d WANDERLUST
Party Across the Pond
A first-class trip to London provides the ultimate milestone birthday celebration .
BY JILL BECKER
Sometimes a momentous occasion calls for a momentous celebration . And that ’ s just what happened when I celebrated a milestone birthday with a no-holes-barred nine-day trip across the pond to London .
Marking a Milestone
To plan such an epic , once-in-a-lifetime trip , I knew I ’ d need the help of a professional , so I turned to one of the experienced luxury travel advisors from the global Virtuoso travel network . The initial consultation with my advisor covered the fact that I ’ m a picky eater and I don ’ t like crowds . I told her my favorite color , my wine preference , what I ’ m allergic to , and other insights , some of which seemed insignificant at the time but which , in the end , amounted to a totally personalized and unforgettable trip that took the sting out of turning another decade older .
The first few days of the trip were fairly leisurely . There was shopping and high tea at Fortnum & Mason , London ’ s oldest and most treasured department store ; a traditional Sunday roast lunch at The Orange , a charming gastropub that happens to have a couple of guestrooms for let upstairs ; a stroll through the chic Belgravia neighborhood ; and a sunset spin on the London Eye , complete with glasses of champagne to toast the spectacular panorama from 40 stories up .
Leading the Way
The pace picked up on day four when my travel partner and I hooked up with our private tour guide for the next two days . Having a personal guide is something I initially thumbed my nose at , thinking how boring it ’ d be to stand around and listen to someone rattle off a rote script of inane facts , but I ’ m thankful I agreed to it , because it turned out to be one of my favorite things about the trip . Our guide ’ s name was Deborah , and she had the distinction of being one of London ’ s certified Blue Badge guides , all of whom must undergo an intense qualification process and extensive two-year education and training program .
From left : The London Eye looms large in the city skyline ( photo : visitlondon / Antoine Buchet ); the Egerton House Hotel proudly waves the British flag ( photo : Red Carnation Hotel Collection ); and members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment carry out their ceremonial duties ( photo : visitlondon . com / Jon Reid ).
14 | NW GEORGIA LIVING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of London ’ s top attractions . Photo : visitlondon . com / Jon Reid
Having Deborah as our escort was like being on a school field trip with one of those teachers who actually made learning fun . She was intensely passionate about her homeland and had a Britannica-like knowledge about everything from the inner workings on the Tower Bridge to the royal hierarchies of fur ( yes , there is such a thing ). Traveling with Deborah was also a bit like being a rock star , as her shiny Blue Badge allowed us privileges like skipping lines and sneaking in through back doors at places like Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London . She showed us the best spot for watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace , took us for some delicious fish and chips at The Clarence pub in Whitehall , and educated us on the fact that the name Big Ben actually refers to the largest of the five bells atop the landmark Clock Tower , not the tower itself .
On day two with Deborah , we took the train to Oxford for a tour of the city and the Oxford University campus , lunched at the centuries-old and supposedly haunted Turf Tavern , and stopped at a pie shop with a sign in the window that proclaimed “ Keep Calm and Eat More Pies .” Next on the agenda was