As London Fashion Week draws to a close, the spectacular Somerset House will morph into a giant shopping extravaganza for London Fashion Weekend (21-24 Feb). You can experience the buzz of the city’s biggest week of fashion by enjoying glamorous catwalk shows, insider talks and pop-up designer sales. The event is a shopaholic’s dream with more than 100 British designers selling one-off pieces, as well as their spring/summer 2013 collections at heavily discounted prices. Don’t leave without nabbing your free Radley bag! Tickets from £15.50.

Speaking of bags, The Cambridge Satchel Company has opened up its first-ever stand-alone store in Seven Dials, Covent Garden. Located at 15 Shorts Gardens, the former pop-up store offers quirky leather satchels, inspired by 1970s-style satchels, in an eye-popping array of styles and colours. If you want to personalise your bag, you can have your initials embossed on one.

British accessories brand Jack French London has launched a new pop-up shop at St Pancras Station. To celebrate the launch, the brand has created a limited edition St. Pancras bag. The deep-red bag reflects the colour of the station’s pipes, walls and tiles. Open until 13 March.

Are you passionate about popcorn? Then swing by the recently-opened Pop, Europe’s first popcorn boutique in Blenheim Crescent in fashionable Notting Hill, which produces an ever-changing popcorn menu. Forget sweet or salty, customers can munch on popcorn flavoured with orange caramel and chocolate, Bloody Mary, chilli and cheese, and English toffee and sea salt. Pop also sells a selection of cult drinks and sodas from the US, including A&W Root Beer, Vanilla Coke and Grape Soda.

If like me, you have a sweet tooth, Divine Chocolate is celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight with a pop-up shop in Seven Dials, Covent Garden (25 Feb-10 Mar). Expect lashings of chocolate to try, including Divine’s Easter range and new chocolate bar flavours, as well as a photography exhibition, Azonto Ghanaian dance lessons and the chance to meet some cocoa farmers.

For one of the most high-profile and stylish events in the world, London Fashion Week is remarkably accessible. If you can’t blag your way in as a fashion professional, journalist or Anna Wintour’s long-lost relative, you can still get a taste of the glamour that infects the city twice a year. London will be full of fashionable opportunities around 15 to 19 February, when the Autumn and Winter 2013 collections from British designers will be on show.

The closest you can get to the action is London Fashion Weekend, which uses the same catwalk at Somerset House for its runway shows, moving in a few days after Fashion Week has packed up. Inside the marquee in the central courtyard, shows will explore upcoming trends and individual designers. You can also browse the maze of mini showrooms, filled with cut-price designer clothing from classic British labels like Pringle of Scotland and Twenty8Twelve.

You can also emulate the jet-set lifestyle of the fashion elite by visiting foreign embassies dotted around the capital, who will promote their country’s emerging designers in the International Fashion Showcase exhibition. More than 110 designers are involved, representing countries as varied as Argentina, Jamaica, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Nigeria and Vietnam. Follow them on a stylish treasure hunt around the capital with this official map - collecting six stamps on the ‘passport’ enters you into a prize draw to win shopping vouchers or tickets to next season’s Fashion Weekend.

There are also plenty of unofficial events worth visiting – the first ever British Plus Size Fashion Weekend has caused a media stir and will celebrate bodies of size 16 and above, and the designers who are inspired by them. It should offer some refreshing and challenging perspectives, not to mention realistically-sized models. Other alternative events include frock-swapping and upcycling lessons at Forest Hill Fashion Week, while retro cocktail bar Bourne & Hollingsworth is hosting Fashion Retrospective, a vintage fashion show at the Bloomsbury Ballroom which plans to reveal the influence the old has on the new.

And away from the runways, there is the nightlife, much of which you can buy a ticket for. London radio station Capital FM is holding a Fashion Week closing party with design collective London Ethnic at Village Underground in Shoreditch. It’s in aid of the Help a Capital Child charity and some models represented Team GB at the London Olympics. The May Fair is the official London Fashion Week hotel, and has created a range of decadent cocktails inspired by shoes to celebrate. Even if you don’t make a party, a trip to one of central London’s bars could well reward you with a celeb sighting.

Here are the dates for your diary:

• London Fashion Weekend: 21-24 February at Somerset House
• International Showcase Exhibition: 1-28 February at embassies around London
• British Plus Size Fashion Weekend: 15-16 Februrary at Shoreditch Town Hall
• Forest Hill Fashion Week: 15-19 February around Forest Hill
• Fashion Retrospective: 16 February at Bloomsbury Ballroom
• Help a Capital Child Party: 19 February at Village Underground in Shoreditch

This month, we’ve got the latest hotel openings, hotel deals and news of how London’s hotels are preparing for the fashion crowd to hit town.

Don’t forget, if you’re planning a (very) last-minute Valentine’s break in London, check out the capital’s romantic hotels.

