London to Rome via Crystal....

[trek737]

We have been planning this trip for awhile, and we are very excited that it will start next month.

Stacie and I will begin our vacation in London and will be there for four days. This is our first time visiting London. I have read the travel guide/book from front to back. If anyone knows of some great restaurants or sites we would love to hear from you. We will be staying at the Hilton on Park Lane located by Hyde Park.

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/uni...iate4DGGeneric

I am in the process of setting up a photo tour like I did in Rome so hopefully I will come back with a few good photos...

After the London visit Stacie and I will meet up with my parents and start our 12 day cruise on Crystal...

If you have any tips on the sites that we are traveling to on the cruise please feel free and chime in and share your thoughts.

Here is the link for the cruise:

Luxury Cruise Line | Crystal Cruises


Cheers,

[Masterlu]

Jim... Great City! Visit Piccadilly.

[NOLG4EVR]

I stayed at same hotel on one of my London trips. I think you will be pleased.

[antipop]

Jim... I love London and I go there quite often.

My favorite spot are around Regent Street and Piccadilly, Westminster, King Street all the way to Sloane Square ... There are so many things to do.

For shopping, you have to check Jermyn St for shoes and shirts. You can visit the Lobb's tailor made shop and pick up some shaving cream at Taylor's or Truefitt and Hill. Regent St and Oxford St are the mainstream places. On Jermyn make sure you go to Fortnum to load up on tea and biscuit.

To eat, you have so many options. If you can find a table at Dinner by Eston Blumenthal, go for it! It's a one Michelin star restaurant with affordable prices and you'll wish to go there again. In the Mandarin as well you can lunch at Boulud for one of the best burger. Mint leaf is a good indian near Piccadilly.
I like the Dim Sum at Ping Pong but for the real deal you have to try Princess Garden.

The London Eye is quite expensive but it's worth it IMO, it's best to go at dusk. The Tate Modern nearby is a must see and it's free ! It stays open late and there is a nice restaurant up top.

Rome is something else altogether. I was there in December on a very special trip and it's an awesome city. You really get the sens of how the ancient romans where living and you can imagine them walking the same streets. It's so full of extraordinary sites that you never know what's around the corner.

[trek737]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Jim... Great City! Visit Piccadilly.

Ivan, Thanks, Will do...

Originally Posted by NOLG4EVR

I stayed at same hotel on one of my London trips. I think you will be pleased.

J.J., Glad to hear... Thxs!

Originally Posted by antipop

Jim... I love London and I go there quite often.

My favorite spot are around Regent Street and Piccadilly, Westminster, King Street all the way to Sloane Square ... There are so many things to do.

For shopping, you have to check Jermyn St for shoes and shirts. You can visit the Lobb's tailor made shop and pick up some shaving cream at Taylor's or Truefitt and Hill. Regent St and Oxford St are the mainstream places. On Jermyn make sure you go to Fortnum to load up on tea and biscuit.

To eat, you have so many options. If you can find a table at Dinner by Eston Blumenthal, go for it! It's a one Michelin star restaurant with affordable prices and you'll wish to go there again. In the Mandarin as well you can lunch at Boulud for one of the best burger. Mint leaf is a good indian near Piccadilly.
I like the Dim Sum at Ping Pong but for the real deal you have to try Princess Garden.

The London Eye is quite expensive but it's worth it IMO, it's best to go at dusk. The Tate Modern nearby is a must see and it's free ! It stays open late and there is a nice restaurant up top.

Rome is something else altogether. I was there in December on a very special trip and it's an awesome city. You really get the sens of how the ancient romans where living and you can imagine them walking the same streets. It's so full of extraordinary sites that you never know what's around the corner.

Antipop,

Wow! That is what I am talking about.... Things to do that a tour book can never give you... I will look into all of your ideas before we head out to London...

Thanks again!

