Travel Diary: London, England

I don’t think there are words to adequately describe how much I love London. I mean I both considered and briefly pursued the idea of moving for work, well at least until COVID.

London is both rich in history, but also lively with new and upcoming trends in every facet making it a place just about anyone could love! We couldn’t fit it all in, there’s just too many things to do, but this sample left me wanting more that’s for sure.

A London Travel Guide is in the works, so sit tight, but until then, enjoy a more relaxed story-version of my London Travels!

Day 1

Trust me, with bags packed, and maps examined, we were ready.

Although excitement shoved exhaustion clean out the window, navigating the tube while exhausted proved to be a different story. Word to the wise: mind the gap and rolling suitcase when the doors of the tube open!

We dropped our luggage off at the hotel and set off to master the tube and hopefully end up at the British Library.

Luckily, we figured it out and ended up at the British Library! I highly recommend the Rick Steves audio tour for the British Library which takes you through all of the things you need to see, even when you don’t think you need to see them.

After that, we were desperate for a good meal so we headed straight to a British Pub for a classic meal.

This was one of my favorite moments of the trip, not for the sausage and mash that I had, but because I got to see a friend I hadn’t seen in almost a year. Kuba, originally from Poland, but goes to school in London was on my SAS voyage and was actually one of my best friend’s roommates! It was the best surprise to be able to see him while I was there!

We headed back to the hotel on a personalized tour from Kuba which included a customary double-decker bus ride. I don’t know if you can tell though, but it freaked some of us out…

Day 2

We set out to see the beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral and managed to grab a quick bite to eat while sitting on the steps. Oh the beauty of a takeaway shop in Europe, they are the BEST.

From there we made our way towards Camden Market, Notting Hill, and Kensington Palace.

Let me just say, Camden Market is just unbelievable! There is so much to see, so much to shop, so much to eat, it’s like you’d never be bored! If I had the stomach (and the wallet) to eat everything there, or at least try a bite, you bet I would have.

Oh and Notting Hill, what a dream (any Julia Roberts or Hugh Grant fans out there). Why can’t all neighborhoods look like this?

From there we jetted off (or you know, took the tube) to Kensington Palace. You know, where good ole William and Kate (the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) reside. It still blows me away that not only could we go and see it while they were living there, but also that it’s a true part of their lives! As in, the royals are real! At least for me, I always felt so removed from the Royal family being in the US so it was strange being there and experiencing it first hand. Can you see the happiness?

And walking through Hyde Park? Just made me want to move right in! Where I live in the US, we have an incredible walking path and park system and so seeing something like that in a place I already loved was wonderful.

We finished up at the National Gallery, which is absolutely STUNNING at night. Trafalgar’s Square precedes the steps to the gallery and the way it lights up is just incredible.

Somehow we made it back to get some dinner near the hotel before we collapsed after walking 15 miles (despite taking the tube).

Day 3

How are we already on Day 3? I could just walk the streets of London forever and I don’t think I’d get tired, truly it is my kind of city (which is saying a lot because if you know me, I’m more a mountains gal not a city gal). Though, I could get used to the tube!

Alas, here we are at the British Museum, which just like the streets, I could have wondered all day! Again, we did a Rick Steves Audio tour which was incredibly helpful, so I highly recommend it.

We ventured off the rest of the day to hit every major thing we could possibly find. First stop: Tower Bridge. I don’t know about you but I couldn’t see it (or visit it) without playing London Calling by The Clash in my head (“The One Where They Were in London” anybody, anybody?).

Also, can we just take a second to appreciate friends who take incredible pictures? I’ll link his info to all the pictures he took, so just click on the picture and it’ll take you to his site!

From Tower Bridge to a red phone booth! PSA these are actually incredibly disgusting and often smell like urine so proceed with caution.

I mean did you really visit London if you didn’t take a picture in a phone booth?

Finally, we made our way to Westminster and Buckingham Palace, but both were closed for something so we only got a quick look. But both are on the list for the next visit, which spoiler alert isn’t all that far off!

London at night though, despite what my facial expression implies, is incredible!

Just like the day before, we walked what felt like the whole city so we found some snacks at a grocery store and collected ourselves. Jet lag hits you like a bus, let me tell you!

Day 5

Our last full day started with a filling breakfast in Piccadilly Circus. The whole area of Piccadilly and Westminster is just wonderful, which apparently I think everything is wonderful in London (which is true).

We meandered along the river over to a spot to admire Big Ben, though it was under construction.

So we thought we’d visit the London Eye, but alas it was closed. Apparently we were having a really hard time finding things that were open in London!

But like I said, I could just walk around and be happy! After a quick lunch and even more exploring Piccadilly, we made it back for dinner before heading to a Jazz Club.

Ironically, it was right across the street from where Shakespeare wrote much of his work and it was the last place Jimi Hendrix played before he died.