Where to Eat with Kids in London

A Day at London’s Science Museum

Exploring the London Museum of Jewish Life with Kids

London’s Restaurants for Traveling Moms

London on a Budget with Kids

10 Ways to see London on the Cheap

So, since we come here every year, I wanted my kids to see new places and experience different parts of London.  I never come with a set agenda, I like to wing it, and inevitably we find ourselves experiencing London like it’s all new again.  Here are some of the highlights from this year’s trip:

Kensington Palace

I wanted to take my kids to Kensington Palace this trip to introduce them to the Royal Family.  We’d been outside Buckingham Palace last summer for the Changing of the Guard and this year I wanted them to truly experience the “Royal” side of Britain.  Now that they are 7 and 9 and seem to appreciate the history more than before.  Plus, it’s the year of the Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, so there is a lot to celebrate.  There are four state apartments that we explored: Victoria Revealed – 10 lavishly decorated rooms that tell the story of Queen Victoria’s life, in her own words from letters and diaries, from her birth in the Palace, through her childhood, ascension, marriage, periods of mourning and her own Diamond Jubilee; The King’s Apartments – grand architecture telling the stories of the courts of William and Mary, George I and George II in the 17th and 18th centuries; The Queen’s Apartments – more intimate rooms, lifting the curtain on the private lives of Mary II and Anne and the decline of the Stuart dynasty; Diana: Glimpses of a Modern Princess – a selection of five dresses work by Diana Princess of Wales at different points in her life.

Big Ben, Houses of Parliament

National Gallery

Covent Garden

When the kids started to get tired, as did I, we headed straight to Covent Garden for some free entertainment by street performers.  The area is worked by street performers nearly every day of the year. Many of these performers make the majority of their money working nowhere else. And likewise, many of them have been performing at Covent Garden regularly for 10 years or more.  We actually caught one performer (the one pictured above) who we remember seeing last year.  They’re all very good performers, as a matter of fact, they have to all audition to perform at Covent Garden.  We always grab something to eat and camp out on a curb.  My kids spent the afternoon laughing through magic tricks, break-dancing and comedy….all for free.

Tower of London

Islington Green

Unicorn Theatre

After spending a good part of the week trying to get tickets for Matilda the Musical to no avail, I was hungry for theater.  Fortunately, one day we stumbled into a small children’s theater called the Unicorn Theatre near the London Bridge just before a show was about to start.   It was called “The Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth” for kids ages 7 and up.  About to rain, and all of us tired from our trip to the top of the London Bridge, we all opted for the show, and what a treat it was.  Based on the book by Eoin Colfer and directed by Matthew Lenton, the show included all professional actors and involved a plot that revolved around pirates and a family on holiday.  The actors were all excellent thespians and were all impressed with the quality of the performance.  The Unicorn was definitely a find for us this trip.

Tate Britain

Tate Britain holds the largest collection of British art in the world. The gallery shows work from the last five centuries, including contemporary British art, in a series of free changing displays.  Their main collection includes masterpieces by British artists such as Hogarth, Gainsborough, Constable, Millais, Burne-Jones, Whistler, Sargent, Sickert, Hepworth and Bacon. The extraordinary work of JMW Turner can be seen in the Clore Gallery.  We looked around and headed to their special expedition, Picasso & Modern British Art.  Determined to really focus on the collection, I purchased the radio tour for all of us.  The exhibit explores Picasso’s extensive legacy and influence on British art, how this played a role in the acceptance of modern art in Britain, alongside the fascinating story of Picasso’s lifelong connections to and affection for this country.  It brings together over 150 spectacular artworks, with over 60 stunning Picassos including sublime paintings from the most remarkable moments in his career, such as Weeping Woman 1937 and The Three Dancers 1925.  It was fascinating to read about his rise in the UK, as well as his impact on so many of the country’s famous artists. Best of all, my kids seemed to appreciate it.

Issy's Milky Way

Issy's Milky way

Issy's Milky Way

We had a lot of child-friendly meals on this trip, but the one that stands out in our memory is Issy’s Milky Way, a new 50s style shake place in Islington’s Camden Passage.  It’s a 1950s soda fountain that serves cheese toasties,shakes and scrumptious cupcakes.  The jukebox, the Felix the Cat clock on the wall, the Elvis memorabilia, the Homemaker China all take you back in time, and my kids loved sitting at the counter watching the owner make traditional toasties.  Located at 28 Camden Passage, this is a real throw back in time and was a great stop with the kids.

