London, London, London
 

Will we find very long lines next week to enter the usual tourist attractions? Is the Ritz Hotel afternoon tea worth changing our plans in order to attend? Is there a restaurant you feel is a "Don't Miss!" in London because of its typical English food and ambiance? Thanks!

We were there in June and the only places we saw long lines were at Tussaud's wax museum and the Tower. However, by arriving exactly at opening time, we missed both lines. April should not be a problem. We passed on tea at the Ritz. Can't help you there.

We were there in June and the only places we saw long lines were at Tussaud's wax museum and the Tower. However, by arriving exactly at opening time, we missed both lines. April should not be a problem. We passed on tea at the Ritz. Can't help you there.

Sandy, <BR>Brown's Hotel,, Albemarle St WI is the place for tea! Reservations are required as is appropriate dress. An alternative is Fortnum and Mason which serves both afternoon and high teas

London's tradition is good pub food, not really restaurants. If you want a lovely pub meal go along the Thames to the less touristy area of Richmond, do a cruise to Putney Bridge, walk along the river, explore, enjoy! Buy the Time Out guide to good pubs and good pubfood, let it direct you to the real London atmosphere - there's loads of them, if you know where to look. If you do go to the touristy attractions, only do one a day, and get there just before it opens to avoid the queues. <BR>

I have recommended some restaurants on my homepage, which is a guide to London at http://londonguide.cjb.net <BR> <BR>London restaurants have improved enormously in the past ten years or so. Best bet is to look at a copy of the Good Food Guide, which you will find in most UK bookshops, when you get here. A particular strength of London is the variety of restaurants, with cuisine from almost every country represented.

One of our favorites is Ye Olde Cheshire, which is in a small alley off Fleet Street. It's one of the oldest, if not the oldest, restaurant in London (likes of Dr Johnson and Charles Dickens have eaten there). We originally liked it because it had typical English food (overcooked everything; don't get huffy, I'm Irish with New England Yankee thrown in and nobody overcooks food better than my mother), but it's now gone 'cuisine' and the food is very good. The atmosphere is the big thing (old creaky stairs, wooden booths, oxeye glass). Gets busy Friday nights, so make a reservation.