London Travel Diary-Ode to the New

For the past couple of days I've been trying to figure out why London is such a charming city. Sure, the sites are beautiful, the British accent is enviable, and the entire city exudes a sense of quaintness thru and thru. But there's more to it than meets the exterior. I think part of London's charm comes from its open embrace of modernity and innovation while still respecting and staying true to the historical richness of its traditions.  

My stay at The Hoxton Hotel is the perfect marriage of new and old London. A modern hotel in the heart of hip Shoreditch area, it is equipped with all the modern luxuries an urbanite would seek home away from home-wifi, lobby photo booth and iMacs, contemporary furnishings, a sleek lobby, and a fabulous restaurant/bar that's packed all hours of the night. But they're traditional when it comes to respecting and taking care of their guests, making sure their comforts are meet in proper British fashion. Yes, the rooms are modern, but they're also incredibly comfortable and cozy (the mattress is heavenly). And even though their restaurant was loud and filled with boisterous Friday night partiers, I couldn't hear a thing once I got to my room.

The hotel's decor itself is the perfect visionalization of the juxtaposition that makes London so charming. The sprawling openness of the lobby and lounge is accented by sleek and modern furniture but the pillar of the space is the brick fireplace that extends to the walls, a throwback to England's medieval times. Brilliant and absolutely charming!