Hot Hotels: Glasgow and London
The best places to stay across the bmi network
[ Glasgow ]
Turning the Clyde
Glasgow council gave Radisson Blu its prime site next to Central Station on the cheap, expecting a landmark building that would kickstart the regeneration of this still industrial stretch of the Clyde. They certainly delivered on the first requirement – the 250-room hotel with its dramatic swoosh of patinated copper got rave reviews. It’s arguably Glasgow’s most successful contemporary building and by a firm of local architects too. Although the surrounding streets are still a little rough and ready, the Radisson is the oasis of class you’d expect. It’s good for work of course: all the rooms have desks and full internet access options. But it’s fun and cultured too: the bar’s popular with locals and the Collage restaurant is decorated with artwork by Beatles cover artist Peter Blake. Lee Cheshire
Radisson Blu Glasgow is just one of the hotels you can book at flybmi.com. Diamond Club members can earn destinations miles when they stay here and at other Radisson hotels
[ London ]
Garden parties
In recent years, The Royal Garden has become known for large scale corporate functions thanks to its business-like conference hall. But the recent revamp will see it recognised as one of the few five-star luxury hotels in west London, perfectly located on Kensington High Street with its voguish stores and nightclubs (including Harvey Nichols and Amika) and backing onto the Royal Borough’s green oasis, Hyde Park.
Our window on the eighth floor Garden Room looked out onto a panorama punctuated by some of the city’s finest landmarks: Kensington Palace, the Royal Albert Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral. No wonder the room refurbishment has kept the decor understated.
Unusually for a luxury hotel, the in-house restaurant is Chinese: Min Jiang on the 10th floor has a sense of occasion (and of course the skyline views): for instance, the wood-fired Beijing duck pancakes are prepared at your table with huge ceremony.
A hot tip: the spa which is tucked away in the basement, is pretty empty in the morning so perfect for an invigorating wake-up call for the day ahead. Sam Day
2-24 Kensington High Street, London W8, +44 (0)20 7937 8000; www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk
