Get off the beaten path: stay in unique, privately owned holiday rentals. Read our tips and get inspired!
SSL Certificates

Best Pubs in Camden, London

Travel Tips for Area: Camden
Best Pubs in Camden, London

If planning to stay in Camden on your next London break, it’s safe to say you like things a little different. Trendy, definitely; eclectic, perhaps...maybe even edgy? Great to hear! This most interesting and enticing London hood has seen quite a few facelifts over the years and seems to have settled on fashionably shabby chic. Between the markets, oddball boutiques and kick-ass live-music scene, Camden attracts crowds from every one of the city’s extremities now that its popularity is on a very steep incline. Choose Camden holiday rental apartments for your next break in London and you can experience its funky soul for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Head to the following fantastic pubs when you’re out and about and come see what the Camden fuss is all about. Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway This Camden institution boasts a bit of a split-personality syndrome: head there for a relaxing mid-afternoon pint in peace and enjoy the historic ambience (or a spot of people watching from the outdoor tables) or head here after the sun sets for live music and a rowdy, jovial crowd. Whatever mood you’re in there’s bound to be the right time to visit the Dublin Castle Pub.  The live music room ...

Camden Town Nightlife, London

Travel Tips for Area: Camden
Camden Town Nightlife, London

Camden is to London what the Left Bank is to Paris, or Trastevere to Rome: young, hip, alternative and infinitely interesting. Camden Town is not only the centre of Camden district, but is also very much the centre of the action. If heading to London on your next holiday, consider renting a holiday apartment in Camden Town and let its bohemian fusion cast its magic spell on you too. They say in Camden that ‘anything goes’ and indeed, no matter what you’re into, in terms of food, shopping or clubbing, this is the London corner you don’t want to miss visiting! Some people believe the only things Camden has to offer are its great Saturday morning markets…ooooh how deprived they are! While Camden Town may brim with life in daylight hours thanks to its infinitely popular markets and trendy café; it is really only after the sun sets that its quirky devilish side comes alive. Clubs, bars and restaurants pack a full house almost every night here, making Camden Town of the most enticing suburbs in London. Follow our guide to the best nightlife spots around, and take a sneak peak into Camden’s mischievous side. The Electric Ballroom- 184 Camden High Street If rock ...

A Short History of Chelsea, London

Travel Tips for Area: London Chelsea
A Short History of Chelsea, London

The exclusive central London suburb of Chelsea is home to some of the most splendid boutiques, restaurants and clubs in town. The prime address for the crème de la crème of London’s elite boasts a long and illustrious history and was home to royalty, aristocrats, England’s very first porcelain factory and quite a few famed artists. Boasting a long list of famous residents, from Vivienne Westwood to various members of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Chelsea may have had a humble beginning but its present, and indeed its future, is looking as opulent as ever. Book your holiday rental apartment in Chelsea when next visiting the English capital and you can discover all the aspects that make this, the most celebrated suburb in London. Originally a small an unassuming fishing village, Chelsea gained prominence in the 16th and 17th centuries, when high-flying Londoners moved to the area, building opulent mansions, gardens and chapels. Even King Henry VIII, famous for causing England’s split from the Catholic Church, had one of his stately homes in Chelsea. The Chelsea Manor he purchased from Lord Sandys in 1536 was the humble abode of two of his wives; and Princess Elizabeth (who became Queen Elizabeth ...

Discover London’s Weird and Wacky Side!

Travel Tips for Area: Farringdon
Discover London’s Weird and Wacky Side!

A London vacation can be relaxing, revitalizing and enlightening, but there’s just something about a visit to the London Tower, a ride on The Eye or a river cruise down the Thames that can make a truly adventurous traveller yawn in unabated boredom. Well bore no more oh mighty intrepid one, for we have scoured London’s darkest nooks to find the most interesting, weird and outright abhorrent attractions in town. Book a holiday in London and take your senses (all 235 of them) on a vacation they’ll never forget. Hunt for your appetite at Dans le Noir? Are you bored of the same old restaurant outing and looking for a once in a lifetime titillating dining experience? Then head to Dans Le Noir Restaurant and discover just how freaky it is to dine in pitch black darkness. At Dans Le Noir? you’ll be greeted and escorted to your table by blind waiters, across a dining room draped in darkness. The waiters may be exceptionally trained at dodging the various items of furniture, but you won’t be...and that’s when the fun really begins. This "dining in darkness" concept is the ingenuous brainchild of two budding philosophers who wanted to see what would happen ...

Unleashing the Ghosts of Camden Town in London

Travel Tips for Area: Camden
Unleashing the Ghosts of Camden Town in London

Camden Town, the most fashionable part of North London, may be nowadays renowned as a trendy and eclectic gem, but this wasn’t always the case. One may find it hard to believe that behind its hippy and revitalising exterior, lies a past so shrouded in mystery and dark, torturous, legends which could leave even grown men trembling with fear. Book a Camden apartment and come discover just how many skeletons are hiding behind those ever so stylish closets. The Dark, Dark (Dark!) Camden Town Underworld The World’s End is one of the most popular pubs in Camden Town and has been running continuously for almost 300 years, bar a stint of post-fire destruction. A popular halfway house for highway men on the trail to Hampstead in the late 1600s, the pub and adjoining nightclub, the aptly named Underworld, are two of the most famous (and infamous) entertainment venues in Camden. While some believe the scariest tales come from live performances of local and international heavy metal bands (think Terror and Grave and Vile), the bar’s employees insist their establishment once served as gallows and torture chambers for unlucky sods, and that spooky ghostly screams can be heard from the dungeons below. ...

