Hox on the Locks

I’ve long been a fan of The Hoxton Hotel and when my lovely friends Jaime and Jason hosted their wedding reception in the Hoxton Apartment, it made me like it even more.

I started following Hoxtown to stay up to date with all their news and events and it was here that I saw a competition that was begging to be entered.

To mark the 1^st birthday of The Hoxton, Amsterdam, the Hoxton ‘jumped ship’ for two weeks to a Regents canal boat here in London. The competition prize was a stay on this boat – I won! A few Wednesdays ago, I eagerly packed my bags and invited my friend Laurel.

Before heading to the boat, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the Hoxton Hotel (‘Hoxton on Solid Ground'). The food there is so great -  sometimes naughty, always hearty. I had a fabulous piece of cod with samphire. We walked off supper and headed to the boat which was moored in Gainsborough Wharf in Haggerston. It was furnished similarly to the hotel with beautiful linen wallpaper and the sort of muted, stylish accessories a bright-colour-lover like myself imagines for her future, far more sophisticated self.

The boat had a projector, but after a big dinner, it was all we could do to stay awake for deck-side champagne (a hard life, I know) before snuggling in to the amazingly comfy bed.

In the morning, I happily worked ‘from boat’, enjoying my little breakfast in the sun. It really floated my boat.

I mean, I don’t really want the extra competition, but Hoxtown are always offering cool prizes like this – so make sure you check the site – you have to be in it to win it, after all.

Copenhagen City Break

When I told friends I was off to Copenhagen for a mini break, the recommendations for restaurants, activities and places to stay came flying in. As it turned out, Copenhagen is popular for very good reasons – and it’s an easy city to fall in love with – clean streets, gorgeous, friendly people and healthy transport (over half the population ride bikes to get to work).

I’ve been to Stockholm before, so felt fairly prepared, but yes, this wonderfulness comes with a fairly hefty price tag, and although flights and accommodation were more than reasonable, what I class as ‘fun activities’ such as dining out and drinking were much pricier than London, so we ended up spending quite a bit. I don’t regret it at all though, because we had an absolutely incredible time and got a tantalizing taste of how great Scandi life can be.

Here’s a city guide to help you with your Copenhagen trip.

A STYLISH GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN

THINGS TO DO

Before you do anything else, buy yourself some booze at the airport. But not too much of it. We made this unnecessarily expensive mistake.

Get bikes! It’s really the only way to travel. We got ours from Copenhagen Tourist Info in the main train station. They were cheaper than the city ones.

Tivoli Gardens was amazing – an incredibly stylish amusement park where you can easily stay the whole day. The gift shop was excellent, the rides included a nice variety of high up and blood-curling and calm relaxation.

Hang out by Copenhagen Harbour. You can also swim there if it’s not too cold – so nice. Havnefronten Islands Brygge T23713189

Visit Christiania, the city’s hippie hang-out. I didn’t enjoy it at night (sure it was fine, but it felt dodge) but during the day it was really fun – live music and a full gathering of the city’s hot young things.

Go shopping in Prag, an awesome haven of vintage, reasonably-priced clothes and accessories. I got some excellent parrot and chandelier earrings. It was hard for the boyf to drag me out.

Louisiana, an art gallery about an hour and a half out of town is meant to be incredible but we ran out of time! Next time.

PLACES TO STAY

We stayed in Frederiksberg– posh, suburban and quiet, without being too far from the action. We stayed in this AirBnB – such a lovely flat, thanks Julie! It was right next to a Lidl so we stocked up for cheap breakfasts and snacks.

These places all came recommended by friends but were fully booked when we wanted them:

Axel Guldsmeden Hotel

Hotel SP34 

My mates Lynne and Neil stayed in this AirBnB and loved it. 

FOOD

Radio – a fabulous restaurant run by a chef who used to work at NOMA. You choose from a narrow selection of dishes. Each one was more exceptional than the last - you really can’t go wrong. Try not to stare at the waiter

Pate Pate – gorgeous food in the trendy Fiskebaren area. Get oysters and the Burrata if it’s still on the menu

Hansens Gamle Familiehave – nice traditional food, hearty fare with a home-cooked vibe

Granola – we didn’t make it here, sadly, but it comes highly recommended by everyone who’s been

Kadeau – another recommendation we sadly didn’t have time for – a 20-course tasting menu dinner

DRINKS AND GOING OUT

Salon 39 – exceptional cocktails. I had one that was basically a very adult icecream and another, which was like a lemony, biscuit-coated dream…

Kødbyens Fiskebar – trendy fun, big tyre tables, great cocktails

Tivoli Gardens is open until midnight and it’s so pretty. There are bars inside. They have fireworks which you can see outside of the gates too.

