Anyone flying from London to New York on Virgin’s new Airbus A3330 will be able to make calls, send and receive text messages and use the internet via GPRS.

According to Steve Griffith, Virgin Atlantic’s chief operating officer, this is what we want: “Connectivity in the air is always on the wish list,” said Griffith.
I am not sure who Griffith spoke to but it certainly wasn’t the CD-Traveller team! I, like many of my colleagues, would think twice about booking a flight with Branson’s airline when it introduces its mid flight mobile phone system later this year.

One of the reasons I favour planes over trains and buses is because they offer an escape from Blackberry smart phones, iPhones and other go-anywhere, always-on  gadgets. Virgin’s director of corporate communications disagrees. Indeed Greg Dawson is on record as saying: “Many people will have experienced that moment when you’re about to take off on a 10-hour flight and you need to send an important message to the office, or even reminding a family member to feed the cat!”

Regardless, I hope Virgin reconsider their plans. Modern air travel is stressful enough as it is without being forced to listen to a noisy neighbour’s conversation when up in the air.

As a Londoner, I love Boris’ bikes for hire scheme and am not adverse to his Boris Island airport idea. But the fun, if foppish, Etonian needs to wise up when it comes to the Tube. Only this week Mr Johnson hailed figures showing that the Tube is more reliable than ever – as passengers, including myself, suffered one of the worst weeks of signal failures and track faults, resulting in severe delays.

Case in point? A 50 minute journey on the Metropolitan line last Tuesday, ended up taking close to two hours. I wish I could say it was better on Wednesday, but – you can see this coming a mile off – it wasn’t. Nor on Thursday. Or Friday. A friend, who incidentally is not a commuter, mentioned in passing that the delays were perhaps because of all the rain we have had. Possibly, but while that might explain the slack services, it doesn’t excuse them. After all, this is England where rain is guaranteed no matter what the season.

Boris Johnson

It’s not often that I find myself agreeing with the odious RMT leader, Bob Crowe, but this is one of those rare instances. “It is all very well for TfL to boast of record services, but passengers are still suffering delays every day,” the demon of the London Underground recently remarked. And with the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, I fear journeys are only going to get worse for commuters.

My message for the Mayor? Congratulations on defeating Labour’s Ken Livingstone: I’m thrilled that you will be flying the capital’s flags for the next four years. However now that the party is over, it is time for promises to be kept: namely tackling the tricky problem of the Tube.

Little wonder then that I touched down fearing the worst but, much to my surprise sailed, through in about 10 minutes (and it would have been sooner if the kiosk that is supposed to be able to read passport chips had been open). Having texted the friend who was meeting me at the airport to advise her not to bother arriving on time as I was bound to be delayed, I found myself killing time at the T5 branch of Costa Coffee.

But while I had a favourable Heathrow experience, the same can’t be said of San Diego where last month, I easily spent two and a half hours stuck at passport control in a line that reminded me of queuing to get into a night club during my teens.

Joan Collins

The truth of the matter is that the Heathrow delays, while frustrating, aren’t as bad as those in America or the Middle East – where I lived and work for close to three years. Put simply, post 9/11 extensive security checks have become part and parcel of modern day air travel around the world – not just in London.

The government’s ‘holiday at home’ advertising campaign, led by Visit England and regional tourist boards, appears to be failing in its efforts according to research by prepaid currency card provider, Caxton FX.

A survey of over 2,000 UK adults, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the currency experts, found that the campaign has had no effect at all on more than two thirds (67%) of Brits, who still plan to holiday abroad this summer.

A further 13 per cent of people admitted that they hadn’t seen the campaign at all and, for one in every 25 people, the advertising campaign has actually made them less likely to holiday in Britain. Whoops!

“In spite of substantial investment, it seems that Brits are still committed to holidays abroad and with the pound currently very high against the euro, holidays abroad can offer good value – especially for those people who would prefer to avoid the Olympics this summer!” commented James Hickman, managing director, Caxton FX!

The research also looked at the factors that would put a holidaymaker off visiting a particular location. Across the UK, political unrest affecting a travel destination, such as the recent riots in Greece, were cited as the biggest reason not to visit somewhere.

