Fair enough. I tend to prioritize common areas over the room, and that is why I wanted to stay here. My biggest criticisms of this room are the size of the window (which is a function of the space being converted) and the half-door in the shower (the additional space in the shower permitted by this design is unusable because there is no barrier). The bed was comfortable. There are certainly better values to be had, but I'm happy with the choice so far.

One other quarrel with this room: the combination of the low ceiling and elevated shower platform meant that I had to do a bit of "the Bernie" to use the rainfall shower head.

Here are some daytime photos of the lobby and bar areas:



The Chambers Club lounge was a quiet spot for breakfast. My understanding is that access is limited to Chambers Suite guests or Titanium and above.





Interesting selection of books

I joked that this is the most expensive item in Harrods...the joke is on me because it is actually for sale.

"Price available upon request."

The upside of Harrods is that there are multiple places to get a cocktail.

Great Negroni at the Prada Caffe


Ramos Fix at the Baccarat Bar, where the conceit is that cocktails are inspired by photographic techniques. (This one is listed under "saturation.")

After Harrods, we went took the Tube to Green Park for cocktails and dinner.

We had some time to kill and made an attempt at the Rivoli Bar in the Ritz but were turned away due to our "trainers," despite me wearing a jacket and trousers and my wife being similarly attired. I had actually read about this rule before but didn't think it applied to the bar. With such a policy, I think the Ritz is woefully behind the times, and I won't be returning.

Following a brief stroll and a G&T, we went to Gymkhana's adjoining new-ish cocktail bar, 42. The standout was the "Bagheera," a spicy margarita cocktail made with weaver ant chutney and banasura peppercorn that had a deep and lasting spice profile, unlike most spicy cocktails that, in my experience, have a quickly fading bite. The Paloma and G&T variants were also memorable.

From there, we went to Jamavar, a one Michelin Star restaurant. My verdict is that the food was good but not star-worthy. I can't say that the food was a multiplier better than the delivery I get every week or two in NYC, which it should have been for the price. The exemplary dish on the vegetarian tasting menu was the grilled paneer dish; on the non-vegetarian side, the lamb chop, soft shell crab, and sea bass were impressive. The sommelier was engaging and knowledgeable, and some of the wine choices were inspired. But if you're looking for a one Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the general area, I'd recommend Amaya in Knightsbridge/Belgravia. Other than the wine, it far outperformed Jamavar at a lower price point.

Pictures of the vegetarian tasting menu dishes are in the spoiler.
Obviously, I had to get a flaming zombie cocktail at Simmons to cap off the night.



Pushkin pairs well with tiki drinks.

Just before I went to bed around 1:30, the toilet began to run violently. I wasn't going to call for maintenance at that hour. It sounded like the scene from "It" was being recreated in the bathroom all night--and I don't like clowns.

Otherwise, my impression of the hotel remains positive.

Next up: the Avanti West Coast train to Birmingham.

I would definitely try the Ritz again. As for food it’s easily the best French restaurant in all of Great Britain. It’s a bit stuffy but a seriously undervalued restaurant.

Perhaps the first class car being the furthest down the platform means that we will be the closest to the exit in Birmingham, but that was quite a trek.


I like the features of the seat. Upon arrival at our row, I was perturbed that the table did not fold up, but it's at a good height, and there is a generous amount of legroom. The wireless charger on the table is a nice touch. The car attendant invited us to move to the empty four-seater to spread out.



The attendant is very friendly and proactive. Out of the seven people in the car, we are the only ones who accepted food or drink. I can see why, as the food offerings left a bit to be desired.



The Superior Room at the AC Birmingham is admittedly better than the room at the Renaissance St Pancras.


I love this view and look forward to strolling along the canal later.

PS: What is this?? The best transit center sculpture I've seen.

That is Ozzy the bull. Were the animatronics and sound working?

Unfortunately not!

We made a brief sojourn to West Bromwich. The shopping mall is apparently the place to be in West Brom today. The car pack was at capacity.


West Midlands has a great tram system.

Birmingham has a beautiful library.
Now, it is time for a cocktail along the canal, which is exceedingly pleasant in the sunshine, with live music at The Botanist.

Opheem was a top 3 restaurant for me. In my opinion, the restaurant is worth a trip to Birmingham. The experience started and concluded in the lounge, where we had cocktails, and they served us five snacks and concluding sweets. Ten courses comprised the main event, and each item was inventive and delightful. The service was professional and precise, yet the staff members took time to engage with us and answer questions.

On the food front, I particularly enjoyed the lamb cutlet and aloo tuk potato dish. For the wine pairings, my favorites were the Numen Sauvignon Blanc and the Garzon Petit Verdot. Looking at the bottles online this morning, none is particularly expensive, but each was thoughtfully paired.
A truly memorable meal.

My only regret is that we were too full and tired to make it to the Boom Battle Bar.

Today, we have a full schedule, commencing with the Shakespeare Express to Stratford.