Happily the solution to our dilemma was across the street. We’d often noticed Da Mario. It was reputed to have been one of Princess Diana’s favorite places. But it didn’t seem like a place for a quick lunch. On the other hand, I was hungry and decided to check it out.

Da Mario is a simple neighborhood cafe serving pizzas, pastas, and antipastos. Even better, they make gluten free options for almost everything on the menu. The price is reasonable and the food outstanding. I went every day I wasn’t t the library.

At Da Mario’s everything is fresh including the langoustines (Metanephrops Andanicus). These warm water crustaceans are harvested in Mozambique, Tanzania, and South Africa. The langoustines harvested from northern waters are considerably smaller, so when I first walked into Da Mario’s and saw these specimens resting on the table I was impressed.

Strolling in Kensington Gardens

The weather was chilly the first week which was just as well since I was in the library almost every day, but on the way back home we had another few days in London. This time, it felt like summer, and I happily spent some time among the flower beds of Kensington Gardens. The park is one of eight Royal Parks in London and covers 265 acres. There’s nothing so pleasant as formal beds filled with English flowers.

The seven mile Diana Princess of Wales walk goes through the Kensington Gardens and also includes St. James Park, Green Park, and Hyde Park. It’s one of two memorial projects dedicated to Diana, Princess of Wales. The other is the Diana Memorial Playground also located in Kensington Gardens.

The cupola of the Albert Memorial peeks through the trees in this photo. Queen Victoria commissioned the Gothic Revival style monument to her husband which was unveiled in 1872. The memorial took ten years to complete at a cost of £120,000 which was met by public subscription.

KINGS CROSS STATION

After a week at the British Library, it was time to move on to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. The departure point for all trains going north is Kings Cross Station.

The term Kings Cross comes from a long ago statue of George IV that once stood at the crossroads of Gray’s Inn Road, Pentonville Road, and what is now Euston Road. The statute came down in 1845 and the first rail station went up in 1852.

After World War II, the area became an industrial wasteland and Red Light District. But in 2005 refurbishment of the station began to revitalize the area. The £500 million project restored and reglazed the arched roof (shown here) and constructed an open plaza of shops and restaurants. In 2007 the Eurostar terminus located at nearby St. Pancras International Station. Four years later the University of Arts, London moved into the area, bringing the new energy and student life.

PLATFORM 9-3/4’s

The most famous sight in Kings Cross is Platform 9-3/4s – the platform where Harry Potter and other young wizards boarded the train to Hogwarts. Located near the Travel Center and Information Kiosk, the platform draws Harry Potter fans from around the world. And it is here that I said farewell to London and took my laptop north.

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All Photos by Author. All Rights Reserved.

Da Mario.

Food & Beverage Online. Langoustines.

Kensington Gardens

Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk

Albert Memorial

Kings Cross

The post London Highlights first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

The Milestone is the flagship 5-star hotel within the Red Carnation Hotel group (http://www.redcarnationhotels.com). Red Carnation Hotels are a privately owned collection of small hotels, primarily in London, but with properties in South Africa, Switzerland, and the U.S. Their motto: No request is too large; no detail too small.

The Milestone Hotel has a great location close to Kensington High Street with its high-end shops and the first Whole Foods in London. It is directly across from Kensington Park, a swath of joyous greenery. Kensington Palace is located on the grounds. It seems likely that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will shortly take up residence on the site, giving added allure to the area.

Yesterday, I with a few friends and family enjoyed Afternoon Tea at the Milestone – the first time I have indulged. The staff creates a wonderful ambience for this most British cultural tradition. Most recently the Tea Guild awarded its 2012 Award of Excellence to the Milestone for the quality and preparation of the extensive tea selection.

Afternoon tea is far more than murky liquid with steeped leaves in the bottom of the pot. Our occasion began with several glasses of champagne. And the servers brought in the refreshments. Finger sandwiches of cucumber, egg salad & water cress, smoked salmon, ham & English mustard followed by freshly baked buttery scones still warm from the oven served with lovely Devonshire cream. And, finally, the most incredible tarts and pastry delights. Everything prepared from scratch on the premises. We even ordered tea. My daughter and I stuck to ever-reliable Early Grey, but bolder members of our party requested Lapsang Souchong with its pleasant smoky aroma.

This is not the first time I have indulged in afternoon tea, but it is certainly my most elegant experience. Good company and a small feast of goodies is a truly special way to while away the late afternoon hours. As Henry James said, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”

The post Afternoon Tea at the Milestone Hotel first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.