibrant Chinese dragons and magnificent decorations was a sight to savour. Whereas China Town had lavish stalls and exhibits with special lion dance displays. A hearty feast of delights for people to relish on was also present around. Hailed as the Hong Kong of London China Town, Shaftesbury Avenue had amazing Chinese artists performing on its streets. Leicester Square concluded the event with enchanting fireworks.

Bask in Festive Fervour of Winter Wonderland in London

December 21, 2010 in events in London, London Entertainment, London entertainment,New Year Celebrations In London, Things to do in London, what's on Christmas in London, Winter Wonderland 2010 | Tags: events in London, London entertainment, New Year Celebrations In London, Things to do in London, what's on Christmas in London,Winter Wonderland 2010 | Leave a comment

Date: Nov 19, 2010- Jan 4, 2011

Timings: 10 AM- 10 PM

Venue: Hyde Park

Nearest Tube Station: Hyde Park Corner

Yes it is back and how? The moment you had been all waiting for the entire yearlong has been finally arrived, as the biggest winter fair is back this holiday season with a storm in London , to set in motion your festive celebrations of 2010.

The Event

Hyde Park proudly presents to you a full of frolic and rollick family event, for all ages like whether kids or folks in their 50s or 60s, who are all going to fall for this charm. So what is in offer? Well besides a sight of the largest winter ice rink, fasten your seat belts for a lavish display of Santa Grottos, cartoons, puppets, friendly rollercoaster rides, and exclusive Christmas markets to splurge in. Ebbing out the stress in you, kids will have a whale of a time here in this enigmatic wonderland, which is a spectacle of sorts.

Special Attractions

•    Mélange of lush winter ice rink touted as the biggest in business
•    Zippos Circus- Watch the antics of clowns, giving you fits of laughter in a cozy heated tent.
• Winter Cirque
• Giant Observation Wheel offering sweeping views across the entire city.
• German Christmas Markets- Bask in here for an exclusive variety of rare and special Christmas gifts and souvenirs for your near and dear ones.
• Also on the cards you will find festive delights from sumptuous hot chocolates, cookies, pastries, to a sizzling array of fancy drinks to beat the chill.

Cost

Without burning a hole in your pocket, Hyde Park makes a festive cut in, by offering the tickets in as low as £ 4.50 to the stipulated limits of £ 20.50. So clinch on the tickets as fast as possible to cherish lifelong memoirs.

Travellers to the city can halt at nearby London hotels in Hyde Park and indulge in their leisure with their entire brood in tow. All said and done why don’t you people go and check out what the fuss is all about.

Venues for Sports Addicts in London

January 17, 2011 in London Entertainment, London entertainment, London Sports,Sporting Events London, Sporting venues in London, Things to do in London | Tags:London entertainment, London Sports, Sporting Events London, Sporting venues in London, Things to do in London | Leave a comment

Sports enthusiasts are endowed with a variety of options in London spurring a gush of fervour in them. Whether you have fascination in football, rugby, tennis or basketball, or something else, London lodges all the ideal sporting venues. No matter if you are a Londoner or a traveller, you will find something or the other to immerse yourself in. Have a glance at some of these celebrated sporting arenas:

The Chelsea Football Club

You must have heard about this eminent club over a dozen number of times. Now grab a chance to pay a visit to this lavish club located in Fulham Road in London. Foot ball lovers have every reason to find their spirits soaring high in this club built way back in the year 1905. An astounding capacity of over 41, 841 spectators can grace the Stamford Bridge football stadium inside the famous club. Known to be a host of prolific football events, this place also offers a variety of plush conference venues for your business prospects. Not only that, visitors an also join the splendid four star hotels and restaurants at this fabulous club.

Wimbledon

If tennis is your thing, Wimbledon in London can never disappoint you. Known for playing a host to the major tennis championships for over a century, it can be traced in the south west part of London. London hotels in Wimbledon will provide travellers, an ease of an access to their favourite tennis matches. All English Lawn tennis Championships conducted over here are one of the most respectable and oldest tennis tournaments in the entire globe. Other sporting activities like rifle shooting, horse racing, motorcycle speedway and football can also be smacked inside the famous suburb of Wimbledon.

Lord’s

Ardent admirers of cricket all over the globe consider Lord’s to be the Mecca of cricket. People vouch by the name of this place which has witnessed some of the grandest cricket matches played inside its premises. Also in the stadium, you can trace the most ancient sporting museum by the name MCC Museum.

