London

The very first trip Mom and I took together was to London for a week and a half over New Year’s. That was some time ago, but the memories are still fresh. I’d been several times in the past as I had a friend that lived close by for eight years, needless to say, I was a frequent visitor!

So, I knew just where to go and what to do on our first trip. We chose London because they speak English (mind you not American English) and the subway system (Tube) was easy to figure out and use not to mention the history, entertainment and yes…even the food.

Of course, the highlights were numerous: The world class museums and art galleries, the Tower of London, Big Ben and Parliament buildings, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s, not to mention Harrod’s! We couldn’t wait to get started!

We flew into Gatwick Airport and took the Gatwick Express train into Victoria Train Station. This is one of the least expensive ways to get from Point A to Point B if you don’t mind handling your own luggage. We then bought an Oyster Card (all purpose travel card enabling you to use the subway (“tube”) and trains to easily get around London). The Oyster cards are available by quantity of days and/or pay as you go, so it makes sense to purchase one instead of having to purchase a ticket for every tube ride.  

First tube experience: Victoria Station to Euston Station! If you stay calm and read the tube maps, it’s not hard to navigate. There is a tube map at every station platform, and you can usually pick up a map online or at one of the manned ticket counters. The train lines end at two locations and goes back and forth between them. One side of the stairs at the platform takes you toward one direction at the end of the line, the other platform takes you toward the opposite direction of the line. Sometimes, the lines will throw in other main train stations along the route, so don’t get confused, look for the end stations to get your directional bearings. Also, for the main train stations, there are many connections, and you may have to walk a bit to find the next train line. Usually there are escalators taking you down/up at the main stations, but it may be stairs for stops further out. If you are new to tube traveling, don’t go during rush hour or late at night. It’s easier to learn when it’s less crowded. Also, we found tube and train travel to be safe and most of the locals friendly. And yes, there is a recording that says “Mind the Gap”, which refers to steeping away from the platform when the train arrives and be careful to not step between the platform and the train.

Back to the trip! Since we had coordinated and booked our own trip, we opted to stay at a hotel close to a tube station and centrally located. We left our luggage at the Euston Thistle Hotel and headed back into the tube for a trip to the Tower of London and London Bridge. Most hotels have a specific check-in time that is usually mid-afternoon. Very rarely are our rooms ready in the morning. So, we always plan on sightseeing the first day of arrival followed by an early night. This helps us get established with the new time zone and we are usually so excited upon arrival that we want to go exploring right away anyway!

A word on electrical power when traveling: Most foreign countries have different power than we do here in the states, so an alternative plug adapter is usually needed. It is smart to check online to see what power adapters will work where you are going and purchase at least two or three before leaving. You’d be amazed at how much stuff you need to plug in. 

The Tower of London, UNESCO World-heritage site and one of England’s most iconic structures, was built by William the Conqueror in 1066. Strategically on the River Thames it was to act as both fortress, gateway to the capital and over the years a royal residence and jail. Famous prisoners include Guy Fawkes and Anne Boylen. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance and be prepared for a crowd and to spend at least a couple of hours taking it all in. Don’t miss the Yeoman Warders and the Crown Jewels.

The first full day was a fun trip around London on an iconic double decker red bus. The red bus is highly recommended to catch a first sight of what you will be looking at more in depth and also get the lay of the land.

We got off at the St Paul’s Cathedral and walked up to the first level into the dome (378 steps!). This Anglican Episcopal church has seen a lot of history in it’s time including the funeral of Winston Churchill and the wedding of Charles and Dianna.

The afternoon was spent with the horde of folks at Harrod’s department store, shopping their yearly sale for a look at the Dodi and Dianna Memorial and of course the world-famous food halls!

New Year’s Eve day featured a walk to some of the most iconic sights in London: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and the historical Trafalgar Square.  Do make time to at least stop by Covent Garden and check out the numerous shops and restaurants. Many are relatively affordable.

