London
Paradise for Bobos

From the March 26, 2001 Issue of New York

There are two ways to take in the sweep of London, one new, the other not. First you'll have parked yourself at the town's only grande dame for Bobos, the Savoy, with its irresistible luxuries, its view of the Thames, its Savoy Grill, and its proximity to both the South Bank and the Strand. Then cross the river to the Millennium Wheel (at right), British Airways' gift to the city for Y2K: You can't miss it; it towers over everything within miles. Sit in a bullet-shaped capsule with fourteen other people and revolve very slowly -- no amusement-park thrills here -- getting knockout views of the Tower of London below, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, St. Paul's, and everything else for miles and miles. To retain the Bobo theme -- and to see London from the opposite direction -- take the Northern Line tube to Tufnell Park and wander the 825 wooded acres of Hampstead Heath, with its lovely parks, lakes, and, from Parliament Hill, spectacular view of the city. The heath, where Keats and Wordsworth walked, is encircled by quaint enclaves crowded with cafes, bistros, boutiques; don't miss the city's best sacher torte at Cafe Mozart in Swain's Lane.
-- JEREMY GERARD




Details The Savoy Hotel, 44-207-836-4343 (river-view rooms start at $540); the Millennium Wheel, 44-870-5000-600; Cafe Mozart, 44-208-348-1384.