What a lovely weekend we’ve just had. It started with a minor trauma but that’s par for the course for accident-prone me. Mr. C dropped me at one of the doors of The Novotel London West before trundling off to park the car . We had decided beforehand not to park at the hotel as it was so expensive and the NCP car park around the corner was significantly cheaper.

Anyway off he went as I made my way through the revolving doors. Then the farce began…. In order…… My case got stuck, I pulled it, the door creaked to a halt with my case mainly outside with me holding the handle. The alarms started beeping and minutes later with me still firmly stuck, some passers-by ‘rescued’ me. I pushed my handbag through the gap, passed the suit-carrier through and then holding my tummy in and not breathing attempted to squeeze through the minute gap myself. An altogether far from sophisticated entrance to a very smart hotel and an eventful start to our weekend break.

Once we had checked in to our executive room on the ninth floor, all was forgiven as the views over London were spectacular. It was like ‘Spot the Attraction’ as we could see so many of the landmarks the capital is famous for. Our room was contemporary and we were very pleasantly suprised by its design and ‘feel’. We’d go back there in an instant, it was perfect for us. Even the main bar downstairs was better than most soul-less hotel bars. There was a proper mixologist so the cocktails were spot on and the snacks on offer were varied and brilliant value for money. Breakfast on both mornings was better than some of the 5 Star hotels we’ve stayed in – we couldn’t fault it.

Saturday morning saw us going to The View From The Shard.  Marvellous panoramic views as expected but difficult to justify the phenomenally expensive ticket prices. We were done and dusted and back on the street within 30 minutes but with £60 less in our bank account. A fun trip but way too dear!

After another tube journey and a wander through Saturday shoppers, we arrived in Kensington Gardens. Here we were due to go to Kernsington Palace before going for afternoon tea. I’d had a BuyAGift voucher  for Christmas so this bit wasn’t going to cost us a penny. To be honest I’m not big into going around stately homes and the like and am not really into the ‘royals’ either so here we went off radar, checked in our voucher, picked up our entrance tickets and then in a ‘random act of kindness’ presented them gratis to two toursits queuing behind us. They were very happy and so were we.

Then smiles all over our faces, we went over the road to The Baglioni Hotel  for the best bit of our weekend – A Champagne Afternoon Tea. The setting was perfect, the cakes and scones were without exception delicious and the Moet was …well it was Moet, what’s not to like?

A cocktail at the incomparable Artesian Bar at The Langham was the icing on the cake. Just the one each though as at £18 a go, their cocktails are very much reserved for special occasions!

A brilliant weekend and we can’t wait to return.