London High The Capital gains a new admirer

We decide on a trip to London after a nightmare trip back from Barcelona Airport to Edinburgh. I won’t bore you with the details.

OK, I will. After queuing for over an hour to check in luggage, queuing to get through security, two passengers going AWOL and then doors getting jammed so we couldn’t escape from Edinburgh Airport on landing and even forgetting where we’d parked well, it was enough to make a grown man cry. And put us off flying for a good while, too.

So London it is. And after such a nightmare flight, we’re organised and book far in advance which means we can treat ourselves to first class train tickets and it doesn’t break the bank.

OK, it’s dearer than standard class. But it feels like such a treat. Free drinks, including alcohol, tea, coffee, hot food, sandwiches and cakes.

A word of advice, though. If, like me, you enjoy a cheeky wee gin and tonic to start your holiday in style, be prepared to pay if you’re travelling first class at the weekend. You only get alcoholic freebies Monday to Friday.

First class is comfy and tends to be quieter than standard class apart from the snoring bloke who thankfully gets off at York, and we arrive feeling refreshed and good to go. Yes, even after stuffing our faces for the whole journey.

While we’ve splurged on first class travel, our hotel is decidedly cheap and cheerful, because we’ll use it for sleeping and not much else. The Ibis Styles at London Excel is clean, the staff are friendly and there’s a quiet (overground) tube station, Custom House, right outside. Breakfast is pretty good, too everything from full English through to fresh fruit, yoghurt and pastries. We check in, have a quick shower and we’re out again. We’re in one of the best cities in the world it feels like there’s no time to waste.

We’ve done London a few times, so this time we’re avoiding the touristy stuff and seeing shows, shopping, eating and drinking instead. What’s not to like?

First night we plan to chill and find a local pub to eat and drink in. Somehow, though, we find ourselves around Leicester Square, spot a show where there are tickets going for £10 and decide take a chance on it.

Siro-A couldn’t be described as everyone’s cup of tea. From Tokyo, they’re a mix of comedy, animation and high-tech light show. Oh, and there’s a lot of admittedly hilarious audience participation going on, so sit near the back if you don’t fancy being singled out! Our group is split Mum and Dad love it, but the too-cool-for-school teenagers roll their eyes, shrink down in their seats and pray they won’t be singled out to shout “Maa!” into a microphone. (Maybe you have to be there to find it funny).

The next day we split up. The girls head for a day of shopping around Oxford Street and Kensington and the boys hit the Imperial War Museum and take a wander, drinking in the sights and have lunch. And yes, you’re right each team reckons what the other is doing is nothing short of a nightmare, while THEIR day out rocks. It’s great to spend time together as a family on holiday but sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder, too!

We all meet up later to head for the show we’ve booked. Now, before we left, when the girls had said they wanted to go to a cheesy West End musical, the boys weren’t happy. But when Made In Dagenham and the chance to see gorgeous Gemma Arterton on stage was mentioned, their objections seemed to disappear. Men are so fickle!

So we find ourselves at The Adelphi in the heart of London’s theatreland. It’s a gorgeous, old theatre with red velvet seats and staff wearing old-fashioned uniforms and it feels a bit like stepping back in time. Drinks prices are pretty futuristic, though a gin and tonic, vodka and coke, pint of lager and a coke come to almost £24. Suddenly it feels a long way from home. However, the show is great fun and has some cheeky lines: “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Dagenham was”. Gemma is as gorgeous as ever and we all have a fantastic night.

Our last day is spent at the National Portrait Gallery, well worth a visit and mainly free, then wandering round Camden. The Stables Market has some fantastic street food on offer and you can eat like a king from a pauper-ish £1.50 from pizza to curry to pasta to puds, we are spoiled for choice.

All too soon, it’s time to head home. A relaxing sun lounger-break it isn’t. But a trip to London is never dull.

Tickets for Made in Dagenham range from £15 upwards. We found buying direct from madeindagenhamthemusical.com was cheapest.

Rooms for London Excel Ibis Styles start at £66. Look out for ‘three nights for the price of two’ deals.

You can book advance train tickets 12 weeks ahead of your trip the general rule is the earlier, the cheaper.