If Brazil is too far away or too expensive to reach, just jump on a cheap Ryanair flight and come to London for the most amazing, spectacular and surprising European summer party!

We are lucky enough to have here on our doorstep the most amazing European street carnival, and we would be happy to offer you 10% discount on your London stay if you book with us, at Clink261  Hostel!

BOOK NOW, then just drop us an email with your booking number and we will be happy to discount your stay!

The Notting Hill Carnival is an amazing event which takes place on the streets of Notting Hill, one of the most famous London’s areas each August, over two days, every year since 1965.
It is led by members of the Caribbean population, many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950s.

The carnival has attracted up to 2 million people in the past, so why don’t you join the fun this year?

Check the Notting Hill Carnival Official Website for all the details about this year’s celebrations or the very well done MyVillage.com Notting Hill Carnival Guide, with plenty of suggestion and hints about how to live the Carnival at its best!

This year the Carnival will be the 29th and 31th August, and the program of the celebrations includes great music, great food and of course the most colourful and joyful parade you’ve ever seen!

The 29th will be Children Day, with the emphasis on family, with a shorter Carnival route reserved for young people and kids.

The 30th, Bank Holiday Monday, will be the day reserved for the real Carnival fun, the parade, the music, the fun and frolics!

The music is at the very heart of the Carnival: street bands will be playing Soca and Calypso Music, but also many international reggae, r&b, funk and house artist have been joining the celebrations in the past years. The Carnival featured names as Eddie Grant, Jamiroquai and Wycleaf Jean, only to mention a few. Expect an ecletic line up for this year too!

You will be also able to taste the real Caribbean food as jerk chicken, rice and peas and rum punch, as well as other exotic food from all around the world in the many food stalls all around the streets.

The Notting Hill Carnival is a fantastic chance to have fun, suitable from 0 to 99 years old!
Bring your friends, your family, your work colleagues! Spread the word and come to London to dance and have fun on the most amazing Street Festival of the summer!
And most of all… do not miss the chance to have 10% discount, staying with us in Clink261!

{SPECIAL THANKS to Zoubin Navi, Alexander Montuschi, Norbert A. Mueller and Rupert Hitchcox for letting us use their amazing photos!}

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Here at Ashlee House Hostel we love our city, in every season.
This summer we loved spending time in the nearby parks, enjoying the sun and the joyful atmosphere… and now that winter is up to come, we are all looking forward to the Holiday season… Christmas, of course, but first of all…

HALLOWEEN!

Halloween in London is always something special.

Not only all the pubs and shops are completely decorated, offering you themed food and drinks, but there are also many events, all around the city, ready to give you the most exciting and spooky time of your life.

Here is our personal list of…
10 THINGS TO DO IN LONDON AT HALLOWEEN

1 – The Blood And Tears Walking Tour – Special Halloween Edition!
Declan and his amazing rave-reviewed spooky tour were sold out two weeks in advance, last Halloween!! Be quick and book your place, if you don’t want to lose the chance to experience one of the very best walking tour in London. More info and details on the official website.
As a cherry on top, if you stay with us in Ashlee House, you will get discounted tickets!

2 – The London Dungeon
One of the most famous attractions in London, with people queuing for it day and night all year long, will be at its best on the Halloween days, with a special world-record program taking place from 18th October to 2nd November!
More info on the official website.
Book your ticket at Ashlee House reception desk: it will be not only discounted, but you will also jump the looong queue!

3 -  The British Library
Halloween is coming and the greatest library in London is ready to celebrate it.
Focusing on the period between the 1860s and 1930s, you can attend an illustrated talk examining the fascination that images of spirits, ghosts and ectoplasm held in the minds of the public, as well as high profile figures like Arthur Conan Doyle. This event is called ”Imagining The Impossible” and will be held by Gordon Rutter, head of the Charles Fort Institute and expert on strange phenomena. A good chance to talk to an expert about that shadow you saw last night… More info on the official website.
And the British Library is only 5 minutes by walk from Ashlee House Hostel!