Expect to hear more about this trip in the coming weeks.

Disclosure: I paid my own admission into every attraction and restaurant mentioned above.

Located in a limestone gorge full of caves, Creswell Crags is home to the only Ice Age rock art in Britain, which tells the gripping story of life in the last Ice Age – 50,000 to 10,000 years ago.  I’m not sure my kids understood the depth of history we were taking in, but going on a cave tour was certainly a hit with them….and for us.

If you’re planning to visit Manchester, England and are looking for a place to stay with the kids, the Lowry Hotel is a great choice. Located on the banks of the River Irwell, in the center of town, right near the commercial shopping district and load of things to do, this five-star hotel has 165 bedrooms, six suites and is as child-friendly as a hotel can get.

Named after a famous Mancunian artist, DS Lowry, the hotel is part of the world’s exclusive Rocco Forte Hotels and is both modern and elegant.  The inside is filled with interesting artwork, sculptures and stunning orchids. There are views of the river from every corner of the hotel and best of all, the hotel caters just as much to kids as it does to adults. As soon as our kids arrived, they were handed a very important invitation to get their own “Mocktail” at the bar.  The thought of this thrilled them to no end, but we were eager to check out our room first.

When my kids realized that they were going to have their own room, they were jumping with joy.  It was a first for us to have two joining rooms, and my son was elated to have his own key.  We were provided with the Family Package, which comes with bed and breakfast.  When we walked into their room with two twin-sized beds with teddy bears sitting on them, in Lowry Hotel robes, their own yellow chaise lounge and flat-screen TV, their own bathroom and walk-in closet and walk-in closets, my kids were in heaven.  With the floor to ceiling windows and neutral colors, the rooms are both inviting and comfortable.  My children chose their beds and we made our way to the bar for drinks and snacks.

The hotel certainly does know what children like. When we got to the bar, the kids were elated to read their special Mocktail menu with a choice of several juice cocktails.  We were given some chips and they were happily sipping their drinks when the barman came out to put a TV up for us all to watch Manchester United play Blackburn.  We were very content to sit and watch them win.

Bedtime was relatively easy, too.  They were so excited to get into bed in their own rooms, my son happily locking up his computer in the personal locker in his walk-in closet, and they took their books, jumped into bed and read before drifting comfortably off to sleep.

The Lowry also has games and DVDs upon request, and older kids can get complimentary Wifi (for others, it’s 6 pounds an hour or 15 for the day).  They have bath time accessories and can provide cots or highchairs as needed.  Best of all, meals are free for kids under 3, and half-price for over 3.

After the kids were tucked away in bed, I sneaked off to the Lowry Spa for some relaxation. I used the fitness suite and sauna until they closed.  It was a slice of heaven after a long trip to Great Britain and I was happy to have time to rest.

The kids literally jumped up the next day for breakfast. Well, that may not be true.  We were all so comfortable that we woke up at 9:30 and had to call to make sure we could still get breakfast.  When we found out we were okay on time, we slowly made our way  down to the River Bar & Restaurant. The hotel offers a lovely Continental Breakfast with cereals, pastries, fruit, yogurt, fish, cheese, toast, tea and coffee and we all found something we like.  The restaurant is cozy and decorated very much like the hotel, with beautiful art, orchids and painted in lovely neutrals.

From the hotel, you are a skip, hop and jump from some wonderful museums for children, and adults.  We spent the afternoon at The Museum of Science and Industry where my kids explored science and learned more about Manchester’s Industrial Age.  You can also get to The award-winning Imperial War Museum North, located at The Quays, where we ventured a few years ago and my kids were mesmerized by their exhibits of Britain in war times.  There is also the Urbis, an exhibition centre of city life, Manchester Art Gallery Mosley Street, The Manchester Museum at the University of Manchester, Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester Chill Factor and Old Trafford, where Manchester United plays all their home games.  We head to their shop to buy team memorabilia every year.

We had our city break at the Lowry Hotel, and it was one that we will all remember fondly for some time.  It was a unique travel experience for all of us.

