Beat jet lag

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4 stop route to keep you awake

With most of the US to UK flights leaving in the evening and arriving the next morning, staying awake to fight off jet lag can be a challenge.

I have found the best way to adjust to the new time zone is having a packed schedule after you arrive. With the mixed weather forecast, this route includes both indoor and outdoor stops:

Start at Waterloo Station
9:45 am departure — 17 min underground Waterloo & City Line to Bank Station and 8 minute walk
The Garden at 120 (Free) — The award-winning rooftop 15 stories up at 120 Fenchurch Street is the largest pubic rooftop space with 360-degree London views.  There is no pre-booking required to access the lifts following the security scanners
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am —  6:30 pm, Saturdays & Sundays until 5 pm
Walk back to Bank Station and take 10:31 am Central Line to Oxford Circus Station — 22 min underground and 2 minute walk

Twist Museum (Starting at £23.50) — This unique immersive museum developed by artists, neuroscientists and philosophers challenges how your mind interprets and explores the world around you. The interactive illusions put a 'twist' on what is real and what is not.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11 am —  8 pm, Saturdays 10 am — 9 pm, Sundays 10 am — 7:30 pm

Walk to Tottenham Court Road Station and take 12:15 pm Northern Line to Battersea Power Station — 25 min underground

Battersea Power Station — The Grade II listed station gained worldwide attention after being featured on Pink Floyd's 1977 album cover Animals and has been featured or used as a filming lcoation for movies, music videos, television programs and video games. In 2022, Battersea Power Station was re-opened to the public for the first time after a 10-year restoration project and is considered one of London's newest 'destination' with places to eat, drink, live, work and play.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am —  9 pm, Sundays 12 pm — 6 pm
www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk ✆ +44 2081 766500
44 Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ

Walk to Battersea Park/Chelsea Gate Stop and take 1:42 pm Bus 44 Tooting — 29 minute ride or 42 min walk for river views along the way

Rafayel on the Left Bank (£45 for 2) — Enjoy an afternoon tea with a Mediterranean twist at this riverside restaurant complete with a glass of Prosecco or mocktail. Select from calamari, breaded shrimp, duck or vegetable spring rolls and mozzarella sticks along with scones and clotted creaam and jam, chocolate dipped strawberries and cheesecake.
Served between 2 — 4 pm daily (reservations required) www.hotelrafayel.com ✆ +44 2078 013600
34 Lombard Rd, London SW11 3RF

Return at Waterloo Station
Walk to Clapham Junction station to take 4:21 pm train back to Waterloo Station

Since this route does not include major tourist attractions, it will be a bit more relaxing and a good transition to full tourist mode!

Wimbledon in full swing

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Snag a seat at this bucket list event

This week marks the official second week of Wimbledon, the oldest and considered one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world.

If you have never been, it is worth a visit and can be done without pre-booking. I have not participated in the ballot, purchased tickets in advance or camped overnight, but instead have always done the Queue. Over the years we have seen some of the top players, including Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Serena and Venus Williams play on the show courts (Centre Court, Court 1 and Court 2).

Key pages from the 2023 Queue Guide, include:

Page 9
TICKET RESALE
Subject to availability, you can purchase returned Show Court tickets (after 3pm), for £15 for Centre Court and £10 for No.1 Court and No.2 Court tickets, from the Ticket Resale Kiosk north of Court 18 near the top of St Mary’s Walk. The proceeds (net of VAT) from Ticket Resale are donated to the Wimbledon Foundation.
Page 11
TICKET PRICES
There are 500 tickets sold each day for the Show Courts, which people camp overnight for.  Instead of doing this, we have purchased grounds passes and then purchased returned Show Court tickets – we have been able to do this up through quarter finals play.  Basically if people have camped overnight or have been at Wimbledon for the better half of a day, they are ready to go home.  My daughter and I sat at what could be considered '50 yard line seats' less than 10 rows from the net on Centre Court and even got a wave from Serena Williams.

For hints and tips on how to pick which days to go and queue and what time, click here. Not only is it a well-organized and civilized process, they have activities once you get to the main grounds of the queue, such as mini tennis matches for prizes, photo ops, champagne and coffee bars, which makes it eaiser and more pleasant to pass the time.

If you have time, Wimbledon Museum is very well-done and just re-opened after refurbishment last year honor of its 100th anniversary and is limited to Championship ticket holders during the tournament.

Lastly, Wimbledon Village is charming and a lot of the stores will do creative displays during Wimbledon. You can also book a place to eat before or after Wimbledon. Our favorites include Fox and Grapes (pub), The Ivy Wimbledon (reasonably priced-afternoon tea / cream tea and themed cocktails), Megan's Restaurant (breakfast / brunch or drinks) and Sticks & Sushi.

The 136th Wimbledon Championships runs until July 16th.  If you don’t make it this year – there is always next year!
www.wimbledon.com