Business or pleasure afloat on the Thames

CITY Cruises has acquired its first dedicated events boat, named the Erasmus. The 300-capacity boat is City Cruises only private-hire corporate and leisure event venue in #London.

The 38-metre vessel has several versatile indoor and outdoor spaces including, three alfresco decks, a formal 130-seater dining space with booth and table seating, plus a large inside mid-deck room which increases the inside vessel capacity to 300 guests.

The flexibility and technology capabilities of the boat allows event organisers to host corporate product launches, award ceremonies, company gatherings and personal celebrations from weddings to birthday parties.

Erasmus’ galley and kitchen team will cater to a wide variety of dining styles, from casual fare to canapés, fine dining and upper deck BBQs during the summer months.



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More options for British Airways passengers travelling to and from Moscow

BRITISH Airways has launched a flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO). Now, British Airways flights are even more convenient for passengers who live in Russia wish to get to the center of Moscow as quickly as possible on arrival.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is located 29 km northwest of central Moscow. British Airways' timetable gives fliers the option of taking an early morning, mid-morning or overnight flight from Terminal 5 to the Russian capital. The new Sheremetyevo flight will be operated by an Airbus 321.

British Airways has major plans. The company is already investing £4.5 billion to improve service and flight quality for customers. This includes the installation of the latest generation in-flight Wi-Fi as well as power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline is also investing £600 million specifically in Club World (long-haul business class), including outstanding catering at an altitude of 11,500 meters, and providing the best conditions for sleeping onboard the airline's planes.
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GFEST 2018

THE annual November LGBTQI+ entertainment and cross-art event GFEST – Gaywise FESTival will be launched on Monday the 12 November at Alexandra Palace, Palm Court. GFEST 2018 events will be listed on the website: https://gaywisefestival.org.uk

This year’s festival theme is #SociallyEQUAL and the organisers are proud to present a free entry entertainment evening full of live acts presenting music, dance, acapella, performance poetry at the launch.


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Zero emission Fuel Cell Electric bus service launched at Gatwick

A prototype fuel cell electric double-deck bus was shown in public for the first time at Gatwick's Annual Transport Forum on Friday 12th October.

In a first for the region, the new technology will soon trailed with an in-service trial of the bus run by local service provider Metrobus on the company's Fastway 100 service between Crawley, Gatwick Airport and Reigate. 

Metrobus expects to follow this with an order for 20 single deck fuel cell electric buses to expand provision of zero emission journeys and improve local air quality.

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London tops world university rankings

THE Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings revealed that four universities in #London are listed in the top 40 – more than any other city in the world.

The UK capital also has five in the top 200, cementing London’s reputation as one of the best cities in the world for higher education.

The five London universities in the top 200 are:
• Imperial College London (9)
• University College London (14)
• London School of Economics and     

   Political Science (26)
• King’s College London (38)
• Queen Mary University of London (130)

Almost 30 per cent of London’s 378,840 students come from overseas, contributing £3 billion each year to the UK economy.

Laura Citron, CEO London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional agency said: “We are delighted that London universities have once again topped the rankings, which confirms London’s outstanding global reputation as a fantastic choice for international students.

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How things have changed

SIXTY years ago, British Airways, then called BOAC – British Overseas Airways Corporation – became the first airline to fly a turbo jet engine aircraft between Europe and New York, reducing the journey time from 18 hours to around seven. First jet engine flight across the Atlantic On October 4, 1958 the airline flew two de Havilland Comet 4 aircraft, one from New York to London and the other from London to New York.

Back in 1958, Comet 4 could fly just 48 customers every day from London. Today British Airways operates up to 12 flights a day from the capital, offering around 3,500 seats. On the Comet there were two cabins, Deluxe and First Class. Today, British Airways flights feature four cabins, to suit all budgets – World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First. In 1958 a ticket to travel on the Comet staggeringly cost the equivalent of £8,000.

