Wild Birds Unlimited® Food & Nature Shop Feeders 609-B Berlin Cross Keys Rd • Sicklerville, NJ 08081 for Wild Birds

856.513.6520 | www.wbu.com/sicklerville J9050522-01

B1 SOUTH JERSEY TIMES, AFFILIATED WITH NJ.COM SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 Life&Culture

TRAVEL London calling: City lures 30 million visitors per year

Nicole Pensiero For South Jersey Times

It was planned on a whim: a winter get- away to London with a group of college girl- friends. Some married, some single, we’d known each other for years (OK, decades) — and we were more than ready to embark on an overseas adventure together. Two in our group of five had been to England’s capital city before; myself, several times. But seeing London through the eyes of first-time visitors is, in some ways, like seeing it yourself for the first time. I’ve always been dazzled by this massive city’s mix of old and new — the ancient mon- uments, such as Westminster Abbey and the can hang out for as long as you’d like; on the Tower of London, that sit so close to mod- day we visited, we were especially impressed ern-day attractions like the London Eye and with the elaborate floral displays in place for the Shard. It’s a city of contrasts that meld Valentine’s Day. together beautifully. Some 30 million tourists descend on this A SPOT OF HISTORY city each year. After a tasty meal at our favorite Kens- And why not? ington neighborhood eatery, the Stanhope It’s a fascinating, fun place that’s also Arms Pub, our jet-lagged group retired early. clean, friendly and easy to get around. With But we were up early for our first full day in some advance planning and a willingness London. Our morning out was to the Tower to push through long days, we found time to of London, one of the city’s most fascinating experience the best of London, even manag- sites, and one that dates back to 1066. After ing to be “day-trippers” and enjoy a side trip passing the famed Roman Wall from 200 AD to Liverpool for a Beatles pilgrimage. (and the photo op-ready statue of Roman We found an affordable, easy-to-book Emperor Trajan), we entered the Tower and package through Expedia that included non- enjoyed an included tour with a personable stop flights and a five-night stay at a charm- female Beefeater, where we learned every- ing, small hotel in upscale Kensington. The thing from where (and why) Anne Boleyn Villa Kensington just so happened to be was beheaded, to the folklore surrounding reachable on the same Underground (sub- the prevalent ravens. way) line that runs from Heathrow Airport You need a good three hours, at least, to — so we saved a bundle by taking the “tube” properly explore this iconic monument to directly to Gloucester Road, where it was an London’s illustrious (and sometimes bloody) easy two-minute walk to our accommoda- past; you can avoid bigger crowds with tions. Clean, quiet and small (38 rooms), we a morning visit and you can save a bit of were happy with our spaces, and the afford- money by booking in advance. After an inex- able breakfast offered each day (about $6). pensive and satisfying lunch at Pret A Man- We were blessed with spectacularly mild ger — a wildly popular franchise with more and sunny weather for our mid-February than 225 locations throughout the city — we visit. There were many highlights during set off for Covent Garden, a popular shop- our fast-paced getaway, but we all agreed ping and tourist destination. Opened in the that London is a city with something for 1660s as a farmer’s market, there you’ll find everyone: cultural sights (including loads of upscale shops, an indoor/outdoor flea mar- free museums), historical attractions, great ket, and street performers (called “buskers”). restaurants, theater, and plenty of parks. It’s a great way to spend a few hours. After checking in at our hotel the morning We wound down the afternoon with a after our overseas flight, we did what many stroll to nearby Trafalgar Square to take overseas visitors do: tried to stay awake to in the sights before enjoying high tea at St. get on the UK’s time zone (five hours ahead Martin In-the-Fields, one of the city’s most of EST) without pushing ourselves too hard. beloved churches, and one that has a won- That meant a quick visit to Harrods — where derful (and affordable) restaurant and gift we tried on so-called “fascinator” hats made shop. popular at royal weddings, and ogled culi- The Serenitea offered at its Café in the nary delights in its food hall. (Note: the Crypt is relatively new, and is held daily from “Dodi and Diana” display that had been 2 to 6 p.m. We were quite impressed with there for years following their tragic deaths the experience and quality of the culinary in 1997 is now gone; the famous depart- delights — which included an assortment of ment store is no longer owned by Dodi’s teas, tea sandwiches, scones, and an array London old and new: The Shard tower rises father.) From Harrods, we made our way to of luscious desserts. It was relaxing and ele- over remnants of the Roman wall dating England’s tallest building, the Shard. gant. from 200 A.D. near the Tower of London. From there, we headed upstairs to the You might recognize the man at left as a VIEW FROM THE SHARD church to enjoy a candlelit evening concert Beefeater, but his proper title is Yeoman Opened in 2013, this is now one of Lon- of classical music. Depending on the eve- Warder. King Henry VIII established the first don’s most recognizable buildings, not only ning performance, tickets range from less Yeoman Warder in 1485 as his bodyguard. for its height, but its distinctive angular than $20 to about $40, and there are many Today, each having served a minimum of shape. Along with offices, restaurants, retail free daytime concerts at St. Martin’s as well. 22 years of military service, they live at the shops and a five-star hotel, there’s also the While we didn’t get a close enough view Tower and lead tours. Photos by George Hobica popular “View from the Shard” attraction to see much of Buckingham Palace’s Chang- and Faith Cathcart, Tribune News Service that takes you 800 feet above the city’s sky- ing of the Guard — the glorious weather that line for a breathtaking 360-degree view. Friday drew massive crowds — we enjoyed You can purchase tickets in advance (to being part of the experience, and our save money) or day-of; discounts are offered 30-minute stroll through beautiful St. James for children and seniors. The Shard has two Park was a genuine delight. viewing galleries — one, enclosed; another, open-air — and both are fantastic. And you SEE LONDON, B3

