A WEEKEND IN LONDON

When my daughter promised me a weekend in London for my recent birthday, I was over the moon when she told me she had tickets to see DreamGirls at the stunning art deco Savoy Theatre.

The pair of us have sung along to the songs from the movie made famous by Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce, and since I love the Tamla Motown era (I've seen that show too), I knew I was in for a treat.

It has been years since I visited London, though in another life I was regularly on the 7.00 a.m. train to The Smoke a couple of times a week to my corporate headquarters in Newgate Street.

So this visit was a whirlwind tourist tour - and we packed a lot into just three days.  Obviously the highlight was the theatre visit - which was fantastic!  But we also managed a quick visit to the shops in Oxford Street and Covent Garden, where we managed to buy a few new purchases!

First on the tourist trail though, was a visit to Westminster - and we were probably one of the last to hear those famous chimes from the Elizabeth Tower, more popularly known as the iconic Big Ben  (which is actually the clock bell), and which has since fallen silent due to a four-year refurbishment plan, so sadly no longer available for tours.

Back to my previous life, as a corporate PR manager for telecommunications giant BT, I also visited the Palace of Westminster - the Houses of Parliament - and even had drinks on the Terrace overlooking the River Thames. Unfortunately you have to be invited and vetted by an MP to go inside the building, and after recent events, security is exceptionally tight.

These are beautiful, impressive historical buildings and well worth a visit, if only to stand outside and soak in the atmosphere - there are always events outside too as it is such a magnet for tourists.  We watched two young women in highland costumes playing the bagpipes, which I have to admit, is quite an acquired taste, though I know the bagpipe is extremely difficult to play.

By the way - love the red phone boxes - I remember we used to sell the traditional red boxes when the glass ones were introduced several years ago (before the era when everyone had cell phones) and they cost around £250 to buy  - now selling at around £3,000!

Another great place to visit is the London Eye, but pre-booking is essential as the queues are very long.  We didn't visit this time as we didn't have time - fortunately for me anyway as I'm terrified of heights.  We have visited on a previous occasion and the view of the Houses of Parliament are spectacular, especially at night.  However, on that occasion I sat on the bench and cried most of the journey because I was so scared, which wasn't a great experience for my daughter who was quite young at the time.

Covent Garden is always a great stop - although there seem to be more bars and restaurants on the lower floor than I remember.  There's always some street theatre to keep visitors amused, and the outdoor stalls sell beautiful artwork and crafts.

You couldn't visit London and not see Buckingham Palace.  A tour round Britain's best-known Palace is an absolute must. Highlight is the Changing of the Guard, but a tour of the fabulous state rooms are just amazing.  This year is the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, and there was a special display in the Music Room featuring her work desk from Kensington Palace, complete with family photos and her own favourite tapes, including those from Elton John and George Michael.

I particularly wanted to see the Princess Diana costume exhibition at Kensington, but unfortunately tickets were completely sold out.  However, since the exhibition runs until February, I'm hoping I can still get to see it - that's a good excuse to go back!

After our visit to Buckingham Palace, it was such a fabulous evening that we strolled around outside the Palace and around Green Park before walking up The Mall, passing by St James's Palace where I once attended a reception and met Princess Anne (name-dropper!!)

Since we stayed at a hotel overnight in Watford, we also managed to pay a visit to The Harry Potter Museum at the Warner Studios where the iconic films were made.  Our children have followed the series right from the beginning (and are now grown up)  so it was fabulous to see the costumes and behind the scenes, and how they have brought the magic to life - literally.  

You can take a trip up Diagon Alley, or visit the Forbidden Forest, marvel at Professor Umbridge's wall of moving cat plates, and watch how they created the amazing quiddich match sequences

The "Night Bus" picks you up at Watford Junction and the magic begins - a fabulous journey for muggles such as us!

Obviously there is so much to see and do during a visit to the capital, that you do need to plan in advance, and you cannot see it all in just a weekend.  Previous holidays have included the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels (the latter is an absolute MUST), and you can spend a whole day in the Science Museum or the British Museum.  I have never managed to get to The Tate, though did the National Gallery, which sits in Trafalgar Square, several years ago, so I now have two good reasons to return.

For those visitors who need help in creating an itinerary, there is a great London Travel Guide giving suggestions on what to see in a limited time - see here. There are also some great special discount offers if you want to see more than one attraction - see here.

Be warned, however, that like most capital cities of the world, it is extremely expensive. Fortunately though, there are still many museum attractions which are free - see list here.

Enjoy your visit!