If you like to be entertained, but in a quieter fashion than usual, then why not head down to London in January for the 2012 International Mime Festival. Or even plan your trip for next year’s January 2013 event? The festival is the longest running of its kind in the world having first been established in 1977 and it was founded by esteemed international theatrists Joseph Seelig and Helen Lannaghan. Most people who arrive for the festival really enjoy their stay in London, so why not get down yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

The festival has got rave reviews from critics and is an excellent example of contemporary visual theatre. There are shows to suit all types of audiences; from high-end conceptual drama, to family friendly kids show and everything in between, there is plenty at the Mime Festival to entertain every body. The festival takes places over 6 venues across the city; Barbican Centre, Jacksons Lane, Royal Opera House, Roundhouse, Soho Theatre and the Southbank Centre. These are all located across the centre of London, but with the city’s excellent transport system, including the highly extensive tube network, then you are only a short ride away from any of the locations.

For anyone looking to travel down and get some accommodation in London, then you may be overwhelmed by the number of hotel options to choose from. However a type of accommodation a lot of people may not consider is booking a serviced apartment in London. With serviced apartments you can rent a whole apartment rather than just a hotel room, so you get more space, and also the use of your own kitchen and separate bedrooms. This means you aren’t limited to having to spend lots of money eating out in restaurants or sub-standard hotel food and you can sort yourself out! Whether you want to go all out and cook a full roast dinner, or you patience/skills are limited to whacking a frozen pizza in the oven, a serviced apartment would be great for anyone.

The dust has settled on another year and another season of The X Factor. However, though the show is now over, the annual X Factor Live tour is set to start soon. The main contestants from X Factor 2011 will be touring the UK giving fans a chance to see them live. The X Factor Live tour will be in London at Wembley Arena for 2 nights on the 3rd and 4th March 2012. If you will be travelling to see the show, London serviced apartments are still available for these dates.

The X Factor is always entertaining and last year was no exception! There was the excitement of the new judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa, and Kelly Rowland (with Louis Walsh the only familiar face). The contest was not without controversy – the Misha B bullying allegations aired on the show by Tulisa and Louis, Frankie Cocozza and his “rock and roll” behaviour – but it ultimately came down to a final between Amelia Lily, Marcus Collins, and Little Mix. The victory of girl group Little Mix was an X Factor landmark as this was the first time that a girl group had won the competition. Now, if you want to see Little Mix and the other contestants such as Janet Devlin, Craig Colton, or Misha B live, you can come to the X Factor Live shows at Wembley Arena.

Serviced apartments in London are available for anyone travelling to see the show and who might require accommodation. Apartments in London can be viewed on the London city page of the Serviced City Pads website. If you would like to find out more about a London serviced apartment or what options are available to you for your London visit, then why not call our reservations team on 0844 335 8866, or send us your enquiry through our website?

Getting a London serviced apartment is not as easy as you might think, if you are doing all the work yourself anyway. That’s why enlightened individuals will use Serviced City Pads to find the London accommodation, and what more a defining feature of London than the River Thames?

The River Thames is England’s longest river and the second longest in the United Kingdom. For those river enthusiasts out there, you will already know that the Severn is the UK’s longest river, but that flows through Wales so we’re aren’t counting it on this occasion. For non-river enthusiasts, just read the last sentence. On its perilous journey from Thames Head (about a mile north of the village of Kemble) to the Thames estuary it goes through many places such as Newbridge, Swinford, Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Goring, Pangbourne, Reading, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Staines, Kingston, London, Greenwich before coming out next to Southend. Oh it must see many a sight.

Probably the most famous part of the river is the bit that runs through London. There are lots of good bridges that cross the river, which have proved very useful as people wish to travel from one side to the other. Some good bridges that cross the Thames include Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Windsor Bridge, Putney Bridge and many more. There also some tunnels including the world’s first underwater tunnel, Marc Brunel’s Thames Tunnel built in 1843.

If you are looking for accommodation in London and you’re thinking of looking at or going on the Thames, then why not try booking a serviced apartment for your stay. Compared to an equivalent London hotel, apartments provide an added bonus due to their self-catering style, so you can cook and eat in the apartment without having to rely on expensive of sub-par hotel or restaurant food. You also get to enjoy more space than an in a hotel as you have use of a whole apartment. With plenty of serviced apartment options across London, Serviced City Pads can provide your London accommodation whilst you stay.

