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A fountain in London's Regent's Park. More photos in my slideshow below. Photo by Sue Frause.
I've never spent a lot of time in London, but got to know her better after spending three days in the this English city. I stayed near Regent's Park, an area where I would gladly spend more time on my next trip across the pond. Not wanting to pay for the high price hotels, I booked a room through Uptown Reservations, a booking service in London that features exclusive B&B's in elegant private homes. My two-night stay was at 33 Portland Place, located near Regent's Park and numerous embassies.
The Georgian style house was built in 1775 by Robert Adams, one of the great architects of the era. In addition to it being a B&B hosted by Marita, it's also a popular party venue where owner Edward Davenport and his celebrity friends throw big bashes now and again. The cast of celebs who have partied here includes Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Al Pacino and Jon Bon Jovi. Music videos have been filmed in the house also, and it's a venue for photo shoots.
On the first night of my stay, preparations were going on for a big party later that evening. All I saw was the aftermath the next morning, and fortunately I was at the very top of the house, so I didn't hear all the loud music (although several of the guests did). These days, rooms are not rented out when there's a party in the house, so you won't be disturbed. Rates start at 105 pounds, or about $170 US for a single or double, and a full breakfast is included. Another change since my visit in 2007 is the addition of an elevator. It was pretty hilarious trying to haul my luggage up the steep and never-ending stairs, but the view from my simple yet charming bedroom was well worth the workout. The neighborhood is quiet and elegant, with numerous embassies in the surrounding blocks. I happened to be there during the annual Frieze Art Fair that's held every October in Regent's Park, and spent an afternoon in the park looking at the outdoor sculpture. Autumn in London is beautiful.
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