Hot to shop: Cher Lloyd and Katie Waissel enjoyed their Topshop outing in Oxford StreetFrom the X Factor contestants visiting Topshop to Prince Harry spilling out of Mahiki nightclub, it seems you can’t swing a Selfridges shopping bag in London without knocking over a celebrity, at least if the tabloids are to be believed.
So how come we don’t bump into A-listers every few paces as we walk down Oxford Street? Or end up chatting to royalty over a cocktail in a bar? It is of course because the rich and famous choose very carefully which hotspots to inhabit.
However, it is a little-shared secret that often even the most celebrity-endorsed restaurants, bars and hotels welcome Joe Public, and they are often not as expensive as you think.
TravelMail heads to the London’s A-list favourite, the West End, in search of food, shopping and a healthy dose of celebrity...
Where to stay:
Radisson Edwardian
If you want a place to stay that's central to all the celebrity action in London, you could do a lot worse than the four-star Radisson Edwardian in Leicester Square - a favourite of rapper Dizzee Rascal, girlband The Saturdays and even former Blue singer turned West End star Duncan James. With a different premier taking place every week just outside your door, you are also perfectly placed to spot every film star who sets foot in the cinema-lined square. If you're not staying there, why not pop into the ground-floor restaurant for a spot of lunch while you celebrity spot? It is quite possibly the only food served in Leicester Square without a side of tourist tat.
www.radissonedwardian.com
The Cumberland hotel
If you would rather splash the cash a la Katy Perry and Coolio, why not stay at The Cumberland, conveniently located overlooking Oxford Street and close to Marble Arch and Hyde Park? The ultra-modern hotel boasts a contemporary art gallery in its foyer and a rock and roll Jimi Hendrix suite - the last address of the legendary guitarist - where you can stay complete with complimentary bottle of Jack Daniels. Continue the A-list theme with dinner at the glitzy in-house Gary Rhodes restaurant, where Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton were recently spotted dining.
www.guoman.com
Bon appetit: The Rhodes W1 restaurant in The Cumberland is a popular celeb hangoutThe Langham
To truly live the A-list lifestyle, look no further than the luxurious Langham, one of London’s most historic hotels. It has been hosting royalty, foreign dignitaries and celebrities for the last 150 years including Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward and Wallis Simpson. And you can spot all sorts of high-profile guests wandering the corridors.
Anyone who needs to be up early for an appearance on the BBC ( Broadcasting House is just opposite) is likely to stay here. Think actors, musicians and any stars visiting from abroad. One of the best advantages to staying at the Langham is its amazing location within staggering distance of London’s greatest shopping streets, Regent, Oxford and Bond Street.
www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk
Where to eat:
Tibits
One of the most down-to-earth places to eat is vegetarian restaurant Tibits. It is located just off Regent Street in the pedestriansed Heddon Street, which has a distinct European feel to it. Wander among the outdoor seating areas, bars and pubs to find the buffet-style restaurant which charges customers by the weight of their food. Beverley Knight and Leona Lewis have both been spotted there tucking into mango curry, lentil salads fruit crumble. And any restaurant that attracts Gordon Ramsay for dinner is definitely worth checking out.
www.tibits.co.uk
Qaaint: Tibits is in the pretty pedestrianised area of Heddon Street, just off Oxford StreetMr Chow
Knightsbridge is well known as the shopping area of choice for Arab billionaires, mainly thanks to that one iconic store Harrods. But there are some affordable eateries in the area, such as Mr Chow, a plush Chinese restaurant which gets a ‘yes’ from Simon Cowell. It is not just the music mogul and his harem that dine there, Mick Jagger was said to be a fan when it originally opened back in the 1960s. But with main courses costing between £12 and £25 it is not completely out of reach for us regular folk.
www.mrchow.com
J Sheekey
Keira Knightly, Kate Moss, Ewan McGreggor, Kelly Brook, the list of J Sheekey’s celebrity aficionados is long. One of the most iconic eateries in London and known as the West End’s best fish restaurant, J Sheekey’s certainly has a lot going for it. But you don’t need a multi-million pound film deal to eat there. Main dishes cost between £14.25 and £23.75. And if you’re looking for a a real bargain, just head nextdoor to the J Sheekey Oyster Bar where you can choose dishes for under £10 and eat them tapas-style. Just keep an eye on who is sitting at the next table, you never know who might call in for some oysters...
