London

We arrived on time at Terminal 3 and despite using a gate with multiple jet bridges, cheap AA only used 2L which meant a long time before we got off the plane.   And then the long, long walk.

Our Blacklane driver was waiting for us and we were on the A4 a few minutes later.

Past Launceston Place in Kensington, where we rented an apartment for a couple of weeks a few years ago.

The National History Museum.

Harrod's.

And around Trafalgar Square.

And to our hotel for the night, One Aldwych.

Our beautiful Suite 508.

With a great view across Waterloo Bridge.

In addition to our Celebrated Experiences upgrade-on-arrival suite, we received a £60 lunch credit at Eneko, the hotel's signature Basque themed restaurant and the London resto outpost of superstar Bilbao chef Eneko Atxa.

Mrs. SFO777's excellent salad starter.

While my Suckling Pig Tempura was delicious.

Basque oyster mushroom risotto, ceps emulsion.

And my Trigo, wheat pasta, red pepper sauce, egg yolk, shaved truffle.

After lunch, we headed up to our room for a much needed nap.   Beautiful nightime view from our suite.

Just after 7pm we head out and up Strand towards our theatre.

And The Duke of York's Theatre for Ink, an acclaimed play about Rupert Murdoch's purchase and transformation of The Sun and the entire London newspaper business in the late 1960's.

I bought tickets online a few weeks ago.   The price was quite reasonable and included something called The Ambassador Package, which included "VIP entrance, welcome drink and nibbles".   Had no idea what it was but what a treat this turned out to be.  As we were escorted from the lobby past the crowds to a intimate lounge where just 10 people got to relax before the play and intermission, or "the interval" in London. 

Our charming hostess Anna Marie, would served drinks, transferred them plastic for the theatre, and then escorted us to our theatre seats.

And then at the interval had more drinks waiting for us at our lounge seats.  What a way to go to the theatre!!

No pics during the performance but it was fabulously entertaining and educational with great performances from Richard Coyle and Bertie Carvel.

Afterwards, we headed across the street and back to and past Covent Garden Marketplace and Balthazar, sister restaurant to one of our NYC faves.

Mrs. SFO777's Lobster Spaghetti.

And my Dover Sole Meunière.

And the short 4 minute walk back to One Aldwych.