New York (CNN)The British Parliament has obtained a set of internal Facebook documents the social media giant has fought for months to stop from being made public, according to Facebook and a lawyer involved in a suit against the company.

The cache of documents, some of which may include correspondences between Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company executives, stem from a lawsuit in California that outlines a litany of allegations against Facebook, including claims about the company’s alleged disregard for user privacy and the claim that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg devised a scheme that forced Facebook’s rivals, or potential rivals, out of business.

“We allege that Facebook itself is the biggest violator of data misuse in the history of the software industry,” Ted Kramer, the owner of Six4Three, the company suing Facebook, told CNN in an interview this summer.

Kramer told CNN he wants the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general across the United States to investigate the allegations Six4Three is making.

A Facebook spokesperson told CNN on Saturday that Six4Three’s lawsuit is without merit.

The internal documents were obtained by Kramer’s lawyers through discovery, a legal process whereby one party to a lawsuit can obtain evidence from the other.

The San Mateo Superior Court in California ordered the documents remain under seal, meaning they should not be made public by Six4Three.

However, last Monday, Member of Parliament Damian Collins, the head of the British parliamentary committee that has been looking into Facebook, wrote to Six4Three’s Ted Kramer, asking for the documents.

Kramer was apparently in the United Kingdom for work and the letter was sent to the hotel in central London where Kramer was staying, court documents reviewed by CNN show.

Facebook contacted the court in California when it learned of Collins’ request. Tuesday, the judge in the case ordered that no unredacted copies of the relevant sealed documents should be released until further notice from the court, and that “failure to comply will be considered an act of contempt.”

Friday night, one of Six4Three’s lawyers, Stuart Gross, confirmed to CNN that the British committee had obtained materials from Six4Three that are under seal. It is not clear when the documents were obtained. Gross said that Six4Three had asked the committee to “refrain from reviewing them and to return them to counsel or to Facebook.”

A Facebook spokesperson said in a statement that the materials obtained by the committee are subject to a protective court order restricting their disclosure.

Saturday night, The Observer newspaper in London reported that the documents had been seized after Kramer was escorted to Parliament after a sergeant-at-arms appeared at Kramer’s hotel. Kramer was told he risked fines and possible imprisonment if he didn’t hand over the documents. CNN has not independently confirmed this.

The legal fight

Six4Three, which has been engaged in a yearslong legal battle with Facebook, were the makers of “Pinkini,” a controversial app that allowed users to find pictures of their friends wearing bikinis.

The app did not breach Facebook’s terms and conditions when it was released in 2013. But in 2015 Facebook changed its policies about how it shared information about its users with third-party app developers such as those behind Pinkini.

Prior to the change, Pinkini and other app developers were able to access information not only about their users, but also about their users’ Facebook friends, including users’ friends’ photos.

While a crude app that searched out bikini photos, and which shut down years ago, might not be noteworthy on its own, the fact that Six4Three has access to internal Facebook documents — currently under court seal — is.

The little-known case attracted the interest of major news organizations, including CNN and The Guardian newspaper, that filed a joint court motion in June for the documents to be made public.

The motion referenced the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which also deals with Facebook’s prior practice of allowing apps access to users’ friends’ data, and argues: “(G)iven the furor quite rightly surrounding the Cambridge Analytica controversy, the public has an immediate and overwhelming interest in understanding the facts surrounding Facebook’s data practices over time.”

“The Guardian and CNN express no opinion on the merits of the dispute,” the motion added.

That motion, and other motions to unseal all of the documents, were rejected by the court in October.

Pushback from Facebook

Facebook has consistently pushed back on Six4Three’s claims.

“Before their case was picked up by CNN, this app’s biggest accomplishment was being named ‘one of the creepiest apps ever,” Natalie Naugle, Facebook’s associate general counsel, litigation, said in a statement provided to CNN in October. “Its creators marketed the app as a way to look at pictures of women in bikinis. We made changes to the platform in 2014 and we do not regret that this restricted Six4Three’s access to information.”

Also in October, a Facebook spokesperson provided CNN with a link to a 2013 promotional video for Pinkini, saying the company was doing so “so your viewers have a clear picture of what Six4Three is trying to defend.” Facebook also said that the Pinkini app had fewer than 4,500 downloads.

Naugle, Facebook’s lawyer, told CNN in a statement last month that the company stood by its decision to ask for the documents to be kept under seal. “Motions to seal are entirely commonplace in litigation and are typically granted as a matter of course to respect the confidentiality of internal discussions and the trade secrets their disclosure may reveal. We believe Six4Three’s claims are entirely meritless,” she said.

Speaking to CNN over the summer, Kramer dismissed Facebook’s portrayal of Pinkini as creepy. He said the app was a way for his company to gather a user base and develop its “sophisticated visual pattern recognition algorithms.” The ultimate goal of the company, he said, was to “develop a business that you could look at photos and be able to purchase clothing from looking at an image.”

Kramer told CNN that he views his fight with Facebook as a “David versus Goliath” battle.

“I think it’s really important to understand that they have fought tooth and nail to prevent this evidence from becoming public which we believe the world should see. We believe everyone should see this evidence because they have the right to know the truth,” he said.


It’s no secret that I love beer. I love beer so much that I will go to Brussels to get the great white whale known as Cantillon, and I will let you in on a secret, it was worth the trip. Sure, if you have beer-connections you probably have had a scant tasting of Cantillon before but it’s so fleeting and the tease is almost unbearable. Why must we suffer so much in California while the Belgian get to swim in their funky-tart-sparkly goodness? Ok fine, I am not really complaining because we certainly aren’t suffering from a shortage of amazing beer here in So Cal but I still would love to have the constant access the local enjoy. Although, I am sure if it was widely available it wouldn’t carry the same special glow it does now. Grass is always greener argument aside, it was the brewery visit of a lifetime.

We traveled by train from London to Brussels and got in line to get a taxi to our hotel. It was already 4pm when we got there so the brewery tour wasn’t happening since they close at 5pm and we just wanted to de-stress in out hotel room and re-group on our plan for dinner. After waiting for at least 15 minutes for a taxi, we finally were first in line and we started to have our bags shoved in the trunk. Since we had 2 main bags and two carry-on’s (full of wedding stuff) it was difficult for the taxi driver to fit it in the trunk. I kept softly suggesting he put a bag in the backseat with me until he turned and rudely yelled at me that “they normally can’t do that.” Geez, welcome to Brussels. We ended-up having to put a bag in the back with me and take the short 15 minute drive to our hotel the ibis Styles Brussels Centre Stéphanie (then was called the Business Suites Louise). I think the taxi driver felt bad for yelling at me because he gently asked Sean if it was our first time in Brussels while unloading our bags. Checking-in was pretty painless and the hotel was really modern and nice. It was just a few minutes from the Louise shopping center and about a 15-20 minute walk to Moeder Lambic.

We dumped our bags and walked to Moeder Lambic for a few beers and hopefully some food. After consulting yelp, trip adviser and google it was widely considered the best beer bar in the surrounding areas and we didn’t have to get a taxi so that means more beer money. The walk was nice, little rainy but nothing to complain about, and it gave me a chance to snap some photos. We reached the bar and snatched-up a table and ordered some beers and logged-in to the wifi and settled in. Bonus: the servers were pleasant and spoke English! We drank the XX Bitter by Brouwerij De Ranke, Kriek 100% Lambic by Brasserie Cantillon, Band Of Brothers De La Senne by Brasserie de la Senne and Adelardus Tripel by Brouwerij Kerkom. Needless to say, they were all amazing. I ordered the Lambic by Cantillon because I wanted a Cantillon right away and it was fruity and tart and Sean had the XX Bitter which had a nice bitterness to it. He also got the Band of Brothers on cask and loved it and I had the delicious tripel Adelardus. I have a soft spot for tripels and this was yeasty, light and packed with flavor. We did get some of their house-made cheese that is a soft cheese mixed with beer into a really soft spreading texture. It came with hearty bread and roasted barley for crunch. It was so good but after not really eating all day we needed more food to match the amount of beers so we headed to the next little place we could find some more substantial food. We ate pasta and drifted off to sleep with dreams of Cantillon bottles and yeast plum fairies, excited for tomorrow.

The next day started as a disaster. We had not brought the correct charger adapter for our phones so we had no map function to tell us how to get to Cantillon. We were planning on walking there so we just decided to start walking and see if we could find the place by asking around and perhaps there would be signage. Most of the people were more than willing to help try and tell us where to go in broken English but after wandering for 4 hours I started to get impatient. The upside was we got to see a lot of the city and take a bunch of pics but the downside was I was getting hangry and it was getting late so if we didn’t find Cantillon soon we would again miss our window for the tour. Luckily, the bartender at Bier Circus wrote down the address for us so we could flag a taxi and finally be heading in the right direction. Most taxi’s in Brussels don’t know where anything is and even if you are saying the name right, without an address you are basically screwed. We finally arrived to Cantillon a little after 3pm excited and relieved and ready to experience the wonder and magic!