From December to January this winter 2011/12 Tim Key brings his new show to London’s West End, specifically Soho Theatre. With plenty of accommodation options in London, you might be struggling to choose where to stay, however there is no need to worry, just book a serviced apartment in London and all your dreams will (may) come true. An increasingly popular option when compared to hotels, serviced apartments are a solid option when looking for London accommodation.

For those of you that haven’t heard of Tim Key, shame on you. He was the winner of the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award for his show ‘Slutcracker’ and back this Winter with another slut-themed titled show ‘Masterslut.’ However when searching for Google for more information on these shows, especially the latter, please be sure to include the phrase ‘Tim Key’ or ‘Comedy Show’ as some unwanted results may appear on the screen. Although if you are a very open-minded person then you may be happy to entertain some of the ideas and imagery that you may encounter. Key’s shows are a mixture of off-beat poetry, weird and wonderful film clips with a distinctively whimsical delivery (as some other website bloggers have described it.) You may have seen him as resident poet on Charlie Brooker’s ‘Newsipe’ or as a joint host of BBC4’s ‘We Need Answers’ along with Mark Watson and Alex Horne. Eagled eyed viewers may also recognise him as Sidekick Simon from Alan Partridge’s new work ‘Mid-Morning Matters.’ The bottom line is, Tim Key is a funny bloke. And he is a different sort of funny so as to make him worth seeing, but not too different that it’s too weird and it would make your mates/girlfriend questions your comedic tastes by inviting them along. Also due to the cynical, popularist celebrity culture we live in, Key is not mainstream yet so it would still be cool to see him. So get in there early before he’s a guest panellist Britain’s got Talent and appears on the Jonathon Ross show and you to have to pay £55 to watch him from 200 yards away at the back of a packed stadium whilst the show is performed live for his DVD released just in time for Christmas. Youtube ‘No More Women’ and watch all the episodes and then they play the game with your mates. Tim Key and Mark Watson will be proud of you and what better place to practice your game than in a London serviced apartment.

For any shows in the West End, getting a serviced apartment is a great option to compliment your night at the theatre. Booking a serviced apartment gives you use of a whole apartment compared to a hotel room which means there’s a separate living room and bedrooms as well as your own kitchen area. Serviced City Pads have a wide selection of serviced apartments in London, and with the excellent tube network, no matter where you are in central London you will never be far away from where you need to be. If Tim Key would like to book his own serviced apartment as his London accommodation option, please get in touch and Serviced City Pads will be glad to help.

London serviced apartments are a great option for anyone going to see a show at the West End. With getting the use of a whole apartment instead of just the 4 walls of a hotel room, staying in a serviced apartment can be a much more pleasant experience and can increase one’s enjoyment for going to see a West End play.

This Winter/Spring sees the story of the birth of The Beatles coming to the West End. Backbeat will be playing at the Duke of York theatre in central London close to Leicester Square until the end of March 2012. The show is a stage adaption of the 1994 film of the same name by Iain Softley which focuses on the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe and John Lennon and also with Sutcliffe’s girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr. It is based in the early years of the band mostly in Hamburg when they were searching for success and overall shows how the became ‘The Beatles’ that we know and love today showing the story from they embarked on their journey from the famous docks of Liverpool to the seedy red light district of Hamburg.

The play itself is not just an anthology of Beatles songs that fans might by expecting. If you’re turning up hoping for a few hours of non-stop Beatles hits then you are best off staying at home (or your very own serviced apartment) and sticking on a greatest hits album for the evening. The show includes no songs written by members of the Beatles but does include some songs they performed such as Twist and Shout, Rock’n'Roll Music, Long Tall Sally, Please Mr Postman and Money which are all rock’n’roll classics. The play is co-written by Iain Softley and Stephen Jeffreys, with musical direction by Paul Stacey, and directed by the award-winning David Leveaux.

The show will run until March next year so there is no excuses not to head down to London to see it. There are plenty of London accommodation options however one option that many are unaware of that is becoming increasingly popular is to book serviced apartments. These are apartments that can be booked for short to medium stays like hotels, except you get the use of the whole apartment which is much larger than a equivalent London hotel. The theatre where the show is taking place is located close to Leicester Square and Charing Cross so you are within close proximity to the rail and tube links which means you can be staying anywhere across central London and only be 10 minutes away.

