Fergus Brandon

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6 Quirkiest London Museums

When you think of London museums your mind probably jumps to the Museum Row in South Kensington, or the British Museum and Library. This is likely true of most tourists and even locals. London’s famed for its wealth of history after all and its enterprising status as an empire for centuries led the crown and country to explore and study every corner of the globe.

But with such a large area to explore, both in London and the globe, it’s natural that some oddities would turn up. The main menu of museums are centrally located and have prime transport links for guests at the Park Grand London Paddington Hotel, but this is only part of the story. London’s passion for informing and educating reaches far beyond the central boroughs of the city, and into its fringes. Below are some of the lesser-known yet distinctly original museums in London, and why they’re worth a visit.

Horniman Museum

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A Treat for All Royalists

The Royal family attract thousands of tourists to London every single year. They live in a range of places across the city including Clarence House, Kensington Palace and, of course, Buckingham Palace, all of which welcome the public to see how the other half live.

Buckingham Palace is only a short walk from the Sussex Gardens Hotels London and became the home to royalty when King George IV took up residence there and it has continued to be the main home to the Kings and Queens of Britain right up to Elizabeth II, the current Queen. It has 775 rooms which include 78 bathrooms, 52 bedrooms and 92 offices as well as an onsite doctor, post office and swimming pool. Many of these rooms are used constantly but there are tours available throughout the summer months for you to be able to explore the palace.

One of the tours that you can take include the Royal Mews; a mews is a term used for a...

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Late-night activities in London

London like all major metropolises is abuzz with activity all through the night hours. If you are a nocturnal creature that enjoys varied night time activities ranging from partying at clubs to visiting the cinema among a host of other things, London is the ideal city to spend a terrific holiday!

Choose to stay at a nice relaxed area like in North London at the Park Grand Hounslow hotel and you will never fall short of things to do when the night approaches. While in London you must try the quintessentially British custom of afternoon tea near Heathrow airport at any of the fine cafes or hotels in the area.

Some of the more quirky night-time experiences to enjoy in the city are:

Peek into the universe: One of the best spots for star-spotting, the heavenly not celebrity kind is Hampstead Heath, because of its strategic location as one of the best vantage points in the city. Avoid the...

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Laugh, Cry and Sing on The West End

The West End in London is well known for its mix of hit musicals and plays and has thousands of people flocking its theatres every year. Whether you are looking for comedy, tragedy, sing alongs or something for the family, the West End has it all.

Fancy a Giggle?

The Book of Mormon can be found at the Prince of Wales Theatre, just a short trip from the Park Grand Paddington Court Hotel, and is a huge success on the West End due to its religious satirical themes, hilarious content and having been created by the creators of the smash-hit tv series South Park. The story is of two young Mormon men who travel to Uganda to spread the teachings of the Book of Mormon, however, due to their naivety and lack of life experience, they cannot engage with the local people who are more concerned with poverty, famine and AIDS. The lack of understanding and naivety makes way for some hilarious...

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Best Bars in London for Big Groups

London, with its bustling neighbourhoods and lively character, is the perfect place to arrange a group outing. Whether it be for colleagues, friends or family, this City promises to have the perfect bars for you. Below is a list of suggestions for the best bars in London for big groups so that you can plan the night out of the year with minimal stress.

Winning Work-Do

A happy team is a productive team. With this in mind, you’ll likely be ready to plan a winning work-do, that will, without a doubt, increase morale and build a good team atmosphere. After choosing the perfect accommodation from one of the Hotels Near Paddington Station, you’ll need to think up a plan for the evening. Why not Mayfair? This stylish part of the City is home to the Boisdale of Mayfair. A charming restaurant/bar that is simply bursting with character, and with it’s winning cocktail of live-music, tempting...

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Where to Watch Live Sport in London

Sports! You love them, or you hate them – until you don’t.

Limiting yourself to football can be a little boring if you love sports. There’s so much more to the physical competitions than watching Arsenal and Manchester United in a live sports bar, although that can be rather fun, too.

Consider watching live sports in London by attending a cricket match, or a football game or a round of rugby!

Here’s every way to enjoy live sports when you’re in the city of London. Enjoy!

Sports Bars

Let’s begin with the obvious! You can watch live sports in London by going into pretty much any bar. There are, however, certain bars that are simply put: better when it comes to live sports games. Consider checking out the Actress in south London, and it’s a sports-focused bar that also serves sourdough pizza that will make your mouth water.

Bar Kick in east Londons Shoreditch is another impressive...

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How to Save Money on Parking in London

Parking in London is not only limited, but it is also expensive! With that in mind, many commuters avoid travelling by car altogether due to the congestion on the roads and the high prices one would have to pay on parking and congestion fees.

Fortunately, some places offer free parking in the city. However, the more central you get in the city, the higher the prices go. Here are some tips on how to save money on parking in London.

Utilise the free parking spaces
Luckily, there are still some places in the city that offer free parking. This is the best way to save money on parking when you don’t have to pay a dime. The free parking in Shoreditch allows you to leave your car in a safe place, while you navigate the art and spaces that this place has to offer. For a list of available spots in this area, check out: free parking Shoreditch.

Use Public Transport
Using a car is not your...

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Exploring the East London Nightlife

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London is well-known for its 7 day-a-week, late-night hot spots. With clubs, bars and entertainment venues running late into the night (and into the early morning!), guests at hotels near Chiswell Street and the Barbican are well placed for late-night revelry.

London attracts all manner of tourists and whether they’re visiting on business or for leisure, everyone needs a little time to unwind. There’s no better entertainment hub than East London, not just because of its luxury accommodation at great value prices, but because of its eclectic menu of diverse entertainment. Whether it’s a cultural night out at a world-class music venue, nationally renowned club nights or an intimate bar, there’s something for every type of night owl in the UK capital.

So, with East London built on a 65 square mile network of locales and boroughs, there’s a lot to sift through, especially if you’re...

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10 things you didn’t know about London’s Shoreditch

Bordering The City - the business-centric district of London, and nestled between art and design-focused Clerkenwell and Bethnal Green - is one of London’s most loved hotspots for culture, art, fashion and food. Yep, that’s right… Shoreditch.

If you’re heading to London soon and can’t wait to tick off amazing experiences in Shoreditch off your list, we’ve put together some fun facts about the area to help get you even more excited.

  1. The name ‘Shoreditch’ is thought to originate from the Old English term ‘Soersditch’ roughly translating to ‘Sewer’s Ditch’, however, many believe the name was attributed to Jane Shore, a mistress of King Edward IV, who died and was consequently buried in a ditch somewhere in the area.

  2. Boxpark is the world’s first pop-up shopping centre and is home to 60 shipping containers converted for use as shops and restaurants. It, therefore, offers one of the most...

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Wineries to Visit in and Around London

Impress your out of town guests with offering something different than the typical London attractions. While a stay at the Park Grand Paddington Suites will likely do, topping it up with a wine tasting experience will earn you the title of hostess with the most.

It is very rare that when one thinks about London, then wine comes to mind. The city is known for many things, but wine is hardly one of them, or is it? London has a rich culinary culture and with good food comes good wine. The English climate is favourable to grape production (the key ingredient in winemaking). In recent years we have seen English wines making their mark in the world of wine.

Here is a list of places to go wine tasting in the inner city:

London Cru
Tucked away in a quaint street in the trendy suburb of Fulham, you will find this award-winning winery – London Cru. This is the first urban winery in the heart...

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