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Native Hyde Park

The UK’s best Pride festivals: 2021

Pride Glasgow
Date TBC

Scotland’s largest LGBTQI+ festival returns, with an incredible Pride Parade, a two-day music festival and plenty of sexy Scots in kilts. Last time saw over 13,000 revellers flood the streets with joy and colour, and this year’s set to be even bigger. Pride Glasgow is still taking volunteer applications, and more details are being confirmed soon.

Find out more

 

Edinburgh
Date TBC

Pride Edinburgh regularly draws more than 15,000 people to the capital, so this year they’re putting safety first with an online festival. Details are still being confirmed, but there’s plenty to do in the city without joining a crowd of thousands.

Edinburgh’s most popular gay bars are near the city centre, at the north end of Leith Street and Broughton Street. It’s known locally as the Pink Triangle and is full of great restaurants and bars. Try The Street for a buzzy, laid back dinner-and-drinks atmosphere, and Street NightClub downstairs comes alive after dark once you’re ready to storm the dancefloor.

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How to spend Summer in London

Sunflower salutations


World renowned for its unparalleled collection of rare plants and stunning specimens, Kew also plays host to a varied and fascinating programme of events all year round. This summer there are outdoor theatre shows, art exhibitions and talks, but we’ve got our eyes on the early morning yoga in the iconic Victorian glasshouse known as the Temperate House.

Greet the morning alongside 10,000 rare and endangered plants with a one hour vinyasa flow guided by Anil Jangi, Kew’s own yoga instructor. You’ll beat the crowds (and even most of the staff), so it’s the perfect way to start your day at Kew. Follow it up with a leisurely walk around the grounds, a warming cup of tea in one of the restaurants, or a breakfast picnic on the grass.

Book a mat

Fun at the fair


Sun, sand, street food…who needs to leave London for a proper holiday? London Wonderground is bringing serious summer vibes to Earls Court, with a veritable grown up playground full of outdoor bars, food stalls, fairground rides and a beach, all free to enter and all summer long.

It’s also the new home of Udderbelly, the upside down purple cow that’s become a fixture of the London summer. Here you can see all kinds of fantastic shows, from music and comedy to theatre and puppetry, and this year there’s even a proper big top for the circus.

Find out more

Street art


We know how much art lovers have missed spending long, leisurely hours gazing on great works in the capital’s galleries while they were closed. Of course, so do the folks at the National Gallery.

That’s why, this summer, they’re putting 20 life-size replicas of the nation’s favourite paintings on display in Trafalgar Square, as part of their Inside Out celebration of art. The works are all taken from the National Gallery’s collection, including paintings by Gainsborough, Caravaggio and Titian, and – best of all – there’ll be a series of free community art sessions. They’re all free and you only have to book the artist-led classes. Otherwise, just rock up with your pencil case and see where the mood takes you.

Book your summer sojourn in London

The UK’s best street food

Don’t miss the…

…rib meat roll by The Rib Man, who’s legendary in these parts. You’ll love these tender, shredded baby back ribs, piled high on soft white rolls and sloshed with Holy F*** hot sauce. He sells out fast, so get there early.

Find it at…

Ely’s Yard, E1 6QR
Saturday 11am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm

Glasgow

One of Scotland’s best loved markets has taken up permanent residence near Finnieston and it’s unmissable. It’s £5 to enter The Dockyard Social, but don’t be put off – the entry fee keeps standards high and you’ll definitely make the most of it. They switch up their food traders every two weeks, so there’s always something new to try.

Don’t miss the…

…fried chicken katsu ramen at Taiko Ramen. Twelve hour bone broth, crisp vegetables, pickled ginger and boneless strips of juicy chicken – bread-crumbed, fried to perfection and piled high.

Find it at…

95 Haugh Road, G3 8TX
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm to 10.30pm

Edinburgh

The street food movement is thriving in Edinburgh, with well established markets and plucky new pop-ups appearing all over the city. Our go-to is Waverley Market @ Platform 2, with its dozens of brilliant food and drink vendors that transform the station every Friday.

Don’t miss the…

…honeycomb crispy slice at Mimi’s Bakehouse. We’re not quite sure what alchemy the team at Mimi’s employs to get this level of deliciousness into one baked good, but we do know that it’s not for sharing.

Find it at…

Edinburgh Waverley, EH1 1BB
Fridays, 11am to 7pm

Manchester

Locals and tourists alike love the street food culture of Manchester, which is deliciously scattered across the city. Our favourite, though, is Mackie Mayor. It’s a gorgeous Grade II listed building with ten exceptional eateries under its brand new glass roof, with everything from Taiwanese bao to some of the finest pizza in town.

