Many have their preferred method of adjusting to local time. One of our favorites when we travel overseas is scheduling something active on the day of arrival. After a red eye to London Heathrow and an airport transfer we checked into the Fielding Hotel (https://www.thefieldinghotel.co.uk/)feeling a bit beat. Hitting the sack at noon however is a sure way to extend the jet lag over days. Instead we opted for an e-bike tour of London (www.londonebiketour.com). We love bike tours to get an overview of any city's attractions. It’s not a deep dive into any one place but it feels like a real way to immerse yourself quickly. Our guide zipped us to Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Buckingham Palace and The Globe Theater to name a few. Afterwards it’s eating and finally giving into an early night.
We were joined by a large group of extended family and friends on this journey.
Day 2 was low key, starting with breakfast in nearby Covent Garden Piazza listening to a lovely string quartet. A few of us broke off and thoroughly enjoyed a "before opening" tour of the British Museum's Egypt collection. We soaked up our guide's talking points echoing through the empty halls and got right up close to the Rosetta Stone.
We initially planned on taking the train south to hike the Seven Sisters, but do to a rail strike we instead explored the markets and restaurants of Notting Hill. We ended the day together enjoying snacks and drinks plus sweeping views of the city from the Sky Garden. Admission is free, but do require advanced booking (www.skygarden.london). Be sure to book three weeks in advance to avoid disappointment.
We spent our final day in London on a walking tour of the city by The Tour Guy (www.thetourguy.com). Breaking the walking tour into two smaller groups was the best way to make sure everyone got what they wanted out of the experience. Westminster abbey, the Crown Jewels and the pomp and circumstance of The King's Guard caught the adults attention. The kids checked in mainly when historical tales of the London Tower and its sordid history got particularly saucy. They also enjoyed the Tower's ravens. After the tour our oldest kids set out on their own, found a gym (talked their way into a day pass), restaurant and did some shopping!!
Thanks to our dear friends who also happen to be the producers of the show- we were ecstatic to see the Back To The Future The Musical at the Adelphi Theater. It was an amazing night and the cast crushed it! Though it’s been in London for over a year it opened on Broadway in the states during this trip. Nothing like the effects in this show have ever been tried and this fantastic crew pulls it off completely. We are grateful to have had this opportunity and honored our friends would choose to be here with us.
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