- On the Thames
Photos and story by Mary Gallagher – Enhance your visit to London anytime of year by staying at the wonderfully classic Georgian townhouse hotel, The Montague on the Gardens. Our room overlooked a secluded private gardensquare which was a calming way to start the busy days of touring after devouring a delicious full English breakfast in the dining room.
Montague Lobby
We found the Montague’s convenient and fashionable location in the heart of Bloomsbury in central London excellent for walking to the West End and its theaters and very nearby is the British Museum. The rest of Londonand the continent for that matter are just a few minutes away via a walk to the Eurostar terminal and metro at St. Pancras.
Shopping Camden Market
Now who would go toLondon and not do tea every single day? I am the person that sets the consumption of clotted cream record at every venue! At the Montague the “Best of British Afternoon Tea “ is available daily, from 2pm – 5pm. A big plus is the tranquil setting of timeless elegance not a circus of crowds and clattering of dishes.
Delectable offerings include, of course, a selection of Finger Sandwiches, Savory cheese muffins, Coronation Chicken, Yorkham with English mustard, Beetroot cured salmon with cucumber, and Prawn cocktail. Fruit and plain scones with Cornish clotted cream and preserves.
Roberto a friendly server at the Montague.
But that’s not all! A selection of desserts and pastries including: Wimbledon pistachio cupcake, The Olympic lemon flame, Royal flush fruit cake, Chocolate and praline top hat, Victoria sponge, Raspberry and cinnamon crown, Queen of tarts, and Kentish strawberries and cream; served with your choice of tea. The Montague is a member of The Tea Council Guild of Teashops. $48.50 inclusive of VAT. All prices are subject to a discretionary 12.5% service charge.
Anytime of year you’ll find special offerings at the Montague such as their delightful and popular Best of British Maiden Voyage package that includes:.
•Two nights’ accommodations in the splendid Guv’nor’s Suite
•Full English breakfast daily
•Best of British Afternoon Tea on the day of your choice
•Transfer from anyLondon train station or airport in our Range Rover
•Fortnum & Masons hamper including Fortnum’s Ceylon andAssam loose leaf teas, Golden Crunch Biscuits, Dundee Cake, silver tea strainer and a copy of Tea at Fortnum & Mason
•Bottle of Joseph Perrier Pink Champagne & strawberries in your room on arrival
•Two tickets to the British Museumfor the current exhibition of your choice
•Virgin Hot Air Balloon Flight including a post-flight glass of Champagne
Best of British Maiden Voyage is priced from $1,418 (subject to monetary fluctuation and exclusive of VAT) per room per night, inclusive of all amenities listed based on two adults sharing the Guv’nor’s Suite for a minimum of two nights. Transfer to hot air balloon site is not included and can be added at an additional cost of $400. Terms and Conditions apply. This package is valid between May 1 andSeptember 7, 2012. Due to popular demand, guests are encouraged to book in advance.
Boulevard near the hotel.
Another feature at the Montague this summer is the ‘Secret Garden’, designed in association with prestigious floral designer and fragrance creator Kenneth Turner, it’s the perfect place to take Afternoon Tea, enjoy some Pimm’s or an evening barbecue. Charming lanterns lure guests through to an English garden decorated with birch, entwined and rambling Leanna vine and summer flowers such as roses and hanging wisteria, to create a colorful, inspiring and relaxing garden space.
I read about Pimm’s in all those British mystery novels I’ve devoured over the years and here is the perfect place to test it out with their mini Pimm’s Cocktail Menu. Featured are 10 mixed drinks – each with a unique twist on this favorite British summer beverage, try Ginger Pimm’s, or a flirty Summer Passion Pimm’s.
The terrace in winter.
No sunny summer evening would be complete without a barbecue and the ‘Secret Garden’ barbecue will have all the favorites including gourmet burgers, sticky baby spare ribs, seafood skewer, grilled tuna steak, corn on the cob with chili salt, marinated halloumi cheese skewers and a crowd pleasing rosemary and garlic marinated suckling spit roasted pig for group barbecues. Guess we’ll never miss being out of the Carolinas for a few weeks with this menu.
As a fan of rock music I can’t wait to catch a production of Rock of Ages, the worldwide smash hit featuring 28 rock and roll tunes and The Montague on the Gardens is offering two great Rock of Ages packages forLondon’s Shaftesbury Theatre. Take my word for it theater in London has a magical excitement of no place else. It is where you want to experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical.
Standard Package
•One night accommodations in a beautifully appointed bedroom or suite
•Two tickets to Rock of Ages atLondon’s Shaftesbury Theatre
•Full English Breakfast
VIPExperience
•One night accommodations in a beautifully appointed bedroom or suite
•Two top price tickets to Rock of Ages atLondon’s Shaftesbury Theatre
•Tour behind the scenes (subject to availability)
•Two show programs
•Reserved area in the bar
•Full English Breakfast
•Bottle ofChampagne
Offered throughDecember 31, 2012, these packages are from $415.00 (Standard Package) and $640.00 (VIPExperience) per room per night (exclusive of VAT) based on two adults sharing a Classic Double room. Theater tickets are nonrefundable. No performances on Sunday.
For more information and to book a room or any of the special packages, please call The Montague on the Gardens at (0) 20 7637 1001 or visit www.montaguehotel.com.
More fine print. The Montague on the Garden is a member of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection , an award-winning collection of five and four star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva, Florida and South Africa. Each property has its own individual character and unique location that reflects the local environment, culture and cuisine. They all share the qualities that win Red Carnation so many prestigious awards – splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests. For more information, please go to www.redcarnationhotels.com.