Have you started a family and thought you’d kissed goodbye to the freedom and romance of city breaks? Think again, as Victoria Owen reveals the perfect capital getaway with children Grace and Barney.
ATTENTION all young parents: ever craved a stay in one of Europe’s finest cities but have resigned yourself to the fact that small children and built-up areas don’t mix?
There’s nothing more special than losing yourself and a loved one (metaphorically) amidst the architecture and treasures of a city, but youngsters put paid to all that. First there’s accommodation to think about, then there’s idiosyncratic dietary requirements and, finally, why bother spending time in a thriving metropolis if you can’t enjoy the nightlife?
Well now you can think again. A five-star hotel in central London could be your fairy Godmother. 51 Buckingham Gate is an exclusive St James getaway, made up of suites nestled around a fountain-adorned courtyard. This exclusive establishment, home to many a celebrity, has come up with the perfect city break for families where every member is a winner: Hamleys at 51.
Everyone knows a hotel family room is not the best option while away. Parents are often forced to spend evenings holed up in the bathroom – unable to leave their children, but frightened of waking them. A 51 suite offers separate bedrooms (and bathrooms) for your little treasures, a living area where you can chill out and they can enjoy DVDs from the hotel’s vast film library, and a well-equipped kitchen where you can prepare a kiddies’ meal instead of wasting money on uneaten restaurant fare.
This inspired package then equips you with a CRB-registered babysitter for four hours while you enjoy a well-earned night out. Why not start off with complimentary drinks in 51’s intimate library, followed by a meal at one of its three restaurants – Bistro 51, Bank Westminster or the Michelin-stared Quilon where the menu boasts mouthwatering Indian cuisine.
But don’t feel you have to limit yourself. Go out, enjoy London for the evening. 51 is probably the most strategically placed hotel in the city and just a romantic 20-minute stroll to Covent Garden. It’s also a five minute walk to Buckingham Palace, where your children will love the Changing of the Guard (the Queen is in if the Royal Standard is up), and 15 minutes to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Bridge, which leads directly to the South Bank, the London Eye, London Aquarium and the Tate Modern.
Oh, and the pièce de résistance of this package? A magical tour of the UK’s best-loved toy shop, Hamleys, including a car to its seven-storey flagship Regent Street store and a welcome hamper from the shop to keep your little ’uns amused during your hotel stay.
If that wasn’t plenty, a chef will also come to your suite to entertain the children with a cookery lesson, ending with rich chocolate cookies and their own personalised jackets.
And mummy and daddy? When you’re not eating out or relaxing in, why not pamper yourselves at the in-house Spa 51, which includes treatments and a complimentary gym, sauna and steam room.
This hotel – once overspill accommodation for Queen Victoria’s Buckingham Palace guests – is a beautiful place to stay, and its Hamleys package is thoughtful and considered – just like the service it offers. Staff are friendly and attentive, and attention to detail is tip-top (umbrellas are on hand at every entrance and joggers can pick up water, towels and maps).
London may wear you all out, but 51 Buckingham Gate will recharge your batteries.
Hamleys at 51 costs from £480 a night and includes: one night’s accommodation for two adults and two children up to the age of 12; English or continental breakfast; Hamleys welcome hamper; personal shopping experience in Hamleys; a cooking or baking lesson with chef in-suite including a personalised chef’s jacket for each child; babysitter for four hours; complimentary evening cocktail and canapés; use of sauna, steam rooms and fitness facilities. Email reservations@51-buckinghamgate.co.uk or call 020 7769 7766 for booking details.
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