Jeffrey Archer on travels with Thatcher in Japan and getting caught in a coup in Nigeria
Jeffrey Archer, the novelist and politician, talks to Telegraph Travel about touring Japan with Margaret Thatcher, growing up in Weston-super-Mare, and the formula for his perfect break.
Margaret [Thatcher] was such a tease, from what I remember. I travelled with her on a tour of Japan, just after she’d resigned, which was a terrific fortnight of speeches, visiting parliament and the emperor - she was on top form. One night I prepared her room at the Imperial Hotel to make sure everything was just the way she liked it, with the minibar stocked with her favourite whiskey, before she arrives after a full day’s work on the tour. But when she came in and slumped down into a chair, rather than request her usual whiskey, she said: “I’ll have a double gin and tonic.” That was ‘very Margaret’ - she loved to tease you.
I was locked in a room in Paris on my first trip abroad in 1957. I was 17 and there to compete in the 100 yards race against French schools. All I can recall is being stuck in a hotel room, running in the race - coming last - and then going home. I would love to have been seduced by the romance of Paris but sadly it didn’t happen.
I was never too far from the seaside growing up in Weston-super-Mare. I used to spend most of the summer working - either selling deckchairs on the beach or Wall’s ice creams on the Grand Pier. Weston-super-Mare is still my favourite place in Britain, and I visit it at least couple of times a year.
For the perfect holiday anywhere in the world I need an art gallery or two. Over the years I have been lucky to have visited most of the greatest cities and art galleries on Earth.
My most luxurious trip was a journey on the new Viking Sky cruise ship in February this year. The eight-day cruise started in Venice and took in Albania and Greece before returning to Italy. I’m not so great when it comes to trips on water, but luckily the Mediterranean was as flat as a pancake at the time of my journey.
Standing on a hill staring at icebergs in Iceland is not my idea of a holiday, but I have done with my wife Mary [the scientist] while she studied icebergs there. But in return, I made her join me in Helsinki to see the world athletics competition.
Countries you've only ever read about are always so different once you get there, such as was Buenos Aires, which was one of the most remote places I’d been so far. I enjoyed my time there immensely and I’d love to visit Colombia too one day.
I've always had a soft spot for the Irish since 1966. I’ll never forget visiting Ireland for our honeymoon that year. We hired a car and visited Dublin, Killarney, Blarney and Limerick. It was the only place we could afford to go at the time, but the people were so friendly.
There's a doorman who knows everything about Ireland at the Merrion in Dublin - my most favourite hotel in the world. It also has the finest art collection in a hotel that I’ve ever seen, with each of its rooms boasting beautiful artwork.
The greatest museum on Earth is in St Petersburg, my favourite city abroad, home to the Hermitage and the Winter Palace (which is nearly as impressive as the Versailles Palace in France). Looking around those two venues alone in the city can keep one occupied for days. I also love visiting Barcelona.
Mumbai is very underrated as a travel destination. It’s thriving, bustling, energetic but of course, at times heart-breaking, given the poverty you see.
Naples was disappointing, I’m afraid to admit, though I do love Italy. While it offered great food and fine art, Naples didn’t seem to have the warmth and glow that so many of Italy’s other glorious cities and towns possess.
I was once caught up in a coup in Nigeria around 30 years ago. I was staying in Lagos when it all kicked off. Along with other guests, I was forced to remain in my hotel for a week; they had much pretty much run out of food and everything else by the end of the week. It was definitely my worst travel experience.
I hate airports and don’t particularly like planes. The only way I can survive a long flight is by taking a pen and pad so that I can write. I usually draft a story outline or expand on an idea for a future book to pass the time on planes.
26 spectacular airports you must land at in your lifetime
I feel guilty that I have not visited China. It would be a pity not to see it and am hoping to next year. I would love to take a river cruise through the country and see it properly.
Interview by York Membery
Tell Tale, the new collection of short stories by Jeffrey Archer (published by Pan Macmillan; ￡12.99 hardback), is out now.