New openings

First up, the ibis Styles London Excel (formerly Custom House Hotel) has re-opened following extensive refurbishment of its bedrooms and public spaces. The hotel is handy if you’re in London for a conference, as it’s located next to ExCeL Exhibition and Convention Centre. It’s also an easy journey to The O2, Westfield Stratford City, the Olympic Park and Greenwich.

Luxury hotel ME London opens next month in Marconi House, the original home of BBC Radio. The hotel features 157 guest rooms, including 16 suites and a two-storey penthouse. The hotel’s hotspot will be the Radio Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, offering panoramic views over London.

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week is on its way and official hotel partner The May Fair is sporting illustrations by designer Manolo Blahnik on its façade from today until 19 February to celebrate.

St James’s Hotel and Club are launching a gluten-free afternoon tea in time for Fashion Week. Indulge for £19 (or £34 with a glass of champagne). Available from 15 February.

Special offers

Last chance to book a two-for-one Detox Spa Day at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall. The deal includes use of the hotel’s gym and a 60-minute power plate session; access to the Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room; plus a 60-minute Dr Murad treatment. £125 for two people. Offer available until 28 February, for reservations call +44 (0)20 7902 8023 or email mhrs.lonch.theclub@marriotthotels.com

Apex City of London Hotel is offering two complimentary travelcards with their London Unlimited package on stays before 14 April. Rooms from £131 per night. Find out more

Enjoy a free airport transfer from Heathrow or Gatwick for stays before 15 March with onefinestay. The company offers holidaymakers the chance to live like a local by staying in a Londoner’s home while they’re out of town.

Extra, extra

Cheval Residences will be opening a new set of serviced and non-serviced apartments, Cheval Three Quays, in 2014. The apartments will be within walking distance of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and The Shard.

More hotels in London

If, like us, you feel a little of the high glamour has gone from London life now that London Fashion Week is over, take heart from this week’s fantastic vid.

In the film, Queen of London fashion Vivienne Westwood talks about the gorgeous objects in the Wallace Collection that have inspired her fashion collections.

And if you’re interested in seeing these treasures for yourself, don’t forget, entrance to the Wallace Collection is free.

This video is by Creative Spaces, who have more than 20 excellent videos based in graet London institutions like the British Museum, the V&A and John Soane’s Museum on YouTube – check them out here.

Hed Kandi’s popular World Series takes London as the inspiration for its new album – released today.

Enjoy two CDs of upfront house plus a bonus disc with tracks that have been used on major fashion house catwalks, including Versace, Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney.

Hed Kandi World Series London features tracks by Simian Mobile Disco, Royksopp, Laidback Luke, Gossip and Chris Lake.

This album also marks the launch of the brand new Hed Kandi Fashion collection.

To enter, send your name, address and contact details to competitions@punkpr.co.uk with “Visit London” as the subject, and tell us which is your favourite club in London in the comments below.

Giveaway closes midnight 26 September 2010.

Read competition terms and conditions.

Last Saturday kick-started the weekend in the Flower Cellars on Russell Street where the Topshop Unique catwalk show was held as part of London Fashion Week.

Like moths to flames, Topshop Unique always manages to attract the crème de la crème of the fashion pack.  This year was no exception as the Piazza welcomed Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud, The City star Olivia Palermo and fashionista Alexa Chung.

Sunday night saw the glitz and glamour of Hollywood take up residence at the Royal Opera House for the British Academy Film Awards (Baftas).

Our favourite A-listers graced the red carpet including Kate Winslet, Colin Firth, James Cameron and acting royalty Vanessa Redgrave, who was presented with a BAFTA Fellowship by HRH Prince William.

This week the scaffolding has come down, the glitter swept away and the red carpet rolled up for another week…but make sure you follow @CoventGardenLDN for the latest exciting updates on Covent Garden.

Sad news yesterday: London designer Alexander McQueen was found dead at his Westminster apartment.

The so-called the bad boy of fashion, Alexander McQueen became a hugely influential force in the fashion industry, and his death is being mourned across the world.

He was born Lee Alexander McQueen, the youngest in a family of six kids, the son of an East End cab driver. Schooled in Stratford, McQueen remained proud of his working-class London roots. At the age of 16, McQueen began working as an apprentice at Savile Row tailor Anderson & Sheppard, then moved to Gieves & Hawkes on the legendary street. He also worked at Angels and Bermans, theatrical costumiers on Shaftesbury Avenue. In the 1990s, he completed an MA at Central Saint Martins.

In many ways, Alexander McQueen’s styles were typically London: rebellious, irreverent, creative and pragmatic.

US Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour called McQueen “one of the greatest talents of his generation.”

“He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing – from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums,” she said in a statement. “His passing marks an insurmountable loss.”

His death comes just days before London Fashion Week, where he will be sorely missed.

