The Post-Gazette's early spring Critic's Choice theater trip to London, a tradition of two decades, will fly March 7-14, just in time for London's early daffodils.

Critic's Choice tours differ from the Post-Gazette's traditional ShowPlanes in their smaller group size, informality and fewer frills. Led by theater critic Chris Rawson, the group will stay at the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel, only a block from the British Museum and a short walk from Covent Garden and the West End theater district.

The three plays included are two new award-winners and one famous revival.

??? "Jerusalem," by Jez Butterworth ("Mojo" at Playhouse Rep) is a comic, contemporary vision of life in England's "green and pleasant land," starring Mark Rylance (who played Hamlet and starred for the Globe Theater in Pittsburgh) as a scruffer "Rooster" and modern-day Pied Piper. It received rapturous reviews.

??? "Private Lives," the comic masterpiece by Noel Coward, stars Kim Cattrall (Samantha from the "Sex and the City" series and movies) and Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy in the big screen's "Pride and Prejudice").

??? "War Horse" is a gripping tale of a horse and his young master, set during World War I. Actors are supplemented by life-size puppets in an Olivier Award-winning (London's Tony) production from the Royal National Theatre.

There is time for more plays and musicals than these three -- a theatergoer could see as many as 10 shows during our stay. But there will also be free time for other attractions.

Included are round-trip air Pittsburgh-London; transfers between the London airport and hotel; daily breakfasts; welcoming dinner; one-week London bus and subway pass; professionally guided London walking tour; taxes, VAT and gratuities on included items; and Rawson's advice and guidance throughout.

The basic tour price is $2,884, double-occupancy (only $100 more than in 2008), which includes a special airfare that can be guaranteed only through Jan. 29. The single supplement is $749.

For registration, a deposit of $500 per person is required, along with completed Reservation Request Form. All payments are to be made to Gulliver's Travels Inc., 460 S. Graham St., Pittsburgh PA 15232-1210.

For further information on the trip, call Gulliver's at 412-441-3131. For information on the plays, call Rawson at 412-216-1944.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.