We returned our rental car on the outskirts of London, where we took a shuttle back to the airport to catch the Tube into Victoria Station.
Thistle Victoria is one of the first buildings visible upon leaving the station, certainly living up to its reputation as easy to find.
We were ready for another B & B, however, and a phone call found a quad room vacancy at Cartref House, one of our primary objectives.
Baggage in tow, we strolled over to Ebury Court, where the street is lined with B& Bs, and we found Cartref House to be quaint and comfortable, and a true bargain at 140 pounds (about $230) for downtown in a European capital.
We quickly settled in, and thirty minutes later we headed out to explore London.
Our first stop was Calabria Café, a little hole in the wall that served an excellent English breakfast including ham, eggs, bangers, baked beans and a decent cup of coffee for about five pounds per person.
It should be obvious that the trip between exciting ports on a cruise is less stressful and far more entertaining than a car trip, which is another reason to choose to cruise on your next family vacation.
Instead of spending time battling traffic, searching for decent hotels and restaurants, packing and unpacking, and bickering about it all, you could be enjoying a gourmet meal followed by an evening of spectacular entertainment before turning in for a great night's sleep.
A cruise vacation in Europe and other terrific itineraries still allow you to enjoy lots of fantastic destinations, but you'll also have time to relax and rejuvenate.
A cheerful town filled with well-known landmarks, London won the hearts of my 19 year-old son Jay and 14 year-old daughter Amy as the highlight of the vacation.
Besides the most obvious destinations like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Bridge (with a view of Tower Bridge, which most people think is London Bridge) and Westminster Cathedral, we also took a leisurely stroll in beautiful Green Park, where we found some of the fattest pigeons in the world.
From movies and books, most people generally know what to expect in London, from red phone booths to very English looking taxi cabs to double-decker buses, and that is a large part of the fun.
Amy in particular loves the idea of everything about London, and one of her goals was to eat a real London crumpet.
On our way to Buckingham Palace, we passed Crumpets Snack Bar, but we had just eaten, so we committed to go back the next morning.
Surprisingly, when we ordered crumpets upon our return, we were told that although that was the establishment's name, Crumpets didn't have crumpets.
"They aren't that special anyway."
We heard this refrain repeated at bakeries and snack bars all over London.
We fantasized about moving to London and opening a crumpet stand, although we really aren't sure what a crumpet is.
Since citizens of London don't seem to like them much anyway, we could undoubtedly advertise some Bisquick-based variation on a biscuit as a new and improved recipe of crumpet and find a ready market among American tourists at Victoria Station.
Then, we could spread throughout London, the rest of England and eventually the world.
We could become the Starbucks of crumpets….but I digress.
Thistle Victoria is one of the first buildings visible upon leaving the station, certainly living up to its reputation as easy to find.
We were ready for another B & B, however, and a phone call found a quad room vacancy at Cartref House, one of our primary objectives.
Baggage in tow, we strolled over to Ebury Court, where the street is lined with B& Bs, and we found Cartref House to be quaint and comfortable, and a true bargain at 140 pounds (about $230) for downtown in a European capital.
We quickly settled in, and thirty minutes later we headed out to explore London.
Our first stop was Calabria Café, a little hole in the wall that served an excellent English breakfast including ham, eggs, bangers, baked beans and a decent cup of coffee for about five pounds per person.
It should be obvious that the trip between exciting ports on a cruise is less stressful and far more entertaining than a car trip, which is another reason to choose to cruise on your next family vacation.Instead of spending time battling traffic, searching for decent hotels and restaurants, packing and unpacking, and bickering about it all, you could be enjoying a gourmet meal followed by an evening of spectacular entertainment before turning in for a great night's sleep.
A cruise vacation in Europe and other terrific itineraries still allow you to enjoy lots of fantastic destinations, but you'll also have time to relax and rejuvenate.
A cheerful town filled with well-known landmarks, London won the hearts of my 19 year-old son Jay and 14 year-old daughter Amy as the highlight of the vacation.
Besides the most obvious destinations like Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Bridge (with a view of Tower Bridge, which most people think is London Bridge) and Westminster Cathedral, we also took a leisurely stroll in beautiful Green Park, where we found some of the fattest pigeons in the world.
From movies and books, most people generally know what to expect in London, from red phone booths to very English looking taxi cabs to double-decker buses, and that is a large part of the fun.
Amy in particular loves the idea of everything about London, and one of her goals was to eat a real London crumpet.
On our way to Buckingham Palace, we passed Crumpets Snack Bar, but we had just eaten, so we committed to go back the next morning.
Surprisingly, when we ordered crumpets upon our return, we were told that although that was the establishment's name, Crumpets didn't have crumpets."They aren't that special anyway."
We heard this refrain repeated at bakeries and snack bars all over London.
We fantasized about moving to London and opening a crumpet stand, although we really aren't sure what a crumpet is.
Since citizens of London don't seem to like them much anyway, we could undoubtedly advertise some Bisquick-based variation on a biscuit as a new and improved recipe of crumpet and find a ready market among American tourists at Victoria Station. Then, we could spread throughout London, the rest of England and eventually the world.
We could become the Starbucks of crumpets….but I digress.
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