4 – The Ministry of Sound
The Ministry of Sound, one of the most famous London nightclubs, plays host to another night of quality Halloween madness, with everything to keep your Halloween night pumping! Check the official website for more details and ask our Reception staff… if you give us candies, we might be able to get you on the Guest List!

5 – Fancy Dress Boat Party
If you feel creative and you want to show off your great costume, this is the party for you! A 4 hours cruise on the Thames on the London Belle, departing from Westminster Pier: great food, two fully stocked bars, large dance floor and a variety of great music, what better way to spend Halloween this year?
A mystery prize will be also presented to the best dressed!
Click here for more info.

6 – Madame Tussauds and the Chamber of Horrors
The most famous London day-out will be at its best also in the Halloween days!  Make all your Screams come true with a travel trough the most famous chamber of Horrors in London! Will you be able to escape?? Check the official website for more info… an if you buy the tickets at Ashlee House Reception, your screams will be discounted!!

7 – London Bridge Experience
This year, the London Bridge Experience brings you face to face with your deepest, darkest fears. Focusing on the fear of fear itself, the Phobophobia Halloween show will take you past walls that are dripping in blood, squeeze you through confined spaces and make you gasp in terror as you’re met with spiders, snakes, cackling witches and creepy clowns.
Need to know more? Check the official website! No worries, though… Ashlee House Reception is open 24h: if you’ll have nightmares, you can come and talk to us!

8 – Ripleys
One of the oddest museums in London will be ready to scare your socks off on Halloween days! Crammed with witchy artefacts and spooky objects, Ripleys Believe it or Not Museum is the perfect place for a little Halloween fun. Check out the shrunken heads, spell books, wands, and vampire killing kits… who knows, you might need one, sooner or later!
Go to the official website for more info.

9 – Chills in the Chapel: Horror Movie Nights!
What about four nights of terrifying horror films, with a backdrop just as spooky as the films you will be treated to, and all FOR FREE? The gothic Union Chapel – just a few minutes by tube from Ashlee House Hostel – with candles and atmospheric lighting, will be home to the screams of the terrified for four nights, including Halloween itself.
Check the official website for info and to pre-book your free place.

10 – Wicked!
Enjoy the most… wicked London musical, the untold story of the evil witches of Oz! This is the perfect time of the year to applaude this amazing west end show, running since more than 3 years and yet sold out every night!
More info on the official website.

AND… of course… the most important point is…

11 – Come and stay with us in Ashlee House! We offer you 10 % DISCOUNT ON YOUR STAY if you decide to come to London for the Halloween Celebrations!!

This year, London is definitely the best place where to be at Halloween, with your friends or your family!

Come and join us in the Halloween Fun! We will be waiting for you! : )

{Thank you very much to Paul Thomas, Marc Barker, Chris, Angelo Noziglia and Brian for the great photos attached to this post!}

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All fans of the eclectic artist Emilie Autumn gathered to London to share a day together, and many of them decided to stay with us!

The weather on that very special Sunday was absolutely perfect!
When we arrived to the park, carrying heavy bags with plenty of food and drinks, we were happy to see a beautiful clear sky and a warm sun ready to welcoming us!

The park was full of people, everyone enjoying the beautiful day!
But of course the most colourful and happy ones were… the participant of the International Muffin Meetup!!

We have been stunned by the incredible beauty of their outfits!!
We will let the photos do the talk, because the colours and the great creativity of each one of the Meetup participants was enough to leave us absolutely speechless!

We spent an amazing afternoon, chatting and eating together.
People around us were playing frisbee, Victorian Twister, blowing bubbles and being busy in any other sort of fun activities!

And of course we had plenty of tea and muffins!! : )

We also had the great opportunity to listen to some talented musicians playing live their instruments!
Framed by the beautiful nature of Regents Park, it has been truly a magical moment…

We truly had an amazing day, and we feel lucky to have had the chance to meet so many great, creative, eclectic and passionate people … we feel honoured that they have decided to stay with us in Ashlee House!!

Everyone here in Ashlee House would like to thank the great people who came to London to partecipate to the International Muffin Meetup!!
We had such great time with you and meeting all of you guys has been truly a pleasure.

We hope to see you all again soon, because we love when we have the luck to have such fantastic Guests in our Hostel!! Thank you!!!

