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How To Have An Enchanting London Escape

Put your feet up at The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel, where you can relax in style by an open fire after a long day of shopping

The holiday season is when London is undeniably at its most magical – especially if it includes a stylish stay at the suitably elegant Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel. Here, Tove co-founder HOLLY WRIGHT shares her insider tips on how to experience and enjoy the city in all its festive glory

Lifestyle

London famously takes on dazzling new light during the winter months, when the city comes alive with festive splendor and there is an abundance of cultural wonders to revel in. An enchanting hideaway, The Cadogan is a landmark hotel with an effervescent past – and is the perfect base if you want to soak up the city during the holiday season. Here, gilded history, dating back over two centuries, meets new vivacity in the heart of Chelsea. The plush rooms and suites pay homage to the notable figures who have walked the hallowed halls, including the likes of Oscar Wilde, while a striking collection of art gives guests a sense of the brimming culture on your doorstep.

The Cadogan has also recently welcomed an elegant new neighborhood café-restaurant, The LaLee, which takes inspiration from another infamous former resident – Chelsea socialite Lillie Langtry, who was legendary for jet-setting around Europe as well as her penchant for glamorous entertaining, a hallmark of this new opening. The all-day menu serves up an array of European favorites, including lobster bisque, croque madame (or indeed monsieur), platters of fresh oysters, eggplant parmigiana, steak frites with Béarnaise Sauce, and sea bream carpaccio; while sweet delicacies include French pastries, rum baba and tiramisu.

The drinks menu is just as delectable, with a fine-wine offering from vineyards across Europe, including the Rathfinny Classic Cuvée, a unique English sparkling wine that is custom-made for The Cadogan at the Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex. And if cocktails are your thing, these include a curation of signature concoctions, each of which is inspired by a European city that Langtry once visited.

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An enchanting hideaway, The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel, is a landmark hotel with an effervescent past – and is the perfect base if you want to soak up the city during the holiday season
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I love to wander round St James’s in the winter, especially during the Christmas period. It's like stepping back in time with so much history and charm.

Wrap up warm and visit one of London’s eight Royal Parks. Regent’s Park is a favorite. A stroll down the main avenue will lead you to Primrose Hill, where you’ll find cozy pubs and the beautiful colored houses around Chalcot Square. Climb to the top of the hill to view the London skyline – and spot the giraffes at London Zoo, which runs alongside the edge of the park.

At the top of Richmond Hill, in Richmond upon Thames, you get the most beautiful view of the Thames. It was Turner’s favorite place to paint and is one of London’s protected viewpoints. A short walk down the river from here takes you to Petersham Nurseries, a hidden gem and a wonderful place to enjoy lunch. In the summer months, you can hire a rowing boat and follow the river towards Teddington Lock to explore Eel Pie Island and Ham House.

Where better to rest your weary head than Chelsea’s dreamy The Cadogan?

Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall is spectacular and lazy Sundays walking down the South Bank is a perfect way to soak up the city – visits to Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre while you’re there are a must. I also love to visit the National Portrait Gallery when the Portrait Award is exhibited. I’m always in awe of the talent.

Londoners really embrace the winter months – and in particular Christmas. The lights across the city are magical, as are the ice rinks at Hampton Court Palace and Somerset House. And nothing beats an English pub in December, of course. Visiting my local pub to sit by the crackling fire and enjoy a Sunday roast and bottle of red wine with friends is pure bliss.

Venture further afield and travel out of central London to London’s surrounding neighborhoods. Bursting with hidden gems, Hampstead, Little Venice, Richmond, Victoria Park and Greenwich are just some of the places to visit and discover why Londoners like me love living in London.