Sunny Tivoli Gardens

An amazing fairytale journey through the world of Hans Cristian Andersen

Loved this light

Even the bar was gorgeous

Giraffes coming out of mirrors - what more could you need?

Liked this guy

Caught the fireworks!

Amazing food in Radio

More amazing food in Radio

Great bikes

My new fave shop

Chilling on Copenhagen Harbour in my BHS cossie, vintage jewellery and Ray Bans. 

Stylish Seville

Once in a while, someone gives you a present so wonderful that you will never, ever forget it. Turning 30 means you get a few of these (one of the few major bonuses to getting older).

One of my favourite presents was from my boyfriend: a five-star trip to Seville. We stayed in the Gran Melia Colon, a stunningly stylish hotel with a jacuzzi and sun terrace on the roof with an amazing view of the city. Each floor of the hotel features a different Spanish artist. We were on the top floor, Goya, which had a description of the artist and the back of every hotel room featured a different painting by the featured artist, with a light at the top and a description at the side so the corridor looked like a gallery. I can’t recommend the hotel enough and I miss the incredible breakfasts every day I sadly microwave an egg in the morning at work.

My glam friend Emily loves Seville so much that she has been there five times – she put together a list of things to do, which, trusting her taste (impeccable), we followed quite carefully and had the most incredible time. I include her list, with some additions of my own, below.

Seville genuinely has it all: great weather, friendly people, cheap and amazing food (mmm tapas), massive gin and tonics and some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen. Budget airlines fly there, meaning you can have an incredible weekend trip for very little, depending on your accommodation. My top tip would definitely be to hire bikes when you’re there, especially if it’s very hot, as it was when we visited. It’s such a great way to see the city and you get a bit of exercise too, making for guilt-free tapas munching in the evening. The riverboat tour is a must for romantics.

A Stylish Guide to Seville

Things to do

Alcazar – stunning interior and gardens – don’t miss the labyrinth.

Plaza de Espana (in María Luisa Park) – beautiful building and park. Hire a little paddleboat and go around the front.

Seville Cathedral Tower – walk up into the bell tower for amazing views of the city.

Riverboat tour – lasts around an hour, great way to see the other ends of the city that you wouldn't necessarily walk to – go to the one on the opposite side to the Torre Doro (tower) – cross the bridge and it’s next to a bar called Rio Grande. It’s the best one – electric boat with drinks that are super cheap on board.

Bullring – you don't need to pay for a tour, you can just walk around the outside.

Flamenco! We went to this one. It’s amazing, warning: you might cry.

Rent bikes - we just asked our hotel and it was so cheap. The only way to see the city when it’s hot.

Food

Taberna Coloniales – on Calle Fernandez Y Gonzalez 36 41001 – amazing local tapas for local people. Eat the whisky pork and patatas bravas. Super cheap. You might have to wait a bit – get your name on the list on the blackboard and drink some sangria until it’s time.

Vineria San Telmo – inventive, incredible tapas. Eat their goats cheese and aubergine ‘tower’ mmmm.

For casual lunch tapas there are quite a few along the Calle Mateos Gago street (2 mins from Eme Hotel), these are more local and less touristy:

Maccheroni

Eme Catedral Hotel

These are both Italian!!

Drinks and going out

Try the native orange wine which is super delish – vino naranja

Have a posh drink at The Hotel Alfonso XIII

Or clubby Cocktails at Eme cathedral hotel rooftop bar 

There are quite a few places around Plaza Nueva if you walk around the square - there's a good one directly opposite the O'Clock Bar. Also quite a few along the river – round the corner from O'Neills Irish pub on Paseo de Cristobal Colon street there's a parade of gin bars etc.

We also went to the ‘Rio Grande’ which is on the river – open super late (it was still open at 3am when we left) good, Brazilian vibes. Ask the supermodel barmaid for a gin and tonic with Rothmans which is like a fruity gin.

Clubs – FYI Spanish go out so late and party until 6am plus!!

Antique Theatro  – an indoor/outdoor place

P.S

You can get a bus from the airport – super cheap at 4 euros. You pay on board.

So pretty - see it by river

A traditional wedding for someone in the military

Chilling on the rooftop of the Gran Melia Colon

Our stunning Goya hotel door

The cathedral at night

Alcazar gardens

The cathedral bell towe

Pretty park near Plaza Espana

Look at the SIZE of their G&Ts!

A lovely little shop near the Alfonso Hotel