All eighties kids dreamed of being transported like Captain Kirk who would tell Starship Enterprise’s chief engineer Montgomery “Scotty” to “beam me up.” That wish is likely to remain unfulfilled till that kind of technology is developed. So what could be the next best once-in-a-lifetime experience that is no less exciting? It is a media trip to London that offers first-class travel, five-star accommodation and jaw-dropping adventures.
To celebrate the launch of the Boeing 777’s first-class service from Jeddah to London, British Airways decided to give a group of journalists firsthand experiences of its Best of British service and offer an insider’s guide to some thrilling experiences in the city. The most memorable of them was piloting Boeing on a simulator at the BA Flight Training Center at Heathrow.
Tourists automatically fall in love with London — the vibrant cosmopolitan hub, famed for its cultural and historical heritage. Renowned for its world-class shopping experiences, it attracts stars and musicians by the hundreds, all keen to be a part of the permanently elevated London pulse.
Spending a day sightseeing in this milling capital is an absolute treat. A desirable destination for travelers from around the globe, London possesses a certain je ne sais quoi, and has something for every taste.
The city is full of history where the culture buffs should have the time of their lives. Even if you should happen to experience one of London’s infamous downpours, it will not put a damper on your day in the slightest. The streets are lined with inviting venues of varying styles to sneak into until the rain abates.
Outside the magnificent Hyde Park, streets lead to the iconic Harrods department store. And if your tour guide there is its vivacious international PR manager, Natasha Williamson, you can be assured you would absorb the best of Harrods in the minimum possible time. The characteristic terracotta façade of this institution has become famous for offering visitors a taste of the finer things in life. When you have done enough shopping, sit back and treat your taste buds to some of the many delights on offer in the food hall.
The building has maintained its Egyptian-style escalators and the legend says they move at the speed of the River Nile.
After the Harrods tour, we were treated at Mezzah Lounge on the fourth floor with an exotic offering of traditional Middle Eastern fare — grilled chicken skewers, marinated lamb cutlets, baby tagine, sticky baklava, to name a few.
During the three-course meal, we enjoyed some valuable insights into different fragrances given by the prince of perfumes — Roja Dove. Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie is sheer magic. The man behind the name is a renowned fragrance specialist originally from Sussex, whose career started when he joined the French perfume house Guerlain in 1981. He now runs his own perfume house, and has designed an exclusive Aoud, ‘H’, dedicated to Harrods.
After a full day of exploring London’s sights, being able to withdraw to a lavish and comfortable hotel is essential. The Langham, London, located a stone’s throw away from Regent’s Park at Portland Place, offers top British hospitality whose salient features are pampering and privacy.
This high-end hotel, known as the birthplace of the afternoon tea, can transport you into a world unaffected by the passing of time. Opened by the Prince of Wales in 1865, The Langham has been a hotel of choice for celebrities like Irish dramatist Oscar Wilde, American pop queen Lady Gaga and members of high society for over a century. Home to Roux at The Landau, guests at this hotel can let their taste buds dance over the modern interpretations of classic French cooking created by culinary gurus Albert and Michael Roux Jr.
The Langham knows well how to make its guests feel at home with an interpersonal touch. You feel like family when you find upon entering your room a handwritten card from the manager welcoming you and wishing you a delightful stay. The courteous staff is ready to go all the way to help you. Once this author lost the way to Chuan Spa at the hotel and asked a janitor for directions. She knew it would be difficult to remember several allays and turns to reach there. So she decided to walk up to the address with the guest.
As you drop yourself in the bed in the evening, a card with an inspiring message by British statesmen like Winston Churchill nicely placed on the side table can’t escape your attention. A quote by Churchill that this journalist learned there is unforgettable: “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” Even a storybook is in the first drawer to enable you to slip into the world of dreams.
The bathroom which looks like a squeaky clean glass house has so much to offer — from top-of-the-class Chuan products to anything you fancy — that you have to drag yourself out of it. Don’t worry if you lost your card key to the room. The receptionist can issue you a new one within seconds with an infectious smile.
Those who are wondering what Chuan is, it is the Chinese word for flowing water and Chuan Spa is under the affectionate wings of The Langham. Britain’s “great” hospitality could not have deprived us of a treatment there. The spa offers different treatments based on what you are. The five elements of Chuan are metal, water, fire, wood and earth. The guest is asked to fill out a form about his likes and dislikes and based on that data his treatment is decided.
The spa has been designed to create an ambience of tranquility for both contemplation and inspiration.
The most exhilarating day during the trip was when we were taken for flight training. Andy Clubb was our instructor at the simulator where we were told how to take off, cruise and land. Each journalist was given enough time to experience his own flight of imagination and Clubb was generous enough to allow each of us to practice till we achieved perfect landings. British Airways simulators, he said, offer the best view and that it is mandatory for every commercial pilot to train twice every six months on simulators where they are subjected to unexpected and serious inflight glitches.
Soaking up so much in just three days in London would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of Jeremy Singer, BA’s suave and disciplined PR manager for Asia Pacific. An untiring and mild-mannered Singer was with us at every step making sure we did not miss any planned event in the itinerary. From Jeddah, Action Global Communications took care of everything from visas to tickets of the group. The PR agency’s client serving director Naif H. Baabdullah extended all possible help to each journalist. His sense of responsibility was extraordinary.
The introduction of the new, four-class Boeing 777 aircraft on the Jeddah route means that the airline’s Jeddah customers are now able to enjoy British Airways’ award-winning First Class cabin for the first time, as well as the airline’s latest Club World cabin. The aircraft offers 14 First class cabins that offer unprecedented levels of sophistication, comfort and refinement. Each traveler has a spacious private cabin with a flat bed. The amenity kits make sure you are revitalized and ready for what the city has to offer from the moment you leave the jet.
How to relish the best of British?
How to relish the best of British?
