Foreign Destination Research Project: London Jessica B.

Gallop December 11, 2011 HTT/200 Hospitality: Food, Shelter, and Fun Away From Home

There are many foreign destinations full of history, food, and fun that would be interesting to visit, but the one I have always been most interested in would be London, England in the United Kingdom. There are many reason for wanting to visit London, including food, fun, and especially history. Many little girls dream of being princesses and in London, a real royal family lives and works to represent their beloved country. So much of the history of the United States comes from England and especially London. The people who established the first English colony in the new world were from England and much of their fateful story stems from London as they had to obtain permission and resources from the queen. London is located in the United Kingdom. The World Factbook which is part of the Central Intelligence Agency website states that the United Kingdom played a leading role in parliamentary democracy. The United Kingdom also made many advances in science and literature all of which have influenced many things we enjoy today (Central Intelligence Agency, n.d.). The United Kingdom is located in Western Europe. It is located on an island between the Northern Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The climate in The United Kingdom, including London, England, is considered to be temperate. Half of the days are overcast. On June 30th 2010, it was estimated that there were 7.83 million people living in London (Greater London Authority, 2011)! The median age in the United Kingdom is 40 compared to 36.9 in the United States. Currently the United States Department of State does not have any travel warnings or advisories issued in relation to travel to the United Kingdom, specifically London, England. However, because of 9/11 and other terror attacks on the United Stated and its allies, travelers should be cautious when choosing any destination and be aware of their surroundings at all times (U.S. Department of State, n.d.). London has seen its share of attacks including one in 2005 that killed 56 people and injured 700. However, the last attempt at harming the people of London was in 2008 and resulted in only the perpetrator being harmed. As in the United States, the United Kingdom has stepped up their security to help insure the safety of travelers to their country.

There are a wide variety of places to eat, drink, and be merry while visiting London. From traditional British cuisine to American fare and even international food there is something for everyone who chooses to visit London. For casual cuisine, there is a newer casual eating restaurant called Adobo. While this restaurant could also be considered ethnic cuisine, it is also a casual dining restaurant. I chose Adobo because according to their website they are London's newest fast casual dining experience, specializing in healthy, fresh, Mexican cuisine. I think this motto will catch the attention of many people as the trend of trying to eat healthier becomes increasingly popular. Many people will enjoy having a fresh alternative to eating McDonalds and other greasy, unhealthy eating options. The atmosphere at Adobo seems very nice for a fast casual restaurant and seems like it would be a comfortable, interesting place to eat. As far as fine dining, The Butlers Wharf Chop House looks like an elegant place to enjoy a good meal. Their atmosphere is comfortable, their menu is traditional, and their wine list appears to be excellent which are all characteristics that are important to me when choosing a place to eat. The oak walls may not seem elegant to some, but for those who are not into the modern elegance it is a traditional atmosphere with a fine dining menu. A neat looking specialty restaurant is The Riding House Cafe Restaurant. This restaurant was appealing because of its combination of quirky vintage style combined with modern European cuisine. The combination makes the style fresh and unique. People admiring the dcor may not be expecting the modern menu which is what is appealing to me. This seems like it would be inviting while offering modern and cutting edge recipes on their menu. For an ethnic eating establishment, Gourmet San was the restaurant that was chosen. In my research, this establishment kept popping up with reviews of excellent food that has great flavor. While it may seem odd to eat Chinese food while in London, this restaurant seems to be one to try (The New York Times, 2011)! Many restaurants are similar in the cuisine that they serve in comparison to American restaurants. However, many menus featured items like braised rabbit and game birds that are not typically found in most American restaurants. This may be a surprise to some people who are not used to feasting on dishes like that.

