Tag Archives: United kingdom

5 Music Festivals in Great Britain

Guitare-1B-Photo Mademoiselle Le K- copyright 2010

Do you like music? Good point, here are 5 music festivals in Great Britain not to be missed after the summer! If you know some of those listed below, leave me comment! I look forward to hearing from you! 

1. BESTIVAL   

The big festival not to be missed this weekend September 5-8 (or to attend next year!), on the Isle of Wight, with an impressive line up of musicians and DJs (including Maya Jane Coles). And big names like: Nile Rogers (no he’s not the “new” guitare hero of the Daft Punk, yes he’s on “Get Lucky”!), The Roots, Snoop Dogg, M.I.A., Fatboy Slim, Franz Ferdinand, James Blake… and of course Sir Elton John. www.bestival.net   

2. THE MAYOR’S THAMES FESTIVAL  

This Londoner festival from September 6 to 15 is not focusing exclusively on music. But if you missed the famous Notting Hill Carnival, this weekend you can watch and dance with the Great British Carnival: a selection of the best British samba and soca bands.  http://thamesfestival.org/events/info/the-great-british-carnival-comes-to-the-thames     

3. PORTHCAWL ELVIS FESTIVAL 

You don’t know Wales, me neither. Why not enjoying the long weekend of September 27-29 to discover Porthcawl surrounded by many Elvis? It  sounds completely crazy, isn’t it?  The Porthcawl Elvis Festival is the world’s largest festival of Elvis fans! Music, attitude and wigs fans! The dream of all photographers! http://elvies.co.uk/  

4. OXFORD CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL    

If you prefer Vivaldi, from September 30 to October 5 the Oxford Chamber Music Festival, founded in 2000 by the violinist Priya Mitchell, a native of Oxford, presents chamber music concerts. This year the festival pays tribute to classical music inspired by the gypsy folklore, “Caravan, Gypsy Folk”. http://ocmf.net/  

5. LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL  

And to finish this short list of music festivals, the London Jazz Festival, November 15-24. For 10 years, this festival provides an excellent programming, mixing famous artists and new talents. Showing this year: Paolo Conte, Courtney Pine and Monty Alexander, Zara McFarlane, Matthew Herbert and many others … http://www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk/    

More informations : www.visitbritain.bewww.visitbritainshop.com 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & CULTURE   

Sofitel Saint James: A Room With A Breakfast @ The Balcon

Just arrived in London St. Pancras station 

and 4 tube stops later, I’m on Piccadilly Circus, 2 minutes walk from the Sofitel Saint James located away from the crowd, in a little place that I didn’t know. The hotel is housed in an heritage building: a former imposing bank with incredibly high ceilings!

After a warm welcome at reception desk by a French-English bilingual staff, I discover my room: simple, elegant and spacious, in a range of black, white and brown. The decor is stylish with black and white photographies on the wall. Lovely bathroom with the old faucet and tiled black and white checkered. 

What a pity amenities are limited to one soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner … all Hermès okay! But for short stays, to lighten my bag I bring the bare minimum like a mini make-up and cleanser, because I usually find everything else in the room. Damned, this time I didn’t take my toothbrush, toothpaste nor body cream (LOL!): thankfully Boots is in Piccadilly Circus!

Otherwise leaving my room with its so cozy vibe and “you’re in London Baby!” exotic view (picture 3) and comfortable king size bed, is a huge challenge my dear (lol)! Photo 4: a regressive wallpaper in the entrance to the room (picture 4).

And for lasting this cozy atmosphere, a breakfast full of vitamins at the beautiful Balcon, the relaxed chic brasserie of the hotel (pictures 6 & 7). Too hard to leave it to go to my meetings! Picture 5: amazing chandelier ceiling of a hotel suite.

MlleLeK Sofitel Saint James 2

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2013, tous droits réservés.    

www.sofitelsaintjames.com 

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HOTEL REVIEWSLIFESTYLE & DESTINATIONS 

I was invited by the Sofitel Saint James London. Many thanks to the Sofitel Saint James London and these are my opinions. 

East Sussex, UK: The Post Office Tea Rooms in St Leonards on Sea

If you need “action”, such creative leisure for the use of regressive fashion-somthing in you (knitting to de-stress!). Or at the opposite, if you dream of an “after work the fun” (fed up to act like a shopping addict in the old Hastings). Here is a charming tea room run by a couple of former graphic designers: the Post Office Tea Rooms, in five to ten minutes from Hastings House. It’s true, I really enjoy the knit evening concept (although I had already spoken in my posts on Toronto and Paris years ago). Anyway I like the concept, the concept only, okay! Because in weekend, I luv doing nothing (lol!): a few cups of tea, with two to three magazines to look at softly. And here, @ the Post Office Tea Rooms, with from time to time, a glance at the sea. Relax, relax. And for food lovers, the cakes are homemade!

http://potearooms.wix.com/info

Informations : to go to Hastings by Ferry FDS Seaways from Dunkerque to Dover, www.norfolkline.com, www.visit1066country.com.  

Related posts : 

East Sussex, UK: Myerscough & Mairs, The Sophisticated Vintage Shop in Hastings

East Sussex, UK: Home Store, a store in the old and the restaurant Kitchen Home Store, in Hastings

DESTINATIONS & HOTEL