Gianna's 13th Birthday Trip to London with the Cousins

A Birthday Trip to Remember!

I'm actually having a hard time with the fact that I will have a teenage daughter in the Spring of 2017!
That's right, my Gianna will be 13 and to celebrate, we are going to visit London - the place she has always wanted to see!

Share the planning with us over the coming months!

What's more, it will mark the first time EVER that all the cousins will be traveling abroad together!

Jubilee Bridge, London (c)travelincousins.com

Weather Overview Temperature Averages for London in April
The weather continues to get better in April in London, UK when spring is in full bloom.
This month is characterised by rising daily temperatures, with average daily
highs increasing from 55 degrees to lows of 43 degrees.

APRIL 12, 2017 - APRIL 24TH LONDON TRIP BLOG POSTS

TRIP ITINERARIES

ELISA'S ITINERARY
April 12, 2017 to April 21, 2017

Day 1

Depart NYC to London (AM Flight)
Flight BOOKED
Arrive London Evening
Hotel BOOKED

Day 2

Relaxing day - walk around leisurely
Local food shopping for apartment
11AM - Meet for Breakfast with London Friend
Churchill War Rooms
Clive Steps
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AQ
020 7416 5000
- Admission Price
- Adult £19
  Child (5-15) £9.50
  Family ticket (1 adult and 2 children)
Buckingham Palace
- Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality.
Parliament Square
Afternoon Tea - BOOKED

DAY 3

Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - BOOKED
Includes driving past the following places:
- The London Eye
- Big Ben
- The Houses of Parliament
- Westminster Abbey
- St James's Park
- Buckingham Palace
- Hyde Park
- The Royal Albert Hall
- Marble Arch
- Piccadilly Circus
- Nelson's Column
- Downing Street
- and more.

"The London sightseeing tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Capture the heart of the city's culture and history whilst sipping on a lovely cup of tea and enjoying the exquisite tastes of France, whilst looking out on some of London's most famous landmarks. High tea accompanied with an array of tasty sandwiches and delicious cakes and pastries."

TANYA'S ITINERARY
April 18 - April 24, 2017

Day 1

Depart LAX to London (Red-Eye Flight)
Flight BOOKED

Day 2

Arrive to London
Check in to Apartment BOOKED
Afternoon Tea in Covent Garden with the cousins!
Neal's Yard - a small alley in London's Covent Garden between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street which opens into a courtyard. Named after the 17th century developer, Thomas Neale. Lots of great shops and healthy places to eat.
Local food shopping for apartment
Yorica (frozen yogurt for vegans)
More sightseeing!
Dinner at Just Fab (11am- 10pm)

Day 3

Westminster Abbey (UNESCO Site)
- Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.
Big Ben (3 minute Walk from Westminster Abbey)
- The name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, the clock and the bell but the name was first given to the Great Bell.
- The Elizabeth Tower, which stands at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, was completed in 1859 and the Great Clock started on 31 May, with the Great Bell's strikes heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September.
Buckingham Palace - changing of the guard
Relax/Eat
Tube Ride
Tower Bridge (27 minute train ride from Westminster Abbey)
- Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built in 1886–1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.
Tower of London (UNESCO Site)
- The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.
St. Katharine Docks
Camden Lock
Cousins Farewell Family Dinner BOOKED

Big Ben, London (c)travelincousins.com

Nelson's Column, London (c)travelincousins.com

DAY 4

London Show - Mamma Mia BOOKED
Pre-theatre lunch BOOKED
Dinner at apartment

DAY 5

Easter Sunday Afternoon Tea BOOKED
Dinner at apartment

DAY 6 -
DAY TRIP TO PARIS

Train to Paris BOOKED
Paris Hotel BOOKED
Eiffel Tower
Dinner: BOOKED

DAY 7

Tanya, Cosette & Dominic Arrive in London!
Elisa, Gianna & Kelsey Arrive Back to London from Paris
FIRST DAY COUSINS ARE TOGETHER IN LONDON!!!
Covent Garden
Neal's Yard
Neal's Yard is a small alley in London's Covent Garden between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street which opens into a courtyard. It is named after the 17th century developer, Thomas Neale.
Lots of great shops and healthy places to eat.
Afternoon Tea BOOKED
Dinner at apartment together

DAY 8
(With Cousins)

Westminster Abbey (UNESCO Site)
- Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.
Big Ben (3 minute Walk from Westminster Abbey)
- The name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, the clock and the bell but the name was first given to the Great Bell.
- The Elizabeth Tower, which stands at the north end of the Houses of Parliament, was completed in 1859 and the Great Clock started on 31 May, with the Great Bell's strikes heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September.
Buckingham Palace - changing of the guard
Relax/Eat
Tube Ride
Tower Bridge (27 minute train ride from Westminster Abbey)
- Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built in 1886–1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.
Tower of London (UNESCO Site)
- The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.
St. Katharine Docks
Camden Locks
Cousins Farewell Restaurant Dinner BOOKED

DAY 9

Shop Till We Drop!
Afternoon Tea (Elisa & Gang only and London Friend) NEED TO BOOK
Cousins Farewell Dinner at apartment

DAY 10
Depart London for New York in AM

Day 4

Early start on foot sightseeing
Afternoon Tea BOOKED
Harry Potter Walking Tour BOOKED

The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ ... (8am-10pm)
Leadenhall Market. ... (10am - 6pm)
Piccadilly Circus. ...
St Pancras International Station.

