:hit the london hotspots
Hit The London Hotspots London is a fashion capital so you'd better step up your style before you get off the plane
TO SAY THAT LONDONERS are avid followers of fashion is like stating that one legged ducks swim in circles. They can be delightful if they like the way you've put yourself together and banish you to social Siberia if they hate your shirt. In other words, London is a fashion capital so you'd better step up your style before you even get off that plane. But if the thought of hitting the not-stops instead of the hotspots is driving you to drink - "Bolli, darling" - never fear. Here's a map that'll help you get on your way.
ACCOMMODATION:
BEST BED & BREAKFAST: 40 WINKS (#12 on Map) German Vogue referred to this Stepney Green establishment as
"The Most Beautiful Small Hotel In The World" (August 2009). The brainchild of internationally celebrated interior designer, David Carter, 40 WiNKS is a beautifully restored four-storey Queen Anne townhouse that is situated in trendy and vibrant East London, the playground du jour for London's artistic set. Built in 1717, Carter's
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residence is not only regularly featured in many of the world's top interiors magazines, but as one of London's best-loved location houses, it also plays host to a stream of A-List visitors with the likes of Vogue, Tattler and Harper's Bazaar shooting there. Yet believe it or not, the exquisite surroundings and sumptuous decor are not the best part of 40WiNKS. Try going along to one of David's unforgettable "Bedtime Story" pyjama party nights. Peeking in through his basement kitchen window, a passerby might catch a glimpse of guests gathered in their nightwear, sipping gin cocktails from fine china teacups before heading upstairs to eagerly listen to some of London's finest professional storytellers. Or perhaps you might attend a girls-only event Coquette, the ultimate afternoon of naughty self-indulgence, seductive style and decadent pampering, aimed at girls who want to put some old-fashioned glamour back into their lives. But you'll need to act fast. With just two sumptuous bedrooms (a single and a double priced at £105 and £175 – very affordable for London), you'll have to join a lengthy waiting list to join the esteemed 40 WiNKS resident's club. 109 Mile End Road London E1 4UJ. Ph: +44 (0)20 7790 0259; Mobile: +44 (0)7973 653944. www.40winks.org
