UK vicariously cont'd

Got a call from darling boyfriend early this morning, said he was walking around London near the Cavendish Hotel, trying to stay in the sunshine as it peeked from the clouds. We found The Cavendish in A Fodor's Guide titled See It Britain. Not very useful in the way of London hotel suggestions as most were over £200 a night, but the hotels were spread all over London which makes for good research if you're not familiar with London's districts or neighborhoods.
The Cavendish is near Piccadilly Circus tube station which is a walkable distance from the Soho district, Leicester Square, Oxford Circus and Covent Garden areas. Check out this video from my favorite travel host Rick Steves, out on a restaurant crawl in Soho. This is a useful mapped guide to restaurants, shopping, bars and events, however, don't count on every listing being up to date!

If I were taking a trip to London (so depressing to say "if" and not "when"!) I would start from my hotel or nearest tube station, use a big-print map to plot my course and list places to eat and things to see along the way. Even if some of the things you've mapped are now defunct, you're sure to find something interesting near by. During my own travels in Asia, I found that asking a local to point you in the direction of something interesting is a great tip for keeping your adventure momentum going. Ask a local every few blocks as you walk until someone suggests something interesting enough, near enough or cheap enough for you to do.

UK vicariously

Just got back from dropping darling off at the airport for a business trip to the UK. I miss him so incredibly much when he's gone, but a break can sometimes bring freshness and a clearer perspective at the end of it. And he's off being amazing and adventurous which makes me so proud.

I am not ashamed to admit that I'm ravaged with jealousy of his jet-setting adventures while I get to stay home with kitties and do homework. So, in the spirit of living vicariously, I'll share some of darling's favorite spots (many researched and recommended by moi) from his trips to England.

The Shaftesbury Hyde Park International This was the first hotel darling stayed in on his first trip. We chose it because of its generally positive Google reviews, affordable price and close proximity to Hyde Park. An easy walk into Hyde Park a few blocks away and just a single block from the Bayswater Tube station made for easy coming and going to other areas of London. Hyde Park is located just north east of London proper, a sprawling but well manicured garden plopped in the middle of the London metropolis. Here are some gorgeous pics taken by my gorgeous.

The Tate Modern probably tops darling's list of favorite places, earning a visit each time he's been in the UK. Located on London's South Bank, called the Left Bank of London, near the Millennium Bridge, the Tate modern is for those with an eye for the abstract or at least the unusual and time for contemplative wandering. Darling had lunch on the Tate terrace and looked out over the Millennium Bridge toward St. Paul's Cathedral.