There are a fair few fantastic-sounding fundraisers taking place in London this month. Take your pick from one of these:

Kensal Town Fund Benefit Gig at the Masons Arms: 12 Feb
Compere Mark Haynes leads a night of music in aid of Haiti at the Masons Arms in Kensal Green. Acts include Cheyne Pride as Queen Ceole, DJs Guya and Ben Cullum, the Left Step Band and The Loves MC. £8 before 9pm; £10 after, with all proceeds going to Haiti.
www.thesourcemag.net

Fashion for Relief London at Somerset House: 18 Feb
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is taking advantage of all the attention London will be getting during London Fashion Week to raise cash for long-term healthcare for mothers and babies in Haiti with the White Ribbon Alliance. If you’ve always wanted to take a seat at a Somerset House catwalk during Fashion Week, here’s your chance; and you’ll be raising money for a good cause. Standard tickets are £75; dig deep to sit with the VIPs: premium seats cost between £400 and £650.
www.whiteribbonalliance.org

Funny Undie Run at St Katharine Docks: 19 Feb
Three laps around St Katharine’s Docks in your underwear? Why not! Partici-pants in the Funny Undie Run are hoping to raise £10,000 for the people of Haiti, and have a good giggle at the same time. Places are limited, so if you want to join in, get in touch now!
www.skdocks.co.uk/funny-undie-run-for-haiti

A Night for Haiti at the Clapham Grand: 19 Feb
XFM’s Pete Donaldson has got together some fab names from the UK music scene for this Action Against Hunger fundraiser. As well as DJ sets from Foals and New Young Pony Club, The Boxer Rebellion and Eliza Doolittle will be playing live. Head down for a night of great music, the chance to see the newly revamped Clapham Grand and party in the knowledge its all for a great cause. Tickets are £15.
www.ticketweb.co.uk

Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser at The Roundhouse: 25 Feb
Here’s another tasty concert line-up: KT Tunstall, Paul Weller, Bombay Bicycle Club, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Magic Numbers, Mr Hudson, Othello Woolf, Seasick Steve and The Futureheads. And there’s every chance there’ll be more people added to the bill in the coming days. All the proceeds from this concert at The Roundhouse help the humanitarian aid efforts of both ActionAid and Médecins Sans Frontières. Tickets cost £40.
www.haitiearthquakefundraiser.com

Jungle Pop at The Adelaide in Primrose Hill: 6 Mar
Head deep into the jungle without leaving London, all to raise money for orphans in Haiti. Join 500 others for a Caribbean-styled jungle dance-a-thon at The Adelaide in North London, complete with dance performances, tropical cocktails and drums! The night costs £10 in advance to www.justgiving.com/pop4haiti or £20 at the door. 100% of all funds go directly to POP (the Play Our Part charity).

If you have details of any more London fundraisers for Haiti, please feel free to add them to the comments below.

This week is London Fashion Week and the capital is being taken over by all things fashionista.

While the main hub of LFW is Somerset House, there are hundreds of events taking place across the city. From art on the Underground to catwalk shows in the Charing Cross hotel; from new waxworks at Madame Tussauds to Kylie’s hotpants designer, William Baker, at Westfield London.

London’s fashion and shopping scenes are really exciting: constantly evolving and changing; among the best in the world.

So as London shows off the best of its fashion designers, models, producers, photographers and parties(!), we want you to tell us what you love about shopping in London.

Is it the great independent boutiques around Carnaby and Seven Dials? The historic shopping area of Covent Garden? The amazing, modern Westfield London shopping centre? The shoppers’ adrenaline rush you get stepping out of Oxford Circus Tube and onto the world’s most famous shopping street? Or do you have a favourite shopping hidden gem that you want to share with the world during this London Fashion Week?

Let us know.

The lip-licious version of our Afternoon De-Light menu is inspired by Lulu’s famous lip clutches, Pollyanna pochettes and Lulu Cameo heads. The low-calorie treats are all in vivid paint-box pinks and this season’s must-have purples reflecting her Spring Summer 2010 collection.

Since the Lulu Tea debuted on Monday, the Met Bar has been flooded with fashionistas including London’s top Fashion Bloggers and fashion press (Vogue, Grazia and Harpers Bazaar to name a few). And the Lulu Tea is already fully booked this weekend.

Lulu Guinness will take up residence in the Deluxe Park Suite during London Fashion Week here at the Metropolitan to showcase her Spring Summer 2010 Collection (by appointment-only) alongside Matthew Williamson and some of London’s emerging new talent.

Much as we could gush about the Lulu Tea all day, our wardrobe awaits for a weekend of LFW madness including visits to Vivienne Westwood, Issa, Fashion East, Osman Yousefzada, Mulberry, Luella, and most importantly our very own Lulu Guinness Preview Party!

The Lulu Tea will be available every day from 3pm-6pm in the Met Bar until Saturday 26 September – advance bookings required.