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Dear Travel Friends,
I am so delighted to write to you about my annual visit to London to attend the World Travel Market. It is my
wonderful opportunity to revisit their great museums and any newly opened or restored hotels. London is just buzzing!
Hotels are filled and there are no obvious signs of any recession. Last year at this time, one pound cost two dollars. This
year I paid $1.77 per pound at the bank so it is better but prices are higher. They may not admit to inflation but one
wonders how they are managing.
I arrived on the day flight which I haven’t done in years. It’s so much better if you have trouble coping with jet lag.
Usually I stay in the countryside to recover from the flight and to do some interesting sightseeing. I belong to the Royal Oak
Society which is the American arm of the National Trust, the largest landowner of historic houses and gardens in
Britain, which give you complimentary admission to all their properties and gardens. The luxury hotel, Cliveden, is one of
these that I have visited. Due to its proximity to Heathrow and Windsor, it’s perfect for a beginning or an ending to a trip to
Britain. I decided to stay only in London this time but spent a full day visiting some wonderful country inns. Each was
readily accessible from London. These have incredibly beautiful gardens, trees and, of course, architecture. Great Fosters
has a modern, air-conditioned wing created from an original barn. Parts of the hotel date from the Middle Ages and has an
original moat. Its origins are supposedly from a royal hunting lodge.
One of England’s most charming country-house hotels is the Vineyard. They incorporated a country house
surrounded by extensive grounds and gardens but added a spa with a spectacular pool. The decoration and color schemes
are just great. They have contemporary rooms as well as traditional. The dining room has two Michelin stars and I had a
delicious lunch with great service, lovely china and linens, surrounded by beautiful flowers. The British owners have
vineyards in California and so they have a huge inventory of California wines, including their own. It is a five-star member of
the Relais & Chateaux group of hotels. I loved my visit there and hope to be able to stay at another time. The most
luxurious of the country hotels I visited was Stoke Park, a Virtuoso property. It is surrounded by hundreds of acres of
parklands and it operates as a private golf club with twenty-seven holes. There are thirteen tennis courts, an exquisite spa
with indoor pool, a casual dining room and contemporary, luxurious rooms in a separate building from the main house. The
Manor House is beautifully furnished, full of impressive antiques with huge rooms, a lovely lounge and a stunning dining
room. All these hotels are close enough to Heathrow and London and are perfect for a pre or post London stay or if you
are sailing to or from Southampton.
I am a member of many English associations and museums. The Victoria and Albert Museum has an outstanding
special exhibition called “Maharaja – The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts”. A member can go right in, even if the
exhibition is sold out. Every year I have attended their special exhibitions and this one is just outstanding! It will be on until
January 17th. Many of the hotels have special holiday packages and it would be a perfect time to come and take in all the
festive events.
I love to go to the Queen’s Gallery, located in the back of Buckingham Palace. It has a permanent exhibit from
some of her huge art, jewelry and furniture collection plus a special exhibit, which right now is the paintings depicting the art
of conversation. There are scenes of fashionable life in the 19th century. There is a very large store on the first floor so it is
an easy place if you are gift shopping. I purchased a very pretty clock in a tiny painted china box – a copy of china from the
Royal Collection. When you go you should have your tickets stamped for five free return visits (in one year). One of the most
pleasurable activities in London is the English High Tea. Last year I tried the Berkeley hotel, a very charming, five-star
Virtuoso hotel in Knightsbridge. This year it was Claridge’s – an art-deco, luxury hotel in the heart of Mayfair. There
was so much wonderful food, we couldn’t even finish! The Savoy was famous for tea. We also loved going there for light
food served in their café. The Savoy is still closed for a complete restoration and will reopen in 2010 under Fairmont Hotels
and is expected to be spectacular.
