"Lemonade... the real deal not the clear bottle stuff" What us the US equivalent of that?

>>What us the US equivalent of that?<<

7UP is too sweet. Sierra Mist is a bit closer. I find some 'gourmet' lemon sodas are good. OR - just go with Champagne :)

Champagne sounds like the best idea, for sure!

Do you get Fevertree mixers in the US? They are the ones I mostly get, I don't use cloudy lemonade for Pimms, nor champagne, sometimes I use ginger ale but that's not traditional. Slices of orange, lemon, cucumber, strawberries with mint or borage, ice, never in a pint glass.

re Odin's post -- yes, ginger ale works. Makes a 'different' drink but a very nice one.

Fever Tree is available in some places - I think I've seen it at BevMo.

I'll try BevMo; I'm looking for Bitter Lemon, too.

The older and/or smaller Raley's near me don't have it but Nugget does.

Its a date :) . . . only teensy missing detail is I don't know when I'll be there. Haven't booked flights, hotel or anything else except one theatre night and Kew Christmas. So only thing I know for sure is I'll be in town Dec 3 and 4 - everything else is up in the air.

>> I was willing you to go to Hide for a cocktail! ;) <<

I actually was thinking of popping in to Hide but went to the Ritz bar instead. Next time.

Nice Janisj! Many places that i like, I could just follow your itinerary for a great time!
We loved Spring too. Just a lovely, calm, perfect place. May try Nut Tree Inn on my next trip to Bicester.

>>Just a lovely, calm, perfect place<<

That's a good description. A calm room - so many places are so trendy/noisy but even with a crowd and those high ceilings it was comfortable.

This trip I certainly didn't blaze any new trails -- mostly a 'nostalgia tour'. Spring was just about only new place I hit and it's a keeper.

You can get freshly made lemonade at Whole Foods and other places that make their own juices pretty easily in the US. We have Fever Tree mixers at Whole Foods, Kroger and Publix in the Southeast US. I don't think I could take a Pimms Cup made with & up or Sierra Mist (or Sprite). I do see them made with Ginger Ale pretty often and I don't mind that.

IME 7Up is too sweet and Sprite makes me gag. Sierra Mist isn't that bad actually -- but the more cucumber, strawberries, oranges and mint the better.

I like using ginger ale but it isn't a 'traditional' Pimm's. I have also used ginger beer -- which is even more 'ginger-y'.

Still haven't booked flights or accommodations. Probably will wait til end of Aug/early Sept to seriously plan. But I do know the evenings of Dec 3 & 4 are set in stone so I'll probably fly in Dec 1st or 2nd and stay through the weekend. May stay at Dolphin Sq again unless I can find a deal somewhere else. I sooooooo wish I could take a daytime flight.

Maybe I'm slow today but I'm confused. Isn't the 'clear bottle stuff' a reference to British style lemonade (i.e. the cheap bubbly lemon flavoured drink)? So if it's not that and if it's the 'real deal', wouldn't he be referring to the cloudy stuff with real lemon juice, pulp, etc which is very common in the US?

janisj -

I have been away from Fodors for a while so just came across this trip report while I was waiting for my husband at the hospital (all went well - he is fine). But I just had to comment on how very much I enjoy and value your contributions here. As you may remember, I have used your recommendations and ideas many times in my own relatively brief travels, always with much success and enjoyment.

I was so happy to read that you were able to move about London freely without pain. Walking places we love is something to be treasured.

As Rick Steves says ( ;) ), keep on travelin'. And please do keep on posting trip reports of those travels.

I enjoyed your trip report and didn't know you were based in California. You always have so much knowledge and great tips about London travels so assumed you lived there! :)

We were able to upgrade to business on our return flight home via the American Airlines app at check-in time and my gosh, it was a total different flight experience. I really do want to go back soon! Have you ever been to London around Christmas break? I wonder if it would be too cold to walk about.