Emyr Thomas, a former investment banker in the City of London, knows what business travelers require to ensure that they're well rested and prepared for morning meetings, how to impress clients at London's top restaurants and where to pick up something special for loved ones back home. He gives us his thoughts on London.
Hotels
It is important to determine where your meetings will be in London before you arrive, as there are three main areas, which are of reasonable distance from each other. In the City, the best hotels to stay in are the Threadneedles Hotel (www.theetoncollection.com) or Andaz (www. andaz.com), both of which are in the heart of the financial district. For Canary Wharf, Emyr suggests the Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf (www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf), which has superb views of the river Thames.
Mayfair and Knightsbridge offer a wide range of excellent hotels, but for the business traveler he suggests Brown's (www.brownshotel.com) or Claridge's (www.claridges.co.uk) in Mayfair and the Mandarin Oriental (www.mandarinoriental.com/london) or The Lanesborough (www.lanesborough.com) in Knightsbridge.
Restaurants & Bars
London is a dynamic city with a diverse range of venues. For a formal business dinner, Emyr suggests going to Helene Darroze at the Connaught Hotel (www.the-connaught.co.uk). The Connaught also features two of the best bars in London; the Coburg bar is a wonderful place to relax and the Connaught bar is perfect for a glamorous post-dinner drink.
To try out great British cuisine in a more casual environment, visit St John (www. stjohnrestaurant.com), which is renowned for serving traditional cuts of meat that have fallen out of favor in modern times, and no visit to London is complete without trying the distinctly British tradition of afternoon tea at The Capital hotel (www.capitalhotel.co.uk). If visiting London for the weekend, the perfect way to end is with a Sunday evening dinner at Scott's (www.scotts-restaurant.com).
In the City, Emyr suggests going up to Vertigo 42 (www.vertigo42.co.uk) for a glass of champagne and to view London in all its splendor. A short taxi ride away in Shoreditch is the rooftop bar at The Boundary (www. theboundary.co.uk), which is a great place to enjoy the British summer.
In Canary Wharf, go to the recently renovated Dockmaster's House (www. dockmastershouse.com), which serves upscale Indian food in modern surroundings with a number of lovely bars.
For the all-important business lunch, Rhodes 24 (www.rhodes24.co.uk) in the City is ideal, and many deals have been brokered over breakfast at The Wolseley (www.thewolseley. com) in Mayfair.
Spas
The Berkeley Health Club and Spa (www. the-berkeley.co.uk) has a rooftop pool with a retractable roof that opens up in the summer with spectacular views of Hyde Park. The Spa at Chancery Court (www.spachancerycourt. com) is very serene and offers a wide range of treatments. For a male grooming salon, experience The Refinery (www.the-refinery.com), which offers haircuts, shaves, massages and a range of other beauty treatments.
Shopping
The high-end boutiques are located on Bond Street and South Molton Street in Mayfair, Sloane Street in Knightsbridge and in and around the Royal Exchange in the City. London has many great department stores, the best of which being Selfridges, Harrods and Liberty. For gentlemen's tailoring, a visit to Jermyn Street is a must.
For something uniquely British, Emyr recommends the bespoke shirts from Turnbull & Asser on Jermyn Street and a bespoke umbrella from James Smith & Son on New Oxford Street. Other uniquely British brands that make excel¨lent gifts are Smythson (stationery and leather goods), Pringle (cashmere jumpers and other high-end accessories) and Mulberry (luxury luggage, handbags and leather products).
Travel
It is usually fairly easy to hail a `black cab' on the street, but hotels and restaurants will be able to pre-order a taxi for all guests. Drivers of black cabs are required to complete two years of training to learn all of London's back streets, so you should feel confident that they will know the best route to your destination.
Despite its reputation, the London Underground is not too difficult to navigate and can often be a quicker mode of transport, especially at peak hours. London now has a very comprehensive bus route, but this is best avoided without pre-planning. And always mind the gap.
For air travel, London's major airports are all located a substantial distance from the centre. One of London's best-kept secret is City Airport, located five minutes from Canary Warf and a 15-minute cab ride to the City. Most destinations served through the airport are major European capital cities, but British Airways is scheduled to begin a business class only service to New York this autumn.
Tipping
A tip of between 10 percent and 15 percent is customary in London's restaurants and bars, but many tend to include a discretionary 12.5 percent tip on the bill, so be careful that you don't tip twice. For taxis and porters, a couple of pounds will usually suffice.
BonVivant
Bon Vivant is a luxury lifestyle management and concierge service based in London, which provides a more accessible and personalized luxury service to members worldwide. Bon Vivant is not a luxury for the select few; but a necessity for those who intend to start enjoying life's luxuries, regain control of their time, access a wealth of expertise and knowledge, and indulge in exclusive treatment and complimentary benefits. For further information on Bon Vivant and the services they offer, please visit www.bonvivant.co.uk.
THe FACTS:
Total area: 1,570 km2
Population: Approx. 7.56 million
Official languages: English (but over 300 languages are spoken in London)
Currency: British pound (GBP)/Sterling
Time Zone: GMT
Calling Code: +44
Airports: BAA London Heathrow (LHR), BAA London Gatwick (LGW) and BAA London Stansted (STN).
