Would anyone be interested in a London GTG? We arrive in London the morning of the 11th of March and leave on the 18th for a quick trip to Paris. We are back in London and would be open to GTG on either the 23rd or the 24th.

We are looking at schools for two of our kids for my husband's upcoming sabbatical. We have morning appointments at schools but are open after that each day.

It is just the two of us this trip and anything would be fun!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,

MariaV says she's in-let's get the ball rolling!

Any other takers??

Brenda

Whoops! I never remember to check this forum.

Count me/us in. Either time frame works for us I think.

I am arriving the 19th and leaving the 25th. I will be there with my sister and her husband~ they are looking at housing as well. So I really don't know our schedule.

I will keep my eye on this thread to see what y'all are planning. If there is any way I'm in~ but don't try to plan it around me...I'm not very stable.
Sandi

Well, that didn't sound right at all! I am perfectly stable~ not dependable.

Well, I'd better quit while ahead.

Hello,
The first week end is not possible for us as we will be in the Cotswolds but we could manage the 23rd or 24th but it might just be me as "Ricardo" has a building project on here at home.
Wendy

What a lovely thought - it would be great to meet up with some of the names I have shared the occasional thread with! If I read your post right, you are here, then Paris, then back and suggesting a meet for 23rd or 24th. If so, oh drat!, would you believe it: - I am actually heading in the other direction on that day (23rd) to San Francisco for a long weekend and have said I might pop my head into the San Francisco GTG on 24th (!), to meet some of the lovely people who have given me some advice about what to do on that trip (going with husband, courtesy of airmiles, but will be left to my own devices for a day). Am around in the week 11-18th.

Hi everyone! Maybe we can make something work here.

It's so hard to pick a day because it automatically excludes some people. My post wasn't entirely clear-we could GTG either weekend.

If we did it the first weekend we could host for a few drinks before dinner at our rental in Kensington. The second week we are in a hotel near Charing Cross so no hosting!

It does look like the 23rd or 24th would work for more of you, is that true?

(Panda, if we go ahead and pick the second weekend I would love to meet you on another day that you are around. You have already been so helpful to me.)

I would love to meet you Wendyash! Wendy was SO HELPFUL to me when we encountered problems with a rental in Italy summer of 2005. The best advise and it worked! We got money back, didn't get sued, and it was handled in a professional manner. I'd love to say thank you in person.

Okay, what do you all think?

(Can you tell I have trouble making decisions)

Brenda

Thank you Brenda, I had forgotten all about that.
I will wait for others to chip in here but no reason why we couldn't meet up for a short while for a light lunch or aperitivo.
Where will you be staying or is the hotel on the trip calendar?
Wendy

Hi Wendy and everyone,

We are at Hotel Thistle Charing Cross from thursday the 22nd until we leave on the 25th.

We just got tickets to see History Boys for thursday night the 22nd. Should be good!

Anyone have any ideas? We'd be open to two different GTG's because we know we are going to be needing more and more advice from our London Slow Trav friends!

It's getting closer!

Brenda

Brenda,
A little light lunch/afternoon tea on the 24th ?
Wendy

Wendy,

Sounds great! Do you have any ideas for places?

Anyone else?

Brenda

I'll go for whenever and wherever

You're lucky to have got the History Boys tickets - there was a piece in the Standard (London evening paper) yesterday about it being pulled off in mid-April, despite playing to packed houses. Hope you have a lovely GTG - think of me jetlagged in San Francisco ! Maybe I can join you some other time ?

Hi there, we can make either of those dates so just tell us where to be and we will come! We'll be looking forward to it.

Panda, did I read that correctly - you're going to San Francisco for the weekend???

Yes, demented isn't it. I had been dropping hints about a weekend in Venice (fri/sat nights)to celebrate my demicentury - my husband proudly announced that he was taking me.....to SF. I also goggled, with thoughts of the journey and the jetlag (I've done the journey before), but he has got me a business, lie down bed, ticket out of his frequent flyers points so could be worse. We are in a nice hotel (he is there for a conference for the following week so my add on cost was minimal - and as I am in the middle of costing out a much needed new kitchen a little economy is justified !.)It's out on Friday am - back Monday evening for me. It will be a complete blur, but I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth - I might not get asked again!

