While my last post may give the impression that I flew all the way to the UK to eat ethnic food, rest assured that was far from the case.

First of all you should fly Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson never disappoints and if there happens to be a problem,  weather delays, ticket mixups, Virgin employees have the freedom to react (click the link for a great article). I have experienced the empowerment of Virgin employees on domestic flights, it works and it is not just CEO talk.

We had a fantastic flight and service that started our trip off with the outstanding hospitality we enjoyed. Even public transit and transportation (which, let’s be honest, rarely rank when it comes to exemplary service) was so pleasant. From the public double decker buses to the underground to individual cab drivers, they were all outstanding. It really helped to make our trip feel like an authentic perspective of London, experienced from the ground rather than an insulated “tourist” type of jaunt.

Of course, visiting a place like London demands a tour of museums, castles and abbeys. We really enjoyed watching the pageantry surrounding the Royal Family and other long-standing British traditions.

After a dose of the United Kingdom’s historical and cultural relevance, we also took in a performance of Matilda. Personally, I felt the British accents made the whole production extra charming. And, you can’t make it all the to merry ol’ England without stopping at the Savoy for a high tea. It may seem stuffy and pretentious, but we very much enjoyed the ritual. Somehow it seems both regimented and relaxing at the same time. We even purchased teas with pictures of the royals on the tea bags for a little dose of pomp back at home. Maybe the Brits are taking lessons from Sir Richard Branson or the next generation of the monarchy with William and Kate is rubbing off on the country, but regardless of the influence, we had an exceptional time in London.