Hostels appear to be the cheapest budget lodging option available. One of the hostels with the highest rating is the London Eye Hostel. While the exterior of the building looks quaint and traditional, the idea of a hostel is not one that many people would be comfortable with. As with locations around the world, commercial chain hotels, like Hilton, also have hotels in London. The Hilton London Kensington is one of their many hotels that offer lodging options in ye olde London. The rooms and hotel in general appear to be very similar to Hilton hotels found in the United States that I have stayed at. The Chiswick Moran Hotel is a resort located in London. It features many luxurious amenities and is more expensive than many other hotels located in its vicinity. Last but not least is a Bed and Breakfast. The Abbey Court Notting Hill appears to be one of the nicer choices. Located in Notting Hill, which was the title of a movie featuring Julia Roberts, this bed and breakfast appears to be clean, comfortable, and offer many amenities despite the small rooms. The bed and breakfast accommodations were much different than bed and breakfast establishments found in the United States. Most bed and breakfasts found in the United States are housed in historic homes and feature dcor to match their theme. For instance, the Liberty Rose Bed and Breakfast in Colonial Williamsburg, VA features dcor from the colonial time period. This goes along with the Williamsburg vacation experience since Jamestown, the first successful British colony in the new world, is right down the road. Rooms at this bed and breakfast are luxurious and roomy. While many accommodations are similar to those found in the United States, research has found that European lodging does not concentrate as much on space. Many rooms found were small and more simple than those typically found in the United States. Research also found that Europeans enjoy travel and to allow for more travel, hostels and lower cost accommodations are popular because they allow a lot of travel on a tight budget. Modes of travel to reach my destination are plane and ship. Travel to England by car, train, or bus are not possible. Air travel and travel by ship will both take quite a while since they involve crossing the Atlantic Ocean for the quickest route from the United States. One trans-Atlantic voyage that would add to the overall experience is to cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II, which is a luxury cruise ship that is

expensive and only has a limited schedule for travel from the United States to England. However, once you get to London, travel by train or bus is a great way to be able to see a lot of sights without having to rent a vehicle or plan a tour. Through friends who have served in the United States military over in Europe, there are day train trips that people can take advantage of while visiting. These allow visitors to travel quickly and comfortably and see many historic places. The availability of these day trips all goes back to Europeans enjoying travel and so travel is readily available for them to enjoy. Some of the sights I would love to see while visiting London are Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and the Natural History Museum. Buckingham Palace is a popular destination of visitors because it is the home of the royal family. With the recent wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, I think this is even more popular. Most little girls dream of their own Prince Charming sweeping them away to a castle. The fact that there is still a royal family is almost magical for many people who travel from afar to get a piece of that magic. For the same reason, Westminster Abbey is also a popular travel destination. Seeing the abbey on a television is breathtaking so one can only imagine how amazing it is in person. The extravagant detail of the abbey is not something seen everywhere. It is beautiful and unique. As the subject of a favorite nursery rhyme, London Bridge is not only a beautiful structure, but visitors can not help but sing the nursery rhyme! Lastly the Museum of Natural History features an amazing dinosaur exhibit as well as many hands-on and interactive exhibits that give visitors the chance to put their hands on history! The museum seems to be a great place to visit and learn new facts. Windsor Castle is also a destination that would need to be visited to make such a historical and amazing trip. Windsor Castle has been a royal home and fortress for over 900 years and remains one of the largest and oldest inhabited castles in the world! This amazing attraction features art, magnificent architecture, and a peek into one of the royal homes. Jolly old London is a beautiful travel destination that truly holds something for every person. So much of what we do today was influenced by our European roots. Architecture, religion, customs, recipes; the list of influences from our country's European roots is endless! What better way to celebrate

everything that we as Americans hold dear than to visit where it all began. The food is amazing! There are SO many options for every budget for lodging. The attractions to see are simply endless. Therefore, London, England is definitely one destination that would be truly fabulous to have the opportunity to visit.

References Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/uk.html Greater London Authority. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Update %2011-2011%20Mid-2010%20population%20estimates.pdf The New York Times. (2011). Retrieved from http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/britain/england/london/restaurants.html U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://travel.state.gov/