[Masterlu]

Take a ride in "The Eye"

[bachrocks]

Jim,

Sounds like a great trip! I don't know if my advice is good as I've only ever been to the airports in London, but my wife and I watch Gordon Ramsey's show about finding the best restaurants in Britain and have fallen in love with some of those featured on the show.
Ramsay's Best Restaurant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One of the semi-final winners was Fino. From their website:
Contemporary Spanish tapas
Established in 2003 by brothers Sam & Eddie Hart, Fino was one of the first contemporary Spanish restaurants to open in London. Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, Fino’s kitchen, run by Executive Head Chef, Nieves Barragán Mohacho prepares a daily changing menu, comprising both modern and traditional tapas. Although Nieves heralds from the Basque country, her culinary repertoire is influenced by all the regions of Spain. Nieves’s menu makes use of all the exceptional ingredients made available to her each day by an envious list of suppliers, ensuring her tapas is seasonal and continuously changing.

About - Fino Restaurant : Fino Restaurant

Whatever great restaurants you do find and visit, I hope you'll update us on AA. Here's a good youtube video of the chef in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV2UDH9pHs

[antipop]

Originally Posted by trek737

Antipop,

Wow! That is what I am talking about.... Things to do that a tour book can never give you... I will look into all of your ideas before we head out to London...

Thanks again!

Tell me more about what you like and I hope I can give you hints. If I remember places, I'll let you know.

Ron, about tapas, I like Dehesa on Carnaby St (Dehesa). You can get a great bottle of wine and eat Iberico ham. There is nothing better on earth. However, make sure to book before as the place is very busy. It can be a good place to have lunch in between shopping on Regent St.

If you were suits and ties, I buy all of my tie at Drake's. They are the best in the world, better than Hermès. The store is a little bit of Savile Row on Conduit St.

[trek737]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Take a ride in "The Eye"

Ivan,

You bet.... Will be planning to ride it during sunset!

Originally Posted by bachrocks

Jim,

Sounds like a great trip! I don't know if my advice is good as I've only ever been to the airports in London, but my wife and I watch Gordon Ramsey's show about finding the best restaurants in Britain and have fallen in love with some of those featured on the show.
Ramsay's Best Restaurant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One of the semi-final winners was Fino. From their website:
Contemporary Spanish tapas
Established in 2003 by brothers Sam & Eddie Hart, Fino was one of the first contemporary Spanish restaurants to open in London. Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, Fino’s kitchen, run by Executive Head Chef, Nieves Barragán Mohacho prepares a daily changing menu, comprising both modern and traditional tapas. Although Nieves heralds from the Basque country, her culinary repertoire is influenced by all the regions of Spain. Nieves’s menu makes use of all the exceptional ingredients made available to her each day by an envious list of suppliers, ensuring her tapas is seasonal and continuously changing.

About - Fino Restaurant : Fino Restaurant

Whatever great restaurants you do find and visit, I hope you'll update us on AA. Here's a good youtube video of the chef in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV2UDH9pHs

Originally Posted by antipop

Tell me more about what you like and I hope I can give you hints. If I remember places, I'll let you know.

Ron, about tapas, I like Dehesa on Carnaby St (Dehesa). You can get a great bottle of wine and eat Iberico ham. There is nothing better on earth. However, make sure to book before as the place is very busy. It can be a good place to have lunch in between shopping on Regent St.

If you were suits and ties, I buy all of my tie at Drake's. They are the best in the world, better than Hermès. The store is a little bit of Savile Row on Conduit St.

Ron and Georges,

Good stuff, thanks so much for all of the info... I will look at your comments more closely this weekend when I am off from work, where I will have more time to incorporate your suggestions it into our trip.

Cheers,

[magoo]

For a sense of London's past combined with some great food, Borough Market in Southwalk is well worth a visit, and The Market Porter pub there is a fine example of the breed! Much less touristy than Covent Garden.



From there, it's a pleasant stroll along the South Bank towards The London Eye, which is un-missable. If you cross the river at Charing Cross (there's foot bridges either side of the train lines), you'll find an old favourite bar of mine, Gordon's Wine Bar. Housed in an old wine cellar with low vaulted ceilings and selling only Wine, Sherry & Port, this is a lovely spot to have a bite (The Ploughman's is always good here) & people watch.



Heston Blumenthal seems to have taken Ramsey's crown restaurant wise, Ramsey recently lost 2 of his stars, too busy saving Amy's Bakery to cook back home maybe Michel Roux's Le Gavroche is always well recommended & the man himself is still found in his own kitchens. Serious carnivores rave about St. John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields (there's another in Smithfield too).

Oh, and if you intend using the tube, get yourself an Oyster card in advance and avoid the now horrendous queues at ticket offices!

Have a great trip