However, there were noticeable regional variations in other factors that would influence holiday-making decisions. Brits in the north east are the biggest sun-seekers, with a quarter (33 per cent) citing unseasonably bad weather just behind a bad review from a friend (35 per cent) as a resort turn-off, much higher than the UK average of 26 per cent.  People in the West Midlands are the most cost-conscious, citing cost of accommodation (36 per cent) and flights (30 per cent) as the two top deterrents (after political unrest – 54 per cent). Londoners, Scots and the Welsh also appeared to be frugally minded, with costs of flights featuring second in the lists for these Brits. The East Midlands has some of the most tech-savvy people, with almost half (43 per cent) stating that a poor online review would be their biggest holiday turn-off; followed by a poor review from friends and family (35 per cent).

Here at CD-Traveller towers, we want to know where YOU will be holidaying in 2012. Has the government’s holiday at home campaign been a help or a hindrance in persuading you to explore, what’s on your doortstep? Let us know by posting a comment below!

The climbdown comes following complaints from indignant mothers who had given birth since booking tickets, on sites such as mumsnet.com, earlier this year. No doubt Locog’s ‘babes in arms’ policy will please many mothers up and down the country but nomos (no mothers) like myself aren’t quite so ecstatic.

On boarding a recent flight from San Francisco to London, I discovered that I had been seated next to a mother and baby. The next 11 hours reinforced what babies love – sleeping and yes, screaming. The idea of suffering through the same experience at Stratford this summer, isn’t one I’m relishing.

Chances are I’ll be red arrowed for this, but I don’t believe the organisers were ever being discriminatory. The way I see it, they were simply exercising good, old fashioned common sense for the bottom line is this: the Olympic Games are no place for new borns.

Provenance is the latest buzzword to hit the London food scene and chefs all over the city are not only keen to source produce locally and seasonally, but from the very best possible supplier for each individual item. “In Britain we have some of the best ingredients around and London’s greatest chefs are really capitalising on this,” Lee Streeton, executive chef of HIX Albermale at Browns (London’s oldest hotel), tells me.

HIX at The Albemarle restaurant

Stretton changes his menu every two weeks and speaks to his suppliers daily. This is to make the best use of local and seasonal British ingredients – whether gulls eggs one week or St George’s mushrooms the next –  in addition to keeping his customers excited. Foraged food – sea buckthorn berries, ancient herbs and flowers – are also featured. Yet he still does the old fashioned trolley with different cuts of meat: “For me that’s really sexy and the customers love it.”

After decades of being the poor relation of the culinary world, British dining in its highest form is finally being put on the map. We have a wealth of high quality seasonal produce on both land and shore in this country that is finally being given the recognition it deserves – in the UK and not just as an export to continental Europe. It was Gary Rhodes who can be thanked for this phenomena. The spiky haired, squeaky voiced TV chef may not be an obvious choice as a British food ambassador but way back during the nouvelle cuisine 1980s, Rhodes was a torch bearer for classic British dishes.

The role of Rhodes is one that Ricky McMenemy, managing director of Rules (London’s oldest restaurant, established in 1798), is the first to acknowledge. “For many years British food has been under the radar, regarded as old fashioned, fossilised even.” The British public themselves have in tandem had a growing interest, knowledge and appreciation of good food which has encouraged the growth of British Restaurants in this country.

“Look at the success of restaurants such as Canteen, ‘nose to tail’ eating in St John, or Marcus Wareing at the Gilbert Scott, all of which realise the wealth of excellent food we have and should be showcasing to the world.” McMenemy acknowledges that Rules has been fortunate enough through its history to be one of the greatest exponents of game and while it is no longer sourced from their own estate, Rules still sells more game throughout the season than any other single restaurant in Britain.

“I think we now do seasonality and provenance as well, if not better, than any other country in the world”, declares Iqbal Wahhab, founder of Roast restaurant. “We go mad for rhubarb, elderflower, asparagus, gulls eggs, spring lamb when they appear. Around the country restaurants are emerging that celebrate their own region’s produce, which is great to see and even better to taste.”

Roast’s base in Borough Market means that Wahhab’s vision is set – as he puts it – in a delicious context. ‘There is no excuse for us not keeping up with the seasons and finding what is best and when it is available. When you start with the best ingredients, then have a beautiful building in the heart of Britain’s oldest food market, you have a great head start over others.”

Head chef, Marcus Verbene, previously at Brown’s Hotel has – according to Wahhab – added a new level of finesse to the cooking and presentation and brought in more foraged and rare ingredients like chickweed and samphire. And although nobody believes Bangladesh-born Wahhab, it was his chef’s idea and not his to put a curry on the menu. It is, as he says, so quintessentially British after all.

