London
© Photos from the Album of Linda Young
The difficulty in London is deciding what to do from among the hundreds of options. But there is one place that draws me like a magnet: Westminster Abbey. Here you will find the Christenings, the crownings, the marriages, the fervent prayers, and the final benedictions for the kings, queens, and all their entourages throughout most of the history of England. Walking across the paving stones within the Abbey is akin to having a ghostly procession of these figures before you as their names leap out at you...Henry VII, Richard II, Elizabeth I, Henry III....most of the Plantagenets are here, the first English dynasty. Others found there we may regard more warmly, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Shelley, Robert Burns, and Charles Dickens.
Then on to the Tower of London and its priceless jewels, St. Paul's, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, and of course, the theatre. But do not miss London's newest gem: the Churchill Museum. And if you’re brave enough, try the London Eye for a tip-top view – literally – of all of London.
But one cannot exist on sights alone, so run by The Connaught to check out the chefs at work in the kitchen (the Power Place to have lunch), then stop by Claridge's Hotel for a cooking class with world-class chef Gordon Ramsey. Claridge's is the hotel where the princes stay, Madonna rents out the entire floor, and Brad Pitt rents the penthouse. While in Mayfair, pop in to see the lovely boutique hotel, The Goring, where you are treated like a member of the family. They, too, have a renowned chef with one Michelin star. All of these are Virtuoso hotels with special amenities for our clients.
Probably the most special thing we have done in London is sail from the London Tower Bridge down the Thames on a small deluxe cruise ship, both on Seabourn and Silversea. People line the wharfs as you pass the old and new buildings of the city. How exciting it is to have this high vantage point to peer into the grounds of the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, and all the other vessels and structures along the way. You toast with champagne as you live the life of the rich and the famous in this venerable and timeless city.
It also works well to use London as a base to see some of the countryside. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Go to Richmond for the day and explore their boutiques and the river and see the free roaming deer that used to be the Royal hunt ground, then on to beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and the National Archives to see the Doomsday Book (first census in England, taken by William the Conqueror).
- Explore Oxford and Le Manoir for the day to explore their aromatic herb gardens, have lunch or dinner, or participate in a cooking class with Michelin chef Raymond Blanc.
- Visit Hampton Court, the interesting palace Henry VIII took over from his Archbishop of York Thomas Wolsey, and its maze of evergreens.
- Bovey Castle - golf, shoot guns/bows/skeet, play lawn crochet, make gin and cider, falconry, game shooting, and fly fishing.
- Sporting events and concerts – Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium…short tube ride away. There is a raffle in advance for Wimbledon tickets and also many tickets are reserved for walk-up sales the day of each tournament.
The British Pound against the dollar is lower than it has been in years, meaning plan your trip to London now! And the US dollar can pay for your cruise if you choose to sail in or out of this place. There are only a very few of these cruises, and two or three are now on sale! Remember: you never get tired of London!