We were greeted by a friendly gentleman who handed us a booklet and informed us it was a self-guided tour. I was surprised but excited, I hate drawn-out tours that feel like forever! We were told to walk to the end of a dimly-lit hallway and follow the numbers 1-8. 1 started with the mash tun and your standard brewing equipment but it was much older with fun wheel pully systems. They say it’s like traveling back in time and I am inclined to agree. I forgot about the stress of the day and started to drink in the musty and dusty charm. Cantillon is a family brewery where Lambic, Gueuze, Faro and Kriek are made and where nothing has changed since 1900 when it was founded. The beers, tools and brewing process are still the same as in the beginning. Some of the bottles that line the hallways look like they have 100 year-old dust on them.

We wandered through the tour stops and saw the grain mills, the open fermenter, the barrel room, the old-as-hell corking machine, and the bottling line. The grain storage was up in the rafters and dark with a little light streaming through the windows it felt like a secret fort that I could go to get away from the world. That is probably where I would hang out if I worked there (minus the bar). The barrel room had an eerie feeling (similar to the one at Laphroaig) that I think has something to do with the “angle’s share” coming from the barrels. Is it errie because of the beer ghosts? The bottling line area was cool because of the way they have the bottles stacked, it was like a work of artful patterns just begging to be marveled upon. After the tour we had our allotted tasters of the Classic Gueuze, Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio, Rosé de Gambrinus (loved this one: raspberry flavors were so fresh and clean), we ordered an additional bottle of Zwanze (2012) (made with rhubarb but had a terrific acidic tartness like grapefruit or oranges) and sat content in the tasting room next to a roaring fire and relaxed. It was nearing closing time so they closed the tap room and we purchased the Rose, Mamouche, 50 Degrees N – 4 Degrees E and the Fou’ Foune along with a t-shirt and a sweater. Satisfaction levels at an all-time high, we flagged a taxi and asked if he could take us to the Delirium Cafe but he didn’t know what we were talking about so we ended-up heading back to the hotel. We ate at the Journal Bar and decided to head back to the hotel early and end our trip on a high note. Overall Brussels was a busy city that wasn’t my favorite from the trip but the tour at Cantillon and the lovely evening at Moeder Lambic made it worthwhile. The city had sparks of beauty hidden beneath the surface, you just have to know where to look.


100 years of hanging ten

The george freeth memorial in Redondo Beach is a salt-bitten bust of a lifeguard in an old-fashioned swimming vest, gazing with the stoicism we expect from early surf heroes into the deep mystery of a concrete parking garage. His back is to the Redondo Pier. Locals jog or skate past this memorial without noticing the plaque, which reads, "First Surfer in the United States," and then relates the story of how Freeth was paid by Los Angeles real estate and streetcar magnate Henry Huntington in 1907 to lure people to Redondo Beach to watch a new kind of athlete trim the waves. "George Freeth was advertised as 'The Man Who Can Walk on Water,' " according to the plaque. "Thousands of people came here to watch this astounding feat. George would mount his big 8-foot-long, solid wood, 200-pound surfboard far out in the surf. He would wait for a suitable wave, catch it, and to the amazement of all, ride onto the beach while standing upright."

The memorial is outdated: Freeth was only the first celebrity surfer in America. The first men on record to surf North America are now considered to be three Hawaiian princes who noticed that waves at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz were up to snuff. Jonah Kalaniana'ole and David and Edward Kawananakoa shaped boards from local redwoods and hauled them out to the beach one day in 1885. "The young Hawaiian princes were in the water," a local paper wrote, "enjoying it hugely and giving interesting exhibitions of surfboard swimming as practiced in their native islands."

But Freeth, a haole with one Hawaiian grandparent, helped rescue stand-up surfing from the Christianized sickness of 19th century Hawaiian culture, and he brought it to Redondo Beach. He had won fame on the islands as a talented young swimmer but was ambitious to see the world. After he taught an avid Jack London to surf in front of a hotel at Waikiki — and after London wrote up the exotic art of "surf-bathing" for a magazine in 1907, describing Freeth in syrupy prose as a "handsome brown Mercury" — the young man asked for a letter of introduction. London obliged, and by July 1907, Freeth was bound for North America.

Redondo Beach in 1907 was declining as an industrial harbor, and most of California's coastline consisted of wind-swept dunes. But wealthy men like Huntington wanted to develop. The Hotel Redondo had gone up in 1890, and a new arm of Huntington's light-rail line, the Pacific Electric, already stopped at Redondo Beach.

"When I studied the place, and saw its attractions, the beautiful topography it possessed, those terraces rising in harmonious degrees from the sea, I determined," Huntington wrote, with a real estate man's instinct for anticlimax, "that it presented such features as should make it the great resort of this region."

Huntington had competition. In 1904, a cigarette mogul named Abbott Kinney had announced plans to build the "Venice of America," a gimmicky village with a network of canals and bridges and a flock of gondoliers who would pole tourists around in front of kitschy mock-European storefronts. It would come with a saltwater public pool under an arched glass ceiling and a Coney Island-style pier loaded with rides.

Huntington countered this vision of Oz in 1905 with a three-story pavilion in Redondo Beach, decked out with Moorish arches and flag-topped golden domes. But he noticed that people were wary of the ocean. Most L.A. residents in those days preferred to ride out to the San Fernando Valley on weekends and shoot jackrabbits from the streetcars. Not that the coast was unpopular; people just had no concept of swimming in the waves. What we think of as "beach culture" was still alien to Americans.

But Huntington had been to Waikiki. He knew that a man who could "walk on water" in the shore break, who looked half-exotic and bronzed in his swimming costume, who had lifesaving skills to match his surfing talent — why, a man like that could lure people to an otherwise empty stretch of sand.

Within days of his arrival in California, Freeth went surfing off Venice Beach. A local paper ran an article on July 22 — "Surf Riders Have Drawn Attention." This may have startled Huntington, and by the end of the year, Freeth was on the Pacific Electric payroll, surfing twice a day near a section of Redondo known as Moonstone Beach, where semiprecious stones lay in a natural mound along the waterline.

So Jack London's handsome "brown Mercury" walked up and down a heavy plank in sloppy Redondo whitewash while tourists in Edwardian suits browsed a mound of colorful surf cobble for "excellent specimens" to offer to their sweethearts. Clanking streetcars and an improbable Moorish pavilion gave the once-industrial coastline a carny atmosphere that must have seemed as ridiculous in 1907 as it does a century on, wherever old boardwalks or pleasure piers compete with the roar of the sea. But surfing — professional or paid surfing — had arrived in America, and George Freeth would be more than just a sideshow freak.


35 1* star Hotels Found in London, Showing 1-15

45 reviews

A 15-minute drive from the centre of London, Cambridge Heath Campus Living is a modern building with 100 studios or apartments spread over 5 floors. Wi-Fi is free.
The studios have 2 bedrooms, each f...
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This is an illegal building that has no planing permission. The owner has broken all the regulations and has been ordered by the council to empty the building and change it to the original planing permission given. The purpose of the building was to provide office space three floors and student accommodation three top floors, total six floors.
I...what people say »t is not supposed to be used as a hostel or serviced apartments. It is a dangerous building with blocked fire exits, overcrowded, no fire certificate

485 reviews

Situated in the heart of Stratford, this hotel is a 2-minute walk from the University of East London and just 10 minutes from Stratford International Rail and Tube stations. There is free Wi-Fi throug...
more info on london olympus hotel nirvana

Our clerk, Vee was superior. He thoroughly made sure everything was perfect for our stay and even worked with us when we needed to cancel a night last minute. Top notch in both friendliness and professionalism! The hotel is an ideal location for seeing the city, especially for what you pay! Also great for groups or family - our room would have...what people say » comfortably fit 3-4 adults. -
Polite staff.....ground floor room with ensuite, comfy bed (Double instead of single room booked)no stairs to contend with and ramp at front for easy access for luggage.
Fantastic location to transport, shopping..doctor, banks and close to inner london by tube, walking distance to everything

619 reviews

Just 100 metres from Paddington Underground Station, the Metro Hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Hyde Park. A 24-hour reception is available and a continental breakfast can be served in rooms.
Locat...
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Central London, 1 min walk to Underground hub, very nice and
accommodating staff, low price, excellent WiFi, one of the cleanest
budget hotels I've ever stayed in, prepackaged breakfast could be
brought with as lunch, rear-facing room (number 3) very quiet (except
for guests/residents upstairs), beautiful new tile in bathroom,
fridge (but tiny!), ...what people say »iron & hairdryer, could leave luggage before check-
in/after check-out, adjacent to a nice pub and sandwich shop,
walking distance to Hyde Park, O -
The guy at reception was unbelievably nice and did everything to help. I
didn't have my phone charger and was out of battery so he lent me
his, plus I had to check out before breakfast so he brought it to me the
night before! I was well impressed with his attitude and friendliness.
Other than that the place was very clean and excellent value. Also there
was loads of stuff nearby and it's right next to Paddington station.

