Day 1 - London

After a very long but pleasant flight, we arrived at Heathrow about 10:30 a.m. London time on Friday. We took the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station and from there, a proper London cab took us to our hotel near Oxford Circus.

The hotel in the background is the one we stayed at in London. It was converted by the Hilton Hotels from what was once the Magistrate's Court. Every morning our breakfast was served in the 'waiting room' right next to the Court Chamber (which was a dining room for conventions). I am standing at the entrance to the fashion famous 1960's Carnaby Street -- lot's of shops and indeed mini skirts still abound!

Looking down Carnaby Street from our hotel.


Once we checked in, we immediately set out to check out our surroundings. We were less than a block from the toney stores on Regent Street (Mayfair abuts) and of course the first stop was for lunch at a pub, this one the St. James Tavern. We both had fish and chips, of course.

The next stop was to the famous (isn't everything here?) Hamley's toy store. Five floors of fun and excitement. Here's Thomas (made out of lego) waiting to say hello to all the grandchildren....