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Archive for May, 2012

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in London

Thursday, May 31st, 2012
London Diamond Jubilee Celebration 2012

Diamond Jubilee emblem designed by 10-year-old Katherine Dewar from Chester

London is gearing up for an unforgettable celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, marking the 60th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen came to the throne on February 6th, 1952 and her coronation was on June 2nd, 1953. This anniversary is a special occasion in British history as only one other monarch has celebrated a Diamond Jubilee before, and you’d have to go back to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Celebrations are taking place over a long weekend from June 2nd to the 5th when London will be transformed into a festive setting for events, parades and commemorations for Queen Elizabeth. If you’re in London for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, you’re in for a once in a lifetime experience. Or if you’re traveling to London later this year, you’ll be able to experience the excitement of the Diamond Jubilee by visiting one of the many exhibitions dedicated to The Queen at museums around London. Here’s a look at what is in store for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and fun things to do in London!

 

Diamond Jubilee Events

London will be celebrating all weekend, and here’s a breakdown of the main events taking place for the Diamond Jubilee in London. For the latest news and details on events, visit the Diamond Jubilee website.

Diamond Jubilee Events London 2012

Experience the thrill of a royal carriage procession

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

The royal festivities kick off on Saturday, June 2nd with the Epsom Derby where The Queen will be in attendance for the most prestigious horse race of the year.

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

People throughout the UK are joining in a nationwide celebration with the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, which is based on the popular Big Lunch events where people gather together to enjoy lunch with street parties, picnics and other events. What a perfect way to celebrate the holiday weekend!

The key event of the day will be the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, which will take place on the River Thames and include up to 1,000 boats created all over the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. Find a spot to watch the amazing boat parade, including the Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, that will carry The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. This is an event not to be missed as it is expected to be one of the largest flotillas gathered on the Thames in 350 years. Here’s a video that will get you excited for this incredible event!

Join in the fun by heading to the banks of the Thames to watch the river parade. The bridges, riverside roads and piers will be closed to traffic and 50 big screens set up long the parade route so onlookers can enjoy views from all the best vantage points. To find out the schedule and best viewing spots, simply visit the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant website.

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Events on Monday are focused in the evening on the BBC Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, a musical extravaganza organised by the BBC with some of the biggest British and Commonwealth artists. The Diamond Jubilee website has already announced that this special concert “will include classic hits and one-off collaborations from artists including Shirley Bassey, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J, JLS, Elton John, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox, Madness, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran. Other names will be announced in due course.” Tickets were allotted by ballot to 10,000 lucky UK residents, but the rest of us can enjoy the concert staged around the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace on the live BBC broadcast. The website has also announced that “the concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC One HD and on BBC Radio 2 in the UK and to millions around the world. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch exclusive highlights on ABC the next day.” Tune in to enjoy this amazing concert!

After the BBC concert, The Queen will light the National Beacon outside Buckingham Palace, which launches The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons. This network of over 4,000 Beacons will spread across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. To find out more about the history of the Beacons and events this year, visit the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons website.

Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

Diamond Jubilee celebrations will come to a grand close on Tuesday with a day of celebrations honoring The Queen. The day begins with a Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, followed by a lunch reception at Westminster Hall, the celebrated Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace and the hugely popular Balcony appearance, which will be capped off with a Flypast by the Royal Air Force and a Feu de Joie from the Forecourt. This is the grand rifle fire salute given by The Queen’s Guard and the National Anthem performed by the Band of the Irish Guards. Join in the fun with the crowds of people looking to catch a glimpse of The Queen and Royal Family during the Carriage Procession.

Procession for the Queen's Golden Jubilee

Expect the Diamond Jubilee Carriage Procession to be even more impressive than the Golden Jubilee Procession in 2002!

The Carriage Procession will be one of the most elaborate and beautiful parts of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. In addition to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, many other members of the Royal Family will be in the Carriage Procession, including The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Henry of Wales. Expect the crowd to burst into enthusiastic cheers as the beautiful carriages pass! Some of the most exquisite carriages will be on display, including the 1902 State Landau carrying The Queen and Prince Philip. To find out more about the scheduled route for the Carriage Procession and the official Order of Service for the day, visit the Diamond Jubilee website here.

