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Home , Hampton Court Palace, Kenwood House, Osterley Park, The State Bed

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About , but Were Afraid to Ask

By Ed Seabough Senior Vice President Group Division Travelink American Express Travel

NOTE: Underlined names of shops, restaurants, etc. are links to websites for further information…hours, maps, reservations, and more .

GENERAL INFORMATION Currency

Weather British Sterling is the currency used in Great Britain, and Winter 35-45 degress F. Some rain 100 pence are equal to one-pound British Sterling. Check Spring 36-62 degrees F. Some rain with your bank for the most current rate of exchange. Remember that American Express traveler’s cheques give Summer 51-71 degrees F. Some rain you a better rate of exchange than US dollars in cash. Fall 39-65 degrees F. Some rain Hotels are not a good place to exchange money because

Clothing rates are high. Banks in London will be the best places to General – Any time of the year the weather can be cool. A convert your US currency/traveler’s cheque to British London Fog or all-purpose coat will be practical. The pounds. The banks will be open Monday to Friday, but layered look will be good. Don’t forget your umbrella. closed on Saturday and Sunday. Normally, you do not get a Frankly, the English tend to be more formal than we are. good rate of exchange at the Bureau de Change. However, Should you wish to go to Tea at either Brown’s Hotel, The there are two on : one across the street from Ritz, the Savoy or the Dorchester, you would not be seated the Cumberland Hotel at Hyde Park Corner; and one across were you not wearing proper attire; thus, missing one of the street from Selfridge’s Department Store that are open the great experiences in England. (Men should wear a coat all day Saturday. Usually they offer a rate close to the bank and tie.) rate.

Passport Credit Cards Please make sure your passport will not expire within six Most of the department stores and major shops will take months of your return date. American Express, Visa or MasterCard. The street markets and antique markets will take only currency in British Electrical Appliances pounds. The US electrical current is 110 volts. The electrical current in England is 220 volts. Also, the electrical plugs in England Theater are different. There are hair dryers in the bathrooms at Should you want to go to the theater, we suggest you go most hotels, but you may prefer your own. Therefore, to directly to the theater to purchase your ticket. London be safe, it might be good to take an adapter that changes theater tickets run from 50 to 80 British pounds. Also, 220 to 110 volts, and a set of plugs (electrical plugs to fit remember that it is possible to purchase theater tickets at foreign outlets). the Concierge Desk in your hotel or at the half price theatre ticket kiosk in . VAT http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/ This is a government tax on all goods and services of 17.5%. It is possible to receive a refund, providing you Duty complete a special form, which may be obtained from the The Congress of the United States has set the resident store. Some stores will only give you this form if you spend exemption at $800 to simplify the international traveler’s over a certain amount. Please be aware of these filing re-entry into the US. The next $1,000 in items is dutiable at requirements when shopping. Ask for the form at the time a flat 10% rate. of purchase. (For an American to understand VAT he must first understand the rules of Cricket. When you understand Cricket, please call us to explain it! Ha Ha.) Gifts You Bring With You Sunday Services : (please check for time changes on website) Whether given to you by others or intended for someone 7:30 a.m. – Matins else, may be included in your $800 or $25 exemption. You 8:00 a.m. – Eucharist may not include gifts for business, promotional, or other 8:30 a.m. – Open for sightseeing commercial purposes. 12:30 p.m. – Eucharist 4:00 p.m. – Open for sightseeing Gifts You Ship From Abroad 5:00 p.m. – Choral Evensong If worth $50 or less in fair retail value where shipped, can be received in the US free of duty and tax if the same Brompton Oratory – (Catholic) person does not receive more than $50. Mark the package Brompton Oratory is an Italian style Roman “UNSOLICITED GIFT” and indicate contents and retail Catholic Church opened in 1884. The nave is the third value. The US Postal Service collects duty on improperly widest in England. The organ contains nearly 4,000 pipes. marked consolidated packages and individual gifts worth (Please check for time changes on website) more than $50. Duty cannot be prepaid. You do not Saturday Service 6:00 p.m. declare gifts you have shipped. Sunday Services 8 a.m., 9 a.m. (Latin), 10 a.m., 11 a.m. (Latin), 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Baggage You are allowed one suitcase, which you check and one Houses of Parliament carry-on, which will go in the overhead compartment on Here the House of Commons and the House of Lords the plane. become the governing bodies of Great Britain. Sir Charles Barry’s 1840-1850 late Gothic building has been restored sin the war. The clock, , is housed in the tallest tower of the structure.

