Summer Days in London

On a walk to Marylebone

Since we never took a first “babymoon” back in 2021, peak pandemic, we were more open to exploring a bigger trip this time around. We have friends in London we’ve been wanting to visit and we decided this was the perfect spot for a couple days getaway! I had never been to the UK, and I am certain it isn’t my last time because I was completely charmed and delighted by all that London has to offer.

Our itinerary allowed us three full days in the city with travel time on either end. We found it was a great amount of time to see what we knew what we wanted to see, such as some historic sites and of course the traditions like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, etc. We logged over 17K steps on our first day which may have been overdoing it for a pregnant girl in the August heat…did I mention I packed the worst shoes? We had a nice blend of planned vs. unplanned days, which led us to some impromptu finds for meals and some sightseeing. My philosophy on travel is to always leave ample buffer room for spontaneity, and it never fails me.

Chicken schnitzel and chips at The Champion

Our favorite dining spots:

• The Two Chairmen: great classic traditional pub lunch spot in the heart of Westminster, vivial atmosphere!

• Amorino Gelato: although this is a chain, it was easy to order and the gelato was fresh and delicious. The gelato cones come out in a beautiful rose shape, but you can also order more complex creations.

• Diamond Jubilee Salon at Fortnum & Mason: tea for two at the F&M was certainly a highlight and I would recommend it and go again and again. It was an experience to say the least, and my biggest surprise was how full we were when we were finished!

• The Champion: we stumbled upon this Victorian pub in Fitzrovia and came back for dinner. It is a hidden gem, not on social media, and seemed to be a quieter “local’s” spot. I adored the moody interiors and the stained glass windows.

• 64 Old Compton Street: We found this treasure in Soho for a perfectly intimate Italian meal on one of the neighborhood’s liveliest streets. It was quiet, cozy and romantic but allowed for some fantastic people watching.

Our sightseeing stops for 3 days in London

• Buckingham Palace Tour - we were recommended this tour and it ended up falling on the busiest, hottest, heaviest-walking day. Looking back, we overdid it, and I would probably have eliminated this tour from the lineup. But it is cool to be able to say I’ve been there.

• The Imperial War Museum Churchill War Rooms - this is a 11/10! I am a history teacher, so take it with a grain of salt - but I absolutely devoured every square inch of this museum and loved how it was such a full, yet manageable experience. We opted for the first tour of the day (9:30 AM) and it was the perfect start to the day. The artifacts, stories, and rooms are pristine and it’s so easy to get swept up in the nostalgia of the 1940s.

• Walking down Old Bond Street - we didn’t plan on this, but we ended up perusing the storefronts and ogling the windows of the superdesigner shops on Old Bond Street in Mayfair. It makes for great conversation and people-watching. We grabbed coffee at Ralph’s for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

• Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason - this was also an 11/10, a true dining highlight! It is obviously an upscale ambience, but at no point did I ever feel intimidated or inferior as a tourist. We had an 11:30 am booking (highly recommended) and it was the perfect time to nosh on finger sandwiches, scones and jams, clotted creams, and the most stunning artisanal pastries. We had unintentionally skipped breakfast this day so we were very hungry by tea time, and it surprised me how filling this meal was. Afterwards, we strolled along the floors of the historic department store and enjoyed eyeing up their teas, hampers, stationery, antiques, and gifts.

• Marylebone - I had some shopping I wanted to do in Marylebone and I have to say, even though we didn’t spend a ton of time there, it was worth visiting and seeing a different side of London. This neighborhood felt very hip, accessible, with tons of great eateries and stores. I stopped in Sezane and Varley.

• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Tour - On a whim, we booked a tour at S’s favorite premier league team’s stadium. It was a short train up the Victoria Line to Tottenham. It was neat to see some some of London’s outskirts, and learn about this history of the town and how the stadium fits in. The stadium itself was so impressive and unbelievably beautiful! I am not the biggest sports buff, but even I was impressed with the tour and the state-of-the-art facilities for both players, professionals and the spectators. It was fantastic and I am so glad we added this at the end of the trip.

• Harrods - along with Buckingham Palace, this is the place I would skip in the future. Going to Harrods raised more questions than answers! I had wanted to see it because I was curious, but it was more confusing and unaccessible than anything. Don’t get me wrong - I did not come to shop. But the super wealth was a bit of a turn off, because the mid luxury lines even felt out of reach! I am not an owner of designer anything, really, and it’s not really my reality or my taste - but I thought it was interesting to see what is being sold for those in the highest tax bracket.

What I want to see next time

• British Museum

• Tour of Westminster Abbey

• Restaurants - Daphne’s, the Churchill Arms, Grasso, are all restaurants I wish we had seen while we were there. Unfortunately we will have to wait til next time!

• Kew Botanical Gardens

• Hyde Park

The Prada Cafe at Harrod’s

Getting around

• Tube - our hotel was The Resident in Soho and we really enjoyed the central location to tons of great shopping, restaurants and Underground access. We frequented the Tottenham Court Road tube station to get down to Westminster, Knightsbridge, and other busier (and further) parts of the city. I was amazed at the ease of use for a newbie; all you need is to tap your credit card upon arrival and departure from the subway. Our least comfortable experience was on the Victoria Line, which was bumpy, humid, and stuffy; other than that it’s important to keep in mind that rides only last a few minutes and most lines are quite comfortable.

• Uber - we took Ubers a few times earlier in the vacation and this is definitely more expensive than the tube; after we felt a little more confident getting around the city, we ditched the Ubers in favor of the Underground. But is was nice to know that Ubers were a reliable backup. Our drivers were thankful when we requested to get picked up on side streets rather than busy thoroughfares.

With my photography I was very intentional and ending up not taking a ton of photos. It really surprised me that I came out of my editing sesh under 40 files! We really were actively observing, taking it all in, and enjoying the sights/sounds/tastes with a present state of mind. I found the most picturesque neighborhoods to be Belgravia, Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Marylebone, and Westminster. I would love to spend more time in Kensington next time we go, too.

London in 3 days is something that sounds like a rush, but trust me, it was actually perfect for someone like me going into it without too many expectations or “must sees.” We went into this with the mindset of it being a vacation, not a to-do list. I loved how we had the perfect blend of bookings/reservations and an impromptu, no-plans kind of agenda. We certainly left feeling rested, and weirdly tired from a ton of walking, but having seen SO much. London is really worth the hype, with the warmest hospitality and people. We never once felt “touristy” or singled out which has happened in other cities. It is absolutely a bustling, vibrant, huge and crowded place but the culture and welcoming nature is something that other cities simply can’t claim they have.

See you next time, London!

ciao, xo

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