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The Ageless Traveler--London Theatre Hints and Tips, The Best of London, Surprising Music Gilbert & Sullivan, London Jazz, the Edinburgh Festival, The Pennines, Cruising from Southampton
Published about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Dear Ageless Traveler,
I first set foot in Britain when I was 18. I immediately fell in love with every inch of the Isles. If I believed in past lives—and some days I absolutely do—I would swear I was once an Englishwoman. This week, I’m devoting Travel Tuesday to Part 1 of my personal England—my shortcuts, my secrets, my delicious discoveries gathered over decades of wandering, getting lost, and finding magic.
Ask Adriane: London Theatre Hints and Tips
News You Can Use: My Insider Tips on London Enjoyment
Culture Vulture: Surprising Music from Gilbert and Sullivan Society to the Jive Aces, to the Edinburgh Festival
Luxury Travel For Less: The Pennines, Sunderland, Chester, Yorkshire, Wales, and anything under the British Sun
On this week's podcast, we barge through Ireland, Scotland, and on the River Thames in conversation with Derek Banks, founder of European Water Ways. Take a slow and languid journey with me, filled with food, fun, unique, and exquisite sights along the Thames. The River Shannon and the Lochs of Scotland
Never stop traveling
Cheers,
Adriane
P.S. Something New:
If Africa or Morocco has been whispering your name, don’t ignore it. I’m personally curating two extraordinary journeys—one to Kenya with Ronick Tours and one to Morocco with Sahari Tours—designed specifically for Ageless Travelers who want depth, comfort, and a little magic.
Spots will be very limited. If you even have a flicker of interest, reply here and write or say “AFRICA” or “MOROCCO.” I’ll send you dates, pricing, and first access before we open this publicly.
P.P.S.
Cruise deals are moving fast—if you’ve been thinking about one, now is the time. Great deals from CruisesIt.
This Week's Highlights
On Our Podcast
Hotel Barging Through the British Isles
In this week’s episode of The Ageless Traveler, embark on an exciting journey through the British Isles with Derek Banks, the founder of European Waterways. Discover the unique experience of luxury hotel barging, falconry, castles, and whiskey, of course. Derek shares insights into exquisite itineraries, local cuisines, and charming destinations that make each trip unforgettable!
Ask Adriane
Q. I will be spending two weeks in London. Any hints and tips on discount tickets or interesting theater venues?
Conner, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California
A. You bet. Start with the London Tickets site, and don’t be shy about the lotteries or rush tickets; you can snag phenomenal seats the day of if you’re willing to take a chance. The half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square is still a classic move. I always make time for the National Theatre along the South Bank—forward-thinking, daring—and Shakespeare's Globe (a stop on the Thames water taxi). where you can be a Groundling and feel like you’ve slipped straight into another century. Get off at Bankside Pier (RB1, RB2, and RB6 routes) or Blackfriars Pier (north side), then cross Blackfriars Bridge.
And then there’s Agatha Christi’s The Mousetrap, still running after 75 years in the Strand—the longest-running show in the world. (If I’m wrong about that, don’t tell me. As a Chrisie fan, I like the thought.)
To feel like a local and become a certified Culture Vulture, wander into Islington for smaller, offbeat productions. I suggest the local theatre Questor in Ealing or The Rose Theatre.
And for that Lincoln Center feeling, nothing beats the Barbizon-modern extravaganzas and the best of staging. To be “too-too” British, treat yourself to an orchestra performance at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington and stroll in Kensington Gardens.
Cheerio.
News You Can Use
This week’s news is a list of My Favorites and where to find or experience them. Perhaps you have been to England and have your favorites, too. Let us know about them in our Facebook Salon or send me a text or a voicemail.
The finest afternoon tea I’ve ever had—yes, I said ever—was at Harrods, and if you get to the Lake District, The Beatrix Potter House where Peter Rabbit was born, and also Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail. (Before I get push back on the best tea, I agree that tea in the Medina, Marrakesh, or in a bistro in St Petersburg may be more exotic, but I’m talking about English cream tea.
Free nightlife and low-down locations: I drift into Covent Garden for lively bars, over to Marylebone for something more polished, and then Camden Town when I want edge, music, and that electric London feeling.
And of course, walk…try the GPS MY CITY APP. Including a City Introduction, Jane Austen's London, Bridges of London, South Bank, Covent Garden, and Charles Dickens' London. Taking you back in history and illuminating today’s must-see sites.
Notting Hill, with Portobello Road Market, is where I bought much of my furniture back in 1980 when the dollar was strong and I was unstoppable. And then there are the canals of Camden—quiet, surprising, and a completely different rhythm of the city—ending near London Zoo, which is as charming as it is historic. For book lovers, I never skip the Daunt travel bookstore; it’s the kind of place where you walk in for ten minutes and walk out an hour later, wondering how you will fit the books in your suitcase.
Culture Vulturing Around the World
Of course, England is high on high culture. It is a smorgasbord of venerable houses and quirky museums. But if you want to be an insider, I have two surprises for you. First, there is the UK’s Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Sullivan fans can join The Sir Arthur Sullivan Society. Here’s a snippet of the great G&S CANON. Only 12 operettas have changed the musical theatre forever and marked the birth of the Broadway musical. Every July-August, I attend the two-week festival in Buxton and explore Derbyshire in the bargain.
I love the London Jazz scene. The great Jive Aces just released their new album, and if you want to jump jive with the best, watch this video I made for you yesterday when the group came to Palm Springs. They are usually touring or playing at the famous jazz venue Ronnie Scott's in SOHO. and other jazz venues in London.
On a side note, G&S National Company offers terrific river cruises. I have gone with them on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, and the best…The Nile, check out Theatrical Adventures At Sea, and hoorah for the NOT homeward Bound!
You don’t have to be a Royal to travel like one in Britain. So, let’s take the Grand Tour of my idiosyncratic favorite spots and experiences. (The pound has its ups and downs, and when it’s in your favor, move fast.)
I love staying in the Pennines, exploring villages, and slipping into Castleton to buy Blue John stone jewelry. (Only available from their mines. Take a cave trip and select your own piece of stone.) This is countryside layered with history—the plague village stories, dramatic hikes, and that feeling of England untouched. Read Year of Wonders before you go- or better yet, while you are there hiking, sightseeing, and visiting the churches and sites of the black plague. I stay at the quintessential B&Bs that dot the area and feel like a local by helping with trail cleanups as I hike.
You’re in England but want a glimpse of Wales…here’s a thought: from Chester, you can pop into Wales for dinner and be back before bedtime.
Down south, Salcombe and Portsmouth offer seaside charm, while Penzance feels almost tropical on a good day. Up north, you’ve got Scarborough, Yorkshire, and Harrogate with its glorious Harlow Carr Gardens. England isn’t one place—it’s a hundred moods stitched together.
Here’s a must-do tip from one of the outstanding members of the Age Wise Collective to which I belong:
Join gerontologist Sally Duplantier for Wellness Wednesdays to learn practical, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.
These programs are free to The Ageless Travelers and are also recorded in case you can’t attend in real time.
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