The Lowry Hotel is located at 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Manchester M3 5LH. Tel: +44 161 827 4000 or you can email to make reservations at eservations.lowry@roccofortehotels.com.

Disclosure: I was provided with  complimentary lodging and breakfast, but all opinions expressed are my own.

]]> /family-stay-lowry-hotel-manchester-england/feed/ 0 /iron-ladynot-film-feminists/ /iron-ladynot-film-feminists/#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:47:58 +0000 CultureMom /?p=3251
In the movie The Iron Lady, there is one line in particular that stands out in my memory.  ”I don’t want to die washing the dishes,” Margaret Thatcher said that to her soon to be husband in the midst of his marriage proposal.  I sat there nodding my head, thinking that she and I had a lot in common.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, a British writer and director, and written by Abi Mogran, two women, I had high hopes that this film would take me through the journey of how one woman in the UK transformed herself into one of the most well-known politicians we’ve ever had.

At the start of her career in politics, Thatcher married, had a family (twins) and stepped into the traditional home maker’s role even though she clearly had bigger fish to fry. She clearly chose her career over her family, as the film shows her driving to a meeting in London, with her children chasing after her,begging her not to leave them. Later she announces her intention to seek the party leadership on the day that Carol has passed her driving test, earning a rare rebuke from her husband for putting herself first.

As I watched her become the highest ranking official in British Parliament of her time, the shot of her standing in her blue dress in a room full of men remains etched in my memory.  It looked like the film could have taken a feminist direction, but that was the last I heard of her status as the only woman in British Parliament in the film. We watched her battle with men over big decisions, and she certainly held her head high during every argument, which, of course, I admired.

The film shows that she made choices, as we all have to do, but as a leader, she focused on the kinds of issues that men care about – war, strikes, the economy.  She didn’t really seem to address women’s issues, like abortion, rape,  nor did she try to push them on her agenda, and she certainly wasn’t fighting to bring other women into Parliament from what we could see as every scene was full of men pushing their Tory agenda onto her’s.

About feminism, Thatcher herself, once said, “I owe nothing to women’s lib. The feminists hate me, don’t they? And I don’t blame them. For I hate feminism. It is poison.”

However, on the other hand, her husband did watch her career from the sidelines.  She did put motherhood on the backburner.  She was pleased when her husband tried to cook a meal to help out.  The film was made by feminists, including Streep herself, so it’s not completely anti-Feminist, and how can it be?  It’s about a fearless leader who supposedly transformed her country and stayed in power longer than any other Prime Minister.  But it does concentrate on Thatcher’s dementia and deteriorating state, and perhaps the only memories she is looking back on are meant to provide a certain picture as there are many things she did that were look out, and perhaps there were moments where she defend herself or women’s rights that we are not being witness to in this film.

Streep is outstanding, as always, in a role that covers 35 years of her life.  At one point, my husband said she played the role so well that he could hardly tell the difference between the real Margaret Thatcher and Meryl Streep.

I am sure that in her own way, Thatcher was a feminist and certainly did believe that women could do anything they set out to do based on her own achievements.  But the more tea she served in the movie, and the more blue suits and handbags I had to look at, it made me wonder if she was just “one of the men” and that is how she achieved her success.

There is a very interesting article  from the Guardian on whether she improved women’s lives without really ever meaning to.   It states, But for those of us whose world did improve, who saw opportunities swing open and had the background, wealth, education and circumstance to maximise them, she did something unmatchable. 

What do you think?  Was Margaret Thatcher a feminist or anti-feminist?

]]> /iron-ladynot-film-feminists/feed/ 3 /tripit-tripped-trip/ /tripit-tripped-trip/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:55:54 +0000 CultureMom /?p=2720 This past summer my family and I embarked on a fabulous European adventure to England and France.  I’ve blogged about it here, elsewhere and it was probably clear from my writing that we had a wonderful time.

What I neglected to write about was an unusual and unfortunate experience that occurred while we were in London.  We were hoping to talk to the company involved to see if we could at least get a an apology for the inconvenience caused, but we haven’t been able to. We’ve emailed them a few times and not received a response, not one attempt of contact.   So I am opening up the door here and sharing it with you now.