New Year’s Eve was a return trip to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a midnight concert followed a mad dash down to the Thames to watch the fireworks. I love spending holidays abroad. Every country has its own twist on how to celebrate and London is no different.

New Year’s Day was a chilly viewing of the New Year’s Day Parade in London. It was three hours long and very unlike any American parade. There were a lot of boroughs that had small “floats” that were predominantly “green” related with the usual contingent of marching bands, etc. Not the glitz of an American parade, but uniquely British. It was pretty chilly even after dressing appropriately, so it was nice to get back to the hotel for a break and to eat our good luck black-eyed peas.

Back to touring! Kensington Palace was our first stop for a viewing of the Princess Dianna gallery and their home. This was followed by an afternoon stop by the National Portrait Gallery for a viewing of important personages throughout history painted by many very well-known artists.

Did I mention Indian food? Some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had has been in London. There are many very good cafes, and it is worthwhile to stop by one or two. Ask the hotel concierge for their fav.

Moving on to one of my favorite days, a stop by the iconic Westminster Abbey followed by high tea at the Dorchester Hotel.  Since 1066, Westminster Abbey has been the location of the coronations of English and British monarchs and a burial site for many as well. Sixteen royal weddings have occurred and over 30 kings and queens are buried there, along with several other notables including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. You can’t visit London without making this stop. The Houses of Parliament is right around the corner as is a nice view of the Thames.

What’s a trip to London without experiencing tea. And I do mean “experiencing” it. Teatime is its own hours long event in London, particularly at a posh hotel. We chose the Dorchester on recommendation from a friend. Yes, you do need to dress up, but not too ostentatiously. On order were a first round of tea sandwiches, followed by scones and clotted cream/strawberry jam, followed by sweeties. All finger foods. Of course, you choose the tea you’d like to have as well to go with the service. It is a quintessential English thing to do, and the Dorchester was very much a see and be seen place to take tea. There are many, many other places to have afternoon tea, but we were going for a little splurge, and it was indeed memorable.

Next day priority was the British Museum which exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times, collected from around the world. You can spend a half day here or a week and not see everything. We planned most of a full day and then half the next day. Highlights are many, but the “must see” items are the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures, the Egyptian rooms, Assyrian rooms and the Sutton Hoo burial ship. So much to see. Arrive early and wear comfortable shoes. There is a café in the museum if you need a break.

Regarding food and eating out: Mom and I like to eat a good breakfast and talk over the day ahead before heading out, often skipping lunch or just picking up a sweetie or splitting a quick sandwich as the day progresses. Unless there is a planned evening meal or something special that we need to experience, we usually grab a late afternoon/early evening bite before heading back to the hotel. Many times, we skip the evening meal entirely for a glass of wine and some bread, ham and cheese for an evening snack. These you can buy inexpensively from a convenience or neighborhood store, saving your money for more special and less frequent large meals. We usually do some research on what are “not to miss” treats while visiting cities and make sure that we have a taste of them. For London, it’s definitely fish and chips, meat pies, Indian food and high tea!

Back to the tour. After resting our feet after the awesome British Museum, we decided to have a little fun and go to the Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. This may be an acquired taste, but besides being generally enjoyable, it gives a window into popular culture as well as historical personages.

Our final day included a stop by Buckingham Palace and one of my favorite places, the Victoria and Albert Museum. We did witness the changing of the guards along with the rest of the crowd, but the Palace was not open for visiting at the time we were there, so it was a short visit.

The V&A has is one of the world’s largest museums of applied arts, decorative arts and design. We particularly loved the clothing collections of royalty and style over the years. I can keep going back to this museum every visit and not get tired of it. Our final night was fish and chips of course!

I highly suggest a first trip to London for those who are new to international travel. The language barrier is manageable, the sights are fantastic and it’s fairly easy to get around. Cheers and Cheerio!

Where we stayed: Euston Thistle Hotel

How we got there: Flight from US to Gatwick then Gatwick Express Train from airport to Victoria Station then tube (subway) to Euston Station.