Restaurants For further recommended restaurants and more visit www.execdigital.co.uk
Hotels
It is important to determine where your meetings will be in London before you arrive, as there are three main areas, which are of reasonable distance from each other. In the City, the best hotels to stay in are the Threadneedles Hotel (www.theetoncollection.com) or Andaz (www. andaz.com), both of which are in the heart of the financial district. For Canary Wharf, Emyr suggests the Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf (www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf), which has superb views of the river Thames.
Mayfair and Knightsbridge offer a wide range of excellent hotels, but for the business traveler he suggests Brown's (www.brownshotel.com) or Claridge's (www.claridges.co.uk) in Mayfair and the Mandarin Oriental (www.mandarinoriental.com/london) or The Lanesborough (www.lanesborough.com) in Knightsbridge.
Restaurants & Bars
London is a dynamic city with a diverse range of venues. For a formal business dinner, Emyr suggests going to Helene Darroze at the Connaught Hotel (www.the-connaught.co.uk). The Connaught also features two of the best bars in London; the Coburg bar is a wonderful place to relax and the Connaught bar is perfect for a glamorous post-dinner drink.
To try out great British cuisine in a more casual environment, visit St John (www. stjohnrestaurant.com), which is renowned for serving traditional cuts of meat that have fallen out of favor in modern times, and no visit to London is complete without trying the distinctly British tradition of afternoon tea at The Capital hotel (www.capitalhotel.co.uk). If visiting London for the weekend, the perfect way to end is with a Sunday evening dinner at Scott's (www.scotts-restaurant.com).
In the City, Emyr suggests going up to Vertigo 42 (www.vertigo42.co.uk) for a glass of champagne and to view London in all its splendor. A short taxi ride away in Shoreditch is the rooftop bar at The Boundary (www. theboundary.co.uk), which is a great place to enjoy the British summer.
In Canary Wharf, go to the recently renovated Dockmaster's House (www. dockmastershouse.com), which serves upscale Indian food in modern surroundings with a number of lovely bars.
For the all-important business lunch, Rhodes 24 (www.rhodes24.co.uk) in the City is ideal, and many deals have been brokered over breakfast at The Wolseley (www.thewolseley. com) in Mayfair.
Spas
The Berkeley Health Club and Spa (www. the-berkeley.co.uk) has a rooftop pool with a retractable roof that opens up in the summer with spectacular views of Hyde Park. The Spa at Chancery Court (www.spachancerycourt. com) is very serene and offers a wide range of treatments. For a male grooming salon, experience The Refinery (www.the-refinery.com), which offers haircuts, shaves, massages and a range of other beauty treatments.
Shopping
The high-end boutiques are located on Bond Street and South Molton Street in Mayfair, Sloane Street in Knightsbridge and in and around the Royal Exchange in the City. London has many great department stores, the best of which being Selfridges, Harrods and Liberty. For gentlemen's tailoring, a visit to Jermyn Street is a must.
For something uniquely British, Emyr recommends the bespoke shirts from Turnbull & Asser on Jermyn Street and a bespoke umbrella from James Smith & Son on New Oxford Street. Other uniquely British brands that make excel¨lent gifts are Smythson (stationery and leather goods), Pringle (cashmere jumpers and other high-end accessories) and Mulberry (luxury luggage, handbags and leather products).
Travel
It is usually fairly easy to hail a `black cab' on the street, but hotels and restaurants will be able to pre-order a taxi for all guests. Drivers of black cabs are required to complete two years of training to learn all of London's back streets, so you should feel confident that they will know the best route to your destination.
Despite its reputation, the London Underground is not too difficult to navigate and can often be a quicker mode of transport, especially at peak hours. London now has a very comprehensive bus route, but this is best avoided without pre-planning. And always mind the gap.
For air travel, London's major airports are all located a substantial distance from the centre. One of London's best-kept secret is City Airport, located five minutes from Canary Warf and a 15-minute cab ride to the City. Most destinations served through the airport are major European capital cities, but British Airways is scheduled to begin a business class only service to New York this autumn.
Tipping
A tip of between 10 percent and 15 percent is customary in London's restaurants and bars, but many tend to include a discretionary 12.5 percent tip on the bill, so be careful that you don't tip twice. For taxis and porters, a couple of pounds will usually suffice.
BonVivant
Bon Vivant is a luxury lifestyle management and concierge service based in London, which provides a more accessible and personalized luxury service to members worldwide. Bon Vivant is not a luxury for the select few; but a necessity for those who intend to start enjoying life's luxuries, regain control of their time, access a wealth of expertise and knowledge, and indulge in exclusive treatment and complimentary benefits. For further information on Bon Vivant and the services they offer, please visit www.bonvivant.co.uk.
THe FACTS:
Total area: 1,570 km2
Population: Approx. 7.56 million
Official languages: English (but over 300 languages are spoken in London)
Currency: British pound (GBP)/Sterling
Time Zone: GMT
Calling Code: +44
Airports: BAA London Heathrow (LHR), BAA London Gatwick (LGW) and BAA London Stansted (STN).
Restaurants For further recommended restaurants and more visit www.execdigital.co.uk