1349 reviews

The St Athans Hotel is family-run, simple and clean. In central London, it is within walking distance of the British Museum, the University of London and the New British Library. Free WiFi is availabl...
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Easy to find....easy access for touring of London...we found the staff very friendly, and competent....good value for the money. ......the bathrooms were very clean.....hotel was quiet at night....breakfast was ample with variety. Would use again. - Friendly available staff, information and leaflets around showing attractions, clean and comforta...what people say »ble rooms, friendly relaxed atmosphere, excellent breakfasts

704 reviews

City View Hotel Stratford, in the east end of London, is a 5-to-7-minute walk from Stratford Rail/Underground Station (Central Line) with its excellent transport connections, as well as the Westfield ...
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The staff were friendly and very helpful and the location was easy to get around with the local bus service across the street. -
It was a good deal for the money. The beds were soft and we rested well. The staff was extremely helpful.

Warm and clean. Hot shower day & night. Staff were exceedingly helpful when I managed to loose a wallet and phone in a taxi home! Thank you all for your help. Would recommend to anyone wanting this area, -
Breakfast was above average. Excellent value. Room was nice but simple. A bit of a walk from the tube but the number 8 bus goes ...what people say »past and straight downtown.

369 reviews

Situated in Bloomsbury, Garth Hotel is a Grade II Listed, 18th-century Georgian townhouse. It has free Wi-Fi, and is a 3-minute walk from Goodge Street Underground Station.
Rooms are furnished in a t...
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Nice location, friendly staff, great breakfast and all round great value for money..very pleased. - Very closed to the City center, 5 min to British museum, 5 min to Oxfordstreet, easy to share by tube from Heatrow and closed for The CharingCross station

2745 reviews

In central London, Holly House Hotel is only 5 minutes’ walk from Victoria’s rail, tube and coach stations. There is good access to the Gatwick Express airport service.
Each room at Holly House has f...
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The staff is very helpful and efficient; they took the trouble to check
me in immediately though I arrived at nine in the morning; they were
always fast and attentive at breakfast and in cleaning. Tiny rooms have
all one needs, location couldn't be better, short walk from Vic
Station, with a Boris Bike stand at the end of the block and shops close...what people say »
by. Priced the same as inconveniently placed hotels (at least when I was
there). No complaints whatever and would happily stay here again. -
A number of the B&B's on the street appear to be run by the same family & we actually stayed in Cedar Lodge. Location is just fantastic. The room was basic but clean. Tv, fridge & tea/coffee available. Enjoy suite was small & like a wet room but plenty of hot water. Bed firm but comfortable & the road is quiet so had a good nights sleep. Breakfast was again basic but plentiful & staff very efficient.

778 reviews

easyHotel Paddington offers accommodation a minute's walk from Paddington Rail and Tube station and St Mary's Hospital.
Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV, en...
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1269 reviews

With a great central location, this family-run hotel offers basic bed and breakfast accommodation a few hundred metres from London Victoria Station, which has Underground access and buses for travel a...
more info on colliers hotel

close to public transports and restaurants, shops etc. Very close to inner city sights. Found it very quiet regarding inside the hotel itself, but you hear a lot of traffic outside. Its good to stay here if you're looking for a cheap night or two. I'd always recommend booking the en-suite, as if you don't, you'll be sharing a bathroom and toilet. ...what people say »They clean the rooms every day and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Considering what I didn't like, I would still come and stay here agai -
Easy to find, excellent staff, warm and safe base from which to explore London for a few days, room was clean and we were given the option to up-grade to a room with shower etc
very quiet, we were at the front but didn't hear any noise after lights out! excellent budget hotel, well worth the money!

2797 reviews

Ideally located just 5 minutes' walk from central London's Victoria Station and the historic Westminster Cathedral, the Belgrave House Hotel offers value accommodation, free WiFi throughout, and a 24-...
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good service nice staff. - It was a plesent stay,everything went perfect

1251 reviews

This budget hotel is conveniently placed in central London, just a few minutes’ stroll from Pimlico Tube Station. Bedrooms each have a private bathroom and there is a 24-hour reception desk.
The Cor...
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The room was warm, comfortable and it was worth the money for just one night stay. It was also located really close to the underground tube station which made it really accessible. - Cheap bed - was central

418 reviews

Situated in the London Borough of Newham, a mile from Stratford, Travel Inn is only a 5-minute drive from Westfield Shopping Centre. It offers budget accommodation with free parking on site.
The Goth...
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The family room was very spacious. it really surpriced me. I liked the room decoration, spacious bathroom, mini fridge in the room and free internet connection and free parking space in front of the hotel.
Location is on the main road, so accessible to restaurants, shopping areas.
I booked this hotel because was close to the east london uni in fac...what people say »t is inly 10 minutes far by feet. -
very nice staff,very helpful and patient; the facilities are good, love the white sheet and soft mattress; the room is clean and warm, it is really worth the money; and the location is also excellent for me and my friends, easy to find and nearby to the bus station!

339 reviews

In the East End of London, just 10 minutes' walk from Upton Park London Underground Station, The Central offers free Wi-Fi and affordable rooms above a Victorian public house.
Upton Park Stadium, hom...
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Friendly staff and bar downstairs.It was also very easy to get to,i would book again ,Many Thanks to all the staff. W.Strachan - the staff


Translation

Hotel Smart Camden Inn – London

on
March 4, 2015 Total Views: 7043 Today: 1

Welcome to Hotel Smart Camden Inn London, Less than 500 metres from Camden Market, the Smart Camden Inn is located in Camden’s pubs and clubs district. Camden Town Underground Station is a 5-minute walk away and provides direct access to London city centre. A 24-hour front desk is provided and there are no curfews or lock-out times. Tourist information and assistance is provided 24-hours and discount tickets for major attractions are also available. Free luggage storage is available for early check-ins. The Jewish Museum, Regents Park and central London are all within 15 minutes’ walk. London Zoo is less than a 20-minute walk from the Smart Camden. A large TV features in the common room and a shared kitchen with a refrigerator is also available. Self-service laundry facilities are offered on site and there is free Wi-Fi access in public areas. All rooms are mixed-sex or female-only dormitories. Linens are provided and security lockers are available in all rooms. Shower and bathroom facilities are shared. (Hotel Smart Camden Inn London hotels booking).

24 Guest Reviews

Seana from United Kingdom, February 22, 2017 at 6:29 pm

The staff were really friendly and there was no curfew for travellers. It was only around the corner from the venue that I was at for the concert.

Edward from United Kingdom, February 12, 2017 at 8:47 pm

Good basic hostel in a good spot, not a noisy street, and very cheap. With earplugs to be on the safe side I got an excellent night's sleep and a good shower in the morning. I luckily got a bed tucked in the corner near the little bathroom, away from the comings and goings. Help-yourself breakfast.

Anonymous User from United Kingdom, February 5, 2017 at 10:25 pm

Great location for gigs at Koko's and close proximity to mornington crescent station and easy walk into camden. Great value for money.

Al'zira from Kazakhstan, January 18, 2017 at 12:47 pm

1. Good location – close to Camden market, shops, cafes, metro and train station. 2. Includes breakfast 3. Provided with early check-in

Gordon from United Kingdom, January 17, 2017 at 9:32 pm

love the fact that it is so close to the undergroud makes it the ideal place to stay if your going to gigs around the camden area

Fatih from United Kingdom, January 13, 2017 at 8:28 pm

Staff was very helpful about the lockers. According to booking.com, there are lockers underneath the beds, and no additional information so that means you may use them. But they said it's not free. Though I told the booking information and he offered me free. It's not too much money but it was a kindness. Thank you.

Nadine from USA, December 26, 2016 at 11:27 pm

I live in San Francisco- one of the most walkable cities on the planet, and even I was impressed with amazing location of this spot. Three major grocery stores located just 2 blocks away (there is a kitchen) a great club (KoKo) two blocks away, and your choice of underground stops. (Mornington Crescent 2bloks/ Camden 3 blocks/ All Night bus stop across the street from hostel). The staff is amazingly friendly, so helpful, and they are in the process of fresh paint). I made amazing new friends that I will stay at Camden Inn again to go visit. Maybe you 🙂

Chu from Singapore, December 19, 2016 at 6:50 pm

Location in Camden town and just mins to Saint Pancras Stn by bus outside the hostel and also a few mins on foot to Camden Metro Stn. Relatively 'cheaper' than other places in London Zone 2 esp for a family of 5 but with quite a trade-off, this being more suited for backpackers.

