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London

The London commute

Getting to work in London

It is morning time here in London. I’ve just woken up, got dressed, and walked to the tube with my husband. I’m wearing dark jeans and a burgundy button-down top with Nike sneakers under my big coat and scarf. He is looking “smart” (as they say here when you are well dressed) wearing his grey suit and brown leather shoes. We were rushing this morning because he had a meeting at 9am. The English are very, very punctual. I hear being right on time in corporate England is as good as late. During the weekday mornings in our neighborhood, the streets are bustling with speed-walking and biking worker-bees hustling to get to the Tube to get to the office. The…

Kate Thomas Dorset Summer Lodge

The Summer Lodge: English Countryside Luxury #VIDEO

In this video, I feature my experience at the Summer Lodge, a small, luxury hotel in the rural region of West Dorset an easy train ride from London. It was chilly and oh so cozy! I am still dreaming of that delicious multi-course meal.Staying here made me feel connected with the local culture, the land, and its history. Undoubtedly, the Summer Lodge Hotel falls into my hotel ranking category of Local Luxury with a top score. The property is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a boutique hotel group of “seventeen luxury, award-winning, family-owned and run boutique hotels…in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.” Summer Lodge is also a Relais & Châteaux hotel – known for…

City Gender Paris

If your city had a gender, what would it be?

I must be in a weird mood. But walking around London today I couldn’t help but muse about how interesting this city is with it’s mix of bustling city life, historic and modern architecture, fashionable denizens, and animated foodie scenes. And all that contrasts the tranquil parks and calming canals. I sighed to myself, “London, I do love her.” But then I wondered, “wait, how did I come to the conclusion that London was a female?” Then that got me thinking, do cities have genders? I know…. Weird question. Certain cities have distinct genders to me. New York is undoubtedly male. Somehow it seems to have a permanent five-o’clock shadow. The subways and streets are dirty. Living there is no…

Kate Thomas Travel Dorset

Exploring the Countryside in Dorset, England #VIDEO

On my last trip to London I took the train to Dorset in the English countryside to explore its charming villages and green, open spaces. Like many, I’ve harbored the dream of experiencing the English countryside for years. In my mind, I held images of rolling green hills dotted with quaint villages and Downton-Abbey-style estates. So I decided to get out of London and into the English countryside to finally see it for myself. And you know what? It was not far from my imagination. The region I visited is called Dorset (which is actually Southwest of London, I misspoke in the video). And Sherborne, one of the many small towns there, is known for having a complex history dating back…

The UK’s Jurassic Coast for Beginners #Video

Along the southern coast of Great Britain in the regions of Dorset and East Devon is the Jurassic Coast. As you can see in the video there are all kinds of fun to be had in this dynamic landscape. In certain areas, you can also go fossil hunting, rock climbing, and horseback riding on the beach. And some locals simply like to hike along the cliffs for miles. If you are hoping to see multiple hubs along the coastline all on the same trip, you’ll want a car. But if you stay in one destination like Bridport you could get away with no car, and simply take a taxi to the beach and to the train station. In the video…

Berners Tavern at The London Edition

Date Night in #London at Berners Tavern

As you may have noticed, I travel to London frequently. These trips are not for work nor just for play. More specifically, they are for love. My boyfriend lives in London. I suppose it was inevitable that I would end up with someone across the globe with all the travel I do. But I’ll admit long distance relationships are tough even if (or especially if) you have found the love of your life. When I visit my boyfriend in London from Los Angeles the pressure is on to make every minute together count. When I’m in town we explore the city, creating beautiful memories. The best ones are made from impromptu moments like when we shared an ice cream in…