SIGHTSEEING Madame Tussaud’s (Typical Tourist) Madame Tussaud’s is the oldest wax exhibition in the

Changing of the Guard at world with a history that spans more than two hundred Every morning at 11:30 a.m. during the summer months, years. Some of Madame Tussaud’s earliest work in wax the famous ceremony of the Changing of the Guard takes goes back to portraits of the French Royal Family at the place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s during the time of King Louis XVI and London residence. During the winter months the ceremony Queen Marie Antoinette. Some of these figures can still be takes place every other day, weather permitting. seen today, along with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, made while he was in Paris seeking aid to form a United - (Protestant) States of America. Dating mainly from the 13th century, Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in England. Worship services are held daily. Started around 1078, under William the Conqueror, the Here kings and queens are crowned. Prince William and whole tower is one of the oldest buildings in the capital. Kate Middleton were married in the abbey. It is also a Scores of famous people were beheaded here: Sir Thomas national shrine to artists, poets, heroes, and statesmen of More; two of Henry VIII’s wives ( and Britain. ); and the Earl of Essex. But today, you’ll remember the tower most for the dazzling Jewels. Sunday Services: (please check for time changes on website) 8:00 a.m. – Communion Circus 10:00 a.m. – Choral Matins The statue of Eros stands in the middle of this roundabout, 11:15 a.m. – Sung Eucharist which is the very heart of the West End, the theater and 3:00 p.m. – Evensong shipping district.

5:45 p.m. – Organ Recital 6:30 p.m. – Evening Service With its statues of lions, the fountain, and the tall column supporting the statue of Lord Nelson, is a memorial St. Paul’s Cathedral – (Protestant) commemorating Nelson’s victory over the French at St. Paul’s Cathedral was completed in 1711 when its Trafalgar. architect, Sir , was nearly 90 years of age. This structure with its famous dome is unequaled for beauty of outline. Here Britain’s famous heroes, Lord

Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, lie buried, as well as the architect Wren.

SIGHTSEEING Imperial War (Not so Typical) Exhibits relate to World War I and World War II.

Apsley House – 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park The historic 18th century home of England’s most famous Houses one of the greatest collections of Western general, the Duke of Wellington. The collection of European Art in the World. paintings, furniture, and porcelain is worth the visit. Open April to Nov, Wed-Sun – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the Victoria & Albert Museum website for other times of the year. Houses collections of Antique English Furnishing, China, Crystal, Silver, Fabrics Paintings, Prints etc. House and Gardens – Burlington Lane Designed and built around 1730 by the Third Earl of Gallery of Art Burlington. The rich interior and the gardens are the work One of the world’s great collections of Modern Art. of . There is very little furniture in the house. Open April – October, Sun - Wed, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gardens open daily, year round, from 7 a.m. to dusk SHOPPING – Lane Fortnum and Mason – Piccadilly Once the house of Lord Mansfield, this beautiful house, This 200-year old store is worth a visit just to see the men, decorated by , has fine paintings (, who wait on you on the ground floor, dressed in morning Vermeer, Hals, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Turner). The coats (split-tail coats). A very English store. The Fountain furniture is marvelous. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. room on the entrance is excellent for a HOUSE CLOSED UNTIL MARCH 29, 2013, grounds open 7 snack or meal. a.m. to dusk. – in Knightsbridge Park House – Osterley The largest department store in Europe. Now owned by An Elizabethan mansion transformed into an 18th century the House of Fraser Conglomerate, but still worth a visit for villa. Elegant neo-classical interior designed by Robert shopping for anything you may wish to buy. If nothing else, Adam, the 18th century architect. The State bed and just walk through the “Food Halls”. There is nothing like it bedroom is worth the trip. Set in a landscaped park. Closed in the entire world. on Tuesdays. Open other days from 12 noon to 5 p.m. & Co. – Oxford Street Palace – Copied after Marshall Fields Department Store in Chicago, Completed about 1605, it was acquired by King William III it has a great variety of merchandise similar to what you and Queen Mary III in 1689. The Royal apartments are would find a Macy’s in the U.S. decorated with early Georgian and Victorian furniture and paintings from the . It was here that Liberty - Victoria was awakened in the middle of the night and told The Elizabethan architecture will attract you to the outside that her uncle had died and that she would now become façade of the building. The wonderful colorful Liberty silk queen. This was the residence of the late Princess Diana. prints will pull you inside the door to all kinds of beautiful Open Mon – Sun –10 a.m. to 5 p.m. clothing and gifts for the home.