Serviced City Pads have a wide selection of London serviced apartments available to book ranging from each end of the serviced apartment spectrum. Why not get in touch on 0844 335 8866 or email at info@servicedcitypads.com and see what serviced apartment options are available for your stay in London.

For anybody travelling down to London in November to watch the world famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna perform at London’s Wembley Arena, be sure to book a London serviced apartment for your stay so you can really experience a weekend of class and style.

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is a world famous, 430 year old, traditional riding school based in Hofburg in Austria which is not only a centre for classical dressage, but also a tourist attraction in Vienna that offers public performances as well as allowing some public viewing of training sessions. The school is specifically for Lipizzan horses who originally hail from the Iberian Peninsula, hence the Spanish part of the name. The leading horses and riders occasionally tour and in November 2011 they will be showing in the UK for the first time in 5 years.

Their new show called “Imperial Dream” sees a majestic display of classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the ‘haute école.’ This year Olympic and Paralympic dressage riders Carl Hester and Lee Pearson CBE are performing a specially choreographed routine prior to the Spanish Riding School’s main event. Last time they came to the UK the event sold out in days, as such as the rarity and majesty of their performances. As well as the equestrian antics on show there will also be live orchestral music and dance which add another dimension to this breathtaking extravaganza.

London serviced apartments provide an excellent accommodation choice for equestrian enthusiasts heading to London to watch the show. Compared to an equivalent London hotel room, a serviced apartment gives the guest much more space to relax in as they get the use of a whole apartment rather than just the four walls of a hotel room. Serviced apartments are also self-catering as they have a fully fitted kitchen so you can create anything you like, however I would probably steer clear of certain meats in your cooking. Serviced City Pads have a wide range of serviced apartments in London available so why not get in touch and see what there is available for your stay.

Katy Perry will return to London at The O2 Arena in October for the 2^nd UK leg of her 2011 California Dreams Tour. Having already played at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo in March, Katy Perry will return to London for 2 more nights or Perry-Perry fun. Get yourself a serviced apartment in London whilst you are down and see Katy Perry in style!

The California Dreams Tour is the 2^nd concert tour by singer Katy Perry and is in support of her third studio album ‘Teenage Dream.’ The tour started in early 2011 in February and will be visiting North America, Europe, Australasia, Asia and South America. The tour was officially announced along with the release of her 3^rd single ‘Firework in October 2010. Katy Perry won ‘Best International Female’ at the 2010 BRIT Awards, and she will be performing all the hits from her latest album ‘Teenage Dream’ including the hit singles ‘Teenage Dream,’ ‘California Gurls’ and ‘Firework.’ Since taking the music scene by storm in 2008 with huge hits ‘I Kissed A Girl’ and ‘Hot’n’Cold,’ The Perry has sold out the 50-city world tour and twice hosted and performed at the MTV European Music Awards. As well as being a pop sensation, she has taken part in X Factor as a guest judge and she’s also had a go in Hollywood playing a part in the 2009 film ‘Get Him to the Greek.’

If you are looking for accommodation in London when you are travelling down to watch Katy Perry, then you would be hard pressed to think of a better idea than booking a serviced apartment for your stay. There are some great London serviced apartment options located all across the city so you can get the right accommodation depending on where you need to be. The tube system in London also means that it’s very easy to travel across the city centre so you can get to wherever you need to go in minutes.

A London serviced apartment gives you so much more space than staying in an equivalent hotel room. You get the use of a whole apartment including separate bedrooms and bathroom areas and also a whole fully fitted kitchen to use as you desire.T here are larger 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available at many properties so you can get 6 to 8 people in the same one, meaning you don’t have to split your family or group across several hotel rooms. When you’re starting your search for accommodation, Serviced City Pads have a wide selection of serviced apartments available to choose from.

If you’re looking for accommodation in London whilst you’re visiting the city and the British Museum, then there are plenty of options available for you. The British Museum is located in London WC1 close to Soho and Covent Gardens and there a good number of London apartment hotel options that you can use as a base for your stay.

The British Museum is one of the world’s oldest museums and has one of the largest collections in the world with over 7 million objects which originate from all continents across the world. The museum illustrates and documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present day. The collections are so vast that only a fraction can be on display at any one time. It is the most visited museum and the UK and the second most visited in the world, with over 5.8 million visitors last year in 2010.

