Review

Love reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and tours? ME TOO!

Here you’ll find all the reviews I’ve written while on my travels!

From Michelin star restaurants and 5 star hotels, to budget accommodation, interesting tours and more, find out what I’d recommend for your travels in my reviews.

Happy exploring!!

A Review Of London’s Five-Star Boutique Hotel, The Arch London

Cocktails in the bar at The Arch London

Charm, character and elegance – come and find out why The Arch London is worth every single one of its five stars.

Our stay at The Arch London was part of a very special 24-hours. As we’d been so busy travelling in May, Macca and I had booked a date in August to belatedly celebrate his birthday. It was to be a day of surprises for him… but even this surprise day had a few twists!

He packed an overnight bag, and at 11am I revealed he was to solve a series of clues throughout the day to discover where he’d be going. Consider this a personal treasure hunt! The first clue was a postcode for an escape room. The second to a dim sum restaurant. The third to a mini golf experience. And then there was the fourth clue. He solved the riddles and was left with the postcode W1H 7FD. He knew we were heading to Marble Arch, but had no idea what was in store for him next.

We wandered up Great Cumberland Place, passing Georgian townhouses and hotels, and arrived at The Arch London. As we were welcomed by the doorman, I clocked Macca’s grin. What a birthday this was turning out to be!

The Arch London is a five-star boutique hotel in the heart of London. It’s moments from Oxford Street (perfect for shopaholics) and not far from London’s top restaurants and tourist attractions. It’s a lovely contrast to the vast, big name hotels on Park Lane, providing a more intimate and personal experience.

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REVIEW: Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon, London

Exploring the park in front of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Forget the tennis, there’s another BIG reason to take a trip to SW19 – for a relaxing getaway at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon!

When it comes to mini-breaks, London might not be your first choice, but that’s where a hotel like this is just perfect! It has the feeling of being in the countryside, set in beautiful parkland and close to upmarket Wimbledon Village, yet you’re just a short tube ride to the bright lights of the city. It really does offer the best of both worlds.

I visited in October, enjoying the Eat.Love.Stay package, which included a three course dinner, a glass of wine per person, an overnight stay and a full breakfast the next morning. So, time to find out more… what’s the hotel like? Where is it? Who’s it suitable for? And most importantly – is the food any good?!

Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Hotel Overview

Hotel Du Vin has a collection of smart hotels around the UK, many in unique and historic buildings. I was familiar with the brand after eyeing up their gorgeous hotel in Brighton many times! Cannizaro House, their Wimbledon outpost, is a large 19th Century house overlooking Cannizaro Park – a sprawling collection of parkland and gardens that was looking particularly pretty as Autumn rolled in. There was a sense of grandeur as we entered, peeking through to the bar, lounge and the floor to ceiling glass of The Orangerie. After reading about the history, it felt appropriate to hear the house had hosted the likes of Lord Tennyson and Oscar Wilde! It was quintessentially British in character.

The beautiful lounge of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
The beautiful lounge of Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon: Style and Décor

I loved the bar and lounge area of the hotel, which is both sophisticated and cosy! In the centre of the lounge there’s a striking circular banquette with seating around it. To the side, a fireplace with an ornate marble mantelpiece, topped with bottles of champagne. There are tall columns topped with gold, mirrors with thick gold frames and chandeliers. It definitely feels like somewhere you’d visit for a special occasion. Just beyond is The Orangerie, Hotel Du Vin’s restaurant where we enjoyed both dinner that evening, and breakfast the next morning. What a room! While it’s a lovely open space (with retractable roof and huge doors opening straight out into the park) it’s the view of Cannizaro Park which makes it extra special. The greenery is uninterrupted, with the autumnal colours of red, orange and brown making it especially pretty.

Extravagant details in the lounge area at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Extravagant details in the lounge area at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

Bar at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon
Bar at Hotel Du Vin Wimbledon

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