Parlour Tricks pop up dining

In a flower shop in East London, Olivia Malan de Mérindol is putting the final touches to her pop up restaurant. Olivia is founder of Parlour Tricks which was inspired by twisting lost feasting traditions back into British society, showcasing the finest wild and fresh British ingredients using Michelin trained chefs. Olivia believes it is a real golden age for British restaurants in London, thanks to a national food obsession that has been gathering pace over the last 15 years. A real thrill for her and others like her is that there is not one single dominating force and Britain has finally broken out of the shackles of French ‘feen deening’ that has defined its cuisine for so long.

“Although in London we have long been accustomed to having the best of all cuisines within easy reach, what’s inspirational now is that British food has found it’s own language and has world class ingredients and products,” Phillip Granell, co-founder and chef explains. “Nowhere is this more visible than in London, with many top chefs, Marcus Waring for example, producing an entirely British tasting menu complete with matching English wines.”

Also I think we’re part of a new generation of foodies that have the confidence to cook and create exactly what we want and what we believe in, which happens to be the produce of this land.  In many ways I always think that in England we’re almost culinary orphans in that throughout France, Spain and Germany they have such a rich, uninterrupted tradition that really doesn’t exist for us in England.  And it’s only now that people are having the confidence to investigate our traditions and to believe that it’ll be any good.  And luckily we have the ingredients to do it with.

‘The variety, vibrancy and quality are what makes dining in London so exciting”,  Alexa Perrin, founder of the Experimental Food Society, tells me. The Society showcases some of the most talented and pioneering culinary creatives in the UK: on her books are food magicians, jellymongers, cake sculptors and gastronomic tailors.

These tastemakers of the culinary arts industry have an exciting and challenging act as our experience and understanding of food in Britain is progressing so quickly. As Perrin puts it: “Picking up a fork has never been so stimulating. London has a staggering 55 Michelin stars making its culinary offering one of the strongest in the world.”

So, do these higher end establishments serve a better afternoon tea than the typical town or country tea room?

Joe Ellis, editor of Time for Tea magazine,thinks not. His passion is not for the ‘cuppa’ tea itself, but for the tea room: the ambience, the staff friendliness, and the attention to detail of both what is served and the environment. He is also sceptical of the need for Tea Guild endorsement.

Instead Ellis advocates supporting the more traditional tea rooms; painted pretty colours, with lace tablecloths and pretty china – and staff who get to know their customers.

According to Ellis, “a posh hotel does not automatically make for a better afternoon tea experience; in fact you will be more sure of a hearty welcome and value for money at some of the beautiful little tea rooms around England, that I have visited.”

Ellis continues: “I realise that many of these high end places have the Tea Guild accreditation, but they have to pay for this so-called privilege each year and this surely bumps up their costs before they start. I have been to many tea rooms including Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room in Appledore, the Mad Hatter Tea Room in Margate and Harriet’s of Peterborough where the experience you will receive will allow you a delicious afternoon tea in a friendly and cosy atmosphere.I really don’t think the Tea Guild are living in the real world these days; financial struggles of late determine where we spend our money, and we should be encouraged to support local businesses and enjoy a cost effective and enjoyable experience.”

Where do you stand? Do you think that the delight of taking afternoon tea at a high end hotel justifies the price? Or do you share the stance that the words “off” and “rip” could easily be rearranged?

Arlington Avenue Guest House (Islington)

In a quiet, raffish corner of Islington, this stylish Georgian guesthouse offers a home from home, and a rather classy one at that. While the decor is elegant, all artfully presented antiques and old prints, the atmosphere is informal – books and magazines spill out from every corner. You are given space here, and there are few rules other than displaying good manners and mutual respect. Guests prepare their own breakfast, for example, whenever they wish, from a selection of cereals, breads and jams – but are not expected to wash dishes.

The double room is the jewel, large and sunny, with a huge comfortable bed, but the single, with its view over the back garden, is sweet, and has ample room for one. Some may not like having to trek two flights of stairs down to the sleek, modern guest bathroom – but so far, in the fifteen years Arlington Avenue has been welcoming visitors, there have been no mishaps.