Don’t miss the…

…mutton ragu from Tender Cow. It’s served with the crispiest hash brown you’ve ever had, topped with green chilli pesto and two fried eggs. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between.

Find it at…

Eagle Street, Northern Quarter, M4 5BU
Tuesday to Friday 11am – 10pm, Saturday 9am – 10pm and Sunday 9am – 6pm

Book a taster’s tour of the UK

The best bike rides in the UK

Rent

 

The locals call them Boris Bikes, but look out for Santander Cycles, the official city bike hire scheme. You can pick up a ride almost anywhere and pay for hire at the bike rack or online.

Ride

If you’re looking for the best bike rides in London, you’re spoilt for choice. One of our favourites is an easy 90 minute spin round some of the sights, suitable for all fitness levels. It starts in London Bridge, taking in the Victoria Embankment, Horseguards Parade Ground, London Eye, Big Ben and the Tower of London before finishing up back where you started, not far from Native Bankside.

Refuel

You’ll start and finish right near Borough Market, so take your pick from sizzling paella, an old-fashioned fry-up or a baguette stuffed with roast pork, to name but a few options.

Glasgow

Rent

NextBike is Glasgow’s own city bike share scheme and you can find your nearest bike, book it and pay, all on the app.

Ride

For a leisurely 90 minute pootle by the river, start at the beautiful church of St Enoch and ride along the gorgeous Clyde Cycleway. You’ll pass Glasgow Green, old bridges and all kinds of riverside flora and fauna. You’ll end up back at the church, just a short ride from Native Glasgow.

Refuel

Right near the church you’ll find neighbourhood favourite Hootenanny. These days they’re serving up lush burgers from Patty Cake and crisp pizzas from Romans – perfect for carbo-loading before or even after your ride.

Edinburgh

Rent

It’s delightfully easy to get riding with Edinburgh Cycle Hire, with everything you need in their handy app.

Ride

Holyrood Park is a must-visit for anyone new to Edinburgh and cycling is a wonderful way to see this Royal Park unlike any other.

The Holyrood Park Road entrance is near the Commonwealth Pool, the Pollock Halls and the start of the Innocent Railway, if you fancy a detour. The path follows the road round, passing Dynamic Earth, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House. It ends by St. Margaret’s Loch, near Duke’s Walk, unless you’ve got the stamina for powering on up to Arthur’s Seat for the views.

Refuel

Right near the end of your trail is Baba Rista, where you can get coffee and pastries to replenish your energy, and take some fresh Italian bread, pizza or pasta back to your apartment.

Manchester

Rent

All-round bike-lover’s haven Manchester Bike Hire has a great range of city bikes to rent for three or more days, including electric ones.

Ride

A half hour spin through the city takes you to Daisy Nook, which Lowry himself loved and painted. It’s a country park that runs through the Medlock Valley and very popular with dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There’s a great path to take you to Hartshead Pike for the stunning views (it’s particularly beautiful at sunset), and on a clear day you can even see Snowdonia.

Refuel

The family run Daisy Nook Country Park Café is the perfect pit stop for coffee, cake and a chat with the regulars.

Book your Tour de Native

Safe staycations in London

Time to shine

It takes more than a lockdown to dull the capital’s shine, and there’s been a quiet buzz rumbling under the surface of the city as bars, restaurants, theatres and parks plan their big comebacks. As a result, there are plenty of things to do in London in May.

 

If you’re staying in…Hyde Park

Hyde Park London
enjoy the sunshine in Hyde Park.

At Native Hyde Park, you’re just minutes away from one of the most beautiful green spaces in the UK. There’s nowhere in London more perfect for a thoroughly Covid-safe reunion with friends, a riverside picnic by the Serpentine or just a day exploring the Rose Garden, Italian Gardens and the Dell, with its exquisite waterfall. There are plenty of cafés and quaint little vans to pick up food, coffee and ice cream, and the rest of Central London is right outside the park walls.

Book Native Hyde Park.

Native Hyde Park

 

If you’re staying in…Mayfair

Long, leisurely strolls down Mayfair’s wide avenues are the perfect way to dust off the cobwebs of lockdown. We’ll be heading straight for Shepherd Market, a hidden gem of a village square, tucked away between Piccadilly and Curzon Street. It’s full of little boutiques, restaurants and charming Victorian pubs, so it’s the perfect spot to pitch up and people-watch.

Book Native Mayfair.

Native Mayfair

If you’re staying in…Bankside

There’s something deeply refreshing about being by the water, so staying at Native Bankside, just a few minutes from the Thames, is an irresistible proposition. We know how hard the lockdown has hit our local drinking spots, eateries and food producers, so it’s tempting to eat three meals a day at Borough Market. Twenty of Borough’s best restaurants and bars are serving their wares al fresco, and the market stalls are open for business, so snap up a table and don’t count the calories.