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Bringing a slice of Soho to Heathrow

HIDDEN away in the heart of Soho at No.61 Rupert Street is Spuntino, a restaurant that consists of 27 stools and a popcorn machine. The New York comfort-food inspired eatery has developed a cult following with London foodies and is soon to be opening its doors at Heathrow Terminal 3. 

Spuntino, which means ‘snack’ in Italian, will develop a bespoke airport breakfast and takeaway menu to deliver an ‘all day dining’ and ‘on board’ experience for many of the 18 million passengers who travel through Terminal 3 each year. The new menu will follow the same ‘small plates’ theme as its existing site.

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London tops the list

HIGHLIGHTING Europe’s strength and growing popularity in the MICE industry. The list was compiled according to sourcing activity through the Cvent Supplier Network, valued at more than $14.7 billion and including more than 40 million room nights in 2017 – helping to support more than 715,000 events worldwide. For the fourth consecutive year, #London tops the European list, with Barcelona ranking the second most popular destination for the MICE community.

The top 10 cities in Europe in 2018 are:

1   London, England
2   Barcelona, Spain
3   Berlin, Germany
4   Amsterdam, Netherlands
5   Madrid, Spain
6   Paris, France
7   Frankfurt, Germany
8   Rome, Italy
9   Munich, Germany
10 Lisbon, Portugal

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Up in the air . . .

BRITISH Airways and Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, have today announced a new partnership which will open up more routes between London and the South Pacific than ever before.

With its idyllic beaches, world-famous dive sites and lush green forests, #Fiji and its extremely popular island destinations are more accessible than ever before as customers in the UK will be able to travel from gateways in the U.S. and Asia to destinations that have previously been more difficult to access from the UK.

From today, British Airways will start selling flights between Singapore, Los Angelesand San Francisco and the Fijian gateway of Nadi direct on ba.com.



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Picture Credit: British Airways

London's most prestigious address

MANDARIN Oriental Hyde Park, #London has completed the most extensive restoration in its 115-year history, designed to confirm this historic hotel’s position as one of the best in the world. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is London’s most prestigious address. 

Only to be hit by a fire that took hold of several floors of the hotel. All guests were accounted for but it is obviously a big blow following the recent multi million pound renovation.

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Picture Credit: wikipedia.org

Automated self-boarding technology to trial at Gatwick

GATWICK Airport has today announced the UK’s first trial of end-to-end biometrics – where personal data collected at the airport’s self-service bag drops will be recognised by new automated self-boarding gates - simplifying and speeding up the process for passengers and reducing the risk of human error.

The trial is being run in partnership with easyJet - Gatwick’s biggest airline - and the new self-boarding technology will identify each passenger and verify that their passport, face and boarding card all match – a process which takes less than 20 seconds.

The trial will be the first and most extensive of its kind in the UK and will run for at least three months so that around 10,000 passengers take part on the 43 Gatwick routes. 

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Most popular European destinations for American travellers

LONDON and Paris continue to be the most popular European destinations for American travelers this summer, but the remaining spots on the Top 20 list saw significant movement from 2017, according to an analysis by Allianz Global Assistance. This year, Reykjavik, Iceland jumped from 17th to third, Barcelona, Spain slipped from fifth to seventh and Nice, France cracked the Top 20 for the first time to come in at 11th.

American travellers visiting Reykjavik has grown significantly in the last few years. Ranked 28th in 2015, the destination cracked the top 20 in 2016 and 2017.Thanks in part to increased direct airlift from the U.S. to the island nation, Iceland's otherworldly landscapes and colorful city homes have been trending on social media in recent years. Despite talk of over-tourism and discussion to potentially limit the number of annual visitors to the country, Reykjavik's popularity continues to rise this summer.

Barcelona's fall in rankings from fifth in 2016 and 2017 to seventh in 2018, may have been caused by several recent incidents. In the last year, Barcelona experienced a terrorist attack in the popular Las Ramblas area; political turmoil as Catalonia attempted to cede from Spain; and organized street protests in Barcelona.