Hello Everyone,
Yes I have some ideas but first let me know if you would prefer luncheon or afternoon tea and I will get on the case tomorrow.
(Hard day at work so I am too tired to think, tragic really because I only go 2 days a week now.)
BeeBee will we really meet up?!
Wendy

quote:

Originally posted by wendyash:
BeeBee will we really meet up?! Wendy

Geez I feel the same way! Nine months here and I've met nary ONE person in England from the board!

quote:

Originally posted by b&j and the gang:

We just got tickets to see History Boys for thursday night the 22nd. Should be good!

I saw History Boys this past Monday night (just got back from London last night). It was terrific. Sorry I was in town too early for the GTG. Maybe next time.

Oh Fancy, good to hear you liked the show! Did you have a nice trip?

Okay, this is something I need to learn if we are going to live in London-when is tea time? Is it around 4:00?

Either works for us-we don't have any plans. Want to throw out a few suggestions? Thanks for doing this Wendy and everyone-I don't know any places!

Shall I just pick? I've never had afternoon tea-it does sound interesting.

I'm so glad this will give you guys a chance to meet each other.

Looking forward to it.

Brenda

Hello Brenda,
Yes afternoon tea is served between 3 pm and 5 pm so I will do the research and make reservations, but someone tell me for how many. I will try and find a couple of places so you can make a choice, for example Fortnum and Masons but we probably wouldn't get in at the Ritz with this much notice.
Wendy

Goodness! the Ritz/Fortnums, you Gels think big. It must be 20 years since we had tea at either of these places. Count us (Bill & me) in.

And yes, Wendy finally! Anyone would think we'd been avoiding each other We're looking forward to it.

Hi Bee Bee,
I won't confine my searches to "high end" but as we will be in London it seems to make sense to me to go somewhere reliable,good ,and lovely or do I sound like William Morriss ? (I wish)

Perhaps I should ask fro a budget guide as I have just looked at Browns and The Savoy and the price is £32.50 I am certain I didn't pay that much at The Ritz in October. One of my favourites is The Rose Room at the Sofitel St James here but this may be too French for some and too pink for some Males!?
I am anxious to reserve ahead as the popular places get booked out months in advance. Maria may well have some suggestions to make too?
Wendy

Hello,
So far I have only had one reply to my enquiries from The Cadogan Hotel. Afternoon tea is available on the 24th at 3 30pm and comprises of assorted sandwiches, scones, pastries and selection of afternon teas at £19 50.
We stayed at the The Cadogan a few years ago. It was a competition prize from English Heritage Magazine and was utterly delightful with superb food.Open the links to find out about the history of the hotel. It was very nice to be able to ask fro the key to the private square gardens when we were residents and pretend we were rich! The location is just off Sloane Square.
It has changed hands since then and has had a refurb but comes well recommended.
Wendy

quote:

Originally posted by wendyash:
Maria may well have some suggestions to make too? Wendy

Me?? She who works 14-15 hours a night/day and has exactly enough time to sleep and go to the grocery store?! And I deal with budget hotels

Hmm, although there was a thing in the Guardian just recently (or the Independent, can't remember which), that had an insert called "The best places for afternoon tea". It was in one of the Saturday mags....dang, which was it...I'm such a pack rat that I'll have to check tonight and see if I kept it. We might be able to narrow it down a little at least.

As for time, etc., I'll just go with the majority decision, and, if I'm still working here that is, I'll then arrange for the time off.

EDITED to say I just thought of something. I'm on a "hotel list" (dealing with security, etc.) and most of the hotels on that list are four and five stars. I can make an inquiry and see what happens. Because those are the places that do afternoon tea right?

Good work you guys, thanks! I'm off for a few days to Virginia. My daughter has a gymnastics meet down there. We leave tomorrow and won't be back until monday.

Oh, Panda, do you want to meet sometime in our first week? I'd love to meet you.

Thanks again for checking into these places. The
Cadogan looks lovely.

I'll "see" you in a few days.

Brenda