Hampton Court Palace Marks and Spencer – Oxford Street Built by Cardinal Wolsey in 1514 but later appropriated by Probably the best buys in London. Especially good for Henry VIII. The tour of the Palace is a good study in the Scottish woolens and sweaters. Topcoats and tweeds are progression of English architecture from the 16th to the also a good buy. Probably the most popular place for 18th century. Paintings, furniture, and art are marvelous. American tourists to shop because of the lower prices. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Asprey – New This Bond Street establishment is a “one –of-a-kind” place.

The ambiance of the store is worth a visit. But beyond the “place”, you will find antiques, BOEHM birds, silver, leather (Open daily. Free admission except for special exhibitions.) goods, books, china, crystal, and Battersea Boxes.

British Museum Millions of objects span the centuries: Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone, Original Score of Handel’s Messiah; Original Scores of Rossini’s Operas; The Magna Carta.

Thomas Goode and Co. – 10 S. Audley Street SEABOUGH’S GUIDE TO GORGE AND Europe’s largest selection of modern porcelain and crystal. GLUTTONY IN LONDON This 19th century establishment is a shopper’s dream. Although heavily stocked with English merchandise, they Legend have numerous pieces from Germany, Holland, Italy, Expensive – EXP France and Denmark. Moderately Expensive – MOD EXP Hamley’s Toy Store – Regent Street Moderate – MOD The world’s largest toy store for both children and adults. Inexpensive - LOW If you have never been there, it’s worth a visit. EXP Laura Ashley – Oxford Street The Wolseley – 160 Piccadilly The Laura Ashley Shops (household furnishing and women’s apparel) flagship store on Regent Street has Eclectic, contemporary and calm ambiance. Menu, the closed but the Oxford Street store near Selfridge’s remains freshest and most creative selections of the day. If you to fill all your bright floral pattern needs. dine their once, you will go back again & again. (Seabough’s Favorite) General Trading Company – Sloan Square Le Gavroche – French 43 Upper Brook St. One of the late Princess Diana’s favorite places to shop. Unusual gifts and decorative items for the home. Considered by many to be the best French Restaurant in London. Run by the famous Roux Brothers. The food presentation is exquisite, but the service sometimes

diffident. Reservations are a must. Open for lunch Mon – ANTIQUE STREET MARKETS Fri; dinner Mon – Sat.

