A video tour of 1950’s London’s swingin’ coffee bars

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Contrary to popular belief, tea is not the only popular beverage served in London. In fact, ever since the first Italian espresso machine crash landed in England in 1952, London has had a swinging coffee culture. Now thanks to the vintage documentary reel above, you can take your own tour back in time to the beginnings of London’s fledgling coffee shop scene.

Hit play and enter a time when coffee was the king of cool, inside a smoky, bohemian coffee bar, packed to the rafters with young Londoners gleefully puffing on cigarettes as a lively soundtrack of jazz wafts above them. It’s as much a tour of the city’s coffee bars as it is an intriguing artifact of a London that has moved on to trendier pursuits and hangouts. This morning, go grab yourself another cup off the pot and settle in for an intriguing cross-section of life in 1950’s London.

London: Extraordinary Saatchi Gallery suite at Hyatt Regency

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is currently partnering with the Saatchi Gallery on One Giant Leap, a series of three 2012 exhibitions. These exhibitions, the first of which opens today, bring pieces from the Saatchi Gallery’s collection into the hotel’s public spaces.

Since 1985, the Saatchi Gallery has been the UK‘s leading contemporary art collection. Like a number of other high-profile museums in London, the Saatchi Gallery never charges admission. And for its part, the Churchill has developed a tradition of working with art and artists. Since 2008, the Hyatt Regency property has been a hotel partner for the Frieze Art Fair.

One inarguable highlight of the exhibition is Martin Honert’s Riesen (Giants), a mesmerizing sculpture of two giant men who look like modern day hobos. They are positioned across from the hotel’s main elevator bank, looking far less menacing than their three meter (almost 10-foot) height might suggest in the abstract.

There are artworks on display by a number of contemporary artists, including a sizeable jesmonite sculpture of a hippopotamus by British artist Christina Mackie.

The real treat, however, is the Saatchi Gallery Suite, which is crammed with remarkable pieces by contemporary artists, including works by Carla Busuttil, Ronin Cho, and Jill Mason.

The suite’s most appealing feature in my view is Celine Fitoussi’s site-specific installation (see photo) in its en suite bathroom. Fitoussi has tiled the bathroom’s walls with bars of soap. Their gentle scent is fragrant enough to be sensed, very faintly, throughout the suite.

The suite will remain decked out in contemporary art (and classic Republic of Fritz Hansen furniture pieces) through April 30. Admittedly, it does not come cheap. The suite is is priced at £700 ($1100) per night. High rollers and splurging art fans, however, are in luck. Its short three-month season has not yet sold out.

World’s quirkiest rental home: The Balancing Barn

by Jessica Festa on




For travelers who want to have a rustic experience in the English countryside while also experiencing modern innovations, you may want to look into reserving a stay at The Balancing Barn, a unique rental home in Thorington, Suffolk, in England that defies the laws of nature. Created by Netherlands-based architectural firm MVRDV, half of the barn sits precariously over a descending slope with no ground underneath as the house actually shifts and balances. For an immersive experience in the outdoors, guests have the opportunity to literary soar over nature via a swing hanging from the bottom of the structure, just as if they were hanging from a tree. Moreover, the reflective sheet metal covering the structure responds to nature, causing the optical illusion of changing with the seasons.

For more information on how to book and what’s included, click here. To get a better idea of the project, check out the video above and the gallery below.

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Sunken British warship to be raised, mystery solved

by Chris Owen on

In 1744, a mighty British warship sank off the Channel Islands, killing more than 1,000 sailors and carrying an estimated £500m worth of gold coins. Now, plans are being made to raise the ship and solve one of seafaring’s greatest mysteries.

“HMS Victory was the mightiest vessel of the 18th Century and the eclectic mix of guns we found on the site will prove essential in further refining our understanding of naval weaponry used during the era,” said Greg Stemm, chief executive of Odyssey Marine Exploration the American salvage company that found the ship and has been chosen to carry out the recovery.

The wreck of the 300 ft HMS Victory was a predecessor of Lord Nelson‘s famous 104-gun flagship, now a floating museum, was found near the Channel Islands in 2008, nearly 65 miles from where it was historically believed to have sunk.

Only a cannon, marked with the crest of King George I, has been recovered so far but the remains of the ship’s hull, an iron ballast, two anchors, a copper kettle and rigging have been spotted on the ocean floor where the ship was laid to rest 300 years ago.

The guns and other reclaimed artifacts will be displayed in British museums, however under British laws of salvage, the salvage company is likely to receive the bulk of any treasure found.

No matter, says Lord Lingfield, a relative of Admiral Sir John Balchin, who was onboard the warship when it sank. “We will have the satisfaction of solving a great maritime mystery that has been part of my family history since the 18th Century.”

Flickr photo by david.nikonvscanon


Luxury Travel: Visit England’s Highclere Castle, filming location of Downton Abbey

by McLean Robbins on
Fans of English history will leap at any chance to tour the country’s stately homes – but a private one-on-one with a real-life Earl and Countess might just be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, any such experience comes with a price. For GBP 7,900, guests can step into the shoes of a Downton Abbey cast member with a private day trip to Highclere Castle, the filming location for the Emmy-winning series on PBS Masterpiece Classic.
Begin the day with tea and coffee in the private morning room after being personally greeted by the eighth Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, followed by a tour of the State rooms led by the Lord or Lady of the house. After a lunch with wines chosen from the Earl’s cellar, it’s off in one of the Earl’s private 4x4s to Beacon Hill.
After lunch, be transported in one of the Earl’s private 4×4 off-road vehicles to Beacon Hill. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon (who funded and assisted Howard Carter’s investigations, culminating in the discovery of Tutankhamen’s fabulous tomb in 1922) is buried at the summit and see the remains of an Iron Age fort. If the weather is inclement, enjoy an escorted tour of Highclere’s Egyptogology Exhibition.

The visit ends with the serving of High Tea, at which guests have an opportunity to gain an intimate and informal insight into the working life of the Countess. The package can be booked through Noteworthy Events.

Of course, if you’re simply a lover of the show and looking for a package that’s a bit less expensive – check out this hotel experience in New York that we covered a few weeks ago.