Vegan Dinner: Temple of Hackney (12p-8p)
Cousins Farewell Dessert Party at Apartment

Day 5

Pick up car hire BOOKED
Tour Stratford-Upon-Avon
Check in to hotel BOOKED
Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Dinner

Day 6

Leisurely Breakfast at Hotel
Hacking
Dinner back in London with Kathy BOOKED

Day 7

Afternoon Tea BOOKED
Dinner: Just Fab
Hotel TBA BOOKED

Day 8

Breakfast at the Hotel
Return car at the airport
We go home

(c)travelincousins.com

AFTERNOON TEA SPOTS

ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA (BOOKED FOR ELISA)
THE RUBENS AT THE PALACE
Overlooking the Mews at BUCKINGHAM PALACE

http://www.rubenshotel.com/food-and-drink/afternoon-tea
1:00pm - 5:00pm (Sat - Sun) 2:00pm - 4:30pm (Mon - Fri)
Afternoon tea features mouth-watering pastries that were heavily influenced by Royal events and dining trends throughout the centuries. From Her Majesty the Queen’s much-loved jam pennies, the red velvet cupcakes influenced by the House of Stuart or the chocolate biscuit cake, a favourite of Prince William and Prince Harry of the House of Windsor The Royal Afternoon Tea at the Rubens will leave you feeling like royalty.

CHESTERFIELD HOTEL (BOOKED FOR ELISA)

1.30pm to 5.30pm - Weekdays. Afternoon Tea - 1pm to 5.30pm Weekends
In the heart of exclusive Mayfair, the intimate Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel is a luxury hotel ideally located for taking Afternoon Tea when shopping in Piccadilly, Bond Street, Regent Street or Oxford Street.
Renowned as one of London's best places for Afternoon Tea, this elegant venue's Afternoon Tea service was recognised when they were awarded a Commended certificate at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2016. The Chesterfield Mayfair will offer Charlie and The Chesterfield Afternoon Tea daily, taking guests on a journey through the sweet, colourful and chocolate-y world of Charlie and his friends!
Upon arrival at the hotel guests are welcomed with a shot of a Fizzy Lifting drink that sets the scene with a lingering sparkle on the tongue. Guests can then choose their tea from one of the hotel's 18 loose teas which will include a special Willy Wonka chocolate tea blended especially for this occasion.
A selection of delicious finger sandwiches will complement the treats including honey roast ham and cheese with tomato chutney; egg and watercress on basil bread; smoked salmon and cream cheese on brown bread; chicken with grain mustard mayonnaise on white and the classic cucumber and cream cheese.
To end this adventure each guest finishes off with an everlasting gobstopper and lollipop, the ideal set of sweets to eat on your way home!
The magic continues as guests leave with a 'Chesterfield Mayfair Golden Ticket' just like Charlie does in the book. This golden ticket inside an envelope offers guests a chance to win a selection of fantastical treats at the hotel, with every ticket a guaranteed win. Prizes will vary from a two night weekend stay in a Junior Suite, an overnight stay in a Superior King room, magnum of Champagne, a discount on your next Afternoon Tea and a complimentary glass of Champagne on your next visit.

MONMOUTH KITCHEN
COVENT GARDEN

12pm to 4pm Sunday - Friday
2pm - 4pm - Saturday
Per Person
£26.00
The four star Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel is a discrete boutique hotel in the heart of Covent Garden. With an enviable location at Seven Dials in the heart of Covent Garden, Dial is a popular meeting place for the local media and theatre crowd - a chic and sophisticated space.

Monmouth Kitchen will evoke an ambience that will recreate the
   culinary delights of the Mediterranean and South America,
   showcasing a contemporary selection of Italian and Peruvian
   small plates complemented with the fine wines and signature
   cocktails.

THE DELAUNAY (BOOKED FOR COUSINS)
COVENT GARDEN

Monday - Sunday
3.00 pm - 6.30 pm
For a less stuffy option, head to the Delaunay, where children are always welcome, and cakes are always good - if decidedly Austrian, as opposed to English.

The Delaunay’s Viennese afternoon tea includes savouries, cakes and pastries - including Sachertorte; poppy seed gugelhupf, or bundt cake, with apricot jam and whipped cream; and a variety of millefeuille - along with a choice of teas or coffees, as well as child-pleasing milkshakes or ice cream floats.

While the large, bustling atmosphere will leave parents relaxed if their children are a bit boisterous, the top-quality cakes and grand Old World dining room will also lend a sense of occasion for everyone, old and young. Note: if the Delaunay is booked on the day you want, Corbin & King’s sister restaurant, The Wolseley, on Piccadilly, would be a good substitute.

VEGAN DINING SPOTS

(c)travelincousins.com