August 08, 2012, 7:58 am -- /EPR NETWORK/ -- After showing off British creativity to the world with Danny Boyle's widely praised 2012 Opening Ceremony, London's status as the world's foremost creative hub will be further cemented by this year's huge Design Festival.
Running from 14-23 September, this year's event includes more than 300 exhibits on design ranging from fashion and photography to architecture, interiors, textiles and typography and promises to highlight all that is great about British design as it takes a domestic focus in this momentous year.
The lion's share of exhibitions will be at the V&A, regarded as the world's greatest design museum. As 2012 is a year to celebrate all things British the V&A is displaying a range of exhibits focusing on British design through the ages including Heatherwick Studio: Designing the Extraordinary and Ballgowns: British Glamour since 1950 .
This year's landmark projects include BE OPEN Sound Portal in Trafalgar Square, focusing on design you can't see and Prism, presenting a different view of London expressed through data flows held at the V&A.
With so much to see in such a short space of time it is vital visitors base themselves in a central location. LondonTown advises visitors to the capital to use its newest tool: HotelMap.
HotelMap pictorially displays London hotels on an interactive map of London . Site users can search for specific hotels if they have particular favourites or search based on vicinity to major landmarks, tube stations and key locations such as the V&A. Hotels can be sorted by price and star rating with rates and availability clearly displayed. The maps are easy to use and navigate thanks to a drop and drag system and zoomable display.
Two hotels on the doorstep of the V&A include Fifty Four Boutique Hotel and the Ampersand Hotel. The former is a grand looking, four-star Edwardian townhouse with contemporary design-led interiors. Rooms at this property start at £66 per night.
The Ampersand Hotel, another four-star property, is brand new, opening 29 August – just in time for the London Design Festival. The same ‘old contrasted with new' pairing is exhibited here too with a façade dating back to 1888 and a strictly contemporary design focused interior with notes of musical influence owing to its closeness to the Royal Albert Hall. Rooms are priced from £135 per night.
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