Well, here we are again, the end of another year, and the festive season is well and truly upon us. The halls of Craven House have been decked with all the trimmings of Christmas, Hampton Court Palace is in full festive swing, and we’re looking forward to welcoming our nearest and dearest for feasts and celebrations! London is looking really beautiful this year; it’s twinkling with a distinct festive sparkle, not to mention our own local high streets with their light displays and Christmas carols.
I can hardly believe that twelve months have gone by in the blink of an eye, but it appears they have. Despite a rather wet summer, we’ve welcomed guests from all over the country, and indeed the world, at Craven House. Some have been looking for cosy homes-away-from-home while their own homes were being renovated, some were on staycations and all set to explore Hampton Court Palace, Bushy Park, and all the treats South West London has to offer. Some were visiting from overseas, thrilled to have London on their doorstep, some were in the midst of relocations looking for homes and schools, and some were on business travel, making the most of our close proximity to Heathrow. Through the sunny days and (very many) rainy days, we’ve offered our guests, and a few furry family members, a place to call home in our luxury serviced apartments on the edge of a Royal Park.
It’s become somewhat of a Craven House tradition at this time of year to call your attention to a charity that is dear to our hearts. As a business, we have been supporting The Shooting Star Children’s Hospices charity for a while now. They are a leading children’s hospice charity working with over 700 children and their families, local to Surrey and across the UK. Through two hospices, Christopher’s in Guildford and Shooting Star House in Hampton, they offer bereavement support, counselling, therapies, drop-in sessions, sibling groups, family activities, and overnight care to life-limited children. What they do is nothing short of astounding and a vital service to families who need all the extra love, support, and care that they can get through truly difficult times. We are honoured to have them as our chosen charity. A percentage of every stay at Craven House goes towards supporting the Shooting Star hospices and furthering the incredible work they do in their communities and beyond. So thank you for choosing us, so that we could help them. If you would like to learn more about Shooting Star or give further, you can do that here.
In closing, I’d like to wish you all a happy and memorable festive season. May it be filled with joy, laughter, good food, and spent with the people you love.
I look forward to welcoming you to Craven House in 2024, here’s to a brilliant new year.