You can’t sit in the pretty back garden, tangled with greenery, but you’re just footsteps from leafy, tranquil Arlington Square; hard to believe the thundering traffic of New North Road, the hip nightlife of Shoreditch, and the buzz of Upper Street, with its restaurants, bars, shops and cinemas, are just minutes away.
Arlington Avenue Guest House, Arlington Avenue, London, N1 7AX (07711 265183; www.arlingtonavenue.co.uk)

Portobello Gold (Notting Hill)

In a prime location among Portobello Road’s ice-cream-coloured antique shops, Portobello Gold is a popular neighbourhood pub – always busy, serving food and beer to a mixed crowd of eager tourists and boho locals. There’s a funky tropical courtyard restaurant at the back, complete with caged songbirds, weeping figs and flagstone floor, its walls lined with the black and white retro photos taken by Mike Bell, the pub’s owner. Oysters are the speciality, but they do decent modern European food, too, and dishes are from around the world. The whole place is tatty, quirky, noisy and fun – brimming with Notting Hill atmosphere, and a little rough around the edges. The shabby brio is carried through into the rooms upstairs; they’re a tad worn, and most of them are very small, but they’re clean, with ensuite showers and storage space, and certainly a brilliant deal for anyone who’s here to soak up the nightlife and the location and not spend too much time in their lodgings. Rooms at the back are far quieter. The so called ‘bridal suite’ with its four poster bed, gives you the most space, while the cosy maisonetter apartment (not as fancy as it sounds) has French windows from the master bedroom out onto a roof terrace.
Portobello Gold, 95-97 Portobello Road, London, W11 2QB (020 7460 4910; www.portobellogold.com)

Tune Westminster (Lambeth)

A big hit in its native Malaysia, the Tune chain has brought its add-on pricing concept and minimal modern rooms to London. You get what you pay for here. Literally. You can pay for wi-fi. Or not. Or towels, or TV, or a hairdryer – or not. It’s not one of the city’s most beautiful buildings, converted from a postwar office block on a traffic-choked corner, but it’s next to the tube, and just a hop away from the South Bank. Rooms are clean and simple, anonymous even, with crisp white bedding and storage areas, folding tables, safes and four hangers. The windowless options are generally smaller – but they cost the same as the others, so ask when booking if you care about such things. Guests get breakfast deals at the coffee chain next door, and half price copies of Time Out at the desk. It’s all brisk, breezy and reassuringly straightforward.

Though you do tailormake your stay, there will be unknowns – some rooms are larger than others, and are allocated depending on how many of you there are and how long you’ll be staying. They’re adding another 30 rooms in 2012, and further London branches are in the pipeline. Incidentally, the pub next door, The Horse, offers free wi-fi.
Tune Westminster, 118-120 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7RW (020 7633 9317; www.tunehotels.com)

Extract taken from The Rough Guide to the Best Places to Stay in Britain on a Budget (£9.99; www.roughguides.com)

John Bosco

What do you like to do on holiday?
I am very bad at relaxing on holiday. I can just about manage a day of doing nothing on the beach, before I get restless. I love exploring: just seeing where the roads go (with the aid of a good map of course!) And historical sites are a must… anything crumbling or in ruins and I am there in a flash.

Where did you last go?
A three week jaunt in January around southern Brazil.

Bermuda

Of all the places you have been to which was your favourite and why?
Bizarrely perhaps, it was Bermuda which is akin to being stuck in a time warp. It is like Britain 50 years ago, but with better beaches and weather.  I also found Bermuda’s historical and cultural significance (England’s first overseas colony was the inspiration for The Tempest) incredibly fascinating. I had great fun exploring the cobbled lanes and buildings of the old colonial towns before enjoying the most amazing seafood meals.

Do you know where you are going next?
Yes: I am off to the Big Apple aka New York.

New York

How do you plan your holiday?
Badly! I always leave the practicalities – like where to stay or how to get there – to someone else! I go straight to a guide book (Timeout if I am going to a city, Lonely Planet if a country) and read the history section. Then I go through and dog ear anything I want to see, which basically ends up being every page. However if I am being entirely honest, I tend to plan my days around what cultural sites are close to the most renowned restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood.

How often do you go away?
At least twice  a year.

Who do you travel with?
Family or friends – never alone.

Richmond Green

In London, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides.
Now that Spring is here,  go down to Richmond Green and watch one of the cricket matches that frequently happen there on a weekend. Grab an ice-cream, wander along the river, indulge in a cosy pub lunch and you’ve got a quintessentially British day.

John Bosco works as an actor, tour guide and in the theatre industry in London, where he has been based for the last seven years. As well as working for Sandemans New London where he runs a ‘Royal Palaces tour’, ‘Old City of London tour’ and a ‘Grim Reaper tour,’ John is also available as a freelance tour guide and can cater for specific needs. He can be contacted vie e-mail at j.bosco@hotmail.co.uk