Festival Fever

It`s time to get your wellies out! Despite rainy wet weather England is experiencing music festival rush, and music lovers in London have been very enthusiastic and persistent. Wireless festival in Hyde Park last weekend was a success, the crowd was not put off by showers and mud, and with smiles on their faces people are looking forward to a next festival Hard Rock Calling, to be hosted in Hyde Park this coming week.

Usually the tickets for major dance festivals are selling out very quickly, but you still have a chance to visit good open air productions in London or on the outskirts this summer. There is something there for each taste and style of music. South West Four is a highlight for dance music in London, taking place in Clapham Common 25-26^th of August, with Carl Cox, Chase and Status, John Digweed being the headlines. If you are looking for more laid back atmosphere, then the concert in Kenwood House can be your cup of tea, you can even have your outdoor picnic and it is easily reachable from our short rentals and vacation flats in London. But if you are up for camping and going outside London for several days Short Let London could recommend the following events for real festival experience. Global Gathering in Stratford Upon Avon requires strong guts to be up for 48hours and wonder around 11 tents with trance and other dance music. To listen to big rock and pop music names visit V Festival in Staffordshire or Reading Festival. Secret Garden Party and Creamfields are must do for truly adventurous outdoor festival feel; these are the most prolific dance music events. We can name many more, but if you are not into camping and would rather head home after exhausting raving in the town, Short Let London will provide you with budget short term accommodation and apartment lettings in London.

Celebrate St Patrick`s Day with us in London

This weekend the capital is going green and erm...  least to say drunk. But don’t pull back and let yourself go as we are celebrating St Patrick`s Day on Sunday the 17<sup>th</sup> of March, and Irish people do know about having good times! Even though this holiday is celebrated to commemorate St Patrick – a Patron of Ireland, the day has less religious aspects now but more of the festivities among Irish population in Ireland and other parts around the world, who are dressing up and painting their faces green and wearing shamrock (a symbol flower of Ireland but most of you probably know it already). London is widely celebrating St Patrick`s Day with various events and Short Let London is giving you some tips about having fun this weekend.

Participate in St Patrick`s Day Parade at Trafalgar Square and join marching bands, outdoor arts group and dancers, who will be carrying a 36-meter-long inflatable dragon. Some contemporary Irish music and dancing will be performed on the main stage, and the new things this year are a comedy tent and a film tent, screening short films by Irish filmmakers. Taste some Irish treats from a food market or let your kids take part in arts and crafts sessions.

So dress up green and shamrock and head to the pub with your mates to sip some Irish beer, go to a stand-up comedy night – Take the Mike, see the Drunk Show in Marylebone, where comedians first perform completely sober and then again drunk, or try yourself in some Irish ceilidih dancing to honour St Patrick`s Day. Who knows, you may even discover you have some Irish roots as Irish people are always very friendly and welcoming towards those willing to enter into the party spirit. Short Let London holds apartments to rent in Central London: Marylebone, Paddington, Bayswater, Queensway, Swiss Cottage, etc., come and celebrate St Patrick`s Day with us this weekend! We will offer you cheaper price for our London flats for short let so that you can fully enjoy your short stay in London and celebrate out loud! With best wishes, Short let London team www.shortlet-london.com.

Last minute Valentine`s gift ideas

St Valentine`s Day is almost here, and if you have been too busy and didn’t have a chance to think of what to give your other half this Valentine`s, no panic – Short Let London is here to help you, we have prepared a list of last minute gifts ideas, so read on.

The most important gift on Valentine`s Day is the flowers, do not forget to buy some red/pink tulips, roses or other bouquets for your lady, make a special surprise and send flowers to her office (i.e. Debenhams offer discounted delivery)! Love is sweet as chocolate and chocolate is another ultimate gift, a must have on Valentine`s day, as well as cupcakes, macarons, chocolate-covered strawberries and nuts etc. You can even go an extra mile and get a chocolate making workshop, there are some discounted deals available from sites like Groupon or Living Social Deals.

You do not need to be running around overcrowded shops in search for a perfect present, alternative ways of spending Valentine`s day are available for booking online, you can do it without having to leave your home. There is a lot happening in London on this day of Love, Short Let London has summed up some most impressive and unusual ideas: go on Valentine`s Champagne Cruise on river Thames or take Camden to Little Venice boat along the Regents canal; dine at the rooftop restaurant in Kensington “The Roof Gardens”; explore the royal love stories at Kensington Palace Tour and Film Screening or walk the poets` paths in Hampstead “Valentine`s Day Walk and Poetry Reading” and visit venues associated with Romantics and their loves (Short Let London has short lets apartments for rent in Central London close to Kensington, Bayswater, Maida Vale, Hampstead and Swiss Cottage); art lovers can celebrate till late night at London museums and galleries (heartbreak in the Collection at National Gallery, “Love in the natural World” at Grant Museum of Zoology, Mending Broken Hearts Seminar at St Bartholomew`s pathology Museum), or watch a performance – Love Letters Straight from Your Heart at Southbank Centre, comedy show at Leicester Sq Theatre “Sex Guru – The Sexological Comedy Show”,  St Martin-in-the-Fields presents a Valentine`s Day Concert with Love Poems.