Book Native Bankside.

Native Bankside

If you’re staying in…Fulham

Fulham’s pretty, artsy countryside vibe is perfect at this time of year and the beautiful Fulham Palace is a must-visit if you’re looking for fresh-aired fun. The museum and rooms are closed for a little while longer, but the expansive grounds, the botanical garden and walled garden are all open, as is (most importantly) the café. Book a tour, talk or trail or just rock up and spend the day.

Book Native Fulham.

 

If you’re staying in…the City

Leadenhall Market

Online shopping is so 2020. It’s time to browse. To compare. To ponder. And there’s nowhere better to re-learn the art of shopping than one of London’s many, many outdoor markets. When the City gets quiet at the weekend, walk over to Brick Lane and revel in the bustle, with street food, arts and crafts, vintage treasures and clothes all vying for your attention amidst the legendary curry houses and bagel shops.

Book Native Bank, Native Fenchurch Street, Native Tower Hill, Native Cannon Street or Native City.

 

 

Ultimate Guide to Hyde Park Gigs 2019

Celine Dion
5 July 2019

The mega-voiced superstar will come to us fresh from her record-breaking Las Vegas residency, ready to headline the opening night of British Summer Time festival. As her fans know, her live shows are extraordinary, and she’ll be joined by heartthrob crooner Josh Groban and Claire Richards (the one from Steps with the great voice), so you’re in for a summer night full of soulful ballads and vocal acrobatics.

Stevie Wonder
6 July 2019

There are few music superstars as celebrated and adored as Stevie Wonder. The singer, songwriter, musician and producer will be bringing The Stevie Wonder Song Party: A Celebration of Life, Love & Music to Hyde Park, joined by very special guest Lionel Richie. Two legends for the price of one!

Barbra Streisand
7 July 2019

Diva extraordinaire Barbra Streisand has got London buzzing before she’s even taken to the stage. Iconic as an actress and activist along with her unmistakable vocals, expect her super-fans to be out in force. They’ll be hoping for classic songbook staples like Woman In Love, The Way We Were and Rain on My Parade, along with tracks from last year’s album Walls, her first collection of original songs since 2005.

Bob Dylan
12 July 2019

He’s one of the world’s most iconic singer-songwriters, a ten-time Grammy winner, was even awarded a Nobel Prize in 2016 – and this summer, he’s playing Hyde Park. Known as the soundtrack to a generation for over five decades, he’ll take you on a journey through folk, rock and beyond. Armed with his trusty guitar and brilliant band, he’ll also be joined by another living legend…

Neil Young
12 July 2019

Sending classic rock fans into raptures by playing on the same night as Dylan will be Canadian troubadour Neil Young. His classic albums like Harvest, After The Goldrush and On The Beach are still agreed to be some of the best in the genre and, this year, he’ll be bringing his band, Promise of the Real, which just happens to feature two of Willie Nelson’s sons. And you thought the night couldn’t get any cooler.

Florence + The Machine
13 July 2019

Riding high from the success of her fourth album, High As Hope, Florence Welch will be gracing Hyde Park with her otherworldly voice and belt-along hits from the last decade. Known for their festival-filling live performances, you can bet that Florence and her band will be kicking off the night in style.

The National
13 July 2019

Sharing the stage with Florence will be festival favourites The National. The American indie superstars have a huge British following and a recent UK number 1 album under their belt, plus they’ll be joined by support acts like Lykke Li, Blood Orange and Marlon Williams. Get ready to rock out – this is going to be an unforgettable night.

Robbie Williams
14 July 2019

Back in the day, Robbie was the cheeky, warbling, waistcoat-wearing youngest member of Take That. Today, he’s a national treasure in his own right after storming the music scene for nearly 30 years, and all on his own terms. He’s responsible for six of the top 100 best-selling albums in British history and it’s accolades like this that have him judging on X Factor, playing 12 nights in Vegas and wrapping up British Summer Time, all in the same year.

 

Get your accommodation sorted

The best thing about British Summer Time at Hyde Park? No flyaway tents, grotty showers or hold-your-nose bogs. In fact, the best way to enjoy two weekends of unforgettable music is by staying nearby – in civilisation! Things fill up pretty quickly, so take a look at our lovely studio, one and two bedroom apartments around the capital, not to mention Native Hyde Park – our aparthotel that’s just a stone’s throw from the gigs. Combining the benefits of a home-away-from-home with the convenience of a hotel, we’ll also give you insightful advice into each particular neighbourhood, giving you access to all the hidden gems the city has to offer. Just like a native.

Book your festival flat at Native Hyde Park.