My husband and I are digital natives.  We’re both iPhone users and we love our apps.  I work for a company that actually creates apps, and he works in IT.  Together, we’re always exploring new apps that makes our lives easier. We’re also pretty diligent travel planners and try to provide as much ease as possible when traveling with our kids.  My husband put a lot of work and care into the planning of this particular trip. We did a lot of traveling between the two countries in 2-1/2 weeks, and he was trip planning for several months before this trip actually happened.

Ever since my husband discovered TripIt, he’s been a huge fan.  He loves no longer having to print out all our travel documents and inputting all of our ticket information and itineraries into this app that claims to “organize your travel”.  TripIt claims that you:  ”Simply forward confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt will automatically build an itinerary for your trip that you can access anytime, either online or from a mobile device.”

Well, I hate to tell you, but if you are trusting TripIt to organize your travel plans, you may want to think twice.

Here is the letter that my husband recently wrote TripIt about our experience that set us back 7 hours of travel time with two young children and $800.  And a lot of frustration and angst, and again, while traveling with children:

On 5 July 2011, I planned to travel from London St Pancras to Avignon France via Lille France, and had used the Tripit application (on my iPhone) to prepare my schedule, along with car rental, and accomodation for my vacation.

 Unfortunately, Tripit failed to interpret the Eurostar email ticket confirmation and displayed the departure time of 12:55 London St Pancras, rather than correct time of 8:27am. 

A photo capture of the incorrect train time for our train from London to Paris

Tripit incorrectly interpreted the email, and confused the departure from Lille of 12:55, with the departure time from London St Pancras.  I’ve included a photo of my tripit screen, with incorrect times together will the original Eurostar confirmation email below.

As a consequence I missed the Eurostar London St Pancras to Avignon TGV Train and was forced to purchase a new ticket for the 2 Adult and 2 Child passengers for 500 GBP ($808.18).

These unfortunate circumstances caused my family and I considerable distress at the commencement of our vacation, which was a direct consequence of the failure of the Tripit application to correctly interpret the train times correctly.

So, you may be wondering why I’m writing this post today?  For one thing, I want TripIt to know how much stress they caused us.  Here we were, in a foreign country with our kids, and we had a schedule that we had to follow.  We were visiting family and friends and our plans were made very carefully to ensure that everything went smoothly.  Like I said, we have contacted them several times on the contact information directed on their web site and not heard a peep.

Another reason is so that you don’t make the same mistake that we made on your next vacation.  When we got to London Pancreas Train Station and realized we had missed our train, we tried to talk to the people working at Eurostar to see if they could help us get to Avignon without breaking the bank.  It was impossible.  They said that our tickets were non-returnable and that we had no choice other than to buy completely new tickets for a train leaving in 20 minutes.  We had no time to think, but my husband decided that we had to move on.  We had friends waiting for us in Avignon and no where to stay in London.  Plus, we already had the rest of our tickets – from Avignon to Paris and back to London booked.  So, we got our new tickets, ran through customs and passport control and started our long trip to Avignon.  I nearly had a fight with the attendant who took our tickets going to the train.  I was just so upset.  We got to Avignon much later than planned, around 8:30, rented a car and proceeded to get completely lost driving to our destination as it was completely dark and we were shattered. Our children were starving when we arrived at our friends around 11pm as they’d not had a proper meal all day.

TripIt claims that they automatically create itineraries and that you can access your itinerary any time online.  What sense does it make if it’s inaccurate? They have plans that cost money, the TripIt Pro plan and the TripIt Business plan.  I would hope that if I were to pay for a plan like this that the information would be accurate.  We didn’t purchase a plan, we were using the free tool.

In any case, we learned that you can’t completely trust technology. Unfortunately, the experience we had at London Pancreas was at the beginning of our trip, and the experience weighed on our mind heavily during the entire trip.  The TripIt fiasco caused an unexpected expense that felt quite unfair.  We were using a trusted app that appeared to be rock solid.

How about you?  What travel disaster have you experienced lately?

]]> /tripit-tripped-trip/feed/ 1 /royal-wedding-coverage-visiting-london-kids/ /royal-wedding-coverage-visiting-london-kids/#respond Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:55:44 +0000 CultureMom /?p=1858
This article was originally printed on TravelingMom.com.  I am reprinting to assist families getting ready to embark on the town during the Royal Wedding.  If you are traveling with kids, you might find this information useful, especially since it is only one year old.   I spent a week in the grand city with my kids last summer, and here is what I wrote:

 

Changing of the Guard

London has so much to offer kids.  The trick is actually choosing what to do and where to go, particularly when you’re there for a specified amount of time.

