24 Hours in London

I've spent a fair amount of time working in London this year. But aside from the early mornings and late nights, I've managed to explore parts of the city and visit attractions that I haven't got to before!

As part of the AccorHotels '24 Hours In Campaign' I'm sharing what I would visit and see over a day in London. You too can take part in the campaign and enter the competition to win a 9 day European break, with stops in Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin! Click here to find out more.

Here's how I would spend 24 Hours in London!

9am: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at my hotel base- I like to stay at the Doubletree Hilton Westminster. Great location, facilities and fantastic customer service.

10am: Set off for sightseeing! I'll take the short walk from the hotel to visit my old stomping ground, the Houses of Parliament. A tour of the Palace of Westminster is not to be missed -my favourite part is the Commons chamber.

12pm: After absorbing a tonne of history, refreshments are required! After a quick coffee pit stop, I'll head up Whitehall to visit the National Portrait Gallery. It has one of the best gift shops in London!

1.30pm: Time for lunch. I'll visit one of the many restaurants tucked off Piccadilly. Or, I'll pick up a healthy salad at Whole Foods.

2pm: Refueling done, I'll indulge in a little retail therapy on Regent Street. I'll visit my favourites- Russell & Bromley,  J.Crew and Uniqlo as well as checking out the new Tory Burch store!

5pm: I'll head back to the hotel for a little rest and relaxation... and to check out the damage done on my credit card!

7pm: After getting ready, I'll jump in a cab and make my way to The Delaunay in Aldwych for a fantastic evening meal and a few cocktails at the Savoy!

10pm: Walking off calories consumed, I'll take in the sights of the London skyline and magical Westminster along the River Thames.

11pm: Back at the hotel, I'll catch a quick night cap in the Millbank Lounge before heading for some rest and an early wake up call!

Which is your favourite city and how would you spend 24 hours? Don't forget to take part in Accor Hotel's '24 Hours In Campaign' challenge! 

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: fashion icon?

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is pretty hilarious. The second season has just debuted on Netflix and I binge watched it all in about two days!

Aside from the funniest jokes, gags and witty dialogue, I found myself wanting to inject lots of colour into my wardrobe- and it is all thanks to Kimmy! My wardrobe is one of classic pieces and I stick to the basics. Black, white, grey and the humble striped tee shirt are all living in my closet, and if you did a quick poll amongst my friends, they probably wouldn't be able to tell you when I wore something that wasn't outside these hues.

So Kimmy, what have you done! I want to buy brightly coloured jeans, tee shirts with pattern and flashing sneakers. I want to embrace the fun fashion of the 90s, and go all out some sparkle.

Kimmy's often eccentric wardrobe choices can be attributed to her escape from the bunker, the confines of her regimented life stripped away in favour of a new and exciting life in glossy New York. Working for a high maintenance society girl has little influence on Kimmy's sartorial choices, and the character of Jacqueline also has an influence on the 'sensible' side of my fashion interests.

Kimmy's style can be found in shops like Uniqlo, Kate Spade and Coach - all realms where fashion and fun mix. We've seen flowers, birds and geometric shapes in all of these stores, and high end designers like Anya Hindmarch have also been quick to embrace the fun of patches and over the top keyrings in various past and present collections.

Netflix

Fashion is meant to be fun and used as a way to express character. Whilst I wouldn't meet a client with a pair of bright purple jeans, I will be having a little more fun in my everyday, off duty wardrobe. Thanks Kimmy!

via GIPHY