www.j-sheekey.co.uk
Where to grab a cocktail:
Jewel
If you like your cocktails with a shot of exclusivity and made by an expert mixologist, try Jewel in Piccadilly Circus. When the chic nightspot first opened, David and Victoria Beckham attended the launch party with BFFs Elton John and David Furnish. Its Moulin Rouge interior – all draped red curtains and chandeliers – certainly makes it a special place for a drink and a reported favourite of the JLS boys. With a bottle of house wine costing £15 it won’t break the bank either.
www.jewelpiccadilly.co.uk
Cocktail hour: JLS reportedly like drinking at Jewel in LondonPunchbowl
Punchbowl was just a regular pub in Mayfair until Guy Ritchie fell in love with the traditional dark wood decor and decided the buy the place as an investment. While cocktails may not quite fit with the old tavern feel, there are plenty of ales and new world wines and the clientele certainly adds a sophisticated edge. Look beyond the pretty window boxes and hanging baskets and you may spy Jude Law or Kevin Spacey sitting with a pint, or even Sophie Dahl or Peches Geldoff passing the time of day. Just don’t try taking any photos, they don’t really like that...
www.punchbowllondon.com
Mahiki
This underground Tiki-style cocktail bar and club claims to be a ‘Polynesian paradise’. It certainly has the royal seal of approval from Prince Harry even the future queen of England, Kate Middleton. You’ll never get bored with the unusual but pricey cocktail menu here which includes great names like poisoned chalice and Neptune’s bounty. If you’ve got Harry’s cash to spend, you may want to try his reported favourite, the treasure chest, which includes spirits and a bottle of champagne served up in an old wooden chest, complete with straws. At a cool £125 it is certainly a budget buster. If you’re looking for It girls and socialites, this is the place to celebrity spot.
www.mahiki.com
Royal seal of approval: Prince Harry is a fan of Mahiki and Kate Middleton was spotted partying there after her brief break-up with Prince WilliamWhere to shop:
Selfridges
Selfridges has just been voted the best department store in the world and it’s easy to see why. Perhaps it is the Shoe Galleries – the largest shoe department in the world, displaying 4,000 pairs from Topshop to Christian Louboutin – or the great eateries inside, or maybe it is the huge collection of branded clothes that are exclusive to the store. Victoria Beckham has just launched her new handbag collection there and the celebrities can often be seen gliding through the personal shopping area. If you’re on the lookout for that special dress or need a wardrobe update it is certainly worth enjoying the A-list treatment of a personal style consultant.
www.selfridges.com
Style central: Explore the many shopping areas that weave around Oxford and Bond StreetBond Street
If you truly have money to burn, or at least a love of designer label window shopping , head down Bond Street where Gucci, DKNY, Armani and Tiffany jostle for your attention. Not only a pleasant break from the madness of neighbouring Oxford Street, this ultra high-end hideaway boasts a myriad of little cafes and bars down seemingly deserted alleyways and some truly beautiful people walking around. From minor royals to the likes of long-limbed Elle MacPherson and Gwyneth Paltrow, they all pop by this stylishly sedate shopping area to pick up their latest outfits. And if you can't find a celebrity, you might at least be able to find a millionaire to bank-roll your visit to the Cartier store.
www.bondstreetassociation.com
Portman Village
Beyond the well-known 'high streets' in London, there are little nooks and crannies which promise amazing shopping beyond your usual chain and designer shops. Portman Village, spread over New Quebec Street and Seymour Place, is just the spot to lose yourself. Whether you want clothes, furniture, a drink at a chic cafe or even an art gallery to while away your afternoon, you'll find it all here. Pop into Ronen Chen, the Iranian designer favoured by Davina McCall, or Viren Jani, optometrist to the stars who, is so exclusive he won't even reveal which celebrities call at his door.
www.portmanvillage.com
Travel Facts
On November 27 London's West End will be pedestrianised between 10am -6pm as part of the annual West London VIP Day sponsored by American Express. Oxford Street and Regent Street will be completely traffic-free and shoppers can enjoy special offers and deals as well as donation taxis at the end of the day. For more information on the events taking place on November 27,
visit www.westendlondon.com/vip
source: dailymail
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