Afternoon Tea At Brown’s Hotel
Photo Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels
Mother’s Day, which falls on May 8 this year, is the time to show your mom — and any of the other mothers in your life — how much you care. Not that we shouldn’t be making a fuss of them every day of the year, but there’s certainly no harm in demonstrating an extra effort with a special meal, a shopping trip, a walk in the park or a luxurious spa treatment this month. Here are a few ideas for spoiling your mom in London.
The Berkeley Health Club and Spa, Photo Courtesy of Maybourne Hotel Group
Where to spa
Nothing beats a spa treatment to help you unwind and there are few places more atmospheric in the city than The Berkeley Health Club and Spa at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Berkeley. Go for the sanctuary’s half-day afternoon package, which includes a late lunch (and glass of vino) and gives you access to the state-of-the-art gym and open-air pool, both of which overlook Hyde Park. You can choose from treatments including manicures and pedicures, hot stone massages, body wraps and rejuvenating facials, and enjoy your meal poolside or in the adjoining rooftop garden.
Where to eat
Say thanks for the delicious home-cooked meals your mom’s been treating you to all these years with a classic English afternoon tea experience. Follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria — who kicked off a 19th-century baby boom by having no fewer than nine children with her husband Prince Albert — with a visit to Four-Star Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel. The tea at London’s oldest hotel takes place in the beautiful wood-paneled English Tea Room and includes finger sandwiches, pastries, freshly baked scones, cakes and a choice of tea. Raise a glass of Ruinart Champagne to make it extra special.
Columbia Road Market, Photo Courtesy of Dorit Yannai
Where to shop
Flowers are pretty much obligatory as far as Mother’s Day gifts are concerned, but why not make an event of this classic tradition with a visit to buzzing Columbia Road Flower Market in the East End? Arrive early, grab a coffee and a bagel from Café Columbia and have your mom pick out her own favorite blooms from one of the myriad flower and plant stalls that line this picturesque 1860’s street.
What to see
Celebrate female talent at Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics at the House of Illustration, a new art space in the heart of trendy King’s Cross. The show, which runs through May 15, explores original artwork by female comic artists from the 1800s to the present day, including big names like Posy Simmonds and Audrey Niffenegger.
