UK Travel Blogs

REVIEW: Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel

Street Art Room at Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street, London

Street art themed rooms, epic breakfasts and warm hospitality… a stay at the Andaz London Liverpool Street is a special experience.

The weekend was shaping up to be a good one. With my other half’s big 3.0 on Saturday, I decided to shake things up a little with a surprise the night before.

I checked into the Andaz London Liverpool Street, spent an hour exploring the facilities, hung up a kitsch ‘Happy Birthday’ banner above the bed, and laid out a few presents on the desk. I’d been dying to stay here… and he didn’t know it yet, but he, too, was in for a real treat.

Exterior of Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street, London

The luxurious Andaz London Liverpool Street is a 5-star hotel with ambition. Yes, it’s in the ideal location for business travellers who need easy access to the city, AND a great base for tourists … but it also offers plenty for travellers like me. A Londoner. A Londoner attempting to be a tourist in my own city.

Recently the Andaz collaborated with SideStory – arguably one of the capital’s coolest tour operators, to offer two special experiences. After staying in one of the hotel’s super-trendy street art rooms, guests spend an afternoon on a photography or street art in the local neighbourhood. It’s a great concept, and refreshing to see a luxury hotel looking for a new way to heighten the guest experience.

Fresh mozzerella and flatbreads at Obicà Restaurant, St Paul's, London

From delicious burrata to tasty pizzas, Obica Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in St Paul’s. Find out more in this detailed review.

Forget tapas bars. Forget sushi bars. Right now, it’s all about the mozzarella bar. And I seem to have found a good one right in the heart of London.

Mini boccocini balls, smoked mozzarella, burrata, and an enormous braid of mozzarella arrived at the table. It was an overwhelming quantity of cheese… but I couldn’t wait to dive in.

With 23 restaurants across the globe (from Japan to the USA), Obicà’s cheesy empire is growing fast. Just a few weeks ago they opened their latest London restaurant, in the heart of the city by St Paul’s.

It’s a smart place – contemporary, elegant, but surprisingly – it’s not expensive. It’s a great place for a date, dinner with friends or a casual lunch.

Happy diners at Obicà Restaurant, St Paul's, London — Happy diners at Obicà Restaurant, St Paul’s, London

Wine racks at Obicà Restaurant, St Paul's, London — Wine racks at Obicà Restaurant, St Paul’s, London

Burrata, dattarini tomatoes and broad beans at Osteria London

Thinking of booking a table at the Barbican’s Italian restaurant, Osteria London? Find out more about the food, menu, service and more in this detailed review.

With top restaurants Arbutus and Wild Honey already established, Osteria is an exciting addition by Anthony Demetre to the London food scene. Specialising in bold, ingredient-led Italian cooking, the menu features gourmet fish, meat, and pasta dishes… But before I could think about food, I was distracted by the cocktail menu!

My sweet strawberry and prosecco cocktail (named La Dolce Vita) arrived just as the clouds outside started to turn a beautiful shade of peach. Osteria is in a lovely location overlooking medieval church St Giles’ Cripplegate and the area of water outside the Barbican centre. Oh and from some angles you’ll be able to spot a slither of St Paul’s Cathedral.

One of the top restaurants in London, It’s time to review lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze Restaurant in Grosvenor Square.

From Petrus in Knightsbridge and Plane Food in Heathrow Airport, to restaurants in Vegas and Singapore, Gordon Ramsay’s empire has risen to 30 restaurants across the globe. They’ve been awarded a handful of Michelin stars, and are a must-visit for many foodies.

I was excited to return to one of my favourites – Maze Restaurant in Grosvenor Square. It’s a glamorous, gourmet restaurant in the heart of Mayfair with a varied menu of fine-dining dishes and sushi.

It was my mum’s birthday and we were an awkward party of 5 that included not only a vegetarian, but a 10-month old baby. Yes, surprise – this sophisticated restaurant welcomes babies!

Maze London – Review

We started the afternoon in the relaxed bar area enjoying the bright sunshine while sipping on prosecco and indulging in scallop canapés. The seared scallops were sandwiched between thin lime slices, creating the flavour of a deconstructed ceviche.

Scallop canapes at Maze Restaurant, Mayfair

Vegetarian sushi canape at Maze Restaurant, Mayfair

We were shown to our table and far from hiding us away, my baby niece was seated in a high chair at the head of the table, where she rose to the occasion and behaved impeccably for the full three hours we were there.

Find out what it’s like to stay at the luxurious Burley Manor in the New Forest.

I’ve pledged to see more of the UK this year, and I’m so happy to report that I’ve just found one of the prettiest places yet!

Yes I may have nipped to the Alps for a quick play on the ski slopes, and caught some winter sunshine in Marrakech… but I’ve also been won over by London’s brightest festival – Lumiere London, and swapped big city life for an English country manor in the New Forest. Just a quiet January then…

These are all of my UK travel blogs!

From hiking in the Lake District and beach holidays on the Isle of Wight, to historic exploration in Bath and Oxford, find out the best places to travel to in the UK here, by checking out my top UK travel blogs.

Happy exploring!

REVIEW: Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel

Street art themed rooms, epic breakfasts and warm hospitality… a stay at the Andaz London Liverpool Street is a special experience.

REVIEW: Obicà Restaurant, St Paul’s, London

From delicious burrata to tasty pizzas, Obica Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in St Paul’s. Find out more in this detailed review.

REVIEW: Osteria London Restaurant, Barbican

Thinking of booking a table at the Barbican’s Italian restaurant, Osteria London? Find out more about the food, menu, service and more in this detailed review.

REVIEW: Maze Restaurant, London

One of the top restaurants in London, It’s time to review lunch at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze Restaurant in Grosvenor Square.

Maze London – Review

REVIEW: Burley Manor, New Forest, Hampshire

Find out what it’s like to stay at the luxurious Burley Manor in the New Forest.