London is a city with many stories and you may have noticed circular blue plaques on the outside on some buildings noting important people associated with the address. This is known as the Blue Plaque Scheme and is managed by English Heritage. There are now over 870 blue plaques in London and the idea to install ‘memorial tablets’ was proposed by William Ewart MP in 1863. The (Royal) Society of Arts founded the scheme in 1866 to encourage the preservation of important historical homes and it has since been run by governing London councils before English Heritage took over in 1986. The plaques from before the Second World War might be green, brown, white or terracotta in colour but blue is now the standard colour.

All the people chosen had to meet a strict selection criteria which includes being dead for at least twenty years and to have made an important positive contribution to human welfare or happiness.

There are plenty of interesting blue plaques near to The Beaufort. Turn right on Brompton Road and right again on Hans Road and you’ll find a plaque for Jane Austen. Although not listed on the English Heritage site, there is a blue plaque on the side of 23 Hans Place to record that Jane Austen stayed here with her brother, Henry, in a house on this site in 1814-15. The area is named after Hans Sloane, the benefactor of the British Museum, who has his own blue plaque in Bloomsbury.

Hans Place surrounds private gardens but you can see the drinking fountain set into the railings directly opposite 23 Hans Place. This is part of a memorial to the son of Herbert Spencer, a prominent Victorian philosopher, and although the memorial faces into the gardens the drinking fountain faces outwards.

Continue left along Pont Street and cross Sloane Street and Cadogan Place is the first right alongside Cadogan Place Gardens. Now numbered as 43B, although it sits between 43 and 45, is a blue plaque for William Wilberforce who died at this address. He was an anti-slavery campaigner and there are two more blue plaques for him in south London.

This area was also owned by Hans Sloane – yes, he is also the reason for the name of Sloane Street. His youngest daughter Elizabeth married Charles Cadogan and their area was known as the Cadogan Estate.

Go back across Sloane Street and along Pont Street and at no.57 there’s a blue plaque for Sir George Alexander who was an actor and theatre manager who made a fortune from putting on Oscar Wilde’s plays, in particular The Importance of Being Earnest yet blacked-out Wilde’s names from all advertising billboards when he was imprisoned for “gross indecency”.

I suggest heading back up to Brompton Road and round to The Beaufort for a complimentary drink and time to relax and talk about the interesting people who have lived in the area.

When you next go to the Victoria and Albert Museum, known locally as the V&A, look opposite the main entrance and you’ll see 33 Thurloe Square where Sir Henry Cole, the first Director of the museum once lived.

And when you go to the Royal Albert Hall, which is less than 30 minutes walk from The Beaufort, have a look at 22 Hyde Park Gate which has three blue plaques – something I’ve not noticed anywhere else. And there are even more on other buildings along the same street including Sir Winston Churchill.

You can search for local blue plaques on the English Heritage site and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea site too. I can also recommend this impressive blue plaque interactive map.

Laura Porter writes the About.com London Travel site and is also a VisitBritain Super Blogger. She fits in further freelance writing while sustaining an afternoon tea addiction to rival the Queen’s. Laura is @AboutLondon on Twitter and @AboutLondon Laura on Facebook.

Images credits: Benjamin Brittan plaque: © Oxyman (can be seen at 171 Cromwell Road).
Jane Austen: Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
William Wilberforce by John Rising, 1790. Sir George Alexander: Still photograph from Act 1 of the original production of The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). It shows Algernon Moncrieff (left, played by Allan Aynesworth) refusing to return Mr Jack Worthing’s (Sir George Alexander) cigarette case.
22 Hyde Park Gate: © Laura Porter.

We’re launching a competition.

The Beaufort is pleased to announce a Twitter competition to reward our Twitter followers with a free night’s stay in our luxury Knightsbridge hotel.  And that includes a complimentary £50 shopping voucher to spend at Harrods as well as our usual treats like a free cream tea, free WiFi and free bar for guests.

All  you need do for a chance to win is RT the competition and follow us.  It could not be  easier!  This is what London and hotel expert Laura Porter (@AboutLondon) recently said about us:

“There are many boutique hotels in London. There are many luxury hotels in London. There are many small hotels in London. So how does The Beaufort stand out? It’s the personal service and the trust in their guests. I don’t know another luxury hotel that offers so much for free.”

Entry is easy: simply retweet our tweet about the competition and “follow” our Twitter account to be in with a chance of winning!  For those not in our current follower list, you’ll need to follow us to ensure we can contact you if you win.  And if you already follow us then simply RT the competition to be entered into the prize draw.

The draw is available to anyone who has retweeted us and who is on our list of followers by 5pm on Thursday 18^th April.  The winner of the deluxe stay (to be taken within one month by 19th May) will be randomly selected and informed on Friday 19^th April.  There will also be a runners-up prize of a cream tea for two and two tickets to an exhibition or gallery of your choice.