Explore London on Two Wheels with London Cycle Hire Scheme

December 13, 2010 in Bike Trips for Singles, hotels in London, London travel, Rent Bicycle London | Tags: Adventure Bicycle Tours, Bike Trips for Singles, hotels in London,London Cycle Hire, London Travel, Rent Bicycle London | Leave a comment

For all those of you, who are gravely aspiring to revive their childhood memories of riding a two wheeler and that too in your favourite city of London, can now avail, London Cycle Hire Scheme with no strings attached. Visitors can grab the golden chance to trace the pathways of London, while on their own around hotels in London. So what’s this scheme is all about? Let’s look into some of its details of this new cycle revolution:

When and how did it actually started off?

The scheme initially rolled out in 30 July, 2010 and is sponsored by London’s very prestigious Barclays Bank shelling out £25 million for the next five years, in a bid to promote this eco friendly sport and create something new and exciting for travellers. Here they can rightfully access any of the 5000 chic cycles from London Travel Zone 1, the docking areas around Central London after paying some charges.

• 
  

  Your Pets don’t Need to go Astray with Fabulous Pet Friendly Hotels in London

  December 1, 2010 in hotels in London, London Hotels, London travel, London Travel Guide | Tags: hotels in London, London Hotels, London Travel, Pet friendly hotels, Pet friendly hotels in London | Leave a comment

  

  If you are the one who do not want to leave their pet behind while going for a vacation or a business trip, London provides the perfect opportunity with a wide range of pet friendly London hotels where your pet can accompany you and will be taken duly care  in your absence. These hotels are equipped with all the pet friendly services and activities including a perfect pet menu. Find out some of the famous pet friendly hotels here in our list:

  The Bermondsey Square Hotel

  Located on the Bermondsey Square in London, this stylish hotel with a capacity of 79 rooms equipped with top notch facilities like air conditioning, entertainment system, drink making facilities and many more is a pleasure for its guest. Pets are provided a separate bed for your comfort. If you don’t want to leave your pet behind for long while you are exploring the city, this hotel provides you the perfect solution as is just a stone’s throw away from some of the major tourist sights like Tower of London, Tate Modern, Bermondsey Street among many others.

  41

  This pet friendly five star hotel, an absolute delight for you welcomes your best friend with a warm staff and caretakers ensuring that they do not feel lost in an alien environment. The rooms are neatly designed taking in consideration all the pet friendly and non friendly items. There are also grooming services available for the pet. Enjoy a trip to this hotel on the famous Buckingham Palace Road that makes your stay in London a memorable one.

  The Milestone Hotel

  This classic luxury hotel, a right blend of traditional and contemporary has all the facilities and splendour directed especially towards you and your favourite buddy. Your pet will love to walk and run around in the huge and magnificent landscaped Kensington Park near the hotel. Have a treat at the tastefully designed Chenestone’s Restaurant of Milestone. A custom made menu is also available for the four legged creature.

  London Gyms: A Perfect Way to Living

  November 24, 2010 in London Hotels, London travel, London Travel Guide | Tags:Fitness centres in London, Fitness classes London, London Hotels, London Travel, Things to do in London | Leave a comment

  

  London has a horde of plush fitness centers and gyms as People here are very fitness conscious and consider them necessary for living a life of absolute health and vitality. Personal attention is given to the clientele by efficient trainers through different forms of work-out and exercises to suit every body type. Visitors can also take the benefit of these gyms to refresh themselves and to enjoy the most of their vacation while staying in London hotels. A list of some popular gyms is as follows:

  The Third Space

  Located in Sherwood Street in London, this huge unique gym covering four floors has the exclusive facility of a hypoxic chamber with low level of oxygen and perfect for those people who are vying in higher altitude. Besides, it also includes a boxing room, climbing centre, a variety of workouts which includes martial arts, yoga and burlesque among many others. Added facilities of laundry and medical centre are also being provided.

  Aegis Training Limited

  Formed by Graeme Marsh and Greg Smith in Hewett Street, this spacious gym with a wide area of almost 3000 square ft offers great trainers and a swarm of experts of this field to guide you in each and every step leading to perfect rejuvenation of mind and spirit. The best thing about this fitness centre is that you don’t have to pay the entire amount in lump sum, and pay per session you want to attend. Have a stay at hotels around Liverpool Street which are located in close proximity to this esteemed gym.

  Body Conditioning Studio

  Started in the guidance of expert Rambert performer and Pilates teacher, Dreas Reyneke, this gym serves the best of everything to its clients in form of lavish rooms, equipments and a warm and efficient staff. The place is a safe bet for those looking to having a great workout with undisputed value of their money. Board a Notting Hill Gate tube station to arrive here in this gym.