Bermondsey Square Antique Market – Friday Only Rules – 35 Maiden Lane, This is where antique dealers buy. Stalls are set up before Over 100 years old…the oldest restaurant in Lond. daybreak. Rain or shine, the sellers are out in force. The Traditional English food – historic ambiance…a place not cheapest prices in London. Lots of brass, porcelain, tea just to eat, but rather to dine. Open 12 noon to midnight. caddies, wooden boxes, paintings and small decorative items. Dress warmly; get there as early as possible; 4 a.m. Connaught Hotel Restaurants – Helene Darroze and to 1 p.m. Espelette – French Carlos Place A rare experience to dine in the understated elegance of Antique Market – Market Saturday either restaurant or the grill. (The most difficult dinner Only, Shops 6 days a week reservation to get in London). Open 6:30 p.m. to 10:15 Perhaps it’s not the Portobello Road of ten years ago…but p.m. (Espelette open breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea). it’s still great fun and the prices are better than ten years ago. There are 350 to 400 dealers in the street and tucked The Savoy Grill Room – English Savoy Hotel into every nook and cranny of the old buildings. Great buys This room has once again captured its reputation for fine in antique porcelain (English and Chinese export ware), dining. You will find dishes from grill rooms of old to linens (especially late Victorian and Edwardian), brass include charcoal grilled chateaubriand with pommes candlesticks, prints and , paintings, books, tea soufflés, king crab and prawn cocktail, lime and chocolate caddies and wooden lap desks. It’s best to go early, 8 a.m. soufflé and iced Peach Melba at this Gordon Ramsey to 10 a.m. After that, the crowds are so great you can’t see restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner daily. the merchandise for the pickpockets. Scotts – Seafood 2 Mount Street

Camden Passage – Islington – Wednesday and Probably London’s finest seafood restaurant. Dover and Saturday Only Lemon sole were never this good, and the mousse of Antiques and collectibles displayed in the streets and scallops with a champagne sauce, a work of the culinary alleyways. Numerous antique shops and small boutiques artist. (This is not a fish and chips eatery). Open daily 12 Noon – 10 p.m. where you can shop to your heart’s content. The selection of merchandise; linens, porcelains, wooden boxes, Brown’s hotel – Best place for Tea in London paintings, and tons of things you never knew you needed. Albemarle Street Best shopping from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Remember, Tea is a meal, not a dessert.) Elegant, 19th century experience. Allow one hour. Must be there by 3 to 4 p.m. for Tea. Make reservations. Coat and tie required.

MOD EXP Hard Rock Café 150 Old Langhan’s Brasserie – Continental Stratton Street The original…none of the clones anywhere in the world Michael Caine, the actor, is co-owner of this very “in” compare…great hamburgers…conversation difficult…music place. Celebrity spotting is fun here. One of the largest played at one million decibels…plan to stand in line for 45 selections on the menu in London. European cooking with minutes to 2 hours just to get in the door. Daily 11:30 a.m. the freshest meats and vegetables. Not an ordinary dessert to midnight or later. Visit the website for priority seating in the house. Opens 12:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. requests.

Mr. Chow – Chinese 151 Knightsbridge Porters 17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden The most un-Chinese Chinese restaurant in the world. This Owned by Richard, 7th Earl of Bradford, whose ancestral elegant restaurant has not one Chinese decorative object home is the magnificent Weston Park in Shropshire. Great anywhere to be seen. The Italian waiters serve the best every day English food – Shepherd’s Pie, fish and chips, gourmet Chinese food this side of Beijing. Open 6 p.m. to roast beef, trifle, and bread and butter pudding. Open 11:30 p.m. (CHECK TIME AGAIN – WEBSITE NOT WORKING) noon to 10:30 p.m.

MOD LOW Fortnum and Mason Piccadilly The StockPot 38 Panton Street off the Haymarket Fountain Room (casual elegance) – good for lunch, tea or and 54 James Street dinner. St. James Restaurant has been refurbished and Probably the best food buy in London other than cooking renamed The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon (elegant dress) – your own meal. Plain unadorned dining room, but great for lunch or tea. On Piccadilly, two blocks from excellent soups and complete meals. Open 7 a.m. to 11 . Be sure to visit the store. p.m.

Richoux 172 Piccadilly with locations in St. Johns Garfunkle’s All over . Wood, Knightsbridge & Mayfair Excellent economically priced complete meals. Great Good, moderately priced restaurant. Excellent meals. baked potatoes, roast chicken, pizza, salad bar. Great desserts. Open breakfast through dinner daily. You will also be happy to find: Simpson’s – in –the- Strand 100 Strand McDonald’s Burger King, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding. Elegant Olde English service. Just off Piccadilly on the Strand. One of the Savoy restaurants open breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

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