Yes! Queen Elizabeth II will be the second English monarch (after Queen Victoria in 1897) to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee!
London has a lot in store. From the Thames River Pageant with a thousand boats mustering on the Thames, to the lighting of thousands Jubilee beacons, a great many events are being planned around the extended first weekend of June but also…

• March with Commonwealth Day,
• April with a special National Maritime Museum exhibition,
• May with three nights of events in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, and ...

And there are many more year-round charitable, cultural, and political events!

Some consider Lucian Freud to be England's most brilliant contemporary portrait painter. 

Others say the Queen should have put him in The Tower for painting such an ugly portrait of her.

Either way, you cannot remain indifferent to his art!

Do not miss Lucian Freud's Portraits at the National Portriat Gallery in London!

Do you know who designed the Diamond Jubilee Emblem?

It may come as a surprise but the Emblem was designed by 10-year-old Katherine Dewar from Chester!

Katherine's was the winning design following a national competition that saw over 35000 designs submitted!

Who is Katherine?! Here she is!

Do you want to honor the Queen too? You Can!

Simply throw a Big Lunch!

Where? Anywhere you would like!

With whom? Anyone you would like!

When? On Sunday June 3rd 

Get as many neighbors and friends involved as you wish, choose the place you would prefer (whether your backyard or the street, or...?), you may even raise money for your own charity of choice!

Just build community, friendship and fun!

And, if it seems overwhelming, The Big Lunch organization is just a click away!

Coronation Chicken……not so posh nosh!

How the mighty have fallen. From royal favorite to sadly soggy sandwich-filling in a single reign, coronation chicken has experienced a decline in fortunes that would give even Fergie's accountant cause for concern. But then this 50s favorite has never been quite as posh as it seems. Created by the founder of Le Cordon Bleu cookery school, Rosemary Hume – rather than her better-known business partner, celebrity florist Constance Spry, as is often claimed – poulet reine Elizabeth, as it was originally known, was a deliberate and tactful compromise between the luxurious and the thrifty for a country still under the dreary yoke of postwar rationing.

"Not to put too fine a point upon it"...

but London and the rest of the world are celebrating Charles Dickens' legacy.

Join the celebrations!

For Charles Dickens the "Carol Philosophy" is "a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of other people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys".

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843 offering the world a small book that had the power of opening people's hearts to the meaning of Christmas . According to Adrian Higgins in a 2009 Washington Post article "today we cannot imagine Christmas without it".

London - where else would a book-lover want to be? You can find practically any kind of book you are looking for - from second-hand to new, from specialty to academic, from block-busters to antique, and all hosted in unique and highly specialized bookshops or even book markets!
So... what are you waiting for?

Visit one of London's unique book stores and buy a few as Christmas gifts!  We are sure you can find wonderful ones at surprisingly pleasant prices, all you need is a guide!

Bridget Dickert is ours, here's her expertise!

"An international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens"

Institutions and organizations around the world are working together to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of this extraordinary author

Join the celebrations!

According to English Heritage, Blue Plaques were founded in 1866 and serve to commemorate "the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked".

In other words, it is a system used to connect famous people with specific locations throughout London, and the UK more generally. 

Interested in learning more about Blue Plaques?

Click here!

Questions:

1. When were Christmas holidays first introduced in Britain?

2. Where does boxing day - December 26 - take its name?

3. What was the traditional fare for Christmas Dinner before stuffed turkeys and geese made their appearance on British tables?    

4. Who introduced the Christmas Tree to the British tradition?  

5. What do the British wear for Christmas Lunch and where does this tradition come from?

6. What is the "Penny Post"?

7. Where does the custom of bedecking houses and churches with evergreen plants like mistletoe, holly and ivy come from?

8. Do you know who Father Christmas is?

9. Do you know where Santa Claus's name comes from?

Here's to a traditional English Christmas Dinner!

The tradition of serving stuffed goose or turkey at Christmas time was apparently common prior to Queen Victoria's reign in London and the Southern part of England. When Queen Victoris rose to the throne chickens and turkeys were too expensive for the majority to enjoy. Northern England mostly opted for roast beef while London and the south, enjoyed mostly stuffed goose.

At the time, it was quite common for Goose "Clubs" to be set up allowing working class families to save up over the year towards a goose before this.

As most of you probably recall, Dicken's A Christmas Carol (1843), describes a traditional Christmas dinner with tukey as the main course... well... shall we say... both are delicious!

Here is an easy recipe for meat-lovers! Enjoy!

Of the many bridges crossing the River Thames – more than 30! -  the oldest seems to be London Bridge (which opened in 1209), the newest Millennium Bridge (which opened in 2002), the most famous is probably Tower Bridge (which opened in 1894 and can be visited year-round), but one of the most charming is Albert Bridge, also known as "The Trembling Lady "

For her fortieth wedding anniversary, Ann and her husband Charlie decided to plan a romantic get-away. “nothing unusual about that”! as Ann puts it but finding the appropriate location was a bit of a challenge, as some of you may suspect!

Read all about the fantastic trip Ann and Charlie had to the Outer Hebrides a remote and interesting location characterized by amazing scenery, very few tourists, “AND bolts and bolts of woolen tweeds”!!!

What perfect Pub Grub!

Bangers & Mash! Doesn't this dish just make you hungry!