 

Diamond Jubilee Exhibitions in London

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is being honored and celebrated with a series of exhibitions at museums throughout London. Many of the exhibits run through autumn 2012, which means you can enjoy the Diamond Jubilee during your holiday in London even if you weren’t able to experience the festivities in June.

Kensington Palace London Diamond Jubilee Exhibit

Kensington Palace hosts a special exhibit about Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897

Kensington Palace has recently reopened to the public after a massive $19 million dollar renovation that took two years to complete. The opened was planned to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics later this summer. We took a walk through Kensington Palace on opening day and were amazing by the transformation. It has always been one of our favorite spots in London, and now it really does feel like an Enchanted Palace! The exhibits are lively, whimsical and fun for the whole family. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, Kensington Palace has an exhibit Jubilee: A View from the Crowd, which is dedicated to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It’s fascinating to see the parallels and compare events! The exhibit runs from 24 May to 4 November 2012.

 

The National Portrait Gallery is hosting The Queen: Art and Image, an exhibit dedicated to the most iconic and resonant portraits  of Elizabeth II made during her reign. While entrance to the museum and collections are free, special exhibits like this one are ticketed. Booking your tickets in advance on the National Portrait Gallery website is recommended, especially for weekend visits. Exhibit runs from 17 May to 21 October 2012.

Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1953

Queen Elizabeth II on Coronation Day in 1953

Buckingham Palace is presenting one of the most exciting exhibits to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubliee. In connection with the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, visitors will also be treated to the special exhibit Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration. Three centuries of diamonds will be on display including seven of the nine stones cut from the world’s largest diamond, the famous Cullinan Diamond, which have been brought together for the first time. (The other two are part of the Crown Jewels.) The State Rooms and the special exhibition will be open from 30 June – 8 July and 31 July - 7 October 2012.

Diamond Jubilee Exhibition Buckingham Palace London

Queen Mary's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, 1893

At the Victoria & Albert Museum visitors can take a different sort of walk through British history at the Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 exhibit that runs from 19 May to 6 January, 2013.

 

In honor of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the National Maritime Museum is presenting the special exhibition Royal River: Power, Pageantry & the Thames highlighting the interconnected history of the British monarchy, City of London and the Thames. Exhibit runs from 27 April to 9 September 2012.

 

For all the latest details on the Diamond Jubilee, visit the official website of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee where you can find the latest news, events in London and even send a letter to The Queen. We hope you will enjoy this special occasion and all the fun things to do in London for the Diamond Jubilee!

 

 

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London’s Enchanting Kensington Palace!

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
Kensington Palace London Opens After Renovation

Kensington Palace was the home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the reopening of Kensington Palace to get a first glimpse of its transformation after a $19 million dollar renovation. After two years of work, Kensington Palace reopened to the public on March 26th, in time for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June and the Olympics in London this summer. I couldn’t wait any longer and had to visit on opening day. The visitor experience has been transformed with new exhibits, beautifully landscaped gardens and cafés. Now it truly is an Enchanted Palace!

Visitors will find the newly landscaped entrance to Kensington Palace from Kensington Gardens near the Round Pond. The Palace was built in 1605 as a private country house in the Jacobean style, and was purchased by King William III and Queen Mary II in 1689 as a place where they could escape the hubbub of Whitehall. They hired Sir Christopher Wren to make it fit for a royal residence, and over the centuries many important architects continued to make improvements, including William Kent and Nicholas Hawksmoor. The newest renovations have retained the historic charm of the Palace while telling the story of its royal residents in imaginative and innovative ways. History comes to life like a fairytale—magical, playful and completely captivating.

View of Kensington Gardens from Palace

View overlooking Kensington Gardens and the landscaped entrance to the Palace

The exhibitions and State Apartments have been redone beautifully, and visitors now have four themed areas to explore. Even if you’ve been to Kensington Palace in the past, you’ll want to visit again to experience the newly reimagined, whimsical and fun exhibits. The Palace’s history has been divided into four areas, the exhibit Victoria Revealed tracing the story of Queen Victoria’s life through her own words, fascinating tales and history told in new designs in the King’s State Apartments and Queen’s State Apartments, and a special exhibit dedicated to Princess Diana.

Here’s a look inside the new Kensington Palace from my visit on opening day. You’ll want to add a visit to Kensington Palace at the top of your to do list during your holiday in London. And great news – it’s walking distance from many of our London Perfect vacation rentals in Kensington, South Kensington, Notting Hill and Brompton Cross!