For more photos just check out our Flickr photostream!

Photos courtesy of… Laura : ) – Lunatic Tailor and Commander Stripe Princess.

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Regent’s park, five minutes by bus from our Hostel, is one of the most magical places in London.

The beautiful green landscapes and the lovely ponds are the perfect frame for many beautiful days, and we love to get lost in this park, so peaceful and mysterious that it’s easy to forget to be in the very centre of a big, busy city!

So… what about a lovely summer day, a great bunch of old and new friends, beautiful music and one of the most amazing London’s parks? Sounds good, isn’t it?
And what if we also add loads of delicious food and the perfect excuse to wear amazing Victorian dresses? Now, this is an extraordinary recipe for a great TEA-PARTY in London!



On the 2nd of August, Ashlee House will proudly host the participants of the International Muffin Meet Up!
Everything started from the music of the multi-talented artist Emilie Autumn. {Check her out on her official website!}

Dressed in lace, corsets, bustle skirts and blouses – clothes inspired by the Victorian era but re-invented with her unique style – this American performer is known for sewing her own clothes and being an amazing violin player and singer.
Her original style of music is often called ‘violindustrial’ because it’s a combination of industrial music and the electric violin.

Each of her concerts is an incredible show: music, burlesque dancing, aerial acts, fire hooping, stilt walking, ballet all gather together to create a fantastic and phantasmagorical atmosphere, able to involve and entertain the audience.

The fans of this eclectic performer from all around Europe and the world will all meet up in Regents Park to celebrate summer, music and friendship, having a colourful tea party dressed in their finest victoriandustrial clothes.
The organisers are waiting people from the Uk, USA, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Central Europe… Pretty much from everywhere!
If you want to have more details, just check out the International Muffin Meet Up Official Site!

We are also glad to say that they chose our Hostel for their London stay!

Everyone is welcome to this party! You don’t need to be an Emilie Autumn fan to come and have fun! All of us, here in Ashlee House, are planning to go, and we would be happy if you would like to join as well.

As a special offer, also, all the people who will book in Ashlee House specifically to participate to this event, will get a 10% discount on their stay!
Just drop us an email to have more info about.

WHERE: Regents Park, London. But also Ashlee House Hostel!
WHEN: Sunday 2nd of August
It will be an all-day event, but the main Tea Party will start around 4 O’ clock. It is recommended that you arrive somewhere between 10 AM and noon.
WHY: Because it’s a great chance to spend an original day out in London! And also because WE OFFER 10% DISCOUNT on your stay! A chance not to miss!!
HOW TO GET THERE FROM ASHLEE HOUSE: It’s just a short journey. Jump on the bus number 30 or number 205 and in 5 minutes you will be at Regent’s Park gates!

{SPECIAL THANKS to Anne and all the EA fans for helping us writing this post, and thank you to Daniel Gray, Juris, The Lunatic Tailor, Mathias, Gianluca, Filippo, Kewen and James for letting us use their great photos!}

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As promised, here are more photos of our Beat The Banana Fun Run!

And if you want to see more, just check out our Flickr account! : )

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Well, I am happy to say that we were wrong!!

Every year the The World Cancer Research Fund holds a 5km fun run in Hyde Park during the Cancer Prevention Week.
The slogan is BEAT THE BANANA! and the concept sees participants chase a life-sized banana around the course ~ (a very handsome life-sized banana, believe me) ~ with the aim of beating it across the finish line.

We were worried by the weather forecast, but at the end it did not rain and the day was lovely.
Apart some initial troubles (Pablo was without glasses and everyone had a yellow t-shirt, so he got lost), the Ashlee House Team has been standing on the departure line, ready to rock!

Lucie, Pablo and Kristine have been great, running all the distance with a smile on their face, and at the end of the day the only sore muscles were the mouth ones, because of too much laughs.
We did not beat the banana, this year, but we had so much fun that we are looking forward to next year: we are sure we will do better next time!!!

The day ended up with a good pint, of course, and some nice food to restore the tired athletes… : )

More photos will come, but hey, the sweet season is here, and more run events will take place all around London. What about joining us, next time?

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