Damian from United Kingdom, December 4, 2016 at 2:26 pm

Electronic door cards, Electronic lockers, Free WiFi downstairs Spacious rooms with spacious shower toilet on suite, ours was a 4 person room. Smart Camden is Better than some So called Hotels that charge £60 a night. Laundry on site if you need to wash and dry, chargeable. The Hostel is right in the centre of Mornington tube and Camden town. Lidls, restaurants and cheap hair dressers all within 300m Make sure you take £10 deposit for the key card, you get it back on returning the key card. Breakfast is help yourself toast and tea, coffee. Go early as checkout is 10am so 9-9.45 is busy.

Selva from France, December 1, 2016 at 10:43 pm

worth every bit of it, if you are on a serious budget. best part, if you come well prepared with spices, you will be able to good great meals (with smashing cheap food) while in london, in the hostel´s well equipped kitchen.

Rajalan from Finland, November 20, 2016 at 6:54 pm

The location is perfect: just of Camden High Street, close to tube stations etc. Stayed for three nights and paid around 55 pounds, good value for money. I always choose a dormitory with en-suite bathroom, it's just nicer. Breakfast also included, it's not anything fancy but it's free.

Ripon from France, November 20, 2016 at 10:21 am

This hostel i like location camden town.During my visit i find excillent Break first service.also Reception staff are very freeing.thanks for all your arrange.

Rosa from Spain, October 13, 2016 at 10:46 am

The breakfast with coffee, tea, two types of bread, was very good. The cleaning ladies worked hard. It,s a pity that some of the travellers do not clean after themselves as they should, so that the cleaning ladies had to do (and they did) many tasks that they shouldn't have been even their problem.

Anonymous User from United Kingdom, October 7, 2016 at 3:25 pm

Smart is the key word here. The cleanliness wasn't a problem, and I feel it was properly looked after. Good for a one-night stay, but not for longer!

Anonymous User from Italy, September 3, 2016 at 9:10 pm

– Good position: bus stop for center in front of the hostel; 5 min by walk to Camden Town Tube station; 10 min by walk to Camden Market; – Breackfast: sufficient; – Wash machine £2.20/cycle and dry machine (£ 2.50 – 3.00 about, it depends how many minuts you need); – free Internet in every place of the hostel (if you want fast internet, you have to pay £ 1.00/day)

Sarah from United Kingdom, September 2, 2016 at 8:44 pm

I liked how it was very convenient and very closeby to all the shops down Camden Market. I was able to browse through the many shops and take photos of the area. Went down to camden lock. It was very easy to get to from Camden station and I was able to get to my friends birthday party venue Camden. All the club's and bars are nearby so it's good for a night out 🙂

being able to sleep in a relatively clean environment, nice people to sit and have breakfast with, place to cook your own food. and a hostel guitar to play if you are in the mood 🙂

Jaana from United Kingdom, August 17, 2016 at 4:43 pm

I hadn't stayed in a hostel for years and I just needed a cheap place to sleep in London for few nights. I was pleasantly suprised with the place. The reception was very helpful and the room was definitely good value for my money. Clean bathroom, standard bunk bed with a locker and no lock up time. Everything you could ask from a hostel.

Sarah from U.S.A., July 3, 2016 at 10:20 am

I loved the location, the lounge area was nice and so was the little garden. The cleaning staff was quite helpful and kind.

Guilherme from Brazil, June 22, 2016 at 11:44 pm

TV room is good to get along with people. Doesn't seem to be the cleaniest place on Earth but haven't seen anything really dirty. 5 minutes from the subway but it doesn't really seem to be a good area in terms of nightclub as I though. Other hostels guests were very nice (though most of them live there and work, so they wont go party if that's what you are looking for).

Alana from Australia, June 15, 2016 at 10:49 pm

Large lockers in the room under the beds. Cost £1.50 per night. Washing machine and dryer too. Bare minimum if all you need is a bed & tiny bathroom.

Joaquin from Ireland, April 13, 2016 at 5:23 pm

Clean spaces. Good attention. They welcome critiques and act on them right away. EXCELLENT location. Near amazing places to eat, shop and party.

Elise from Ireland, February 15, 2016 at 8:58 pm

A convenient place to stay and save money. Nearby the very busy Kentish Town road but quiet. When I stayed there, the breakfast was included, a very useful detail not to ignore. The people I shared the room where respectful and discreet. I will soon book there one more time.


Plan the perfect year in the capital with our pick of the best events in London 2015. From January through to December, every month boasts an impressive line-up of entertainment. So, take a look at our guide and be sure not to miss a thing.

South Place HotelLondon > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel from £113 42% off3 South Place, EC2M |
7 minutes from Chiswell StreetLocated within arms reach of both Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations, is South Place Hotel, a luxury London hotel featuring three swanky bars and two top-notch ...More

Henry IV (Part I)London > Events > Theatre Dates: 7th November 2015 to 24th January 2016Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y |
4 minutes from Chiswell StreetThe Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Henry VI, Shakespeare's enduring historical drama, comes to the Barbican this November once again as part of the King and ...More

Barbican CentreLondon > Attractions > Other AttractionsSilk Street, City, London EC2Y |
4 minutes from Chiswell StreetHuge, multifaceted arts and entertainment centre.
Described by the Queen as “one of the wonders of the modern world”, this multifaceted performance and arts venue forms one ...More

Barbican Chimes Music ShopLondon > Shopping > Music ShopsCromwell Tower, Silk Street, City, London EC2Y |
3 minutes from Chiswell StreetTucked away near the Barbican multi-arts centre and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Chimes Music is in illustrious company. Since opening in 1983 ...More

FlittnerLondon > Shopping > Hair and Grooming86 Moorgate, City, London EC2M |
4 minutes from Chiswell StreetAn old-fashioned barber’s patronised by city gentlemen and established in 1904. As well as a shampoo and cut you can also have the traditional hot towel ...More

Beach in the EastLondon > Shopping > Lower Ground G, 123 Clifton St, Shoreditch, London EC2A |
7 minutes from Chiswell StreetFashion Creative Yasmin Sewell presents pop up shop Beach in the East in a disused Shoreditch swimming pool. Opened in late May, just in time for ...More

Jugged HareLondon > Restaurants > 49 Chiswell Street, City, London EC1Y |
1 minute from Chiswell StreetBrothers Ed and Tom Martin, the duo behind well-loved London eateries The Gun, The Botanist and The Empress of India, opened their tenth London pub, The ...More

Pret A MangerLondon > Restaurants > Cafes and DelisCity Point, Ropemaker Street, City, London EC2Y |
2 minutes from Chiswell StreetPret sells up market fast food, hand made from natural ingredients, to take away or eat on site, in its trademark no nonsense chrome interiors. The ...More

Postman's ParkLondon > Leisure > Parks and GardensKing Edward Street, City, London EC4M |
8 minutes from Chiswell StreetBounded in by surrounding office buildings, Postman's Park's appeal lies in what it symbolises as much as how it looks. Located just north of St Paul's ...More

London Dance AcademyLondon > Leisure > The Basement, 49-51 Central Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1V |
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The FoxLondon > Restaurants > Gastropub28-30 Paul Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A |
6 minutes from Chiswell StreetIdeally located away from the chaos of the City and in the trendy and thriving Shoreditch area, The Fox is a stylish gastropub offering food and ...More

Whistling ShopLondon > Nightlife > Bars63 Worship Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A |
5 minutes from Chiswell StreetThere are no whistles for sale at the Whistling Shop nor, we suspect, will you necessarily hear anyone actually whistling. What you will get, however, is ...More

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course near Chiswell Street.

The BreweryLondon > Business > Venue HireChiswell Street, City, London EC1Y |
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SPORTS LEISURE AND
TRAVEL INSURANCE
SPECIALISTS

5 cheap last-minute summer holiday ideas

Finding a last minute deal that whisks you onto foreign soil for a cheap summer holiday may be easier said than done. However that doesn’t mean that you’re stuck in the UK if you’re not booked up yet.

There are still plenty of options for a late getaway, and you don’t have to pay through the nose for them either! We’ve dug out five awesome locations you can still experience this summer for under £200 for your flights and five nights accommodation.

There’s even room to fit a bit of sport in while you’re there too.

Andorra

Flights: £45 return (London Stansted to Toulouse)

Hotel: From £40 per night

Total trip cost (flights + five nights accomomdation): From £145pp

You may have to fly to a different country altogether to get there, but that doesn’t mean experiencing Andorra isn’t worth the effort. Fly into Toulouse, take the three hour coach transfer towards Andorra De La Vella and you’ll soon be glad you came.

The mountainous landscape of the tiny country wedged into this area of the Pyrenees is a sight for sore eyes. Tight valleys and endless hiking opportunities mean that Andorra is a great destination for those with a love of the outdoors.