A great and romantic way to spend Valentine`s Day is to book a city break in London and getaway for a weekend with your loved ones. Rent a holiday apartment in London for short stay, Short Let London offers cheap but cosy and comfortable London flats for short lets. London apartments are new fully furnished and contain fitted kitchen, so you will be able to cook in the rental apartment – serve a breakfast and coffee in bed for your Valentine and cook a romantic candlelight dinner in the evening, and do not  forget about a love potion drink like champagne or some cocktails. Contact Short Let London and we will help you to arrange your special weekend away together hustle free and make it enjoyable and pleasurable (www.shortlet-london.com). Happy Valentine`s Day from out team!

Chinese New Year in London

Chinese New Year in London (www.shortlet-london.com)

This coming weekend London will be celebrating Chinese New Year. It is a great and important holiday among Chinese community, and while it is growing fast in London, Chinese New Year is also widely celebrated here. The date of Chinese New Year always varies, but falls between late January and mid February, this year they celebrate it on the 10^th of February. Each year according to Chinese calendar is represented by one of 12 animals of Chinese Zodiac, and 2013 is a year of Snake. To mark this festival there will be many events taking place in central London, the main one is a colourful parade on Trafalgar Sq, that will include dancing and music performances, dragons` and lions` dance, acrobats, spectacular fireworks. The festival will float towards Chinatown – the centre of the party, as this is the place where Chinese culture is concentrated. You can try some traditional Chinese food in one of the best restaurants here, but be advised that it is better to book your table in advance as this area will be extremely busy during Chinese New Year celebration in London.

London is an interesting place to be with various events taking place all year round, therefore Short Let London is inviting you to celebrate Chinese New Year with us this weekend. We will offer you budget short term accommodation London, short let studio flats and London rentals for cheap affordable price. Happy New Year from Short Let London www.shortlet-london.com

A new spacious studio flat for short let in London

A new spacious studio flat for short let in London, a set on Flickr.

New holiday apartment for rent in London

New holiday apartment for rent in London, a set on Flickr.

“Oh yes we do...” love pantomime!

If you ask any child in Britain what is the favourite activity that they are looking forward to doing at Christmas time, most of them will say with excitement that this must be seeing a pantomime. Watching pantomime is a very nice British tradition, this is not a normal theatre performance that you got used to, a “panto” will involve a lot of interaction with the audience – expect the snowballs being thrown at you, performing some dance moves and songs or even being called up on stage. Not only kids are anticipating the pantomime but adults are waiting to see one with pleasure too! Here is Short Let London list of the best pantos shown in London this Christmas.

“Beauty and the Beast” is London most central panto, staged in Shaw Theatre that is in Euston, and is a classic fairytale about a girl who needs to live with a beast to save her father. “Cinderella” at Lyric Hammersmith this year takes on the lead as its boss Sean Holmes is directing the show himself, the cast features panto veteran Steven Webb and West End star Julie Atherton in the main role.  Hackney Empire theatre has von a reputation for producing the best and foremost pantos in London and this year Susie McKenna`s “Dick Whittington and His Cat” proves that once again, despite totemic dame Clive Rowe leaving the Empire.

“Aladdin: A Wish to Come True” in The O2 is one with the largest panto in London with capacity of 1900 seats and big star names like Savage, Jon lee (“Jersey Boys” star as Aladdin) and Issy van Randwyck. “Robin Hood – A Pantomime Adventure” is on in Greenwich Theatre, this is a nice children`s tale with a feel-good factor and in the best old fashioned traditions. “The Three Musketeers” at Rosemary Branch Theatre in Old Street, “Mother Goose” in Millfield Theatre, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at New Wimbledon Theatre or “Jack and the Beanstalk” in Theatre Royal Stratford East are also worth seeing family-friendly shows.

Do not miss this amazing Christmas tradition if you are in England, you will be charged with positive energy and get a lot of joy. After unforgettable performance you can stay in Short let London apartments and holiday rental flats. Please contact Short Let London team if you need to rent a flat in London for short let stay, our short term apartments, vacation rentals/holiday lettings are located in Central London and North West areas, we offer competitive cheap prices and budget accommodation in London www.shortlet-london.com. Have a very happy Christmas holiday and enjoy your short stay in London!

Short Let London administration

www.shortlet-london.com