London calling

IT has been a grim couple of years for the world - and that's putting it mildly. The Great Pandemic of 2020-21 has battered global tourism, crushed consumer confidence and ruined the best-laid plans. Few things are more dreaded, or more soul-destroying, than an official pronouncement involving the words "lockdown" or "circuit breaker".

After more than 18 months of heightened alerts and travel restrictions, the urge to go somewhere - anywhere - is greater than ever. Global international arrivals were down by a billion people last year. A full recovery is some way off but as borders begin to open up and leisure travel inches towards something resembling a post-Covid norm, packing a bag, boarding a flight and leaving the confines of the Little Red Dot won't just be wistful thinking anymore. Venture forth. The world may be different than before but there are places to rediscover for anyone with a sense of adventure - and a certificate of vaccination.

Given the strong socio-economic ties between Singapore and the UK, London is likely to be on the travel shortlist. It's a familiar destination for travel-starved Singaporeans (okay, I mean me) eager to reconnect with the outside world. A few weeks ago, I boarded a Singapore Airlines flight and girded myself for the once-familiar journey - armed with more face masks than necessary and slightly apprehensive at the prospect of spending