Discover WilmU at New Jersey Transfer Days  April 3 • April 4 • April 10 Find your closest location. Let’s go! RSVP: wilmu.edu/TransferDay

J9065847-01 SOUTH JERSEY TIMES, AFFILIATED WITH NJ.COM SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 B3

London’s London South Bank is a hub of FROM B1 activity and attractions, Later in the day, we paid a visit to Abbey including Road Studios, where we — long with a hand- the London ful of other tourists — strolled across the Eye observa- much-smaller-in-real-life crosswalk made tion wheel. famous by the Beatles in 1969. There’s now Laura an overpriced but fun gift shop next to the DeMarco studio, filled with souvenirs focused primar- ily on the Beatles (and some other famous records made there, including Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”). Getting around London was a breeze, thanks to the popular Oyster Card. This easy-to-use electronic ticket — which you just “top off” when funds get low — gets you around the city via the Under- ground, buses and even the river buses (yes, that’s what they’re called). If you still have money on your card when you leave, you can turn it in at the airport and get refunded; it’s that easy. When a longtime English friend joined us in London for a day visit, she suggested tak- ing the river bus, called a Thames Clipper, to Greenwich, a borough in London that’s home to some 275,000 residents and known for its popular market and maritime his- tory. Located on the banks of the Thames, Greenwich is also home to the Cutty Sark, a restored 19th-century ship. around the globe. We set off for our outing there by stroll- Our tour guide was knowledgeable and Better Banking With You in Mind ing along London’s South Bank, which is a friendly, and played plenty of Beatles songs hub of activity, with plenty of street busk- to correspond to things we saw (including all Vehicle Loans as low as A Better Way To Buy! ers offering entertainment, not to mention four Beatles’ childhood homes, Penny Lane Find your dream car at our AutoSmart website attractions like the London Eye, the Tate and Strawberry Field, a former Salvation at membersonenj.cudlautosmart.com. Modern museum (housed in the former Bat- Army children’s home currently undergoing % tersea Power Plant) and Shakespeare’s Globe renovations). APR* Deduct .50% from your rate when you buy Theatre. Having enjoyed James Corden’s “Car- 2.25 from one of our preferred dealers. We were grateful to take in the sights there pool Karaoke” in London with Paul McCa- before setting off by (a very speedy) boat to rtney, the tour seemed even more fun than Greenwich (about a 20-minute ride). There, expected (if that were possible). It concluded we enjoyed a relaxing lunch outside before at the legendary Cavern Club, with admis- milling through the countless stores and sion to the small (but historically gigantic) vendor stalls in search of the perfect gift (for venue. We absolutely loved the vibe there, ourselves or family). and danced along to live music before head- On our final day, three in our group ing back to London. decided to become real-life day-trippers, The bottom line is you can’t see and do traveling from London to Liverpool (about everything in a five-day trip to London; I’m $100 round trip via Virgin Trains), while not sure you could even achieve that in five our two other friends enjoyed a relaxing, weeks. But, you can certainly hit the “big unstructured day in the capital city. After ticket” items and fill in time with unplanned arriving in Liverpool after an easy two- adventures. Then, as one of my friends put plus hour train ride, we headed straight to it, “save what you didn’t get to see for next BY PHONE: the Albert Dock to board the popular Mag- time.” I can’t wait. ical Mystery Tour (about $25 per person), a For more information, go to visitlondon. 866-858-3164 two-hour experience that is offered several com. APPLY ONLINE: times a day. Even on a Sunday in February, the colorful bus — painted to resemble the Nicole Pensiero is a South Jersey resident and www.membersonenj.org one in the Beatles movie of the same name member of the North American Travel Jour- *APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Rates effective 3/01/2019 and subject to change without notice. APR may vary based on creditwor- — was packed, and we met Beatles fans from nalists Association. thiness, loan amount, and security offered. Rates shown are for qualified borrowers and subject to credit score, age of collateral,

and term. Contact the credit union for the complete details. Refinances are for non-Members 1st NJ loans only. J9024400-01

Inventive Furnishings and Beyond

J9075735-02