A Week In...London

If you've had enough of sun and sand, a big city can provide the perfect Spring Break location! I've just returned from London, England, having spent a week there with my teenage daughter. We arrived home, limping, from all of the walking. We wanted to see as much as we could in the time we had. This included visits to the National Gallery for the fine art masterpieces, the British Museum for the mummies, the Tate Modern for a little bit of everything in the contemporary art world ( a word of warning: heed the sign when it says "this room contains explicit material", especially when traveling with your teenager!) The wonderful thing about all of these museums is that they are free to visitors, although a donation is requested.

We took a day trip out to Windsor Castle and Oxford, expertly arranged by our Virtuoso on-site, Sincerely Paul. Paul provided us with a knowledgeable, friendly driver/guide who made the visits so much more enjoyable than if we were just reading out of a guidebook. We had fun visiting the Christ Church house at Oxford which served as the Hogwarts arrival hall in the Harry Potter films.

The sheer number of shows in the West End can leave you dizzy trying to decide what to see. We thoroughly enjoyed two musicals: Billy Elliott and Blood Brothers. One made you laugh and one made you cry, but both were very entertaining.

And I couldn't have visited this fair city without stopping in to see some of my favorite hoteliers. There are many luxury Virtuoso hotels in London, and they all have something different to offer. If you prefer small and homey, the Egerton House would be for you. Fancy and formal? Head to the Ritz. Can't live without a year-round swimming pool? The Berkeley would fit the bill. We stayed at the Stafford, perfectly located on a quiet street along the edge of Green Park. The rooms and suites are beautifully decorated with every modern convenience. The hotel is lucky to have Frank, the award-winning concierge, who knows all of the ins and outs of the city, and can get you into the hottest restaurants. We were so busy touring the city I barely had time to use the nicely-appointed fitness center.
I have to make special mention of The Goring hotel. They are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. This family-owned hotel, located just behind Buckingham Palace, has the nicest staff around. The rooms are stately and grand, and it's the only one with its own private garden.

We offer special rates and amenities at all of these hotels such as complimentary upgrades, complimentary breakfast and more, only for our clients. Please contact us to book your next stay and be treated like a VIP in London!

Call 248-288-9600 or toll-free 1-800-284-5258
www.beekalt.com