The trip to London is relatively quick compared to many of the destinations to which I fly. With favorable winds, the flight time can be a little over seven hours to London from Atlanta and eight hours back.

London Heathrow is a new airport for Delta. We have been servicing the area by flying into Gatwick, which is a 65 minute taxi ride south of London. Heathrow is a much larger airport and probably the preferred destination for many. It is closer to the city and offers more connections than the smaller airport in Gatwick.

The ride from the airport to the hotel takes about 30 minutes on a typical day. The Millennium hotel is located in the Kensington area and is just a few minutes walk from the Gloucester tube station. It is an upscale and safe section of the city. The hotel offers large comfortable rooms and a nice fitness center with three treadmills and a weight machine. It is close to Hyde Park if you want to run outside. Many museums are within walking distance, especially the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Since the flight departs Atlanta so late at night, we do not arrive at the gate at Heathrow until around 11:00 a.m. With deplaning and transportation, we are at the hotel around 12:30. By the time rooms are assigned and we get to them, it is 1:00. After being up for most of the night, I am ready for a nap. I normally sleep for 3 or so hours before starting a new day. In London, I have been using the fitness center for my runs after waking up and eating a light lunch (I am training for Ironman Augusta and Arizona so I must continue to work on endurance).

After the workout and a shower, I meet my copilots for dinner. We stop at the Stanhope Arms pub for drinks. It is full of locals and conversation is easy to start. This time we shared beers with a fascinating couple from Norwich. They were in town for a long weekend and offered good insight into traveling. They had visited all four corners of the United States and loved it. I hated to leave them, but we were getting hungry.

We walked down Gloucester Road to one of my favorite local restaurants. Little India offers great and attentive service. A small restaurant that has maybe 15 tables, it is relaxing and not at all confining. The food is presented in a manner that allows you to enjoy your company without feeling rushed. I highly recommend this place, you will not be disappointed.

The day comes to an end and we walk back to the hotel. Before calling it a day however, I stop and buy some fruit, yogurt, and juice for breakfast at a small shop on Gloucester. I know that I might not get up in time to eat an English breakfast, so I prepare ahead of time.

Back at the hotel, I listen to Virgin radio as I fall asleep. I wake up before the hotel call and make coffee, stretch and eat the food I bought the night before. With an hour to spare, I walk across the street to Starbucks and buy a Venti coffee and blueberry muffin. The day is absolutely beautiful with clear blue skies and a temperature in the mid-fifties. I hate to leave and wish I had more time here, but the skies call.