Two downhill mountain biking centres in Vallnord and Soldeu provide a designated, controlled, area for those that prefer life a little faster and on two wheels. Outside of the managed settings, exploring the countries tracks at speed, through the steep woodland is just the ticket for adrenaline junkies.

Prague, Czech Republic

Flights: £80

Hotel: From £30 per night

Total trip cost: From £155pp

Prague may not be the up-and-coming secret that it once was, but just because everyone knows how awesome the city is doesn’t mean you can’t visit too. Aside from the historical centre of Wenceslas Square and the beauty of Charles Bridge, venture out of the city and you can easily become more at one with nature.

The Czech Republic has a whole host of amazing climbing locations, but you don’t have to trek around the country to find some of them. Located just 40km outside of the centre of the Czech capital is the suburb of Srbsko.

A number of routes between Grades 5 and 8 will give climbers of most abilities something to get stuck into on the limestone cliff faces. For those who don’t fancy leaving the comforts of the capital, you’re in luck. The country’s largest outdoor climbing wall is located in the Gutovka region of Prague on the Green Metro line. There’s every reason to take a last minute trip to this Central European capital and begin your ascent.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Flights: £100 (London Stansted/Birmingham/Bristol to Sofia)

Hotel: From £25 per night

Total trip cost: From £162pp

Potentially one of the least considered destinations on our list for many, Sofia is a city that you could be missing out on. Ancient ruins are spread across one of Europe’s oldest capitals, while there are museums aplenty.

For those looking for a more sporty vibe though, there are numerous cycle tours through the Balkan gem. Not only is it one of the oldest, but it is also up there as one of the greenest capitals in Europe, so two wheels is the best exploration method available.

Just two hours outside of the city sits the Rila Mountain Range. Take a day trip to the area better known as a ski resort in the winter, and test your mettle and attempt to scale Bulgaria’s highest peak Mount Musala. At around 3,000m, ascending in one day is some going, though a ski lift from the nearby town of Borovets can take you half of the way.

Cologne, Germany

Flights: £55 (London Stansted/Southend to Cologne)

Hotel: From £50 per night

Total trip cost: From £180pp

Whether you want to explore your city of choice on foot, on two wheels or on the water, Cologne ticks the boxes. Hire a bike and explore the nearby Stadtwald Forest that makes up a part of Cologne’s ‘Grungurtel’, or ‘Greenbelt’ that circles the city. Maybe even explore follow the Rhine some way out of town before returning back on yourself through another of the City’s ‘Stadtgartens’.

Want a boat trip? No problem. The aforementioned Rhine is the perfect place for a relaxing city cruise as you take in the impressive Kolner Dom cathedral and the dozens of picturesque churches that line the streets.

Cologne is all about architecture so whichever your mode of transport, it’s a great city to explore and take in all the sights this summer.

Stockholm, Sweden

Flights: £50 (London Stansted to Stockholm)

Hotel: From £50 a night

Total trip cost: £175pp

From the architectural delights of Cologne to the natural beauty of Stockholm; the Swedish capital is great for enjoying the land and seascape. The forested areas of the city’s suburbs make great locations to explore on a mountain bike, while the extensive coastline is doing wonders for the popularity of kite surfing.

However, it is the east of the city that really captures our eye. Extending out into the Baltic Sea are some 24,000 islands and islets that make up the Stockholm Archipelago.

Regular ferry services mean you can make trips to the bigger of the islands. On Varmdo, the largest of the islands, you can get stuck into hiking through dense forest lands or gaze at the multiple deep lakes on the island. However, to really experience the area a summer kayaking tour is best. You can venture onto the smaller islets while if you keep your eyes peeled you may spot one of the area’s resident seals or eagles on your travels.

If any of these sporting destinations is igniting a desire for a last-minute summer holiday, make sure you get an instant quote for our Sports Travel Insurance.


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Johnny McKinstry on Sierra Leone & Ebola

Johnny McKinstry is on the final leg of a remarkable journey.

It began when he left behind a glamorous Manhattan lifestyle for the wonder and wastelands of Sierra Leone five years ago. It will end when he walks through the front door of the family home in Lisburn, Belfast for Christmas, having lived through an incredible time in modern history.

Very few 29-year-olds have managed a national football team. None have done it while that country is being brought to its knees by Ebola. "I'm very sad, very emotional," he said.

"Saying goodbye to Sierra Leone was very emotional, very difficult. I don't keep my distance from things; I invest emotionally. The country has become part of me."

Having been an academy coach with the New York Red Bulls, McKinstry was appointed technical director of the Craig Bellamy academy in Sierra Leone at the age of 24.

By 27, he was manager of the national team. Within 18 months his squad were in the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time. "I've made a career of proving doubters wrong," he said.

"The country has become part of me"

Two months ago he was sacked by email, as the Ebola outbreak gathered momentum.

"We believed we had the chemistry, cohesion and spirit to achieve anything. But the Ebola outbreak changed everything. Circumstances meant that, in the end, it was an impossible job."

McKinstry stepped off a plane four hours before we met in a London hotel. He had not slept for the best part of two days.

The journey to Freetown Airport had to be made by boat to avoid some of the areas worst affected by Ebola. An early flight meant crossing the night before.

A night at an airport, one plane to Morocco, another to London followed by a medical check by customs officers is no ordinary preparation for an interview. But for a man who has spent much of the past six months living in lockdown, being among the bustle again is a welcome change.

His time in Sierra Leone has now come to an end. The memory of it will, however, live on.

"In the last month or so when I went into Freetown for supplies, I started to see more of the Ebola response teams, with the full yellow bio-hazard suits," he said. "You might see an ambulance driving past and even the driver would be in the full bio-hazard gear.

"When you see that it really does bring it home to you just how serious the situation is."

McKinstry quarantined the academy behind the gate and walls of a compound.

McKinstry was offered a way out, a safe passage home in July, but refused it. Many of the players in the academy were from affected areas, he felt he had a duty of care not to walk away and send the young footballers into danger.

Instead he quarantined the academy behind the gate and walls of the compound. "When the outbreak started a lot of people ran for cover," he said.

"But Ebola is a disease of contact, if you remove the contact, you remove the risk. So that is what we did. We moved everyone who was off site, behind the walls. We had generators for power, bore holes for fresh water, we had dorm rooms, classrooms and a football pitch."

In Northern Ireland his family were growing increasingly worried about the situation. Did they want him home? "They wanted information. They wanted to know what was going on, to know that I was safe, that the boys at the academy were safe," he said.

It is not sensationalist to suggest that the Ebola virus cost McKinstry his job as head coach. But before he explained how it came to an end, he addressed the question of how it all began.

"When it comes to football, confidence has not been something I have been lacking," McKinstry said with a smile. "There is a saying in Newcastle - 'shy bearns get nowt' - if you don't ask you don't get.

"That was my attitude to the Sierra Leone job. I know I was 27 but if they said no, nothing is lost. If they said yes, it was going to be the start of an exciting new chapter."

McKinstry had watched every Sierra Leone home game in person, every away game on TV, he had watched them train, studied their players. "I thought I was the best man for the job," he added. "I got in the room with the decision-makers and I went through Sierra Leone's last two games with a fine tooth comb and Tunisia's last two, who would be our next opponents.

"I outlined how I'd beat Tunisia, how I saw the future. Every member of the panel went away with a dossier, which I told them they could keep and use even if they didn't choose me.

"I outlined how I'd beat Tunisia, how I saw the future," McKinstry said of his job interview

"Two days later they offered me the job."

McKinstry made an impressive start, losing just one of his first six matches and leading Sierra Leone into the top 50 of Fifa's world rankings, above Northern Ireland, the Republic, Cameroon and Senegal. Then the Ebola outbreak happened and football became a side issue.

"We looked at what little we could do as sporting heroes, could we put smiles on the faces of the nation?" McKinstry said. "Football is a second religion in Sierra Leone.

"So when the national team wins, the national psyche is buoyed, everyone walks an inch or two taller. We made a commitment to keep on winning to try to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations so that people in the country would feel a little bit better. Unfortunately it wasn't to work out that way."

The Confederation of African Football ruled that Sierra Leone could not play games at home. A challenging task was becoming a near-impossible one. "In football, the home team tends to win 50% of the time. In Africa, the home team wins 65 or 70% of the time," McKinstry explained.

That was not the only complication. "In my final game, against DR Congo, we had 17,000 fans just chanting 'Ebola, Ebola, Ebola' at us. It was upsetting for our players. The atmosphere was difficult. It made the players angry that people were mocking the situation in their homeland," he said.

Sierra Leone players found opponents unwilling to shake hands, hotels unwilling to check them in and governments uncertain on granting them entry. "People fear things they don't know," he said. "Hotel arrangements were monitored wherever we went, there were daily medical checks for my players and, while that is not overly difficult, it can impact on players' mental state."