Gourmet restaurants in the City, London

Travel Tips for Area: The City
Gourmet restaurants in the City, London

[pinit]Let’s be honest, British cuisine is not exactly preceded by its reputation or, at the very least, not for vey good reasons. But hail bygone the days of boiled spuds and baked beans, for Londoners have awoken to a brand new culinary era. Indeed my gastronomic amigos, London is now not only a renowned epicurean melting pot of the highest order, but it is also home to some of the finest dining establishments in the world. Whilst French restaurants fight snails and frogs over Michelin Stars, they’re practically giving them away in London! Fine dining has taken London by storm and it is in the heart of the city where you’ll find the most prestigious gems. So choose a rental apartment in the City for your next holiday in London, and take your taste buds on the gourmand voyage of a lifetime. Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook Street Le Gavroche has been in operation for almost 50 years. The bébé of French Master Chefs Michel and Albert Roux, this exquisite gem swiftly raised though the ranks, and has been considered the best French restaurant in London for years. Not only does Le Gavroche boasts TWO Michelin Stars, but is also the winner ...

The Camden Market in London

Travel Tips for Area: Camden
The Camden Market in London

Camden Market in London offers the opportunity to purchase everything the latest fashion items and musical instruments to kids toys and food items from around the world. It should go without saying that anybody staying in a holiday apartment in London should not consider their London adventure complete until they have visited here.It is not widely known that Camden Market is actually a collective term for a number of smaller markets within a close proximity. They're called Camden Stables Market, Camden Lock Market and Inverness Street Market to name but a few. Each market places you'll find here are slightly different in layout and even in content, but have the core vibe and atmosphere synonymous with this world famous market. In a city which is jam packed with some of the most famous attractions in the world, you'll find Camden Market ranked as the fourth most popular attraction in London. Hundreds of thousands of people pass through the market each month, and it is this sheer number of people which creates the atmosphere for which the market is renowned. The iconic image of the London market seller shouting the latest deals and trying to attract people top their stalls ...

A day at the Regents Park in London

Travel Tips for Area: Regents Park
A day at the Regents Park in London

A great way to add diversity to a visit to London is to visit one of the many parks around the city. One of the most famous and popular parks is Regents Park located in the North West of London. Regents Park is of royal status and has plenty to offer the visitor, with enough attractions to entertain for an entire day.Of the many different features that Regents Park has to offer, the open space is perhaps the most conventional and is certainly a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city centre. The greenery within the park is stunning, whilst the large lake complements it perfectly. The gardens provide the opportunity to explore some of the best kept flower displays in the city, with spotless arrangements on display all year round. Another feature of the gardens is the specimen plants, some of which are unique to the park.Regents Park is a great day out for those of an active disposition as there are a variety of sporting and physical activities to enjoy. The sports pitches are a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy a kick about with kids or with some friends on ...

Day trips from London

Travel Tips for Getting Around London
Day trips from London

Excellent transport links from London’s many railway stations ensure that there is a very wide choice of day trips that can be taken from London. Close to south east London is Greenwich, which is home to the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper that is currently being restored, and the Greenwich observatory. It is possible to stand astride the Greenwich Meridian and have one foot in the eastern hemisphere and another in the western. Greenwich Park is massive and there are plans afoot to hold the three-day eventing equestrian competition in the park when the Olympics are hosted by London in the summer of 2012.Charing Cross is the true centre of London and all measurements to the capital are taken from there. Thirty minutes by train from Charing Cross station is the market town of Sevenoaks, once voted as the most pleasant town in which to live in England. At the top end of the town is Knoll House, which was home to the Sackville-West family and resides in one of the most stunning deer parks in the UK. If you are travelling by car, there are other historic houses to visit in the area including Penshurst Place and Hever ...

Why I would return to London by Ailsa Ross

Travel Tips for London
Why I would return to London by Ailsa Ross

Dear me at 15,Please let mum and dad take your photo outside Big Ben. You are prettier than you think, and you will regret those empty pages in your holiday albums when you are older. And please get out of Topshop on Oxford Street. You have spent the past three days swooning over the same camisoles and t-bar heels, when revolving outside the door is a city that will continue to define your life.You will spend this afternoon trawling behind your parents at the Tate Modern. Only when you get to Andy Warhol's canvas of Marilyn Monroe on level five, will you stop moping and become mesmerised. Why? Because of her fame. Because she seemed so happy in the spotlight, while you are still too scared to tiptoe away from the darkness. So this will please you, your next big trip to London will be in four years, interning at the fashion and beauty department of a celebrity magazine. Through the glass facade of your sky-scraping office, you will see the London skyline slip across the grey Thames, from the Gherkin to the Westminster. Just like you saw yesterday, trapped in a dome on the London Eye. But you ...

Welcome to our Travel Guides

We're a holiday rental company and passionate about off the beaten path travel. These are our insider tips for the destinations where we offer holiday accommodation. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy writing it!!

Location:  
From: / /  
To: / /  
Adults:  
Children:  
Infants:

Top Rated Travel Tips

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | contact us / +44 (0)207 118 1188 | Copyright © 2006 - 2013 Holiday Velvet