On our recent visit to the city, I had a few days to spend in town while my husband slaved away in the office.  Since he is British, we have taken always annual trips to the UK to visit family and friends.  This time, I decided it was time to show my kids the other side of London that they don’t know: the tourist side.  So, we went from being glorified Brits (after all, they do have UK passports) to tourists for a few days.  I really had to narrow down my list of “to do” items as I realized very quickly, that they could not — and would not — keep up with me.

I didn’t want to break the bank either, and it is absolutely possible to see London on a shoe-string.  All of the city’s fabulous museums are free all day, all the time.  The parks are like museums in a way; they have such lovely gardens and are so well maintained.  Most restaurants have children’s meals which are quite affordable.    Lastly, transportation is quite inexpensive; too, if you plan in advance and buy daily or weekly transit passes.

Here is a list of our favorite stops that we made in London, considered favorites by not only my children, but me, as well:

Changing of the Guard

On our very first day in London, we took the tube from Belsize Park down to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard which takes place daily throughout the summer months at 11.30am, then every other day for the rest of the year and is absolutely free. This is the ceremony involving the Foot Guards.  The ceremony takes about 45 minutes and includes a band playing popular classical music.  If you are heading to London this summer, I have a few suggestions: get there early.  It is truly a mob scene outside the palace, and if your children don’t like crowds, they may feel overwhelmed.  We were there on a particularly hot day, too, so it was necessary to have sun cream and bottles of water.  You can also venture away from the crowds and still see the event from a short distance.  We survived the crowds and saw the program, and it was definitely a memory that they’ll always have.

The London Eye

London Eye

After the Changing of the Guard, we walked to the Westminster Abbey and stood under the Big Ben Clock, ending up at the London Eye. By that point, my kids were exhausted.  I knew it was time to go on a ride.  While this is not a cheap activity for the budget-conscientious, kids love it and it’s a great way to cool off and see the city in full view from up in the air.  You can save 10% off tickets booking online in advance, which will also alleviate waiting in long lines.  They have packages you can book to save money on various tourist sites, like river cruises, Madam Tussaud’s, the London Dungeon, Sea Life, etc.  Tickets cost £19 per adult and £11 per child.  It sounds expensive, but the line was long enough to make me realize we were not only the only crazy visitors in town.  The trip takes about 30 minutes and moves very slowly.  You can actually remain standing the whole time if you like.  My kids loved the experience, and if you ask them their favorite part of their London tour, they’ll say it was the London Eye.

The Princess Diana Memorial Playground

Princess Diana Playground

After our trip on the London Eye, I knew that my kids needed some playtime, so we headed over to Hyde Park for lunch in a cafe (near Baywater Tube) and then into the park.  Hyde Park is a beautiful park right on top of Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana lived.  This playground was built in her honor and memory and is quite a special place.  It was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan and was built around a big pirate ship kids can climb.  It’s a beautiful playground with water, sand, and various playing areas and really inspires any child’s imagination.  There’s a cafe’ right outside with homemade ice-cream.  I know this sounds corny, but I really think that Princess Diana would have been delighted with the way this playground turned out.  It provide such happiness to the children that visit.

Camden Canal Boat Trip

On another afternoon, after a stroll through Camden Market’s unique stalls full of interesting fashion items and collectibles, we decided it was time for a rest.  We jumped on a boat operated by Regent’s Canal Waterbus which takes you for a ride through Camden Lock, Little Venice and the London Zoo.  Adults cost £6.70, kids cost £5.50 (one way).  For about an hour, we rested and rode through the canals past interesting architecture, industrial history, wildlife and scenery.  It’s kind of like going behind the scenes of London.  When we got to Little Venice, we had a lovely lunch at the quaint Waterside Café, a restaurant that sits on the water in a converted houseboat.  They serve traditional British cuisine.  Around the canals you can visit the London Canal Museum and the Puppet Theatre Barge.