Sierra Leone's first group game as they attempted to qualify for the African Cup of Nations was away to Ivory Coast in early September.

With a week to go, McKinstry was still unsure whether he and his players would be allowed into the country. The confusion meant some players had to buy their own plane tickets. Others arrived the night before the game.

Alhassan 'Crespo' Kamara chips the keeper against Tunisia

Sierra Leone led for an hour, only to lose 2-1. The demands of their schedule meant the squad left at 11pm that night to fly to DR Congo for a 'home' qualifier that was to be played in the away team's stadium. That game too ended in a 2-0 defeat and was marred by chants of 'Ebola, Ebola.'

McKinstry did not see the end coming. He said: "I had been in the FA building that day and not once was anything mentioned. I was driving back home, over a mountain pass, when my phone buzzed with an email from one of the men I'd been speaking to, not two hours earlier. It said they had terminated my contract. external-link I was disappointed. I'd been standing in their office a few hours earlier.

"But I believe in a certain way of doing things. So I spun the car around, went straight back to the FA, not to argue with them but just to go in shake hands and say 'best of luck for the future and it has been a pleasure for the past 18 months.'"

McKinstry has a voracious appetite for football and for learning, he lives and breathes it and his sense of adventure means predicting his next move is not easy.

In the New Year he has a series of meetings in Asia. This is not a man who does things by the book. Having been a coach from the age of 15, McKinstry already has miles on the clock.

The boyhood Newcastle United fan still dreams of taking charge at St James' Park or leading his native Northern Ireland out. "Nothing would make me prouder, my heart would be beating out of my chest for both those opportunities at some stage in my career."

Watch the full interview with Johnny McKinstry - Football Focus, BBC One on Saturday 20 December at 12:10 GMT.


10 of the Coolest New Hotels Opening in 2017

From a restored gentlemen’s club turned boutique hotel in Toronto to a lush nature resort in Ajman, we can’t wait to check in to these new properties.

Apr 28, 2017
·
By Stephanie Mercier Voyer

(Photo: Meliá Hotels International)

1. Gran Meliá Nacional

Rio de Janeiro

A revamp of the iconic Hotel Nacional designed by Brazilian starchitect Oscar Niemeyer, the Gran Melia houses 413 rooms and suites, a spa with Turkish baths, lush gardens by Burle Marx and a rooftop terrace bar with a 360-degree view. Book a 40-square-metre Supreme room to enjoy vistas of the sea and Pedra de Gavea Mountain from the comfort of your bathtub.

2. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn

Among the most-anticipated openings of the year, this eco-luxury hotel at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge features 194 rooms, each designed with reclaimed and natural materials (mahogany trees!) and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the East River. Take in the Manhattan skyline with a handcrafted cocktail by the fireplace at 10th Floor Lounge, or grab locally-sourced coffee, tea and picnic-inspired fare at Neighbors Café.

3. The Broadview Hotel

Toronto

Located in a 125-year-old building that was once a gentlemen’s club, this 58-room boutique hotel has kept a bit of its past charm. Arched windows and lockers inherited from entertainers who used to work at the club share the space with updates like a four-storey glass cube atop the original building. The structure will provide illuminating features like floor-to-ceiling windows, an enormous skylight and a rooftop bar complete with an atrium and views over Toronto’s east end.

4. Freehand Los Angeles

Los Angeles

This west coast outpost is the latest addition to the free-spirited hotel-hostel group’s roster of properties in Chicago, Miami and New York (also opening this year). With affordable accommodations (rooms range from $65 to $510), an Israeli kitchen from the team behind Miami’s popular 27 Restaurant and a lobby cocktail bar specializing in tea-infused concoctions, Freehand Los Angeles is set to make a splash in the city’s downtown core.

5. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Miami

Once a private retreat for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill, this iconic Miami landmark will be reborn as a 77-room hotel, with three new buildings by architect Richard Meier. The celebration of classic glamour will include rooms with unobstructed ocean views, a champagne lounge and full spa with a traditional hamman. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller (Per Se, The French Laundry) will also be opening his first Miami restaurant on the grounds.

6. The Ned

London

The most recent in a string of private-club hotels popping up in the English capital, The Ned will open in a former bank (which means you can chow down on classic Italian dishes or old-school Jewish deli staples in the Grand Banking Hall, that now houses eight restaurants). The Vault Room, which inspired the design for Fort Knox in Goldfinger, will be turned into an upscale members-only cocktail bar (Ned’s Club applications available online).

7. Jackalope

Merricks North, Victoria

Get a taste of Victoria’s wine country with a quiet stay on the Mornington Peninsula, an hour outside of Melbourne. Built on Willow Creek vineyard’s grounds, known for its chardonnays and pinot noirs, the hotel’s design reflects the surrounding rolling landscape, with linked terraces, a full wall of windows and a 30-metre infinity pool. After a day exploring, unwind in your private Japanese soaking tub with natural, custom-made bath and skincare products made exclusively for the hotel.

8. The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah

Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Nestled within 247 acres of protected forest about 50 kilometres from the bustle of Dubai, this resort is a nature lover’s paradise. Walk along the white sand beach to explore the crystal-clear lagoons that line the shore of Al Zorah. You can also visit the neighbouring mangrove forests, home to pink flamingos and nearly 60 species of birds, or learn more about marine biology at the onsite fish nursery.

9. Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

Paris

This historic Parisian hotel, housed in an 18th-century building on the Place de la Concorde, is set to reopen after four years of extensive renovations led by famed architect Richard Martinet. Restored to its Belle Époque glory, the luxury hotel will offer a revamped winter garden, a fine-dining restaurant and two grandiose apartment suites designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

10. Alila Fort Bishangarh

Jaipur

Perched atop a granite hill, this resort is located inside a restored heritage fortress that looks out on the rural Rajasthani landscape. The stone-walled hotel is outfitted with suites complete with footed tubs, gleaming marble floors, a pool terrace and juice bar, among other modern amenities. Head to the fort’s dungeon, carved out of the rock, for a massage while the kids channel their inner warrior at the resort’s “Play Soldiers Club”.


Image copyright AP Image caption Marina Litvinenko leaves the Royal Courts of Justice after giving evidence

Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was paid £2,000 a month by a British intelligence agency, his widow Marina has told a UK court.

At the inquiry into the Russian ex-spy's death, Mrs Litvinenko revealed her husband acted as a "consultant" to a British intelligence service.

She could not confirm which agency but the BBC understands it was MI6.

The court also heard that Mr Litvinenko believed Vladimir Putin had links to organised crime in his earlier career.

Mr Litvinenko came into contact with the now-Russian president in 1998 when Putin was head of the FSB, Russia's secret service.

Mrs Litvinenko told the inquiry: "On his position of deputy mayor of St Petersburg, Sasha [Alexander Litvinenko] believed he [Putin] was involved in some criminal conduct."

Image copyright AFP Image caption Vladimir Putin as prime minister in 1999, the year after Mrs Litvinenko says he met her husband

Mrs Litvinenko did not know details of Mr Putin's alleged criminal connections but said that during the period of Putin's deputy mayoralty, St Petersburg was known as "the criminal capital of Russia".

It is the first time Mrs Litvinenko has given evidence at the public inquiry into the death of Mr Litvinenko, who died after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium at a hotel in London in 2006.

'I'm a KGB officer'

Mrs Litvinenko also told the court that after a 1998 press conference - during which her husband revealed he had been asked to murder businessman Boris Berezovsky - he confided in her that he believed he would soon be killed or arrested.

He feared their whole family would be condemned, she said, which led to their decision to leave Russia.

On landing at London's Heathrow Airport, Mr Litvinenko apparently approached a police officer and said: "I'm a KGB officer and I'm asking for political asylum."

After being granted asylum, Mr Litvinenko began to receive support payments from Mr Berezovsky - who Mrs Litvinenko described as a friend - while he spoke out against the Russian government and wrote for Chechen websites.

Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Litvinenko met Mr Berezovsky through his work with the FSB, his wife said

Mr Berezovsky later stopped the payments, and in 2004 Mr Litvinenko began to act as a paid consultant for MI6 on organised crime, receiving £2,000 a month for information.

His widow said Mr Litvinenko also worked for Spanish security services on organised crime investigations.

Litvinenko's career

It is already known that Mr Litvinenko revealed he was asked to carry out a murder, but on Monday the court heard new details about his career and how he got to know the Russian businessman Mr Berezovsky.

Mr Litvinenko joined the secret service - then the KGB - towards the end of the Cold War and later, after it had been renamed the FSB, he became part of an anti-terrorist unit.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption UK police identified two suspects in the case - Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun - but both deny any involvement and remain in Russia

He next joined a specialist unit targeting organised crime, through which he met Mr Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky amassed a fortune in the 1990s following the privatisation of state assets after the collapse of Soviet communism.