Nice lands on the list for the first time, this suggests that American perception of the city's safety has recovered from the 2016 terrorist truck attack during the city's Bastille Day celebration.

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The Royal Wedding: Inspiring Americans to visit Great Britain

BIG BEN, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames have all lured Americans to Great Britain through the years, but now there's a renewed interest as England's Prince Harry is set to wed American actress Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. According to a quick poll of travel agents in Travel Leaders Network – one of America's largest retail travel agency organizations – some are seeing an increase in clients wanting to travel to Great Britain as a result of the Royal wedding.

The #royalwedding is expected to be one of the largest events for #Windsor Castle and thousands are planning to flock to the area hoping to get a glimpse of the lovebirds as they travel in procession after their wedding ceremony. Whether you're traveling to #GreatBritain this spring or later in the year, here are some things to see and do while you're there.

Ride in Royal Footsteps - Horse-drawn tours are available to the public from Windsor Castle, with private guided tours on the Long Walk.

Art and Architecture in Windsor - Windsor Castle, about 45 minutes from London by train, has been home to 39 monarchs.

Buckingham Palace - The queen's official London residence, is open for tours from July 21 to Sept. 30. 

Diana's Fashion Sense - The memory of Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana, lives on around Kensington Palace, home to many of today's British royals. On display here is "Diana: Her Fashion Story," featuring outfits worn by the late Princess of Wales. 

Warwick Castle - A medieval fortress built in 1068 and located on the River Avon, is about 90 minutes from London by train. Take an intriguing tour of the medieval vaults and climb to the top of the castle's towers and ramparts.

Southwest England - A visit to Southwest England is gorgeous, even from a train window, but it is not complete without a stop at Tintagel Castle's legendary ruins.

Trooping the Colour - The annual parade, which for nearly 300 years has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign, will be June 9th this year.

Feast Like a King -  A train ride would allow one to stop for mouth-watering experiences in many different cities, from avant-garde haute cuisine to renowned ethnic and regional dishes.

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Gatwick to be first airport in the world to trial autonomous vehicles

GATWICK'S 300 airside vehicles are stationary 90% of the time – as staff attend to aircraft and passengers – however a trial of electric-powered autonomous vehicles will soon see workers shuttled between popular locations on the airfield when it starts later this summer, the airport has announced.

The trial is thought to be the first of its kind for any airport in the world and - if successful and scaled up – could lead to airfield transport needs being met from a much smaller pool of autonomous vehicles, reducing the need for such large vehicle fleets, reducing emissions and saving on costs.

If the technology is proven in an airfield environment and following further trials, this project may be the precursor to a wide range of other autonomous vehicles being used on airport, including aircraft push back tugs, passenger load bridges, baggage tugs and transportation buses.

No passengers or aircraft will be involved in this trial, which will be limited to airside roads between the airport’s North and South terminals.

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A wedding in the edgy east

THOSE who are planning a wedding with a difference should head to buzzing east London for a treasure trove of super quirky venues and creative wedding experiences.

Andaz London hotel on Liverpool Street has launched its ‘Get Shore-hitched’ package, allowing couples to celebrate their day in true East End style. The happy couple can choose how much of Shoreditch they bring into their big day with options including handcrafted graffiti invitations created by local street artists, complimentary ‘his’ and ‘her’ tattoos from an east London tattooist, a ceremony in the hotel’s secret Masonic Temple (to name a few). Also, after the wedding, a local designer can recycle the bride’s wedding dress into a new outfit that can be worn again and again.

Further east, Ace Hotel in Shoreditch is proving popular with animal lovers – not only do they have an extensive vegan menu but they are also proud to be dog friendly – so why not invite your four-legged friend along as a guest or a ringbearer!

For a wedding with a view, the Emirates Air Line cable car, which connects Greenwich to the Royal Albert Dock, hosts wedding receptions for newly-wedded couples who want to take their love to new heights! The glass capsules make the perfect backdrop for wedding photos with views across the O2 and Canary Wharf.

