British International Motor Show Hotels
Start your engines for the British International Motor Show taking place from July 22nd to August 3rd at Excel London.
Thousands of tickets have already been sold for the multi award-winning motor show which after a long spell in Birmingham has finally returned to London after 30 years. The two week motoring extravaganza expects to attract over half a million people, making it the biggest show in the UK.
When visiting London for the motor show, you could stay in hotels near London Excel. However, there isn’t much in the way of entertainment / facilities in Docklands so TubeHotels recommends staying in central London accommodation and travelling to the show each day on the tube.
For more information on the show, visit www.britishmotorshow.co.uk
Sofitel London Heathrow T5
Set to open in June 2008, the £180 million Sofitel London Heathrow T5 will be one of the largest luxury airport hotels. Directly connected to Terminal 5 via a link bridge, the 605-bedroom hotel will be a great addition to an already impressive range of London Heathrow hotels.
Sofitel London Heathrow is instantly recognisable by its five towering steel and glass atriums, and will become a spectacular addition to Heathrow’s skyline. Focusing on the concept of ‘the gateway to the world’ as the design inspiration, KCA International Designers (who have previously designed interiors for Burj Al Arab, Dubai and Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong) will embrace the theme of Continent and Country throughout the property. Antarctica will take the central focus in the hotel’s reception areas with a dramatic water fountain centrepiece, cascading out from a mirrored ceiling onto floodlit ice blocks, funnelling refractive light on the surrounding surfaces. The adjoining public areas will carry through the continents theme to encompass Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The hotel’s four room categories include Classic, Superior, Luxury and Suites, all complete with the signature Sofitel MyBed, ensuring guests the most comfortable night’s sleep possible. Triple-glazed windows will guarantee absolute silence throughout bedrooms, with many rooms offering commanding views of the airport and internal gardens. Each room will be individually styled with contemporary aesthetics appealing to both business and leisure travellers. The hotel will feature no fewer than 52 Suites ranging from Sofitel, Prestige, Opera to the presidential grandeur of the Imperial Suite – measuring 165 square meters.
As soon as this hotel can be booked on TubeHotels.com we will let you know! In the meantime, compare rates and choose another Heathrow airport hotel.
Hyde Park Gate refurbishment
Hyde Park Gate has just completed a multi-million pound refurbishment.
Set within three imposing Victorian houses, Hyde Park Gate was built in 1864 and many of the original features have been retained over the years. The apartments are the most prestigious in the Capital, and in hotel terms equate with London’s grandest five-star establishments. The new designs encompass this splendour and are elegant and classic, with a focus on creating timeless, traditional English surroundings. For more information visit www.chevalgroup.com
Madame Tussauds London adds Angela Merkel
On February 5th, Madame Tussauds London unveiled a wax figure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The new wax work can be found in the Political Leaders Zone of Madame Tussauds London’s famous World Stage. Guests to the attraction can experience what it feels like to deliver a keynote address in front of major political heavyweights including Tony Blair and George Bush (if anyone would want to share such a platform that is). When you take the podium sensors automatically triggers audience applause and the flashing cameras of press photographers to recreate the experience!
When visiting London and Madame Tussauds you consider hotels near Madame Tussauds and Baker Street tube station.
Flora London Marathon hotels
Address: 10 Theed Street, London SE1 8ST, United Kingdom
Date: April 13, 2008
Hours: 6:30am
Tickets: Free
WWW: http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/
Phone: +44 20 79020200
About the Flora London Marathon
Olympic Champion Chris Brasher’s vision of a marathon in London where all people “black, white and yellow” come together to “laugh, cheer and suffer” for the name of charity. His dream became a reality on March 29, 1981 as the Flora London Marathon (FLM) and has been going strong ever since.
Today the London Marathon attracts nearly 100,000 entrees and accepts about half. Although the marathon is a great challenge and a prideful thing for those that enter, it is also extremely enthusiastic about providing for charities the world over. Runners are encouraged to fundraise for a charity of their choice. Many charity organizers even set up entrants to raise money for their own cause. The FLM organization itself also picks official charities to contribute too, with 2008’s chosen charities being H-E-A-R-T UK and the Spinal Injuries Association.
In the days leading up to the race, there is also a Marathon Expo which is held annually at London’s Docklands. The Expo is free of charge, open for four full days and attracts nearly 70,000 visitors. Participants can register, pick up their chip and number or get the latest in race gear. Visitors can meet motivational sports stars, shop Adidas’ Superstore for souvenir items, join the runners at the Pasta Party and watch presentations and entertainment on the Adidas stage. This year the Expo is open on Wednesday from 11:00am – 8:00pm; Thursday and Friday from 10:00am – 8:00pm and Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm. Spectators are also encouraged to seek out the Pubs and Course Entertainment that has been planned out for them along the marathon route.
Anyone looking to participate should look at all that is available to them. There is the feel good aspect of knowing you are running for a cause as well as your own health. The FLM also provides interactive training guides and a FLM 2008 Personal Trainer so that all contestants are ready and able to cross that finish line. There is also a FLM Injury Clinic that is there for those with injury and those who simply want advice on how to avoid injury during the race.
Running the FLM is also a great way to see London. Beginning at Blackheath and ending at the Mall, the rest of the 26.2 miles is filled with infamous London landmarks like Cutty Sark, London Eye, Tower of London, Parliament, Cleopatra’s Needle, Tate Modern, the Thames, National Maritime Museum, Canary Wharf, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Bridge and HMS Belfast.
In order to take part, contestants can fill out entry forms online, by way of the postal service or by fax as their first step. Overseas entries are also more than welcome and must fill out a special online form or call the FLM telephone to register. Registration is fee but all are absolutely encouraged to run for a charity of their choice or for one of FLM’s official charities.
Getting to Flora London Marathon
The starting line’s tube is in Zone 3 in Blackheath Village. For further information, the Transport for London government website provides useful tips on how to get to any site along the FLM path. FLM participants and spectators can buy the recommended 1 to 3 day tickets package that will endure the length of their stay for the race.
Flora London Marathon Hotels
Here is a short guide to Flora London Marathon hotel accommodation.
All of London’s Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts are offering two packages that align with the FLM.
Option A is a premium package that includes a nutritional pre-race breakfast, coach transfer, complementary physio and a soothing post race massage. This package requires a minimum two nights’ stay and is available at Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, Holiday Inn Kings Cross/Bloomsbury, Holiday Inn Mayfair and Holiday Inn Regents Park. Prices ranges from 120 – 165EUR depending upon the location.
Option B also requires a minimum two nights’ stay and provides a nutritional pre-race breakfast and coach transfer. These are available at Holiday Inn Bexley, Holiday Inn Brent Cross, Chessington, Heathrow Ariel, Holiday Inn Heathrow M4 J4, Kensington Forum, Oxford Circus, Sutton and Shepperton as well as Crowne Plaza Docklands, Heathrow, The City and Shoreditch. Prices for Option B range from 61 – 165EUR depending on the location.
We had previously stated that City Inn Westminster was offering a marathon package but this is no longer available.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.org