Victoria Revealed

Kensington Palace London Perfect Victoria Revealed

A royal childhood - Queen Victoria's dresses from when she was a little girl!

Kensington Palace’s most famous monarch was Queen Victoria, whose rein saw England become the most powerful nation in the world.  She was born and grew up in Kensington Palace, and the in new exhibit Victoria Revealed you almost hear the laughter of royal children running through the halls. The exhibition explores much about Victoria’s life, from pretty clothing she wore as a child and her toys and dolls, to the important gown she wore to her first Privy Council meeting to her wedding dress, and finally her mourning attire when her beloved husband Prince Albert died. There’s even an early film of Queen Victoria at her Diamond Jubilee.

London Perfect Vacation Rentals Kensington Palace Victoria Revealed

Two of Queen Victoria's dolls on display in the Victoria Revealed exhibit

Throughout the exhibit, quotations from Victoria tell the the story of her childhood in her own words. This creates a wonderfully personal setting that brings the displays to life. On the glass case near her dollhouse her words tell a different story of Victoria’s childhood than many visitors might expect: “I was brought up very simply – never had a room to myself till I was nearly grown up – always slept in my Mother’s room till I came to the Throne.”

Queen Victoria Revealed Exhibit Kensington Palace London

A glimpse into Queen Victoria's childhood through her favourite toys and her own words

The story of her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert are touchingly told through her own words inscribed on the glass cases. She was so in love with Albert, and the exhibit tells this story in a beautiful way. She was impressed by Albert the first time she saw him, “I didn’t think of marrying for three or four years but seeing Albert has changed this.” Looking at Queen Victoria’s wedding dress and a portrait from her wedding day took on new meaning reading her own words, “It was the happiest day of my life!”

Queen Victoria's wedding dress Kensington Palace London

Queen Victoria's beautiful wedding dress - look how tiny she was!

 

King’s State Apartments & Queen’s State Apartments

King's Royal Apartments Kensington Palace London

Walking into the grand King's Royal Apartments in Kensington Palace

Magnificent is the only way to describe the King’s State Apartments. One can feel England’s history while walking from room to room. The glimmering architectural details, the portraits, the clothing and displays tell the story of Kensington Palace’s many royal residents.

London Perfect Vacation Rentals Kensington Palace Victoria Revealed

A display in the King's State Apartments in Kensington Palace

The stairs to the King’s Chambers were stunning with Italian frescos of a balcony scene on the way up.  And small figures in the lamps along the way depicted the royal household in a charming way.

London Perfect Vacation Rentals Kensington Palace King's State Apartment

A very Italian scene painted above the stairs to the King's State Apartments

The Queen’s State Apartments have been beautifully redone, where you can visit the Queen’s Gallery and Drawing room where Mary Stuart, later Mary II, and her sister Anne once entertained in a grand setting, as well as the Queen’s closet and bedroom. Each room is filled with history, and the stories are told in vibrant new ways after the remodeling.

London Perfect Vacation Rentals Kensington Palace Queen's State Apartments

Walking up the mysterious and wonderful staircase to the Queen's State Apartments

 

Princess Diana Special Exhibition

Kensington Palace London Princess Diana Exhibition

The beautiful Princess Diana photographed by Mario Testino for Vanity Fair in 1997

Kensington Palace will be forever closely tied to memories of Princess Diana, and the Palace’s most famous recent figure is honored with a small exhibition dedicated to her. The display includes some of her most famous dresses, including the black strapless dress designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel that Diana wore to her first royal function in 1981.

Kensington Palace Princess Diana Exhibition ball gowns

A selection of Princess Diana's ball gowns - always in style!

An artistic and whimsical touch that I loved was the wallpaper showing sketches of scenes from Diana’s life.  It was a wonderful touch that captured the attention of visitors – and me, too!

London Perfect Vacation Rentals Wall Paper Princess Diana

Scenes from Princess Diana's life depicted in colourful wallpaper design

 

Princess Diana Kensington Palace Scenes from Life

Scenes from Princess Diana's life - Diana holding a baby in the centre

 

Kensington Palace is Perfect for Kids!

While so many museums are just one display after another, which can get boring for children, the newly designed Kensington Palace is so well done with beautiful lighting, a feeling of mystery, questions and visually intriguing displays that will appeal to children. There’s simply so much going on!