Great all year round, wouldn't you say?!

According to English Heritage, Blue Plaques were founded in 1866 and serve to commemorate "the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked".

In other words, it is a system used to connect famous people with specific locations throughout London, and the UK more generally. 

Interested in learning more about Blue Plaques?

Click here!

London's Farmers' Markets are a wonderful delight for your senses!

Hot sautéed French Duck sandwiches, wild boar ravioli with freshly grated cheese and olive oil, these are just a sampling of the amazing foods at the local farmer’s markets in London.

Nina Thomson (who recently stayed in Ormonde Gate in Chelsea) was the happy food taster and her accounts of the markets are so enticing!

What a perfectly smashing summer sweet!

Juicy berries encased in slices of white bread that soak up the juice and turn a brilliant reddish purple.

Fresh, seasonal berries are key for this dessert to work properly.  So reserve it for the summer like its name says and...

Looking for a nice Pub in the Marylebone area?

Here are two perfect options for you:

• The Gunmakers
• The Duke of Wellington Marylebone

Why?

The Wedding Dress Kate Middleton, or shall we say The Dutchess of Cambridge, wore on April 29, 2011, was absolutely spectacular!

Sarah Burton - creative director of luxury British label Alexander McQueen - and designer of this beautiful wedding gown was only 36 years old when she completed it.

Would you like to see it first hand? This summer it is possible!

According to English Heritage, Blue Plaques were founded in 1866 and serve to commemorate "the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked".

In other words, it is a system used to connect famous people with specific locations throughout London, and the UK more generally. 

Interested in learning more about Blue Plaques?

Click here!

Are you an active traveler?

Do you like to get some execise while you are on vacation?

Do you simply like to ride your bike?

Then here is an idea for you: Fat Tire Bike Tours

In London they offer a variety of tours to suit the individual traveller's interest and time constraints!

Check out their options here!

Enjoy!

It is unsual for us to promote specific properties away from London but...

This property, Georgian Stables at Smallcombe House, is one of the most charming and peaceful accomodations we have found!

Yes, it is in Bath, only  about 90 minutes from London, and it is lovely for a romantic getaway offering a wonderful view of the city of Bath.

Want to learn more about this extraordinary destination near London? Click here!

And, don't forget to let us know what you thought about it all!

EHLM - Emily Hill Lifestyle Management - is a personalized lifestyle a managment company that caters to busy people's needs.

Whether you are looking to organize a special occasion, or need assistance sorting out your personal affaires, or are simply looking for the perfect gift, EHLM is the service for you!

• Private driver airport pick-up and drop-off service 
• Catering for private dinner parties and events
• Delicious homemade meals delivered on request 
• Restaurant recommendations & bookings
• Theatre/Show recommendations & bookings
• Beauty Salon recommendations and bookings
• Grocery shopping on behalf of guests; both prior to & during their stay
• Original gift ideas & beautiful hand-wrapping
• Assistance with local doctors / dentists
• Male & female formal dress hire: ladies hats, top hats, morning suits etc.

Wonderful, don't you think?

Curious to learn more? Click here to visit her web site!

Egypt is a favorite destination for many of our English friends.

It offers everything the inhabitants of a cool wet island want in a holiday - hot desert lands surrounded by warm blue waters, monuments so old they make an elderly Englishman feel young, and a shared language (vestige of a few centuries of British ascendancy) in most parts of the country.

The queue isn't complicated and is really quite pleasant. There are vendors selling refreshments, and everyone is eager and willing to discuss the latest Tennis gossip. The queue is also surprisingly international with people from world over.  If you are lucky enough to be in London (especially the first week of the Championships) by all means, take the tube out and soak up the atmosphere.

It's a treat even for those who don't follow tennis!

Questions:

1. How do many London taxi drivers address their customers?

2. Where is 'Little Ben'?

3. In which London Park is is 'Queen Mum's Gate' located?

The Harwood Arms won pub of the year and was awarded a Michelin star.  Amazing venison and game.

The Bull and Last arguably has the best and most varied charcuterie in London.

Looking for a brand new place to check out during your next visit to London?

Looking for a neighborhood with one of the best gastronomic clusters in London?

You can get both in Marylebone!

Britain's pubs are right at the heart of every community in the country. They are a much loved part of the national culture, celebrated at home and abroad, and attract many visitors to Britain. Every week, around 15 million people socialize in the nations pubs. Most are small businesses, run by tenants, lessees and owners, and together they employ over 600,000 people.

Today's pub is as much about food as drink. More than 80 per cent of pubs serve food, catering for every taste. That's over 1.1 billion meals per year.
(from the British Beer & Pub Assoc.)

Beside the Thames River in one of Chelsea’s quiet residential neighborhoods just a few blocks from Sloane Square, the Chelsea Physic Garden is a medieval apothecary garden. High brick walls create a secret garden allure. They also help to lock in the moisture and warmth from the river, creating a microclimate that insures the survival of nonnative plants growing in the garden. It boasts the largest fruiting olive tree in Britain and the world’s northern most grapefruit.

If you wander behind the Duke of York Square down Cheltenham Terrace the Royal Hospital Road opens up to present the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It is so stunning you might drop your groceries!

Peter Jones is a true deliciously old fashioned store divided into 32 departments over 7 floors. Peter Jones sells everything. So do not worry about anything you may forget or left at home.