ON THE COVER Summer In London The delights of the capital
Our production editor Pete took his family on a capital adventure
Summer’s’ hhere – at llast!! – andd what better way to enjoy the good weather than a city break in lovely London? Well, I say “break” but with my ever-patient wife and three young children in tow – and just three full days to cram in as much as we could – our recent trip there was less a break, more a whirlwind!
This was my first visit to the capital so I was keen to hit as many tourist hotspots as possible. To do so, we bought a BigBus hop-on, hop-off ticket for a whistlestop tour of the
sights.ih WiWithh the help of a friendly onboard guide, the BigBus sped us, wide-eyed with wonder, past Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and more. Whew! The ticket was great value and easy to use – we would have struggled to see so much of London without it. WWW.BIGBUSTOURS.COM
Another great way to take in the sights is a journey up the London Eye. The fanciest ferris wheel in the world,
it offers stunning views across the Thames and beyond. It was our wedding anniversary during the trip, so we splashed out on the London Eye Champagne Experience – which includes a glass of Pommery Brut and your own personal host as you take in the 400ft panorama. What a way to celebrate! WWW.LONDONEYE.COM
St James’s Park provided some much-needed calm from the urban hustle and bustle. Teeming with flora and fauna – including the friendliest squirrels ever – it proved the perfect haven hav for a breather in the sunshine. The park also has a top-notch café, offering welcome respite and refreshments. Check it out. WWW.ROYALPARKS.ORG.UK
For our final night, we fancied a taste of the Far East so headed to bustling Chinatown for dinner. As we rolled out of one of the many authentic Chinese restaurants, tummies full, the late evening sun was setting and the oriental lanterns were lighting up – a beautiful way to finish our fun city whirlwind holiday.