Travel

Celebrating a St Patrick's Day themed weekend in London

It’s that time of the year again when London goes green for St Patrick’s Day and thousands of people descend on the capital to join in the celebrations. Nemesha Balasundaram offers some tips to make your trip a memorable one...

With the annual parade and festival returning to London’s streets this weekend, here’s a handy guide on how you can spend an ‘all-things-Irish’ weekend in London.

SATURDAY

9am

Before even thinking about tackling the bustling tourist trail around the capital, you’ll need to fuel up. The recently opened Cereal Killer Café on Brick Lane in artsy Shoreditch, the first of its kind in Britain, offers over 100 variations of your favourite breakfast treat. Just ask the Belfast owners, identical twins Alan and Gary Keery, for a bowl of Toffee Crisp, Lucky Charms or Apple Cinnamon Cheerios. It’s open from 7am to 10pm, so if you can’t make it for breakfast, a late-night treat is still on the cards!

10.30am

It’s an hour’s walk from Brick Lane to Trafalgar Square, the site of Sunday’s free St Patrick’s Day Festival. If the sun’s shining this is a great way to see the sites, passing the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, views of St Paul’s Cathedral and famous landmarks along the river. The alternative is a 30-minute train and tube ride from Shoreditch High Street to Charing Cross.

Steeped in culture and history, each road that leads from Nelson’s column that towers over the square, offers plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. Walk towards Victoria Embankment for views of the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, or down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace; whichever you choose, the best way to see these sights are on foot.

Before the crowds arrive for the festivities on Sunday, it’s a great idea to spend the day exploring the capital and navigating the sites at your own pace.

If you’ve got kids in tow, Madame Tussauds is an enjoyable next stop on the itinerary. A £120 family ticket (an online price that allows entry to an additional London attraction), will let you get up close and personal with life-like wax figures of your favourite celebrities, including Ireland’s very own One Direction star Niall Horan.

With the 2015 Cricket World Cup still taking place and finishing at the end of the month, it might be fitting, if you’re a cricket fan or just patriotic, to visit Lord’s Cricket Ground instead. No more than a 15 minute ride on the Central and Jubilee lines from Trafalgar Square lies the ‘home of cricket’, and more importantly the home of the Middlesex County team that boasts Ireland cricketers Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling and Tim Murtagh. For £18 (adult) and £12 (child), you can take a tour around the ground and museum or if you prefer, head next door for an afternoon drink at The Tavern.

Oscar Wilde Bar, Hotel Cafe Royal

2pm

By now, there’s a strong chance you’ll have worked up an appetite, so the London High Society afternoon tea (from £42) at the iconic Oscar Wilde Lounge at Hotel Café Royal on Regent’s Street is a fantastic next stop.

As you enter the spectacular room that Oscar Wilde himself once visited daily, you’ll feel a world away from the flurry of roaming tourists. The lounge has been restored beautifully to its original Louis XVI detailing, and with a pianist providing the soundtrack to a serene afternoon, all that you’ve got to do is work your way through the delicious dishes on offer.

The apple and goat’s cheese muffin served as the amuse bouche melts in the mouth, whilst the wild boar, crackling, pickled apple and caraway bun is a delight. If you’ve a sweet tooth, the array of pastries, scones and cakes, including blueberry and poppy seed, banana and cazzette nut are plentiful.

There’s a selection of exclusive blends and teas to choose from, the ‘Oscar’ is particularly fragrant, or kick off the celebrations a day early with a glass of champagne or a cocktail too.

5pm

Close to sunset, it’s an ideal time to travel to London Bridge to visit Western Europe’s tallest building, The Shard. Irish company the Byrne Group were involved in its construction, and with 360 degree views over London it’s a must-see attraction.

At a cost of around £25 per adult, you can visit the two-part viewing gallery on the 70th floor, which offers magnificent indoor and outdoor views of the River Thames winding through London’s prime attractions at dusk.

If you spend time catching the city from every angle, you’ll see a stunning transition as the city falls under the blanket of the night sky. If you have time make your way to level 31 and provided there’s no queues, grab a drink at Aqua Shard and enjoy the breath-taking views further.

