^[1]

Has your invite arrived?

You know… The invite for William and Kate’s wedding on 29 April 2011. No – not William Schwartz and Kate Middletown from Asbury Park, New Jersey… The other William and Kate. The William and Kate throwing the biggest bash of the year in London!

MMMM…. hasn’t arrived?  Not to worry…should be in the mail any day. Probably held up somewhere along the line what with President’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and the fact that it’s having to travel across “the pond”.  Just got mine the other day…guess it’s because I’m a member of “the press” and much needed to report everything I can about the festivities…

Now – just in case you do decide to attend, let me tell you – London is jumping this year. It’s definitely the place to see and be seen in 2011 what with the wedding and everything else there is to do. 2012 with the Olympics won’t be too shabby either, but let’s talk about 2011 first.

Theatre, Polo and Badminton…

^[2]Many new theatre shows and musicals will open in London in 2011. In the West End, you can see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of The Wizard of OZ and the DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions Shrek the Musical.

Sports fans also have plenty to see in London…In June, Hurlingham Park in Fulham will thunder with the hooves of high-class polo ponies. Polo players from all over the world will battle each other in a furious display of horsemanship.

And in August, the world’s best badminton players will fight for the chance to be crowned World Champions at an incredibly high profile tournament at Wembley Arena. I didn’t know people still played badminton much less have tournaments.

Attending the Royal Wedding is not a prerequisite to enjoying all that London has to offer. You might like to visit at another time and take in the many new and exciting exhibitions available in 2011.

Only In London…

A new exhibition, Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape will open at Tate Modern on April 14, 2011. This exhibition will bring together more than 150 paintings, drawings and sculptures by one of the twentieth century’s most supreme artists. This will be the first major retrospective of his work to be held in London for almost 50 years.

The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace will be host to an exhibition called Dutch Landscapes from April 15 – October 9, 2011. This exhibition brings together 42 remarkable landscapes from the “golden age” of Dutch 17^th-century paintings and includes works by Jacob vanRuisdael, Albert Cuyp, Nicolases Berchem and Mayndert Hobberma.

^[3]Speaking of Buckingham Palace, if you’d like to take a peak at the Royal Collections ^[4], the Summer Opening of the State Rooms begins August 1 and continues until September 25, 2011. While the Queen summers elsewhere, you will be able to explore the nineteen magnificent State Rooms, lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.

I’ve often said: “If there is another life after this one, I want mine to be in London.” I Love New York – it’s my home, but I really, really Love London!

A city as enormous as London has something for everyone, no matter what your tastes. With unique attractions, world-class museums and premier shopping in every neighborhood, there are plenty of experiences you can’t find anywhere else.

Here are a few suggestions for general sightseeing with museums, shopping, hotel and culinary suggestions to come later…

^[5]Westminster is home to Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey, as well as the famous bell tower popularly (and erroneously) called Big Ben (which is actually only the name of the bell in the bell tower). Other attractions in the area include Piccadilly Circus, St. Jame’s Palace and 10 Downing Street, home to the Prime Minister.

Other iconic city attractions range from the thousand-year-old Tower of London (where the Crown Jewels are kept – not to be missed!) to the EDF Energy London Eye, which offers a 25-mile view from its peak.

^[6]With its famous great dome, Sir Christopher Wren’s Baroque masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, has reinvented itself time after time and now stands as a true icon of the London skyline. This spectacular building is the fifth, or possibly the sixth cathedral to stand on this site, but its mighty dome has been a reassuring presence for Londoners for more than 300 years. During the Second World War Winston Churchill commanded that, whatever else happened, St. Paul’s must be saved from the bombs.

^[7]Nevertheless, Westminster Abbey is still a coronation spot for British monarchs, and will be the site for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April. (You’ll see all details on your invitation once it arrives. Keep checking your mail…)

Other classical attractions include the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a must-see for any theatre fan, and Poet’s Corner inside Westminster Abbey, where some of England’s greatest writers are buried.

Sports fans will want to visit the Chelsea Football Club’s museum and book a stadium tour, where they can learn about one of the most popular soccer teams in the world. Tennis fans should make a point of visiting the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, where they can learn all about the championships and even take a tour of the grounds, led by specially trained Blue Badge Guides ^[8], and gain access to restricted areas normally closed to the public.

I think I’m about to wear out my welcome this time around. Therefore, all I can say is: “to be continued…”

In the meantime, if you do decide to “cross the pond” this year, I’m here to help and be your “personal travel planner.”

Call me at 931-484-8228 or Email Me ^[9]…I’ll take care of the details while you pack. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Have a great day!

elaine

Getty Images, Mario Testino/Clarence House Press