Visiting Kensington Palace with Children London

The mysterious displays make Kensington Palace fascinating for kids!

 

Kensington Palace free for kids under 16 London

Lanterns on the King's Staircase show important figures in the household

 

Kensington Palace London

Delightful lantens with royal characters inside

 

Kensington Palace Royal Bathroom Signs

Kids of all ages will get a kick out of the charming royal signs for the loos!

 

A Working Palace

We love the feel of being in a living and working royal palace. If you look closely, you’ll spot signs that are reminders of all the work that goes on behind the scenes at Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace London England

Signs like this one indicate that Kensington Palace is still a working Palace

 

Kensington Palace Silver collection London

Behind this private door is where the royal silver is stored!

 

Visit Kensington Palace!

The newly redesigned Kensington Palace is a huge success. It’s modern, fascinating, and above all, it endures. This is where Will and Kate will live after Princess Margaret’s apartments are remodeled, and the latest news reports Prince Harry has also taken up residence at Kensington Palace. The Duke of Gloucester, currently 21st in line of succession to the throne, also lives there with his wife Birgitte.

After your visit, there new Palace café is a nice spot where you can sit and enjoy the gardens. Or stop by Queen Anne’s 18th-century Orangery nearby, which is where Pru Leith does her cooking magic. Experience a bit of the royal lifestyle during your next visit to London by visiting Kensington Palace. For the latest information on visiting or to book your tickets online, visit the Kensington Palace website.

 

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Plan a Last Minute Getaway for the London Olympics 2012!

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

London Summer Olympics 2012 Tickets on Sale Now

 

Are you counting down the days to the London Summer Olympics 2012, which are set to take place from July 27th to August 12th? The city is buzzing with excitement as the Olympic Torch gets closer to London every day. If you don’t want to miss the experience of seeing the Olympics in London, we’ve got great news for you. It’s not too late to get your hands on Olympic tickets! The remaining tickets are going on sale Wednesday, May 23rd at 11am London time. Visit the official London Olympics 2012 website for all the details on availability and how to purchase tickets to the games. Remaining tickets for the Paralympic games already went on sale May 21st. Hurry as the tickets are first come first serve and are only available online and over the phone. Don’t miss your chance to scoop up the last ones!

 

Book a London Perfect Vacation Rental for your Last Minute Olympics Getaway!

If you’ve been lucky enough to get tickets to the London Olympics this summer, we’re pleased to share that some of our London Perfect vacation rentals still have availability during the games. Why not plan a last minute getaway and enjoy the luxury of returning home to a beautiful London home or apartment after a fun day at the Olympics?

Notting Hill Vacation Rental for the London Summer Olympics 2012

The charming living room of our Lloyd vacation rental in Notting Hill

Our absolutely charming and new Lloyd vacation rental in Notting Hill is a spacious 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom townhouse that welcomes up to six guests. It’s located on a peaceful cul-de-sac near Portobello Road, Westbourne Grove and the lovely Kensington Gardens. Even better, it’s also just around the corner from the Queensway station on the Tube’s Central Line, which is a straight shot to the Olympic Park. Our Hornton 3 bedroom vacation rental in Kensington is another popular choice for guests coming for the summer Olympics because of its charming mews location and easy access to the Central Line.

London Perfect Vacation Rental for Summer Olympics Trafalgar Square

Return home to the peaceful Eden studio apartment near Trafalgar Square

If you’re looking for a studio rental during the London Olympics, we’re pleased to share the new Eden studio vacation rental in a fabulous West End location very near Trafalgar Square. This beautiful studio offers the perfect balance of a peaceful London stay just moments from the excitement of the Theatre District, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the best of the West End. Our charming Queensgate studio rental in South Kensington is another popular choice for a last minute London getaway for the Summer Olympics.

London Vacation Rental in Kensington for London Olympics 2012

Enjoy evenings at home with family and friends in the luxurious Brunswick home

Looking for a London vacation rental for friends or the whole family to enjoy during the London Olympics? Our grand and gorgeous Brunswick 6 bedroom vacation home in Kensington welcomes up to 8 guests and is conveniently located near the Notting Hill Gate station on the Tube’s Central Line. For even more space and an unforgettable London stay, we invite you to view the Walpole 5 bedroom Olympics rental in Kensington that welcomes up to 10 guests and features a beautiful outdoor terrace, spacious and comfortable living spaces and an ideal location near Kensington Gardens.