London's Shard building offers stunning views of the city and is the ideal venue for evening drinks

8pm

After a busy day head to your base for the night, the Lancaster Hotel, which is located adjacently to Hyde Park. The hotel boasts a two Rosette Thai restaurant, Nipa Thai, and it’s a great dining experience. With traditional décor, a peaceful ambience and a delicious range of authentic Thai cuisine on the menu, it’s a great venue to unwind after a busy day.

For starters, the generous portions of crisp fried prawn dumplings and vegetable spring rolls are a tasty option. A range of noodle and rice dishes, including seafood, chicken and vegetarian options, are recommended for mains, particularly the Sanguan’s Phad Thai, which is delicious. Make sure you try out the cocktails; the mojitos were the perfect accompaniment to the meal.

Stomachs full and minds exhausted after a full-on day, it’s only a short lift ride up to your room. Spacious but cosy, it's warm and inviting. If you can, try and request a room on one of the top floors as there are great views overlooking Hyde Park. With ample room and a welcoming elegance, it’s a fantastic setting for a good night’s rest.

Sunday

9am

Wake up and begin your day with a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s Island Grill restaurant, before heading across the road to Kensington Gardens to enjoy the fresh air on your morning stroll. The fountains are a great focal point of the picturesque surroundings, and make a stunning backdrop for a few photographs!

If you’ve got time, walk over to Hyde Park, the magnificent summer-time concert venue for bands such as U2 and The Pogues, and visit one of its famous landmarks: Speakers’ Corner; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain or go boating on the Serpentine Lake.

The Churchill Arms is well-worth a visit, even if it is to its beautiful exterior

11.00am

The Churchill Arms pub, one of London’s most popular watering holes, is a worthy mid-morning stopover. Only a short walk from Kensington Gardens, it’s a vibrant and attractive award-winning venue famed for its outstanding flower display that adorns its exterior.

Built in 1750, this Kensington pub was interestingly once frequented by Winston Churchill’s grandparents. Now, however, it’s the friendly face of publican, Co. Clare native Gerry O’Brien, who you’ll find inside. Whether it’s a coffee or an early morning pint you’re after, a visit here will certainly brighten up your morning.

12-6pm

Now it’s time for the highlight of the weekend’s events, the St Patrick’s Day parade and festival. At midday, the parade will make its way down Piccadilly, on a 1.5 mile route passing some of London most iconic landmarks, including: The Ritz, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and onto Whitehall. If you’d like to follow the parade then you’ll need to decide on a vantage point along the route to get a good view of the spectacular pageantry, floats, marching bands from across the country and Irish dancing schools.

Alternatively, you can head straight to Trafalgar Square. This will be the hive of the celebrations, with an artisan Irish food market, comedy and film festivals, ceilidhs, activities for children and music and dance.

The highlight of the weekend's events begins at 12pm on Sunday when the St Patrick's Day parade and festival takes place

2pm

If you want to escape the crowd but remain close to the celebrations, step into the sleek but understated surroundings of the Rockwell Room in the Trafalgar Hotel, only a stone’s throw away. With cocktails, music and internationally inspired British cuisine on offer, it’s an ideal place to stop for lunch. Next month the hotel’s Vista sky bar reopens and provides stunning views of London from its tranquil surroundings, so it’s worth a stop on your next visit.

6.30pm

When festivities wrap up, the final attraction well worth a visit is Madison Bar and Restaurant, at the top of modern shopping complex in St Paul’s, One New Change. Again, constructed by the Byrne Group, this semi-outdoor venue offers fantastic panoramic views of the London skyline whilst enjoying a drink with friends or family on the rooftop terrace. If you’d like to make an evening of it, the restaurant boasts a mouth-watering selection of fine cuisine inspired by the eclectic traditions of New York.

The buttermilk chicken is a tasty introduction to the meal, and the Madison fish pie is a wholesome option for the following course. With a warm welcome, cocktails flowing and a buzzing atmosphere, Madison is a fitting way to draw a close to a fun-filled weekend.

WHERE TO STAY

Lancaster London Hotel

Lancaster Terrace

London W2 2TY

Tel: 0207 551 6000

www.lancasterlondon.com