It's not hard to find luxury in the land of royalty. Check out our roundup of the latest luxe news from across the pond in the United Kingdom.
Just when we thought the Wars of the Roses were well in the past, the recent discovery of King Richard III's remains has stirred up some old resentment. The bones, which were found last autumn and identified in February, are expected to be interred in Leicester Cathedral, near the central-England parking lot where the king was buried after his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. But the Associated Press is reporting that officials in York want Richard, a member of the former House of York, to be buried in the north, and that York Minster, a prominent attraction in the city, has received "abusive letters." Leicester Cathedral announced that the king would be reburied with a memorial of "simple dignity" marked by a stone slab. Museums throughout the region are planning to educate interested visitors on the Wars of the Roses and the Richard's role in the country's development.
The Autograph Collection is going royal in the UK with the introduction of two new hotels. Threadneedles in London and The Glasshouse in Edinbugh, Scotland, will represent the collection's first hotels in the United Kingdom. Threadneedles sits just minutes from The Bank of England, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market and The Royal Exchange. The former Victorian banking hall is highlighted by a hand painted stained-glass dome dating back to 1856. The Glasshouse is built into the 150-year-old facade of the Lady Glenorchy church. The hotel has a rooftop garden, and several of the rooms have views over the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh New Town. Other Autograph Collection hotels in Europe include the Fontecruz Lisboa Hotel in Portugal, Hotel De Bourgtheroulde in Rouen and the Hotel L'Hermitage Gantois in Lille.
In anticipation of exciting new exhibits, the Victoria and Albert Museum has paired with the equally prestigious Egerton House Hotel to create the Art and Culture at the V&A package. With its close proximity to the museum, the five-star London hotel will serve as a home base between museum visits with minimal hassle or commute. The Art and Culture at the V&A package includes two nights’ accommodations, two tickets to the feature exhibition of your choice, a catalog detailing everything on show, Traditional Afternoon Tea for two on one day, and a Full English Breakfast daily. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A Museum) is the world’s greatest museum of art and design with diverse collections, and up to 3,000 years of artifacts. Current and upcoming exhibits include: Treasures of the Royal Courts (March 9 through July 14), David Bowie is (March 23 through August 11), Sky Arts Ignition: Memory Palace (June 18 through October 20), and Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s (July 10 through February 16, 2014). Visit: www.vam.ac.uk/. Package price is from $553 per night (including VAT) based on two adults sharing a Classic Double for a minimum of two nights. Additional nights are priced at our Best Available Rate. Rates vary according to monetary fluctuations. This package is available until December 30, and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. Please note that the V&A will be closed on 24th, 25th and 26th of December.
Music fans in London have an amazing opportunity this summer: According to the BBC, the Rolling Stones will perform in Hyde Park for the first time since a legendary free concert for an estimated 250,000 people in 1969, two days after death of guitarist Brian Jones. The outdoor gig will take place on July 6, a week after the group's first appearance at the Glastonbury festival. Unlike in 1969, this year's show will not be free - but ticket prices have not yet been announced. (The group reportedly angered some fans when they charged up to £406 for shows at the O2 arena last year.) The Hyde Park show - part of Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park - will come a week after the Stones headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. The Stones have also announced a North American tour, beginning in May, but with more recovery time between gigs than in previous years. "You gotta pace yourself," the 69-year-old Mick Jagger said. "We have enough time before we come back to England, so we'll be well recovered."
Context Travel has announced the expansion of its lifestyle and history walking tours in London, with the addition of a new walk that gives travelers a way to engage with the social history of London. “Music for Kings: Handel and the Baroque Court” focuses on the figure of George Frideric Handel and his role in the music and social scene of London in the 1700s. Beginning at the Theatre Royal Haymarket where the Messiah made its debut performance in London, and continuing in Piccadilly and Mayfair, the tour focuses on the world of 18th-century baroque London, when the British Empire was expanding. As with all Context walking seminars, the tour is capped at six participants maximum and led by a scholar trained in classical music. This new walk joins a series of lifestyle and history walks that Context offers in London. The walk will be offered privately or as a shared-group experience. Context Travel is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals, including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes, who organize and lead “walking seminars” in 23 world cities.