He emigrated to the UK in 2000 and was granted political asylum in 2003 on the grounds his life would be in danger in Russia.

He was found dead at his Berkshire home in 2013. An inquest into his death returned an open verdict.

The barrister representing the Litvinenko family claimed earlier in the inquiry that Mr Litvinenko was murdered for attempting to "expose the corruption" at the heart of Vladimir Putin's "mafia state".

The two Russian men identified by the Met Police investigation as suspects, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have denied any involvement and remain in Russia.


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POISONED former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko WAS murdered by radioactive tea, it was revealed yesterday.

Scotland Yard detectives have quarantined cups and saucers which show signs of being heavily contaminated with polonium 210 from the Pines Bar at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair, Central London.

They are convinced that is where Litvinenko was slipped the fatal dose in a cup of tea during a meeting with former KGB colleague Andrei Lugovoi and his business partner Dmitri Kovtun.

Seven bar staff who served them have been sent home showing signs of radiation poisoning. Colleagues say four are already suffering from a "flu like" illness.

A senior Counterterrorism source said: "It's now a near certainty Mr Litvinenko was poisoned by having polonium 210 slipped into his drink at the hotel, probably while distracted by a phone call or other interruption. The contaminated staff are those who cleared up the crockery and took it to the kitchens.

"We've found a cup almost certainly the one poisoned as it has such a high radiation read out.

"We think the cup contaminated other crockery that was placed in the same dishwasher. It is a shocking thing for the workers to learn."

The bar staff should recover in the short term but have a "very small" increased risk of cancer in the long term.

About 250 other guests who drank and dined at the hotel on the same day are being offered screening to see if they have been affected.

Police have ruled out the Itsu restaurant in Piccadilly as the place where Mr Litvinenko was poisoned. He went there after the hotel meeting to rendezvous with Italian lawyer Dr Mario Scaramella who is also now suffering from the effects of radiation.


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Sarah Cripps

Sarah Ann Cripps (1822 – 8 June 1892) was a New Zealand accommodation-house keeper, shopkeeper, postmistress and midwife. She was born Sarah Ann Rigelsford in London, England, in circa 1822. As a young woman, she set up her own dressmaking business, and married Isaac Cripps, a police officer, in 1844.

After participating in Charles Enderby's failed whaling settlement at Hardwicke on the Auckland Islands from 1849, Isaac and Sarah moved to the Wellington Region with their four young children and lived in Island Bay. In 1857 the Cripps bought 40 acres of land at Whareama on the route to the Hawke's Bay Region and established and ran an accommodation house there called "Sevenoaks". The homestead (pictured) was built in wattle and daub with toi-toi and raupo thatching.

Cripps became well known throughout the Wairarapa for running the guest house, as well as a small shop and the local mail service. Her most important community involvement was as a mid-wife, as the nearest doctor was based in Masterton, some  away. She also home-schooled her ten children: Mary Ann, Caroline, Emily, Harriet, Margaret, Ellen and Sarah (twins), Isaac, Thomas and George.

Cripps later moved to Wellington, where she lived on Adelaide Road in Newtown. She died in Wellington on 8 June 1892 after a long illness and is buried at Karori Cemetery. After her death, she was called "the best loved woman from Wellington to Ahuriri", the latter being the Māori name for Napier. She was survived by her husband, who died in 1904 at their daughter's place in Upper Plain near Masterton.

Cripps is covered in volume 1 of Miriam Macgregor's book Petticoat Pioneers.

References

External links
Photograph of Sarah Cripps: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/3520/sarah-ann-cripps

Category:1822 births
Category:1892 deaths
Category:New Zealand midwives
Category:English emigrants to New Zealand
Category:New Zealand postmasters
Category:New Zealand hoteliers
Category:Merchants from London
Category:Burials at Karori Cemetery
Category:19th-century New Zealand people


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The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is not expected to translate into an immediate boost for British tourism.

Industry experts say the nuptials will act as a powerful marketing tool to entice tourists in the years to come. But there won't be more visitors during the wedding month of May.

"Don't expect visitors from abroad to come for this royal wedding; it is a pageant for domestic consumption," said Tom Jenkins, CEO of European tourism association ETOA.

The 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton did not result in a noticeable uptick in tourist arrivals or spending, according to the UK Office for National Statistics.

This wedding shouldn't be any different.

"There was no discernible increase in bookings for the UK as a consequence of the royal wedding," said Olivier Jager, CEO of the ForwardKeys, a travel research firm that monitors 17 million flight bookings a day.

Analysts expect that any spike in visits from royal fanatics will be counteracted by the desire of other tourists to stay far away from the hubbub.

Related: Royal wedding coverage from CNN

Still, the wedding could boost visitor numbers over the long run.

Deirdre Wells, head of the British travel association UKinbound, said coverage of the wedding is "the best free advertising we can wish for as a country and reminds people that they should come to the UK."

Wells predicts visitors will feel compelled to book UK trips in the coming years after watching the wedding on TV.

"Meghan and Harry's wedding will continue to keep the UK in focus, especially from a US perspective, which is likely to sustain the current [tourism] momentum," said Alexander Göransson, an analyst at the market research firm Euromonitor.

Related: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry invite public to wedding day

Visitor arrivals to the UK have been rising for years, with the country welcoming nearly 38 million people in 2017, according to Euromonitor. It's the sixth most visited country in the world.

Tourism is worth £127 billion ($176 billion) annually to the UK economy, according to UKinbound.

Related: How much does a royal wedding cost?

The wedding will be held in Windsor, which is about 25 miles outside central London.

It could be tricky to get a hotel booking near the wedding venue. But travel agents said that getting a room anywhere else, especially in London, shouldn't be a problem.

"It's not going to have a huge impact on London [hotel] capacity," said Wells.

US travel agents said they've had to reassure clients who previously booked travel in May that overcrowding won't be a problem.

"[Clients have] asked me if I felt they should postpone and reschedule after the festivities as it might be 'too busy' in London. I emphatically told them no," said Diane Bean, a travel agent based in Maine who runs the company Off On Vacation.

"I've found that prices are still stable for Great Britain as a whole," she added.

Nancy Strong, CEO of Strong Travel Services in Texas, said she's considering traveling to Windsor with her granddaughter for the wedding day. But she said that clients aren't "clamoring" to visit.

"Am I going to go? Yes, I probably will," she said. "When the English put on a party, they know how to do it and do it well."


Nick Gibb

Nicolas John Gibb (born 3 September 1960) is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton since 1997.

Gibb was reappointed as Minister of State for Schools after the 2015 general election by Prime Minister David Cameron, having held the same post beforehand between May 2010 and September 2012. He retained this position during the premiership of Theresa May. He replaced his initial successor, David Laws, having previously returned to government as Minister of State for School Reform in July 2014.

Early life

Nick Gibb was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and was educated at Bedford Modern School, Maidstone Grammar School, Roundhay School in Leeds, and Thornes House School in Wakefield.

He then attended the College of St Hild and St Bede at the University of Durham where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law in 1981. Gibb was a member of the Federation of Conservative Students at a time when they were influenced by radical libertarian ideas. He stood for election to the NUS committee in 1981, but only achieved a single vote after accusing the NUS of openly supporting terrorist organisations. After leaving university Gibb was implicated in a scandal involving nomination papers for elections at the 1982 NUS conference in Blackpool, with Gibb accused of forging signatures to get Conservative candidates on to the ballot.

In an interview regarding his education, Gibb spoke of how he believed Maidstone Grammar School to be the best. "What was good about it was that it was rigorous" he told Teachers TV in 2006. "Every lesson was rigorous, even things like music: it was taught in the same way as chemistry." Wakefield, by contrast, was "terrible" due to its lack of rigour.

Upon leaving school he took a job as a handyman in a London hotel, spending his evenings in the House of Commons watching late-night debates from the public gallery.

In 1982, Gibb joined NatWest as a trainee accountant, before working on Kibbutz Merom Golan in 1983. In 1984 he joined KPMG as a chartered accountant until his election to parliament. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA).

Political career
Gibb worked as an election agent to Cecil Parkinson at the 1987 general election, and was the secretary of the Bethnal Green and Stepney Conservative Association in 1988, becoming its chairman the following year.

Gibb contested Stoke-on-Trent Central at the 1992 general election but was defeated into second place some 13,420 votes behind the sitting Labour MP Mark Fisher. In 1994, Gibb was selected to contest the Rotherham by-election, caused by the death of James Boyce. He finished in third place, 12,263 votes behind the winner Denis MacShane.

Gibb was selected to stand as the Conservative candidate for the newly created West Sussex seat of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton at the 1997 general election. Gibb won the seat with a majority of 7,321 and has remained the MP there since. He made his maiden speech on 4 July 1997, in which he spoke of the visit of King George V in 1929 to Bognor Regis to take in the sea air, hence the suffix of Regis on the town's name. He recalled also the large village of Felpham which was the home of poet William Blake.