  Invigorate yourself through these fabulous gyms equipped with the latest machinery and state of the art facilities.

  Celebrate New Year in Style with Lavish New Year Eve Events in London 2010

  November 23, 2010 in London entertainment, London Hotels, New Year events, New Year in London | Tags: London entertainment, London Hotels, London vacations, New Year events, New Year in London, Things to do in London | Leave a comment

  

  London is a must visit place in all times of the year but at New Year the whole city bathes in a unique and splendid charm of festivities. The activities that are a part of this wonderful fest especially at the New Year eve in London are very thrilling and a must part of your things to do in London. Book your stay inLondon hotels while being a part of the revelry going in the air. Some of the great events are:

  
  

  
  
  CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PLACE

  
  

Angel Falls

By any name - Angel Falls, Churún-Vená, Kerepacupai-meru,

 Salto Angel - the world’s tallest waterfall, 3,212 feet (979 m).

Perhaps plants, animals and geological features are never discovered. Instead, the knowledge of their existence gains recognition by a larger, more diverse audience. The existence of the waterfall known to the world as Angel Falls may or may have not been known by the indigenous Kamarakotos Pemón tribe living in the Kamarata Valley next to Auyántepui. They were not known to have explored Auyántepui because they believed evil spirits inhabited it and the waterfall is in a location remote from the closest village. Their traditional name for the waterfall is Churún-Vená.

                                                                                                                                  

Tall waterfalls were reported in the journals of several early non-indigenous explorers, but recent scholarship has in large measure debunked the suggestions that the waterfall was first seen by other explorers including Sir Walter Raleigh, Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz and Captain Felix Cardona. It came down to Jimmie Angel being the first “outsider” to see the waterfall and accurately place it on maps and report it to the world.

One thing is certain about the “discovery” of Angel Falls; its existence became known to the world because of Jimmie Angel’s explorations.

1933: Jimmie Angel first saw Angel Falls on 18 November 1933 while flying solo as an aviator-guide for the Santa Ana Mining Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Co-pilot and mechanic Jose Cardona from Mexico and mining official D. H. Curry were with Angel on the expedition to the Gran Sabana of southeastern Venezuela, but they did not see the waterfall or believe his story about a “mile high waterfall.” Because of ceaseless heavy rains Cardona and Curry became discouraged and left the area shortly after Angel first saw the waterfall.

1934-1935: Jimmie Angel met Durand A. Hall and L. R. Dennison in New York City at the offices of the Case Pomeroy mining company in 1934. He agreed to be their pilot and guide for the Case Pomeroy’s exploratory expedition to the Gran Sabana of Venezuela.

On 24 March 1935 Angel flew Hall and Dennison into Auyántepui’s Churun Canyon to see Angel Falls. Angel had been telling people for many months about his “mile high waterfall,” but his story had not been believed because the official maps for the region did not even show a tepui as high as Auyántepui. Later in the same year on a flight with Angel, mining geologist Shorty Martin took photographs of the waterfall and verified Angel’s story.

L. R. Dennison’s book Devil Mountain was published in 1942 and retold his adventurous months with Jimmie Angel in 1935.

“Now I will show you my waterfall!” shouted Jimmie with glee, as we entered a wide valley. He did not have to point it out, for the fall was plainly visible in the distance. “How is that for a waterfall?” Jimmie demanded. I could not have answered him if I had tried. My eyes must have been popping right out of my head. I could only stare in amazement. It looked like an immense rope hanging over the canyon wall, and it fell for all of 3,000 feet, possibly more, without interruption until it spread out into a billowy cloud of fine, fluffy mist. Jimmie now flew close to this wonder of the world; so close that I feared the plane’s wing would get splashed with water from it. Then he circled around once and dipped his wing three times as though saluting something belonging to him alone.”

L. R. Dennison, Devil’s Mountain, 1942

1937: Jimmie Angel and Angel Falls became better known to the world as the result of his 9 October 1937 landing of El Rio Caroni on Auyántepui in search of the lost “river of gold.” Jimmie and Marie’s landing companions were Venezuelans Gustavo “Cabuya” Heny and Heny’s gardener and jungle companion Miguel Angel Delgado.

At first, Angel’s landing appeared to be perfect, but the wheels broke through the sod and sank into the mud bringing the airplane to an abrupt halt with a broken fuel line and the airplane’s nose buried in the mud. Two days later, when it became clear that there was no gold to be found and that El Rio Caroni was hopelessly mired in her muddy landing spot, the expedition members started their long walk from the plateau. As planned should the aerial part of the expedition for gold encounter trouble, Heny led the Angels with the assistance of Delgado down from the Auyántepui plateau to their camp in Kamarata Valley at the base of Auyántepui.