We may also release some extra runners-up prizes during the week on Twitter, so make sure you follow us to have a chance to win! Good luck and we look forward to meeting you on Twitter!  Follow us now on @beauforthoteluk on Twitter

Terms and conditions: the main prize of an overnight stay for two in a double or twin room must be booked in advance and the winner’s preferred date must be before 19th May 2013 and is subject to availability.  The winner and runner-up will be selected at random from those who are visible via Twitter as having retweeted our competition between Thursday 9^th and Thursday 16^th April (up to 5pm) inclusive.  The runners-up prize includes a cream tea for two at the hotel to be booked in advance (but no overnight stay); the exhibition chosen by the runners-up must have advance ticket availability for the date chosen, otherwise an alternative will need to be provided. This competition may be withdrawn and cancelled at any time at the discretion of The Beaufort.  Any employee, supplier or family member or anyone connected to the hotel is excluded from the competition. The promoter will not be liable for any failure of receipt of entries. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the promoter’s liability under or in connection with the prize draw competition or these terms and conditions shall be limited to the value of the prize in question. Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available. In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond the promoter’s reasonable control, the promoter reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the prize draw competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice. The promoter’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. The winner’s twitter username will be posted on @beauforthoteluk after the winner has been selected.

This is a guest post by Jules Pearson of London on the Inside especially for The Beaufort.  Thanks Jules!

Whilst most tourists on a shopping trip to London head to the well-known shopping areas like Oxford Street and Bond Street, there are other neighbourhoods which boast just as good retail outlets only less crowds.  To avoid long queues and make the most of your time in the city visitors should head west to Chelsea where they can find all of the top high street stores as well as designer brands, independent boutiques and department stores.

Kings Road was made famous in the 1960′s when the beautiful hippy chicks claimed it as their home.  Since then it has become a magnet for the fashionable; Vivienne Westwood opened her first ever boutique there which lead to the arrival of the punks in the 70′s.  Now nearly 40 years on, the road is lined with shops making it the perfect place to while away an afternoon buying everything from new shoes to furniture for your home.

No trip to Kings Road would be complete without a visit to R Soles, an independent store which sells beautiful cowboy boots and has been open 1975.  If labels are your thing then look no further than Austique which has two floors of clothing from brands such as Markus Lupfer, Alice + Olivia, Goldsign and Zimmermann – some of the brands in-store can’t be found anywhere else in the UK.

For a touch of history and to stock up on any last minute presents, a visit to Peter Jones is essential. It is one of the oldest stores on the road having opened in 1877 and the department store is now part of the John Lewis family.  Then once you’re shopped out cross over the road and spend an hour or two admiring the art in the Saatchi Gallery.  Shopping in the city without the stress: what’s not to like?

Relax afterwards with the complimentary cream tea at The Beaufort which I enjoyed during my recent stay at the hotel, which is within walking distance of the boutiques of Kings Road.

Jules Pearson founded the London lifestyle website London on the Inside and writes for various other London websites. Jules also works in luxury travel PR and has her finger on the pulse on the city.

Photo credit: www.kingsroad.co.uk

© Justin Barton

Leighton House Museum was the home and work space of Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton. He commissioned the building in 1859 and it includes a large first floor studio and the magnificent ground floor Arab Hall adorned with his collection of 1,000 tiles from Syria, Turkey and Persia. The room is based on a surviving twelfth century Moorish/Norman palace called La Zisa in Palermo, Sicily.

© Laura Porter

The design even incorporates an indoor fountain too making the building popular with visitors during Leighton’s lifetime. It was the custom in the day for artists to open up their home to the public to show their latest work and to make art more accessible to all. Lord Leighton travelled regularly so allowed his home to be open to the paying public while he was away.

The building has been renovated and restored back to the way it would have been during Leighton’s time there. It reopened in 2010 and is a popular visitor attraction once again.

Lord Leighton © National Portrait Gallery, London

A new photographic exhibition gives the perfect opportunity to visit the building. Studio Sittings: Photographing Royal Academicians brings together photographs taken by Anne Purkiss over the last 25 years along with Victorian artists to give a wonderful insight into the way an artist works. Most have chosen to be photographed in their studio and you can see the tools of their trade on the walls, tables and, often, across the floor.

Lord Leighton had to be included but it was interesting to see how many other Victorian artists lived and worked in the Kensington area such as Sir John Everett Millais and Marcus Stone.

Grayson Perry © Anne Purkiss

Anne Purkiss’s photographs include many household names such as Grayson Perry, David Hockney and Sir Peter Blake. Purkiss was born in Germany and moved to London to be a press photographer.

As well as having photographs published in national and international newspapers some of her work is also held in a number of public collections at prestigious establishments such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Society.

Sir Peter Blake © Anne Purkiss

Studio Sittings is on from 15 March to 2 June 2013.

Leighton House Museum is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10am to 5.30pm.

Address: Leighton House Museum, 12 Holland Park Road, Kensington London W14 8LZ

Official website: www.leightonhouse.co.uk

Leighton House Museum is easy to reach from The Beaufort by no.9 bus from Knightsbridge Barracks (10 minutes walk away). This is one of the Routemaster bus routes so hopefully you’ll be able to ride on one of these heritage buses as they run every 15 minutes. Alternatively just hop in a taxi from the hotel!

