5 Things To Do When You Visit London this Winter

When it comes to London’s most iconic sights Mayfair has to be one of the best addresses in the book. Located in the heart of the West End, it’s perfectly positioned to reach those must-see places.

So staying at The Athenaeum Hotel & Residence, one of the finest hotels in Mayfair, is a luxury indeed. Within an arm’s reach of Green Park, among some of the most illustrious museums, galleries and restaurants in the world and featuring Instagram-worthy views across London’s celebrated skyline, this is one sought-after destination.

The question is – how do you choose what to see? Here we select five things to do in London in the winter. Read on to find out about our favourite haunts.

Bond Street
Less than a 10-minute walk from The Athenaeum beats the heart of London’s most exclusive shopping destination – Bond Street. Just walking down this beautiful, world-famous street is an experience, as you browse the prestigious shop-fronts of Chanel, Bulgari, Fendi, Gucci and De Beers to name a few, before settling to down to a stylish post-shopping lunch. Why not pop into the renowned auction house Sotheby’s or The Wallace Collection before retiring to your sumptuous suite for a spot of afternoon tea. Sounds good to us!

Hyde Park
Green Park may be on the doorstep of our luxurious hotel in Mayfair, but you’ll also find yourself close to another of London’s renowned green spaces – the world-famous Hyde Park. Known for its open-air public speaking spot, aptly named Speakers Corner, you’ll be treated to a lively round of speeches and debates – a novel experience you won’t want to miss. Combine this with a boat trip on The Serpentine Lake, a visit to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and a live music concert and London’s largest park begins to reveal its true wonders.

The Royal Academy of Arts
Walking through the courtyard of Burlington House is a visual extravagance alone. Home to the oldest fine arts institution in England, and a five-minute walk from The Athenaeum, this privately-funded society is host to some of the leading exhibitions in the world. For a flavour of what’s going on in the art world right now, you’d do well to drop in to the annual summer exhibition showcasing up-and-coming artists. Featured alongside old masters, including Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo – the only marble he ever produced – you’re in for a cultural treat.

The Shard
Arriving at The Shard is quite remarkable. A recent addition to London’s iconic skyline, and instantly recognisable, The Shard is an architectural masterpiece. Soaring upwards, the tallest building in the UK is double the height of any other viewing platform in London, and it’s fair to say, the view is astounding. With three floors of restaurants and bars, amongst them – the Aqua Shard, Oblix and Hutong – you won’t be short of somewhere to sit and fully immerse yourself in those stunning scenes across London, before retreating to one of the most luxurious hotels in Mayfair. Bliss.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
If you’re travelling with the whole family, this is one experience in London you won’t want to miss – five floors of mind-boggling curiosities to intrigue the most inquisitive of minds. Browse the weird and wonderful and you’ll discover a man born with a blue face (really!), a furry trout, chewing gum sculptures, shrunken heads and Henry VIII’s actual shoe. With interactive mirror mazes, black holes for the children and historical artefacts that will blow your mind, it’s well worth the visit, and only a short walk away from your leading hotel in Mayfair.

Feel like visiting? Have a look at our rooms here and add a bit of luxury to your stay.