This adventure captured the imagination of the people of Venezuela because for the first time Auyántepui was considered in terms other than scientific. Jimmie Angel had taken his wife with him and survived an extraordinary journey; it was emotional and romantic.

1937-1938: William H. Phelps, Sr., a wealthy American businessman and ornithologist living in Caracas, had been hearing for many months fantastic stories from the bush about Jimmie Angel’s new “Lost World” of Auyántepui and a mile high waterfall he had discovered. He wrote to his fellow ornithologist and friend Frank Chapman, Curator of the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History and offered his sponsorship of an expedition to Auyántepui and the participation of himself and his son William “Billy” H. Phelps, Jr. who was also an ornithologist.

The American Museum of Natural History had explored tepuis Roraima and Duida a decade before and had discovered many previously unknown plants and birds. Located northwest of Roraima with Duida to the southwest, with hundreds of miles separating them, Chapman believed Auyántepui to be the missing link in the Museum’s exploration of the tepuis. He enthusiastically responded to Phelps’ invitation as, “the kind of a letter of which dreams both geographic and zoologic come true.”

Chapman selected twenty-six year old ornithologist E. Thomas Gilliard and called upon George H. H. Tate, who had led the Roraima and Duida expeditions and was now assistant curator of South American mammals, to accept the mantle of leadership for the expedition.

1938-1939: The Gran Sabana Expedition was commissioned by Venezuelan President José Eleazar López Contreras on 17 December 1938 to investigate the presence and abundance of minerals; to study the soil conditions for agriculture and animal farming; to study the geography and topographic conditions for industrial purposes; to study the climate and sanitary conditions for migratory and colonization purposes; and to study possible penetration routes.

Venezuelan Carlos A. Freeman took this photo of Angel Falls from
Jimmie Angel's airplane on 1 May  1939. It and a companion photo of Angel
Falls were the first published photographs of the waterfall appearing in
"Exploración de la Gran Sabana," Revista de Fomento, No. 19, December 1939.

In December 1939, the government of Venezuela published the findings of the expedition in a lengthy report titled Exploration of the Gran Sabana which included the following introduction:

“Among the explorers of Kamarata, the North American aviator James C. Angel merits special mention for conducting three expeditions by airplane of this area from 1933 to 1937. One of Angel’s principal objectives was the exploration and layout of Auyán-tepui’s plateau where he proposed the construction of a landing strip and in 1936 he organized the first climb to the summit in collaboration with Captain Cardona and Gustavo Heny. At the beginning of 1937, Cardona and Heny succeeded in climbing Auyán-tepui and a little time later Angel landed on the summit of the plateau on marshy terrain where the airplane inundated itself in such a manner that it was necessary to abandon it.

“The explorations by Cardona and Angel contributed to a great awakening of Interest in Kamarata and Auyán-tepui with the result that at the end of 1937, Mr. William H. Phelps organized and funded a scientific expedition with the cooperation of the American Museum of Natural History. That same expedition, under the leadership of Doctor G. H. H. Tate, remained in the area for three months during which time they climbed Auyán-tepui, gathering data on the flora and fauna for correlation with studies done in Roraima and Duida.”

1940-1941: Upon returning to New York, E. Thomas Gilliard wrote his first popular magazine article titled “Unchallenged Champion” which appeared in the December 1940 issue of Natural History, The Magazine of the American Museum of Natural History. In it Gilliard proclaimed, “The fact that a great Lost World really existed, falls or no falls, was sufficient to put the zoological world on its toes. Scientists in all branches who were acquainted with the strange flora and fauna of the two other Lost Worlds (Roraima and Duida) joined in acclaiming Mr. James Angel’s discoveries.” In July 1941, Gilliard published an article about Angel Falls and Jimmie Angel titled “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” in the Saturday Evening Post.

1949: American photojournalist and World War II correspondent Ruth Robertson led the first successful overland expedition to Angel Falls in 1949. At 3,212 feet it was verified the tallest waterfall in the world. Four expeditions before her had tried to reach the waterfall and had failed. Her photographs and account of the expedition “Jungle Journey to the World’s Highest Waterfall,” were published in National Geographic, November 1949. Her book, titled Churun Meru – The Tallest Angel was published in 1975.

There are several names for the waterfall and several versions regarding how the waterfall became known to the world as Angel Falls.