DH and I doing London for a weekend to celebrate 10 year anniversary. Help me choose a nice restaurant and hotel please!!!!

[Lukesmammy]

Okay, whilst not a wedding anniversary, next month is our 10 years to the day of meeting anniversary which we want to do something nice for.

We do actually live in London (outskirts) but have only been here about a year. We do go through to London for days out, walks along Southbank, etc etc but tbh, the frequency of these are minimal due to having an 18 month old who won't sit still for train rides, car journeys etc. So despite living here I don't know loads of places in centralish London iykwim.

My parents are travelling down to babysit and me and DH plan to book ourselves into a nice hotel and chill out on the Friday night, see the sights we want to on Saturday day followed by boozy type lunch, more sights, followed by nice meal on Saturday night finished with drinks. (Can you tell we don't get out much and drinks in grown up places feature heavily on the itinerary!).

Problem is I haven't got a clue where to start. Too many choices and websites not giving enough info to make an informed decision.

Can anybody recommend a nice hotel they have stayed in - thinking luxury but not ridiculously overpriced. Same for nice restaurant? Any cuisine except Japanese I think. Wsa considerig Oxo Tower but have had mixed reviews????

Sorry this is long and thanks for reading this far! Your help is much appreciated.

I absolutely adore Malmaison which overlooks the beautiful Charterhouse Square and is close to an underground station- sorry forget which one!

Check their website for deals but also check out Late Rooms as I usually get a better price there

what sort of food do you like? locanda locatelli is great, the river cafe is a huge treat, j sheekey (sp?) completely delicious in an old fashioned clubby kind of way....

Restaurant wise, I wouldn't recommend the Oxo Tower really. Locanda Locatelli is lovely. I've always wanted to go to Petrus. Time Out have got a big and good restaurant section. Not sure about places to stay, sorry

Also, have a look at the square meal website here

Thanks spp, will check out the malmaison website once ds decides to have a nap.

orangina - we both love italian, chinese, curry (a massive favourite of mine), chinese. Happily eat modern british type stuff alongside old bistro type stuff not not such big fans of fish though and tapas type stuff out as DH doesn't like.

ooh - orangina - that website link you sent me is fab, just the type of site I was looking for, cheers!

Thanks docket for letting me know about the oxo tower - was seriously considering it for the views but had heard that the menu is a bit hit and miss.

Would still love to hear of other personal recommendations though - it all helps!

Just bumping this so that it stays active for those coming on in the evening.

Try secret rooms on lastminute.com. You can usually work out which hotel it is from the blurb and reviews.

The Colonnade in Maida Vale is a lovely spot and not too £££. Then dinner in Notting Hill maybe? E&O or The Ledbury (fab French and glam without being OTT).

Locanda Lcaatelli is lovely, as is Genaro Contaldo's place (Italian) - I forget the name though I will think!
Also always fancied Boxwood Cafe, bet it's lovely.
Not sure on hotels, i always go home!

bumpety bump.

I like Le Palais du Jardin - covent garden. Amazing seafood

St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden in pretty special and J Sheeky is across the road. (Both pricey though)

Try a Marriott weekend city break. Their Breakfasts are fab (unless hungover)

I used to work for them and went to the London Earls Court for my 30th. Excellent weekend and not too far from the tube. Earls Court Road is also a good night out.