Photo Credit: Stuart DeSpain
After our seven day Trans-Atlantic cruise we disembark in Southampton, England. Hopefully getting off the QM2 won’t take too too terribly long and we’ll be in London for a late breakfast. Of course we’ll be staying at our Notting Hill favorite, the Westland.Â
Thursday is museum day. We’ll hit the Tate Modern to start, then toddle down the Themes to the Design Museum. Along the way we’ll lunch at Fish. Our first London dinner will be at worldwide favorite Oxo. I’m hoping it will be as phenomenal as I remember it. New owner Harvey Nicks is no slouch in the glamour department, but change isn’t always good. Reviews are promising, so I’m not too worried.
After Oxo we’re off to our first rock show of the trip. We’re lucky enough to see favorite band The Futureheads play at Scala. We’ve seen these four lads here in Seattle, but it should be awesome to see them in their native land (well, close to it: they’re from Sunderland).
Friday is all about shopping. We’ll be wandering Oxford Street, SoHo, and Brick Lane. If we can squeeze it in, we’ll visit the National Gallery and wander around Parliment. Sadly, only British citizens are allowed to observe Question Time. We’d hoped to watch the drama but, alas, it is not to be. Our consolation will be dinner at the magnificent Cinnamon Club, ostensibly London’s finest Indian restaurant. Will it exceed Vij’s or Tamarind? You’ll be the first to know. Earlier meals will include breakfast at the Fleet River Bakery (British) and lunch at Wahaca (Mexican).Â
Our London weekend begins at Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany. I happen to be a huge fan of his distinctive style, yet this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy his hospitality. Needless to say, I’m quite looking forward to it. Afterwards we’ll stroll through the Camden Stables, a delightful antique market rich with history and affordable treasure. The afternoon will be spent wandering Primrose Hill and, time permitting, Hampstead Heath (a massive public park overlooking central London). We’ll grab lunch at any number of gastropubs in the area, but dinner should be more interesting: Bumpkin is a British restaurant focusing on modern interpretations of country classics. We close the evening at Brixton Academy where we’ll catch new sensation La Roux.
Sunday starts with a proper English breakfast at Wolseley. Then for another day of shopping: Kings Road, Harrods, and Knightsbridge. I’m partial to the London chain Pizza Express, so we’ll grab a quick lunch there. We’ll also visit the V&A museum, which is featuring an exhibit on movie costumes. Gordon Ramsay is on for a second meal: dinner at Foxtrot Oscar. The meal is a traditional British Sunday feast, so that should be both unique and enjoyable.
Monday will be our last, full day in London. So we’ll tackle all the tourist familiars: Madame Tussauds, The London Eye, and a West End play (39 Steps at the Criterion). Lunch will be at our old favortie, Gaeles, which is under new management (poor, from what I read). But their fish and chips used to be amazing; I can’t pass it up without a go. We’ll grab a pre-show dinner at another London favorite, Wodka, just to make sure we get a good meal in for the day.
Tuesday morning is a straight run to St. Pancras for our first Chunnel passage. After a quick breakfast of fried tomatoes and English sausage at the ever-charming hotel restaurant we’ll be Paris bound.