6 solid, ringing reasons why you should take a weekend trip to London now

Suddenly, I have three group chats where London is mentioned in the title. In one month, I will fly to our western neighborhoods three times. The first time was last week, where I was invited by Park Plaza Hotels, on Wednesday I will go again to interview Jamie Dornan from Fifty Shades (I know, someone has to do it) and in mid-November we will immerse ourselves in a luxury Christmas shopping trip that Danie Bles has arranged for us. London, in short, is once again at the forefront of my mind. And because I believe you deserve what I experience, I will make sure you book a ticket to The City in five minutes.

1. Flight time

If you fly to London City, it's a forty-minute flight. Forty minutes. It takes me longer to get to Amersfoort.

2. The pound-euro rate

1 pound is 1 euro and 14 cents. For convenience, I translate that to 1 to 1. It has been worse.

3. Sunshine hours

Did you know that London has more sunshine hours than Paris? Although I believe London is the only city where I don't mind if it rains.

4. Park Plaza Hotels

I stayed at their hotel by Waterloo and on the Riverbank with an amazing view of the Thames and rarely saw a hotel with such a good price-quality ratio. The rooms are spacious and clean, children are welcome, but it's not a hotel with a family vibe (so you can also do business well there), the spas are beautiful and I had incredibly delicious (and plenty) food in the restaurants Tozi, Florentine, and Chino Latin. Moreover, it's the only hotel where I stayed (and the list is long) where I understood the lighting plan in one go. A recommendation, in short.

5. Chiltern Firehouse

The coziest terrace in the world, I would almost say. Think: fireplace, people casually smoking, lights in the bushes, an oyster cart, the entire cast of The Affair or at least people who look a lot like them and waitresses so pretty that you almost want to ask if you can buy their uniform.

6. Marylebone

That's where Chiltern Firehouse is located. This neighborhood is the new Notting Hill for me. I want to live there.

Oh yes, and Bob Bob Ricard of course. With a button for champagne at your table...