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Say I do in London

AS the UK gears up for the royal nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018, London’s official visitor guide, visitlondon.com celebrates the very best of the capital’s reigning wedding venues.

Say ‘I do’ at the Zoo! ZSL London Zoo hosts around 40 weddings a year between its two venues, The Mappin Pavilion and Prince Albert Suite – both offering exciting views of the animal residents. Make your day even more special by getting up close and personal with the animals or host a drinks reception in Penguin Beach (or another animal house). You can even stay overnight at a one of the Gir Lion Lodges, where guests are encouraged to sleep with the windows open to soak up the sounds and experience ZSL like no other. ZSL is still available to book on the 19th May!

For those culture vultures, the soon-to-be newlyweds can immerse themselves and their guests in the charming setting of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, against a background of famous works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Canaletto to name a few.

Enjoy your day in the beautiful surroundings of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a wedding at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture. Journey to the top of the 262ft viewing platform to say your vows against the stunning panorama of London’s skyline. For a more unusual start to married life, adrenaline-seeking couples can also hire The Slide, the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide.

For something a bit more historic, the happy couple need look no further than Middle Temple - one of the four ancient Inns of Court. The Elizabethan Hall boasts a soaring, double hammer beam roof, stained glass windows, and comes complete with its own Minstrel Gallery. The Hall was famously the setting for the first performance of Twelfth Night, with Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare himself in attendance.

Give your wedding a touch of glitz at the May Fair Theatre at the May Fair hotel, the official hotel to the British Film Institute and London Fashion Week. As well as weddings, the May Fair’s luxury screening room is home to film premieres, screenings and theatrical performances.

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Luxurious yet down to earth

TOM KERRIDGE has announced plans to open his first #London restaurant situated on the ground floor of the Corinthia Hotel in Westminster. The current restaurant within the hotel will close in June for the transition to take place with luxury interior design specialists in charge of converting the space into a relaxed British brasserie-style restaurant by Tom Kerridge.

After planning to launch his debut London restaurant at The Rib Room at Jumeirah Carlton Tower last year, Kerridge has had to alter his plans which means that we will now see him open at a different venue. Thomas Kichs, Corinthia's hotel managing director explained that they have been looking to provide their guests with the true British hospitality experience.

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Experience England

THE UK’s three largest cities, London, Manchester and Birmingham have formed an alliance to jointly promote the best of English tourism in three of the world’s fastest growing markets: China, India and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. 

The partnership, which will see the three English cities collaborate on tourism for the first time, will focus on increasing the number of visitors arriving in one city and then travelling across the different regions.

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Easter delights in London

EASTER egg hunts and special Easter events for kids and grownups, to the best chocolate shops and Easter opening hours in #London, plan a fun-filled #Easter break in the capital.

• Watch a spectacular free performance of The Passion of Jesus, featuring 100 performers, in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday.

• Join an Easter weekend service at one of London’s churches or cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Southwark Cathedral. March 30 -Apr 1

• Visit London’s top chocolate shops for beautiful chocolate eggs and Easter treats.

• Look out for chocolate-themed afternoon teas in London at Easter, including May Fair Kitchen’s Charbonnel et Walker afternoon tea and a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych.

• Hunt down Lindt chocolate bunnies and learn some chocolate-themed history about the palace’s past at Hampton Court Palace.  Mar 26 - Apr 15

• Follow the Peter Rabbit trail among spring daffodils and crocuses at Kew Gardens, stopping off for lots of fun activities along the way. Mar 30 - Apr 15

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New world-class sporting event for London

BRITISH Athletics has confirmed that eight of the worlds top athletics nations will compete in the Athletics World Cup London 2018 this summer.

Following on from the success of London 2017 which saw the capital become the first city ever to stage both the World Para Athletics and IAAF World Athletics Championships in the same year, fans of the sport will once again see the best countries competing in the UK, in the greatest athletics stadium in the world.

Athletes from USA, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa will compete in the ground-breaking two-day event on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July at the London Stadium.

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