ARTS & CULTURE

The buildings around Vintry & Mercer have stood the test of time, enduring the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz of 1940 and 1941. On the church of St. James Garlickhythe, Vintry & Mercer’s closest neighbour, hangs the capital’s oldest clock — housing a mechanism which has been ticking since 1682. Today it’s also home to the patriotic Royal Bells that pealed across the city for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

For a modern take on the city’s cultural scene, there’s The Barbican Centre, a mile from the hotel, known for pushing the boundaries of art in all its forms, regularly showing some of the best dance, music and theatre in Europe. Nearby Somerset House is famed for its contemporary galleries and cultural programmes.

Located on the bank of the River Thames, London’s Southbank is one of the city’s most vibrant destinations. World-class destinations for entertainment like the Hayward Gallery, Tate Modern, BFI (home to the annual London Film Festival), National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall make this heart of a buzzing cultural scene, while you can also enjoy street food markets, bars and restaurants – including Lasdun, from the team behind the Marksman, and Lyanness, one of the World’s Best Bars. In summer it’s a beautiful place to while away an afternoon along the tree-lined walkway, and in November and December it plays host to a winter market, where the air is full of the smell of chestnuts, cinnamon and mulled wine.

Founded by Sam Wanamaker, The Globe Theatre is one of the most unique, remarkable and breathtaking performance spaces in London. Based on Shakespeare’s own historic playhouse and dedicated to educating modern audiences about the life and works of the Bard, it recreates the original ‘Wooden O’ of the stage once trod by the company of the world’s most famous playwright, and is authentically open-air and in the round, plus – thanks to special planning permission – the only thatched building in London. It also houses the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse where productions are staged by candlelight, making for a truly evocative experience.