The shopping in London is wonderful. Unfortunately with the dollar being so low, it’s more expensive than it should be
for Americans. A huge shopping center has opened called Westfield London, accessible by public transportation, billed at
the “ultimate shopping experience”. It’s a supposed paradise for the shopaholic. I went to Harvey Nichols – London’s
version of Saks Fifth Avenue but on a smaller scale, which has a popular café that is very noisy and crowded. I chose the
quiet restaurant, which is lovely and has an a-la-carte menu, which I prefer. Harrod’s is just too huge for me but should be
a part of your visit to London, especially the food stalls. The only other place that can compete is the “Ka-da-we” in
Berlin. Also visit Fortnum and Mason which is a wonderful, mid-size store. The first floor has an elegant food hall. All
the salespersons are dressed in formal clothes that fit the atmosphere. Upstairs they sell clothing and accessories and there
are several other dining areas as well. The stores open at noon on Sundays. Sloane Street and King’s Road have
branches of all the shops now. Burberry has opened a new store there and closed their historic Regent Street location and
put the building up for sale. In the years that we were collecting antiques, we visited London’s antique markets. There is one
for every day of the week. My favorite was Portobello Road on Saturday mornings.
There are so many superb day trips from London that one week here is never enough. If you like antiques spend a day
in Brighton and enjoy the Lanes. There are lovely little villages nearby and, of course, the Royal Pavilion - a gem which
the Prince of Wales had created for his mistress. You can stay over or just visit for the day, the same for Bath,
Cambridge, the cathedral towns, the Cotswolds and Oxford. In the charming village of Chipping Camden we once
rented a restored cottage which was an interesting alternative to staying in a country inn. The Inn there has been restored
and is now a Virtuoso property. I’ve stayed in Broadway a number of times which is one of the villages that has won the
annual title “Most Beautiful Village in England”.
November in London brings Remembrance Day, similar to our Veteran’s Day. It’s also a festive month with the
Lord Mayor’s parade, an antique car parade from London to Brighton. Many restaurants offer a Thanksgiving dinner for
American visitors. Every month has special events to look forward to.
Dining in London has come a long way and is now as fine as anywhere in the world. The Rocco Forte Hotel chain of
five-star hotels restored the beloved Browns and its Albemarle Restaurant is one of the best in London. This chain just
won an award as the top hotel group in the world.
I inspected a number of hotels, as I do each year. The London InterContinental Hotel re-opened last year after a
multi-million dollar renovation. It is fully contemporary with extremely comfortable rooms and lovely public spaces. The
café is re-done with an open kitchen and cooking demonstrations. The executive lounge is the largest and most complete I
have ever seen – they even include a hot breakfast which is unusual. It is a Virtuoso hotel so we can offer Virtuoso
amenities including a guaranteed upgrade.
I arrived on a Saturday night and on Sunday there are too many choices for brunch! The sales manager said that they
also have a wonderful Sunday brunch. I also inspected some London apartments. These are great for families, two couples
or longer stays. This time I chose the Mayfair area which is upscale and very central. One I particularly liked on Charles
Street was the owner’s apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms – very pleasant. The apartment is located near
the English Speaking Union, located in a beautiful old building, some lovely hotels for dining and a great little movie
theatre. Nearby is the Shepherd’s Market Place, an area filled with a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants. On one
London visit we took an apartment next to the market and visited almost daily. Please contact us if you are interested in an
apartment or house as well as hotels.
London has so much to offer! In May, I hope to once again attend the Chelsea Flower Show, considered the best in
the world. As a member of the Royal Horticultural Society you can purchase tickets prior to the public and also attend
special member pre-opening days. Please let us know if you are interested. Why not do a Queen Mary crossing one way,
visit the countryside, attend the show and enjoy London for as many days as you can? As you know, there are some
tremendous specials out there in hotels and cruises. So please call us for the latest!
We urge you to travel – to learn, enjoy and create wonderful memories. Let us help you plan and reserve your next
adventure.
With our very best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season and a great New Year,