Coram’s Fields

On the way to the British Museum, we made a pit stop at Coram’s Fields, which was a good idea at that moment in time when my kids were not in tourist mode.  They needed to run around like kids like to do.  Coram’s Fields is a seven acre playground with amazing equipment and a small zoo.  This spot was an unexpected delight for my kids.  It was exactly what the doctor ordered, as it provided the necessary change of mood and energy to keep my kids going.  Coram’s Field is free and located in the heart of London near the Holborn tube station.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is a great place to stop after a bit of shopping and browsing in the West End.  It’s full of great shopping, food and street performers.  I got my kids something to eat and we sat on the curb watching magicians, clowns, dancers and other types of buskers.  They are professionals who do this for a living and are really fun to watch.  My kids were in heaven.  We also watched an opera singer and a trio of violinists that were good enough to take any stage.  The nearest tube is Charing Cross.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the largest square in the city of London. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory.  At its center is Nelson’s Column, surrounded by four lion statues at its base.  Statues and sculptures cover the square, with a cafe and museums all along its sides, including the National Gallery.  My kids loved climbing up the column and chasing the many pigeons around the square.

London Transport Museum

London Transport Museum

Located right in Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum is a terrific museum.  Kids are free, and admission for me was £6.  Inside we learned the history of the London Underground and the bus system.  To say that my son enjoyed this museum is an understatement.  We started our tour of the museum in the Victorian age of the town’s history, with carriages, horses and eventual trains.  Then we moved on in time to learn how the underground system was built, all by hand.  The kids were able to get dressed up as conductors, virtually drive trains and tubes, climb through double-decker buses and really experience London transport.

Royal Air Force Museum

Located in Northern London, the Royal Air Force Museum tells the story of aviation from early planes to the latest strike jets.  The museum tells the story of flight history with films, artwork, engines, missiles, photos, medals, uniforms and over one-hundred actual planes, both old and new, located throughout the museum.  There is also a soft-play area for kids, with experiments and educational vehicles to teach kids about aviation.  The kids absolutely loved this museum and I am sure we will be back on our next visit.  There is a pleasant cafe right in the middle of the airplanes exhibit for an energy boost.  My family lives in Mill Hill and it was a short drive from their house.  The Museum is located on the site of the original London Aerodrome, used for the great Hendon Air Shows between the two World Wars.

Clown Town

Located on the Northern Circular in Northern London, this is a very large indoor playground good for any rainy day or on a day when the kids are feeling itchy and need to run around.  The cost is £4.95 per child.  The play area including slides, aerial runways, rope climbs, ball pond, spook room and more.  The food in the cafe’ is very decent and reasonably priced.  We went on a rainy day and it was packed but our kids had a ball, nonetheless.

I am only scraping the barrel in this short list of what to do with kids in London.  There are dozens of other activities, so do your research.  I wanted to hit more of the museums, including the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert, both of which have great kid’s areas and are located next to each other in Nottinghill.  But my daughter got a blister and we had to head home.  You must expect the unexpected when traveling with kids.  At the end of the day, I realized the trip wasn’t all about me and I needed to focus on what they wanted to do, too, which was play and slow down, jumping on double decker buses at a moment’s notice.  So you may make compromises, but whatever you do, you are still in one of the best cities in the world.

After all, there’s always a next time.  We’ll be back.

]]> /royal-wedding-coverage-visiting-london-kids/feed/ 0 /visiting-london-royal-wedding/ /visiting-london-royal-wedding/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:56:45 +0000 CultureMom /?p=1855 In salute to the Royal Wedding about to occur in the UK, I am repeating an article that originally ran on TravelingMom.com called “10 ways to See London on the Cheap”. If you are one of the lucky ones about to embark on the city for this once-in-a-lifetime event, you are going during a high tourist time so you’ll need some tips from someone in the know.  We hit London every year, visiting family and friends, and I once lived in the wonderful town.  In addition, my mother-in-law is a royal family enthusiast, so if you have any questions about either London OR the Royal Wedding, comment here and we can answer.