The museum has been recently undergoing a programme of refurbishment and one of the first galleries to be opened will be a new gallery of Ancient Iran, featuring several masterpieces from the Persian Empire, and a gallery focusing on the prehistory of Europe and the Middle East, which examines the fundamental changes to human society brought about by the birth of agriculture. Be sure to go and see The Great Court, which was opened in 2000 and replaced the area previously occupied by the British Library. This is open Sat-Wed 9am-6pm, and Thur, Fri 9am-8.30pm. It is a vast and beautiful covered piazza, designed by the famous Foster and Partners, surrounding the free reference library in former Round Reading Room.

There is plenty of transport links to the British Museum which make travelling to and from other parts of London very easy. There are several bus services that stop at the museum and Central, Piccadilly and Northern lines all have stops close by if you’re travelling by tube.

There are plenty of serviced apartments options close to the London’s British Museum located in the West End in close to Covent Gardens. Even if you look to stay somewhere further away such as near Hyde Park or in the City you will always be close to a tube station for easy access to wherever you need to go. Serviced City Pads can offer a wide selection of London apartment hotels that will suit whatever requirements you might have. So why not get in touch and see what you can get.

It’s no secret that Olympic Games will be coming to London next year in 2012. This Autumn on the 10^th & 11^th September the Olympic Park will make its 5^th appearance in Open House. This is a week when London celebrates all that is best about the capital’s buildings, places and neighbourhoods. Every September for the last 4 years it has given a unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of London’s amazing architecture with over 700 buildings of all kinds opening their doors to everyone – and all this free of charge.

With next year’s Olympic Games now less than a year away, everyone’s attention is turning to East London where one of the biggest construction projects in Europe is near completion. In September you can get a sneak preview of the Olympic Park at London’s Open House tour which this year will launch the 2011 architecture and design festival.

The open tour for the Olympic Park will happen a week before than the rest of the attractions across London. The ‘big build’ will have been completed on one of the largest construction projects in Europe, transforming the skyline of east London forever. There will be a special bus tour will take in the sights of all the main Park venues for the Games including the centre-piece of the whole area, the Olympic Stadium, then also the Aquatics Centre, Athletes’ Village, Velodrome, Handball Arena and the new temporary Basketball Arena.

If you’re thinking of travelling down to London to make the most of this opportunity, then you’ll be looking to get some accommodation in London for the stay. Why not try some London serviced apartments as an alternative to the usual, boring, mediocre hotel option.  With a serviced apartment you get a lot more space to stay in, which is great for families and groups of friends. You also get the use of a fully fitted kitchen so you can cook whatever you like, whenever you like. The only limits are your culinary skills! With plenty of options for serviced apartments in London, try Serviced City Pads when you’re looking for London accommodation.

Are you a fan of serviced apartments in London and chocolate? Well if you are, then you should get yourself down to London in December for the London leg of The Chocolate Festival. The festival also takes place in Oxford and Brighton, but when it arrives in London on the weekend of 9^th and 10^th December 2011, it is sure to be the most popular event.

Anyone who describes themselves as a chocoholic deserves to visit The Chocolate Festival. The event gives people a chance to savour some of the world’s finest chocolaties, both from Britain and beyond. This year will see some of the nation’s finest chocolate masters including award-winning names such as William Curley, Bill McCarrick, Damian Allsop, Paul Wayne Gregory and ‘The Great British Bake Off’ winner Edd Kimber.

There will be dozens of stalls showcasing artisan produced chocolate made from pure ingredients. It will be the perfect place to get treats and special gifts for discerning friends and family. There will be everything from hot chocolate to chocolate cakes, chocolate pretzels to chocolate churros, chocolate savoury food to chocolate cocktails. There will also be a chance to learn about the goodness of real chocolate. There will be even lessons on how to create your own chocolate in case you fancy having a go at home. This includes a chance to drop in to see the Master Class cookery demonstration and pick up recipes that will make your family/friends/loved ones drool.

If you’re heading down to London for the festival, why not look at booking a London serviced apartment for your stay. There are plenty of apartment options in London located close to the Southbank Centre as well as throughout the rest of central London. Maybe your visit to the Chocolate Festival will release the inner chef and you will want to whip up your own batch before you go home? Well you would really struggle in a hotel room, but with a serviced apartment you have the use of a whole fully-fitted kitchen, so you are free to make whatever chocolatey treats you can imagine! With a number of serviced apartments in London to offer, Serviced City Pads is a great place to start your search for London accommodation if you’re visiting the capital for the 2011 Chocolate Festival.