Best of British recipes

When travelling to a new country, everyone wants to try national cuisine and local recipes as part of their tasty experience. So what is the traditional British food that people are so eager to have when being in England? First thing that will come to your mind would be probably fish and chips, and this is true, it is very popular among the tourists and Brits themselves. There are many other meals that associate with British identity and are so loved by local folks , such as pies and mash with a generous portion of gravy on top, Shepherds` pie, traditional English breakfast which must consist of sausage, bacon, fried eggs and other complementary ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes or beans, and of course Sunday roasts. Not so many foreigners might be aware of this, but having Sunday roast with your family or in the circle of close friends on Sundays is very old and warm tradition among the locals. Back in the day children would meet at the parents` house and have a meal together, nowadays the tradition has changed a little and people are mainly gathering in the pubs or restaurants. The most popular meat for Sunday roasts is beef, chicken or turkey, it is served with roasted vegetables (potatoes, carrots, red cabbage) Yorkshire pudding. Short Let London can recommend a list of places that are serving the best Sunday roasts in town: Hawksmoor, The Mall Tavern, Bull & The Last, The Water Poet, The Winchester, The Three Crowns, The Stag. Even if you are coming to London for a short stay, you need to try meals in best English traditions. When renting self-contained holiday apartments and short term flats, you have an opportunity to cook English breakfast yourself and serve it in bed to your other halves, or eat out in the restaurants to avoid being bored of standard hotel menus.

Travellers and holidays in London

London experiences high season for travellers and holiday makers all year round who are always in need for short term rentals and holiday apartments. Tourists come for holidays and short stay in London; employees from world companies are visiting the city for business trips or conferences; students are coming for education or for internships to get the invaluable experience. Moreover, London fascinates more international students as it has got to the most prestigious and the oldest academic institutions in the world. Therefore, it is difficult to get a goodbudget accommodation in London these days. Most of the hotels are overbooked, the rest offer extortionate price, which turns it into real problem to find good value for money for short lease in London. Another fact that London is a host city for Olympics in July –August 2012 makes it even more popular place to visit. Supporters and visitors from around the world are looking for London Olympic apartment rentals and cheap flats to rent this summer.

There are different types of short stay accommodation in London to choose from, such as hotels, B&B, hostels orself-serviced apartments. Therefore flats for short rent and budget apartments became a more attractive option for many travellers to London, as people prefer a good value accommodation and this is more affordable than staying in the hotel. There are numerous agencies in London offering flats for rent and short let apartments, most of them operate online these days. Due to the high volume of visitors in the capital these places get booked very quickly or are overpriced. Short Let London is one of the significant letting agents in London, providing the most affordable and competitive price. Since the company was established in 2005, it became important and leading internet agency in London, which offers various self-contained furnished apartments, budget accommodation for short term rent in different areas of London.

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.