London is known as one of the most expensive cities in the world, and it is, indeed, expensive.  But don’t let that scare you.  The exchange rate is really good for Americans again.  When I was there two weeks ago, it was $1.48 to the pound (UPDATE: it is $1.61).  There are all types of activities for people of all ages.  Here are 10 quick tips on seeing the town on the cheap:

My father-in-law had been ill for the last few years and I had a feeling that our last visit to the UK in June 2010 would be my last visit with him.  Fortunately, my husband’s work takes him to the UK regularly (he was actually there the week before his death, working in London) and he managed to spend quality time with his father regularly over the past year.  His health deteriorated much too fast over the past few months and while we were walking a tight rope, knowing that his life could get taken from us imminently, we had several incidents where his life was extended…. by miracles, no less.  We were lucky to have him as long as we did.  I got to talk to him via SKYPE and FaceTime (thank you, iPhone4) often which certainly made a difference being so far away.

When I got the call on Saturday morning that my loving father-in-law’s life was taken, my first immediate response was to cry.  And I did.  After that, I had to scramble together a group of friends who could take care of my children for a few days.  At ages 6 and 7, they don’t understand death.  They don’t really display the kind of compassion it would take to go into a situation that involves peace and understanding.  Plus, going to the UK is a big trip, and as much as they are used to taking the journey as we take it at least once a year, we decided to keep them in their normal routine here in the U.S.  Within three hours, I booked my flight to Manchester and created a schedule that I could trust, with friends rotating the care of both of them, sometimes together, sometimes apart.  By the time I managed to organize the keys, suitcases, school lunches, play dates, dance clothes, piano lessons, etc. it was time to drop them with friends and head to the airport.  I can honestly say that I was not worried about my kids while I was away.  I knew they’d be safe, as well as extremely happy with their arrangements.  Indeed, they were.  As a matter of fact, they were disappointed when I came home today.  My friends were good enough to take photos of them in various settings over the few days that I was away – in ice cream parlors, at bedtime, after dance class.  Nonetheless, I know they are glad to have me home and I will slowly be getting back into our routine.

It wasn’t an easy trip, but one that I will always be glad I made.  My father-in-law was quite an impressive man.  While I knew pieces of his history, what I knew hardly scratched the surface.  On the day of his funeral, nearly 200 people crammed into a small room that led into a cemetery to commemorate his life.  They came from near and far.  When I saw the box containing his body, my heart broke and it was agonizing to watch them bury it into the ground, knowing I would never hold his hands or look into his eyes again.  And while the gathering was quite thick that first day, the crowds never let up over the course of the week.  He was so respected, so revered, so loved.  I found out a number of pieces of information about him throughout the week, some I knew, some I didn’t.  Not only did he serve in the Royal Air Force as air crew, but he was a member of the local  Community Council and was Mayor of Trafford in the Queens Jubilee year of 1977 (my in-laws hosted a Garden Party for the King and Queen, I have the picture hanging in my dining room to prove it).   He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace; he was a school governor of several local schools; he was awarded a certificate by the Manchester Police Authority; he was active at his shul; the list goes on.  As the Rabbi graciously pointed out, he had the “education of life.”  He had to step into the family business and didn’t have the chance to go to university, but he certainly gave back to the community….and then some.

While his funeral was the perfect tribute to my father-in-law, so was the period of mourning that my family spent over the course of the week.  In Judaism, this period is called “shiva” (which means “seven” in Hebrew), where the immediate family spends seven days at home to mourn the death of a loved one.  It is meant to give the person who is grieving time to adjust to their loss.  During this time, my husband and his immediate family, did not wear leather shoes, put on perfume, shave, get a haircut, or bathe.  All mirrors in the house were covered (so mourners are not vain) and they sit on low stools on the floor.  It is customary for the mourners not to cook, so visitors brought food over all throughout the week.  From 2-4:30pm daily, they received visitors wanting to pay their respects.  Every night, prayer services were held at my sister-in-law’s home so that mourners could recite the Mourner’s Kaddish together.  The number of people who showed up during the day, and at night, were a testament to the fact that so many people adored him.  I feel a sense of honor to have known this tremendous man for a third of my life.

Tonight I spent some time looking over photographs from over the years of the special times that I shared with my husband’s father.  Though I am not sure my daughter truly understands what has happened to her beloved grandfather, nor I am sure that her memories of him will last forever, I do know that he had a great impact on her life, my life, and on so many other lives.  My son, who is younger, is somehow seemingly more aware and interested to

My husband is still in Manchester completing the rules of the Shiva period.  I had to rush back to care for the children.  My heart is still in Manchester and I have to let the healing begin.