London Vacation Home Rental during Summer Olympics 2012

Enjoy a peaceful stay in the Walpole home in London's beautiful Kensington neighbourhood

There’s still time to plan a last minute London getaway to enjoy the Summer Olympics 2012! Contact us for more information about availability and finding the perfect London vacation rental for the Olympics. And good luck scoring those last minute tickets!

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Notting Hill, London: Carnaval, Antiques, and Restaurants

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

Notting Hill is filled with cobblestone streets, large Victorian townhouses, communal gardens and some of London’s finest shops and restaurants.

Whether you’re looking for an antique Royal Navy Ship Clock from the 1920s or just want to dance in the street to some Calypso music, Notting Hill’s got just what you’re looking for.

Widely considered one of the more fashionable neighborhoods in West London, Notting Hill is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It’s filled with cobblestone streets, large Victorian townhouses, communal gardens and some of London’s finest shops and restaurants. So to get the most out of your stay, here’s our recommendations for places to see and things to do in Notting Hill.

Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road runs the entire length of Notting Hill from north to south, and that’s where you’ll find one of London’s most popular markets, the Portobello Road Market. The market is famous for its antique section, which dates back to the late 1940s and 50s. On a Saturday morning, the main day for antiques, you’ll find over 2,000 antique dealers crowded into the street along with jazz quartets and shoppers perusing through the wide array of books, jewelry, furniture, and decorative art pieces. Make sure that you bring plenty of cash and are ready to deal with these vendors.

Antiques aren’t all that Portobello Road has to offer. If you travel a little further north, there are fruit and vegetable stands that sell fresh produce throughout the week. Under the Westway Flyover, you’ll find a row of shops specializing in vintage clothing and boutique fashions. And if you need a quick bite to eat, try the Hummingbird Bakery for some of the most delicious cupcakes in London.

Westbourne Grove
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for at Portobello Road, just a few minutes away you’ll find Westbourne Grove, one of the main shopping areas in Notting Hill. There you’ll find fashion boutiques, shoe and bag designers, jewellers, art galleries, and cafes and restaurants.

And it also happens to be part of the route of the…

Notting Hill Carnaval

On the last weekend of August, the Notting Hill Carnival takes over the streets of the neighborhood, filling them with Caribbean food and music.

On the last weekend of August, the Notting Hill Carnival takes over the streets of the neighborhood, filling them with Caribbean food and music. It’s the largest street fair in Europe, and second in the world only behind the Rio Carnival in Brazil. For the past few years, over 1 million people have traveled to participate in the celebration.

Dating back to 1965, the Carnaval was founded to celebrate cultural unity in Notting Hill. Today, that spirit remains as the immigrants who have settled into the community proudly display their music, food, dance and, of course, colorful costumes. During the event, you can enjoy foods from Portuguese bakeries, Moroccan cafes, and Caribbean street vendors. Meanwhile the sounds of steel bands and soca and calypso music fill the air.

On Saturday, the party begins with a steel band competition. Sunday is children’s day, and Monday is for the adults. On both days, the party gets started at 9am, so get there early. Because many of the streets will be closed in the area, it’d be smart to take London’s public transport. Also, the north entrances tend to get crowded, so try to enter from the west or south.

Notting Hill Restaurants
If you’re looking for a real special meal in Notting Hill, look no further than the Ledbury. For the past two years, it’s been voted the top UK restaurant by the National Restaurant Awards. Serving modern French cuisine, Australian chef Brett Graham is constantly rotating dishes on and off his menu based on the seasons and availability of the ingredients.

But the restaurant is rather small, making tables hard to come by. So it’d be smart to make your reservations when you start planning a trip to London.

The Ledbury, 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, UK W11 2AQ, 020 7792 9090

Notting Hill Accommodations
And of course, our recommendations for Notting Hill would not be complete without highlighting some of our amazing Notting Hill accommodations. These include our 2-bedroom Leinster apartment, which features a private garden where you can dine al fresco; our 3-bedroom Lloyd apartment, which is located close by Kensington Gardens, Westbourne Grove, and Portobello Road; or our 3-bedroom Notting Hill short-term rental, located around the corner from where the movie “Notting Hill” was filmed.

So book your flight to London and come enjoy all the culture and history that Notting Hill has to offer!

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