Opposition
Shortly after his election, Gibb joined the opposition frontbench of William Hague when he was appointed as the spokesman on trade and industry in 1997, before joining the social security select committee later in the year. The following year, in 1998 he rejoined the frontbench as a spokesman on the treasury, moving back to trade and industry in 1999.

Gibb was reportedly involved in the faction-fight between supporters of William Hague and Michael Portillo, the then Shadow Chancellor, as a supporter of Portillo.

He was briefly a spokesman on environment, transport and the regions following the 2001 general election but resigned under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith, reportedly because he was unhappy at his new role. Michael Howard brought him back to the frontbench following the Conservative Party's defeat in the 2005 general election as a spokesman for Education and Young People. Shortly afterwards, the newly elected Conservative Party Leader, David Cameron, promoted Nick Gibb from within the Education team to shadow Minister for Schools.

Government
In the wake of the 2010 general election and the formation of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, Gibb was appointed Minister of State for Schools in the new Department for Education. He left the Government at a ministerial reshuffle in September 2012, but returned to the same Department, again as a Minister of State, in July 2014. He was appointed to the Privy Council on 4 November 2016.

Views and controversy
Gibb is a longstanding advocate of synthetic phonics as a method of teaching children to read, and is also a supporter of the motor neurone disease cause, currently being vice-chair of the All Party Motor Neurone Disease Group in parliament.

Just days after being appointed as Minister for Schools in 2010, Gibb was criticised after leaked information suggested he had told officials at the Department of Education that he "would rather have a physics graduate from Oxbridge without a PGCE teaching in a school than a physics graduate from one of the rubbish universities with a PGCE".

Personal life
Nick Gibb is the brother of Robbie Gibb, a former PR consultant and ex-editor of the BBC's political programmes, The Daily Politics and (in an executive capacity) This Week, who was announced as Director of Communications for Prime Minister Theresa May in July 2017.

In May 2015, Gibb came out as gay and announced his engagement to Michael Simmonds, the chief executive of the Populus polling organisation. Having been together for 29 years they married in 2015.

Publications
 Forgotten Closed Shop: Case for Voluntary Membership of Student Unions by Nicholas Gibb and David Neil-Smith, 1985, Cleveland Press
 Simplifying Taxes by Nick Gibb, 1987
 Duty to Repeal by Nick Gibb, 1989, Adam Smith Institute
 Bucking the Market by Nick Gibb, 1990
 Maintaining Momentum by Nick Gibb, 1992

References

External links
 Nick Gibb MP Conservative Party

 Nick Gibb: GCSE Results Department for Education official channel, YouTube
 John Rentoul An Education - John Rentoul looks at the background and political beliefs of Nick Gibb, Minster of State for Schools Ethos Journal (Archived)

Category:1960 births
Category:Living people
Category:Alumni of the College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham
Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Category:People educated at Bedford Modern School
Category:People educated at Maidstone Grammar School
Category:People educated at Roundhay School
Category:People from Amersham
Category:People from Littlehampton
Category:UK MPs 1997–2001
Category:UK MPs 2001–2005
Category:UK MPs 2005–2010
Category:UK MPs 2010–2015
Category:UK MPs 2015–2017
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Category:Gay politicians
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Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Category:LGBT members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom


acid anger

Love thy selfie, Nic

HERE’S a selfie NICOLE SCHERZINGER decided to bless the world with just, ’cos, you know, she’s pretty and stuff.

The gorgeous X Factor judge shared the gift of her good genes on Instagram while visiting Cape Town.

And she reminded everyone for good measure that the sun-kissed snap was “#nofilter”.

Because, obviously, beauty this schamazing don’t need no X-Pro II.

Nicole Scherzinger flashes her bum as she swirls in Instagram video

Ed's inking out loud

Getty Images

Ed Sheeran has revealed his next tattoo will be a design by artist Damien Hirst

ED SHEERAN already regards his 60 plus tats as art, but with his latest inking there is no doubting him.

He’s revealed how artist DAMIEN HIRST has created the design.

Ed, gearing up for the release of his new album, said: “Damien has drawn my next tattoo so I’m going to get that done. It’s a skull, it’s very cool.

“I’ve got way more than 60 tattoos so I don’t know where it will go yet.”

Damien and Ed have become so close that the singer’s new album artwork was painted in the artist’s studio . . . albeit by Ed, who said: “He just left me in there with a load of paint and I just threw it on this spin machine and created my album cover.”

A diamond-encrusted platinum skull sculpture by Damien called For the Love of God sold for £50million in 2007.

Grammy winner Ed himself is estimated to be worth £50million, and when his latest arty tat gets inked, he’ll be a walking, singing pop-culture exhibition.

A place Jes for her

Instagram

Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has splashed out on a new house

JESY NELSON has bought a £1.2million bachelorette pad.

The six-bedroom Essex gaff will be the perfect party palace for her to forget her love woes after splitting from RIXTON fiance JAKE ROCHE.

A source said: “Jesy got herself a nice foot on the property ladder – and as it’s in Essex, she can pop to her mum’s for a cuppa.”

Jesy is in the US supporting ARIANA GRANDE with LITTLE MIX bandmates JADE THIRLWALL, PERRIE EDWARDS and LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK, but will be back to rock the Brits on Wednesday.

Biz at the EE British Academy Film Awards

THE highlight of last week’s glamorous EE Bafta awards and after-parties was undoubtedly bumping into the legendary MERYL STREEP to have a major DONALD TRUMP bitching session. What else?

The actress, holding court at the Grosvenor Ball as countless celebs – including BRYCE DALLASHOWARD – queued up to fawn over her, laughed off the US President’s slur that she was “overrated”.

The three-time Oscar winner said: “That’s perhaps the only thing we agree on. In fact, it most definitely is. But, you know, likewise.”

Big names such as MEL BROOKS, who won the Bafta Fellowship, and STANLEY TUCCI teased the icon, saying: “Stick at it Meryl, one day acting will work out for you.”

But Meryl wasn’t laughing about anything else the President has been up to.

She backed the political speeches most winners gave at the ceremony and told us: “Patting ourselves on the back isn’t cutting it any more. We have a platform and it isn’t the time to use it to thank your agent.”

The Sun

A selfie with actress Bryce Dallas Howard

We bet President Trump can’t wait to watch next Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.

He’s probably still fuming he didn’t get a gong for his stunning performance as “Donald Trump” in the cinematic classic, Home Alone 2.

— BEST Actress winner EMMA STONE told us she would “love to be involved” in a La La Land clothing line.

A Bafta source said: “It’s definitely on the agenda. Watch this space.”

Only time will tell whether RYAN GOSLING’s greasy, floppy hairdo will be equally as popular in the hairstyle stakes.

— AT the Weinstein Company after-party at London’s Rosewood Hotel, sozzled Best Actor winner CASEY AFFLECK joked: “I’m not looking my best. I’ll have to wear my Bafta as a mask.”

TOM HIDDLESTON skipped the bash to avoid the fallout over TAYLOR SWIFT. He should’ve danced his cares away with us.

The Sun

With a slightly worse for the wear Casey Affleck

Biz on the Brit Awards 2017 (three days to go!)

BRIT Best Song nominee CALUM SCOTT let slip some of his surprise celebrity credentials when we caught up with him ahead of Wednesday night’s awards.

It turns out the former Britain’s Got Talent contestant – who had a big hit with ROBYN cover Dancing On My Own – is very close to both SAM SMITH and SHERIDAN SMITH.

Getty Images

Calum Scott told The Sun he's pals with two famous Smiths — Sam and Sheridan

The singer, who recently revealed he was gay, told us: “Sam is a label mate so we met up in America the other day in a bar. He’s so lovely.

“I know what people will think but no, it was just a friendly date.

"We’re both so busy we’ve got no time for love at the moment.

"Although who knows at the Brits? Maybe you can be my wingwomen.”

Getty Images

Calum recently met Sam for a 'friendly date' — but nothing more, he told us

Calum, who has released his first original song Rhythm Inside, also gushed about his actress pal Sheridan.

He said: “She is the nicest, most supportive lady – I couldn’t believe she was telling me how great I was . . . I was saying, ‘You’re bloody CILLA BLACK, you’re amazing!’”

— CRAIG DAVID could finally get his hands on a Brit Award this week.

And he deserves one after his insanely good War Child gig at Electric Brixton, London.

The mash-up of hit song Rendezvous with DRAKE’s One Dance was a highlight.

Plus, any man who is happy to take the reins of a WHITNEY HOUSTON classic such as It’s Not Right But It’s Okay has our vote.

— BRIT performers and nominees will have the chance to be pampered in a fancy on-site spa by Prismologie and get bespoke Union Jack nails by True Brit London.