By: Jane Hughes
I recently had the pleasure of flying to London for the weekend aboard Virgin Atlantic Airways. The airline created by Richard Branson lived up to its reputation of excellence. I flew “Upper Class” (Virgin Atlantic’s version of business class), which made the trans-Atlantic flight a breeze.
I was lucky enough to stay at the Fairmont Savoy, located in Covent Garden’s. It’s an iconic historic hotel seeping in history. The rooms are decorated in either Art deco or Edwardian style. The hotel’s suites are named after celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra and Maria Callas, who frequently stayed at the property. Our whirlwind weekend began with a champagne tea in the Savoy Thames Foyer. The room is stunning with a glass dome and a beautiful iron gazebo. Music played as we indulged in delicious finger sandwiches, salmon, fruits and pastries.
We actually had to cut our tea short to move on to our next activity — bar tending lessons at the famed Beaufort Bar in the Savoy. Erick Lorincz, our bartender and teacher, is quite a legend in his own right. He was charming and gave us all kinds of ideas for entertaining cocktail creations.
Next, we boarded a private yacht and sailed up the river past London landmarks such as the London Eye, the Palace of Westminster, and the Tower Bridge, while enjoying champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
Although I didn’t have time to enjoy the theatre, The Savoy is located in the middle of the theatre district. Gypsy, which is one of London’s longest running shows, is located in the Savoy Theatre.
London is a great walking city and on Saturday, I took full advantage of that to stroll through the neighborhoods that I had frequented so long ago as a student in London. I people-watched, saw tourists taking advantage of the free bicycles for use, and ran across various food and farmer’s markets as well as upscale shops and boutiques.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed London and kept thinking I needed to return for a longer stay. London is a fabulous city and a wonderful travel destination!