England

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in England, independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

SAM 0912 NC by night

24 hours in Newcastle

In 2014, The Guardian readers voted Newcastle best city-break destination. I had 24 hours in Newcastle to find out why, but with so much to explore, a strategy was needed.

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The Hilton Metropole

The Hilton Metropole. The Edgware Road has never looked so good.

The Hilton Metropole once suffered from a slightly odd location, sitting just outside the West End, with the need to negotiate the hairiest junction on Edgware Road making it a tad tricky to enter. But now Paddington is the subject of redevelopment, what must be the largest hotel in London is set to come into its own.

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Anthea Gerrie reviews Roba Bar and Restaurant in newly trendy Paddington. 

ROBA BAR AND RESTAURANT. Paddington’s delicious new foodie destination.

With the redevelopment of Paddington imminent, the area is starting to spawn interesting new dining destinations after years as a bit of a gastro-desert. One of the first to jump on the bandwagon is the Norfolk Towers Hotel steps from the station, which has replaced their basement pub with a shiny new ground-floor eatery.

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GAW Res night table view

Galvin at Windows

Years before Galvin at Windows, the Hilton Park Lane has been one of the iconic London landmarks ever since its opening in 1963. I remember spending more than a few nights pretending I was actually living the life of a playboy down in Trader Vic’s. Those were the days.

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the Windmill Hotel

The Windmill Hotel. Clapham’s super stylish pub with rooms.

What makes travellers select a pub on far-flung Clapham Common as one of the 25 best hotels in the UK – and the only one of 13 in the capital which is not on the central tourist trail? The answer would seem to be a sense of history in the pub, super-stylish bedrooms and a glimpse of the green and charm which distinguishes so many London neighbourhoods that have retained their original village feel.

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Exterior

Northcote

You don’t have to be a foodie to stay at Northcote, but the chances are it will be your tastebuds which draw you to this slightly off the beaten track country hotel. Chef-patron Nigel Haworth did, after all, put Lancashire on the map as a dining destination 30 years ago, and the place, which perches unassumingly on the corner of the main road to Preston, is now drawing celebrated guest chefs and those who like to follow them from all over the world.

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