Across The Pond

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2020

across the pond

LONDON, ENGLAND

Taking in the sunrise light on the River Thames under the Victorian-style Tower Bridge, a landmark since it was built with Cornish granite in 1894. In London, classic delights—like a parade of cherry-red, double-decker buses, British bakeries, the Queen’s Guard, and a proper afternoon tea—stand the test of time and will always thrill.

Across the Pond

Pinkies out. Few destinations top dream globe-trotting lists more than London, England. The Big Smoke, as anglophiles call it, is chockablock with thrills—from the historic (think Shakespeare’s rebuilt Globe Theatre) to the buzzing and new (like the Science Museum Science City gallery, opened in 2019). Here, what else to see and do on a hop across the pond.

WRITTEN BY KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS

LET’S PLAY

Design and architecture buffs have plenty of eye-popping exploits to choose from in London. Topping most lists? A visit to Herzog & de Meuron’s Tate Modern, housed on the banks of the Thames river within the onetime Bankside Power Station. Another must-see museum is The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, which is teeming with portraits by old masters. Go in December to see works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Titian, and more—all owned by the Royal Family.

If you’re jetlagged, reset with a yoga class—one of the most Instagrammable yoga classes on the planet. Yogasphere hosts private sessions on the twenty-fourth floor of the 1,016-foot-tall Shard skyscraper. Surveying the London skyline while downward-dogging by floor-to-ceiling windows? Now that’s taking your practice to new heights.

LET’S EAT

England’s reputation as a less-than-savory food destination is no longer; there are few cities with as many delicious dining options as London. One local favorite: newly opened Davies and Brook, a partnership between Chef Daniel Humm (of Manhattan’s Michelin three-starred Eleven Madison Park) and Claridge’s Hotel, a five-star grande dame of the Mayfair area since 1812. Dine on everything from charred ceviche with avocado, cucumber, and shrimp oil to poached lobster with pear and lobster bisque.

Eco-friendly denizens are obsessed with Silo, a zero-waste restaurant located in Hackney. The menu nods to paleo diets; your six-course tasting menu might include Jerusalem artichokes in brown butter with chickpea shoyu (sauce) and pumpkin ice cream with Yorkshire rhubarb.

Photography by Kbarzycki/iStock/Getty Images Plus, CHUNYIP WONG/iStock/Getty Images Plus, coldsnowstorm/iStock/Getty Images Plus, ellepistock/iStock/Getty Images Plus, anyaberkut/iStock/Getty Images Plus.

Of course, you can’t visit London without a proper afternoon tea. The place to book a table? Legendary Fortnum & Mason, since 1707, which is so beloved by the Queen herself that she was there when it reopened in 2012 after a glamorous revamp. The afternoon tea menu, served on Tiffany-blue gilt plates, includes finger sandwiches with rare-breed hen’s egg mayo and just-made scones with a side of clotted cream and lemon curd.

LET’S SHOP

Bibliophiles from around the world beeline to Daunt Books’ flagship location—the pride of Marylebone High Street since 1912—with a jaw-dropping glass atrium ceiling. Check their website (www.dauntbooks.co.uk) before you go; they often host author readings and, at the very least, may be able to track down a tome signed by your favorite writer.

Among the most worshipped destinations across the globe for shopaholics, Liberty, in Soho, is a required stop. The department store may have opened in 1875, but its offerings are truly now; you’ll discover brands ranging from Issey Miyake to Burberry and everything in between, plus home accessories galore (pattern lovers should keep an eye out for British brand House of Hackney’s throw pillows and accessories).

LET’S STAY

There’s no shortage of sumptuous hotel stays in London, especially these days. The city teems with newly opened properties, each with its own joys. Zedwell, in Piccadilly, is a spa-like respite that was tailor-made to promote your best sleep ever (note the purified air, noise-reducing walls, and windowless, blonde-oak interiors).

Set to open this fall, Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is from the famed team behind Nobu Hospitality—including none other than Robert De Niro and star Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The 249-room hideaway was sleekly designed with the ultimate pampering amenities, including organic-cotton bed linens; calming, neutral-swathed interiors; and Japanese tea sets at-the-ready for your next cuppa.

editor’s note

We are passionate about travel and appreciate collected experiences. A new-to-you country, town, or landscape can introduce a fresh perspective and enhance your life in unexpected ways. At press time, the world was bonding over the safety of home versus the thrill of travel. Although travel is in a state of flux, there is always value in education. Whether this article serves as research for a future trip or provides a real-time adventure from the comfort of your own home, we hope it helps you experience a new destination.

HomeLife Power Realty Inc., Brokerage*