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5dina.y..s
It is no surprise that London has been called ‘a world in one city’. With
a history that spans two millennia, there really is nothing this bustling
metropolis does not offer. Vintage and contemporary, mainstream and
underground, traditional and pioneering, London invites all travellers to
experience their unique version of the city.
DAY ONE
As I look at the afternoon overcast sky from my airplane window, I feel
a familiar fluttering of anticipation: London. My veteran status leads
me directly to the Heathrow Express, which takes me to Paddington
Station in just 15 minutes. From there, I hop into a black cab and within
minutes I am checking into the Sanderson hotel (sandersonlondon.com), a
lavish sanctuary in the heart of London’s West End. After enjoying the hotel’s
signature Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea, complete with hazelnut praline ice
cream lollipops, I am adequately energized to take a long walk. Ambling past
Trafalgar Square, I head down towards the Thames and pause to admire the
majestic Westminster Palace and iconic Big Ben twinkling in the river, before I
return, exhausted, to the hotel for a deep sleep.
DAY TWOfter a hearty breakfast at Lantana (lantanacafe.co.uk), I make my way
to the celebrated British Museum (thebritishmuseum.ac.uk). I lunch
Aon a brie and cranberry sandwich from Prêt a Manger (pret.com) and
decide to walk along the incredibly scenic Southbank. The London Eye keeps
spinning as I arrive at yet another London classic: the Tate Modern (tate.org.
uk). Housed in a former power station opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, this is
the ideal setting for admiring the works of Warhol, Picasso and Lichtenstein
among others. Continuing in this vein of contemporary culture, I head to
Haché (hacheburgers.com) for the city’s most delicious, gourmet burgers and
end my evening just up the road at the Lock Tavern (lock-tavern.co.uk).
DAY THREE
Iwill dedicate today to exploring East London. Starting from Shoreditch, I
indulge in a traditional English breakfast at Lennie’s (+ 44 20 7739 3628).
Next stop, Old Spitalfields Market, one of London’s finest Victorian
market halls (spitalfields.co.uk). After a grill lunch on the Boundary Rooftop
(theboundary.co.uk) I decide to explore the area’s more artistic side and make
my way to Vyner Street, the hub of London’s independent art scene. Hunger
catches up with me at The Victory (+44 208 980 5305), a typical Hackney pub
the young Damien Hirst and Tracy Emin used to frequent. My next stop is
Dalston, where I head to trendy bar The Alibi (thealibilondon.co.uk) to dance
the night away in true East London style.
DAY FOURhis morning I will visit Stonehenge, a circle of stones shrouded in
mystery constructed over 2000 years ago. Although several trips to
Tthis World Heritage Site also include visits to Windsor and Bath, I
only opt for a morning tour of this awe-inspiring creation (londontoolkit.
com). Returning to London, I spend the afternoon in Covent Garden, an
Italian-style piazza packed with restaurants, bars and street entertainers. Since
London is considered the theatre capital of the world, it is only fitting I start
my evening with a musical. Playing at the Cambridge Theatre and based on
the famous Roald Dahl story, Matilda the Musical is this season’s hottest show
(cambridgetheatrelondon.org). After dinner at the Michelin star-winning
Lecture Room restaurant, I head to Sketch’s ultra modern East Bar for fancy
cocktails and plush, golden sofas (sketch.uk.com).
58
It is no surprise that London has been called ‘a world in one city’. With
a history that spans two millennia, there really is nothing this bustling
metropolis does not offer. Vintage and contemporary, mainstream and
underground, traditional and pioneering, London invites all travellers to
experience their unique version of the city.
DAY ONE
As I look at the afternoon overcast sky from my airplane window, I feel
a familiar fluttering of anticipation: London. My veteran status leads
me directly to the Heathrow Express, which takes me to Paddington
Station in just 15 minutes. From there, I hop into a black cab and within
minutes I am checking into the Sanderson hotel (sandersonlondon.com), a
lavish sanctuary in the heart of London’s West End. After enjoying the hotel’s
signature Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea, complete with hazelnut praline ice
cream lollipops, I am adequately energized to take a long walk. Ambling past
Trafalgar Square, I head down towards the Thames and pause to admire the
majestic Westminster Palace and iconic Big Ben twinkling in the river, before I
return, exhausted, to the hotel for a deep sleep.
DAY TWOfter a hearty breakfast at Lantana (lantanacafe.co.uk), I make my way
to the celebrated British Museum (thebritishmuseum.ac.uk). I lunch
Aon a brie and cranberry sandwich from Prêt a Manger (pret.com) and
decide to walk along the incredibly scenic Southbank. The London Eye keeps
spinning as I arrive at yet another London classic: the Tate Modern (tate.org.
uk). Housed in a former power station opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, this is
the ideal setting for admiring the works of Warhol, Picasso and Lichtenstein
among others. Continuing in this vein of contemporary culture, I head to
Haché (hacheburgers.com) for the city’s most delicious, gourmet burgers and
end my evening just up the road at the Lock Tavern (lock-tavern.co.uk).
DAY THREE
Iwill dedicate today to exploring East London. Starting from Shoreditch, I
indulge in a traditional English breakfast at Lennie’s (+ 44 20 7739 3628).
Next stop, Old Spitalfields Market, one of London’s finest Victorian
market halls (spitalfields.co.uk). After a grill lunch on the Boundary Rooftop
(theboundary.co.uk) I decide to explore the area’s more artistic side and make
my way to Vyner Street, the hub of London’s independent art scene. Hunger
catches up with me at The Victory (+44 208 980 5305), a typical Hackney pub
the young Damien Hirst and Tracy Emin used to frequent. My next stop is
Dalston, where I head to trendy bar The Alibi (thealibilondon.co.uk) to dance
the night away in true East London style.
DAY FOURhis morning I will visit Stonehenge, a circle of stones shrouded in
mystery constructed over 2000 years ago. Although several trips to
Tthis World Heritage Site also include visits to Windsor and Bath, I
only opt for a morning tour of this awe-inspiring creation (londontoolkit.
com). Returning to London, I spend the afternoon in Covent Garden, an
Italian-style piazza packed with restaurants, bars and street entertainers. Since
London is considered the theatre capital of the world, it is only fitting I start
my evening with a musical. Playing at the Cambridge Theatre and based on
the famous Roald Dahl story, Matilda the Musical is this season’s hottest show
(cambridgetheatrelondon.org). After dinner at the Michelin star-winning
Lecture Room restaurant, I head to Sketch’s ultra modern East Bar for fancy
cocktails and plush, golden sofas (sketch.uk.com).
58