Laura Porter writes the About.com London Travel site and is also a VisitBritain Super Blogger. She fits in further freelance writing while sustaining an afternoon tea addiction to rival the Queen’s. Laura is @AboutLondon on twitter and @AboutLondon Laura on Facebook.

In the interview he shares the following insights:

• How The Beaufort’s philosophy of generosity (including free amenities that many hotels charge extra for) actually makes business  sense for any hotel that takes a long-term view

• How the hotel can offer better value by not having its own in-house restaurant

• Our staff recruitment/retention philosophy and why our staff tend to stay with us for a long time

• The ways in which we love to add little personal touches to enhance the guest’s stay

The article was widely syndicated across top global hospitality websites including Hospitality Net and eHotelier and was clearly appreciated by the owners of other small luxury hotels all over the world.

After our recent coverage on CNN, it shows how the hotel’s achievements and the fantastic work and dedication of our team are becoming ever more widely known.  We recommend you read the full interview for a fascinating view behind the scenes view of our little Knightsbridge gem.

Another hidden secret of The Beaufort Hotel, Knightsbridge London, has been revealed – this time by CNN.

In addition to the free bar and the afternoon tea, CNN heaped praise on the “day room” concept, where guests needing a room for a few hours in the afternoon get all the hotel’s facilities but at a much reduced rate.

Here’s what CNN reporter Daisy Carrington said:

“Just behind world-famous department store Harrods sits one of London’s most exclusive hotels.

The Beaufort may be the only accommodation in the city with unlimited complimentary cream tea and an open bar (guests can guzzle all the champagne they can muster, free of charge)…. it’s not the type of place you’d expect would offer discounted day rates.”

The original article is here – a new window will open

The day rate is available for £120 + Vat, from 12 noon until 4pm.

Afternoon tea with homemade scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream is served daily to all guests between 3-5pm.

The free bar is available to all guests from 3pm until 11pm.

Guests at The Beaufort are lucky enough to have theshoppers’ paradise, Harrods, practically on their doorstep.
Established in 1849 by Charles Henry Harrod, this retail giant experienced relatively humble beginnings as a single room with only two assistants and a messenger boy as employees, mainly selling tea and groceries.
Over 150 years later, the store’s legendary strapline Omnia Omnibus Ubique – All Things for All People, Everywhere – couldn’t ring more true. Today this iconic building houses 330 different departments arranged over 7 floors attracting over 15 million visitors a year.
Over the course of its meteoric rise, Harrods has laid claim to a record number of achievements. The store had one of the world’s first escalators installed in 1898, sold a baby lion named Christian to the Australian John Rendall in 1969 and in 1986 introduced a controversial ‘dress code’ which banned shoppers from wearing high-cut beach shorts, swimwear, cycling shorts and flip flops into the store.
We all know that no trip to our splendid capital is complete without a suitcase full of dark green and gold Harrod’s shopping bags.

As one of the greenest capitals in the world, with miles of cycle paths through
some of our most beautiful parks, seeing London by bike has never been easier
and more fun. With the new Barclays Cycle hire well and truly established you
can take a bike from any of the 350+ docking stations located around the
capital, ride it to your destination and return it any time, 24 hours a day. It
is self service, so there is no booking in advance necessary, easy payment with a debit or credit card, but you must remember to put safety first and bring your own helmet.

Check out the Transport for London website for the best cycle routes and maps.

Legend has it that Heracles, son of Zeus orchestrated the first Olympic competition, although written records state that the first actual event took place in 776BC, only to be outlawed by a Roman emperor who considered the games too pagan. Revived in 1914 by Pierre de Coubertin it has evolved into the spectacular event it is today.

And those famous coloured rings that have become so much a part of the Games symbolise the five main continents, interconnected to show friendship and coloured to represent at least one of the colours that appear on the flag of every country in the world.

If you are lucky enough to have tickets to the Olympics or wish to savour the atmosphere our advise is to book your accommodation early to avoid disappointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

1) Harrods: They make a multitude of nicknacks bearing their logo.

2) London Transport Museum:  Here you will find everything from a Union
Jack Oyster card wallet, vintage posters to bespoke London 2012 tea service.

3) Fortnum & Mason: Known for its close ties with royalty, pick up a caddy of Fortnum’s Exclusive Blend Teas to take the taste of London back home.

4) Emma Bridgewater: Favourites include- quirky Union Jack pottery, and the popular limited edition Royal Wedding tea towel.

5) Covent Garden Market: An eclectic range of unique gift shops selling everything from handmade jewellery to hip and trendy clothes.

6) Portobello Road: For those that want to collect an antique keepsake with a London spin.

7) Hamleys: The children’s paradise where you can find a London themed toy on every floor.

8. Camden Market: A trip to alternative London where stalls jostle for prominence in the winding alleyways of Camden Lock.

9) John Lewis: With their ‘Celebration of Britain Collection’ they are the perfect department store to indulge in your souvenir hunt.

10) If you just want something cheap and cheerful then head to The Baker Street Emporium where you can have your photo taken with a beefeater or buy anything from a telephone box to a Union Jack keyring.