Exploring Marylebone Morning Before setting out for the day, reserve a ticket for Madame Tussaud’s for the afternoon. Start at Bond Street Underground, exiting on Oxford Street. Opposite is St Christopher Place, a narrow lane with charming shops, which opens into an attractive pedestrian square. Stop for a coffee break at one of Sofra’s pavement … Read more
The area between Morningside Park and the Hudson River, from 110th–125th streets, is dominated by Columbia University and two important churches. Further west and extending north is Harlem, America’s best-known African-American community. In the 1880s, when rail connected the neighborhood to Midtown, the large townhouses were occupied by Irish, Italian, and Jewish families, but by … Read more
A Day Exploring the Upper East Side Morning Start at the Guggenheim and admire Frank Lloyd Wright’s great architectural achievement before seeing the fine modern art collection. “Must sees” include Chagall’s Paris Through the Window, Modigliani’s Nude, and Picasso’s Woman Ironing. Stop for coffee at the café on the main floor of the museum before … Read more
Eating and Drinking The Real Greek Great restaurant serving Greek food like you’ve never tasted before. Start with mezedes (starters). The wine list has excellent Greek wines. 15 Hoxton Market N1 020 7739 8212 Les Trois Garçons Elaborate decor is all part of the dining experience at Les Trois Garçons. Happily, the food is consistently … Read more
When New York’s upper crust moved uptown a century ago, their destination was the Upper East Side, and it is still the address of choice for many wealthy families. Most of the older Beaux Arts mansions around 5th Avenue are now occupied by embassies or museums; today’s elite live in the solid apartment buildings that … Read more
A Day Around the East End Morning Start at Old Spitalfields Market, close to Liverpool Street station, where a mixture of stalls hold sway during the week, and many more, selling clothes, food and collectibles, fill the floor on Sundays. Have a delicious English breakfast at St John Bread & Wine opposite the market at … Read more
A Day in Chaillot Morning It would be hard to imagine a better start to a day in Paris than going to the Palais de Chaillot and seeing the perfect view it has across the Seine to the Eiffel Tower . Then tour the fascinating collections of the Cité de l’Architecture and, if marine history … Read more
The East End is booming. Always a vibrant, working-class area and home to London’s dockworkers, the area has also prided itself on providing a refuge for successive generations of immigrants, from French silk weavers to Jews and Bangladeshi garment workers. Since the 1980s, the East End, where the murderous Jack the Ripper roamed, has undergone … Read more
Chaillot was a separate village until the 19th century, when it was swallowed up by the growing city and bestowed with wide avenues and lavish mansions during the Second Empire building spree. Its centrepiece is the glorious Palais de Chaillot which stands on top of the small Chaillot hill, its wide white-stone wings embracing the … Read more
Graves Père Lachaise cemetery Jim Morrison, Père Lachaise Cemetery The American lead singer of The Doors rock band spent the last few months of his life in Paris and died here in 1971. Fans still hold vigils at his grave, which is covered with scrawled messages from all over the world. Jim Morrison’s grave Oscar … Read more
City Churches to Visit St Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral St Bartholomew-the-Great One of London’s oldest churches, St Bartholomew, was built in the 12th century. Several Norman architectural details may be seen. West Smithfield EC1 Open 8:30am–5pm (4pm in winter) Mon–Fri, 10:30am–4pm Sat, 8:30am–8pm Sun Adm St Mary-le-Bow Located in Cheapside, St Mary-le-Bow was rebuilt … Read more
A Taste of Greater Paris Morning You won’t cover Greater Paris in a day, and Disneyland Resort Paris and Versailles both need at least a day. If you want variety, go to Montparnasse by métro. In front of the busy mainline station, is the Tour Montparnasse – take a trip to the top to admire … Read more
The ancient square mile of London, defined roughly by the walls of the Roman city, is a curious mixture of streets and lanes with medieval names, state-of-the-art finance houses and no fewer than 38 churches, many of them, including St Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Don’t miss the City’s old markets: Smithfield still … Read more
Central Paris has more than enough on offer to keep any visitor occupied, but if time permits you should make at least one foray out of the centre, whether your interest is in the sumptuous Palace of Versailles, former home of the “Sun King” Louis XIV, or in the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland Paris. The … Read more
A Day in Potsdam Morning Begin your exploration in the Schlosspark Sanssouci as early as possible in order to get ahead of the daily influx of visitors. Start with Schloss Sanssouci and Neues Palais then visit Chinesische Haus, Römische Bäder and Orangerie. From the orangery’s viewing terrace you will have magnificent views over the entire … Read more