This summer the Mister and I took our first international trip sans babies to London and while there were some tears (solely on my end) leaving the boys with their grandparents it was an absolutely fabulous and much needed getaway. Don’t get me wrong, I love my stars and stripes through and through, but in my head I think I am some sort of French/British/New Englander hybrid, so visiting London felt a bit like visiting the motherland of my dreams (this dream will be completed when I make it to Paris.) The history, the culture, the parks, the tea! It was too much. If it wasn’t so hot I might have returned to America covered in tartan wool and vintage fur coats compliments of Notting Hill. Unfortunately, I didn’t nonchalantly run into and take tea with Pippa Middleton, so that just means I need to go back and try again :). On a more realistic note, as I’m still reminiscing on our visit and already imagining up plans for our next trip to England, I wanted to share some travel tips and highlights on London. And if you do find yourself there, lucky you!
What to pack- We went to London in early August and the weather was an absolutely perfect 75 degrees Fahrenheit all week. Mind you, this was a much cooler 75 degrees than we are used to in D.C., and we certainly got lucky as I understand that weather in London is notoriously dodgy. The bottom line for packing is layers and comfortable footwear. Every day I walked out the door with two layers and ended up using them both at some point during the day. Must pack items are: utility jacket (denim or field jacket), Chelsea rain boots, mid-weight scarf, cotton jumper (see what I did there,) and a cross body bag. voila!
Where to stay- We rented a flat from onefinestay.com (similar to Airbnb but smaller scale) and had a really great experience. The flat was in Knightsbridge, which is a neighborhood just south of Hyde Park with Harrods and many other shopping destinations. I chose this neighborhood mostly for geographical reasons. I wanted to be near Hyde Park and as centrally located in the city as possible to make it easier to get around on bike and foot. The nightlife in Knightsbridge wasn’t really our speed. Lots of Hookah bars and crowds, but it was certainly a convenient spot to be for transportation reasons. I think next time we will try staying in Mayfair, Paddington, or Kensington.
How to get around– We walked a TON. And when I say a ton I mean 15 miles a day. And yet that still wasn’t the extent of our getting around. We used the Santander bike share which I can’t recommend highly enough. It’s an inexpensive way to get around the city plus you get some exercise! You pay 5 pounds for the day and every 30 minute ride after that is free. So if you have a ride that will take more than 30 minutes all you have to do is ride from one dock station to the next to get to your final destination. We also are big advocates for the Big Bus Tours. We bought the 48-hour tickets and spent two days riding around on the bus. Some spots we wanted to get to weren’t near a bus stop so we would take the bus to the closest stop and then hop on a Santander bike to get the rest of the way. Beware of taxi cabs because they are extremely expensive. We took taxis to return home after going out in the evenings but were on foot, bike, or bus during the day.
What to do- 1) Running tour of the Thames. Start at Big Ben, run along the river to Tower Bridge, cross and return back on the other side of the bridge. It’s about a 6 mile run, and if you wanted to run half and bike half, there are Santander bike dock stations at both ends. We did this our first morning and it was awesome. You get somewhat oriented with the city, and there’s hardly anyone out if you go early in the morning. 2) Take Afternoon Tea. Preferable at the Kensington Hotel where the tearoom is divine. I think it’s where Alice in Wonderland in her 30’s would take tea. I found this gem on a list of top mid-price afternoon tea spots. Afternoon tea is about 45 pounds, and it’s well worth it. The tea, treats, and service are impeccable. We had plans to visit a museum afterwards and ended up sitting in the tearoom for hours. With the luscious velvet couches, satin pillows, and buttery biscuits I couldn’t bear to leave. There’s also a Santander bike docking station right outside making it ultra convenient to get to. 3) Take a day trip. There are a number of different options for day trips all mostly 1-1.5 hours outside of the city. We went to Windsor, Stonehenge, and Oxford. Our cheeky Brit tour guide took us on tours of each destination and then let us free to roam for an hour or two. Taking a day trip is a great way to get outside of city and add more variety to your trip. 4) See a Show in the West End. We went to see one of the last showings of Rebel Wilson in Guys and Dolls and it was the most fun I have ever had at the theater. Major date night points to the Mister on this one. There is a TKS booth in Leicester Square for discounted same day tickets, just make sure when you leave in the morning you wear something you would feel comfortable going to the theater in just in case your show is earlier and you don’t have time to go back and change. The West End has a lively nightlife with loads of options for dinner and drinks before or after the show. 5) Ride a Double Decker Bus. If it’s your first time to London this is by far the best way to see the city and get around. Some of the lines have live tours that make the ride even more fun. It’s also a nice way to relax your sorry feet from all the walking. As an added bonus the tickets we bought came with a free riverboat tour down the Thames that was an extra treat.
So there you have it. Now I will leave you with some photos and I’m off for my afternoon cuppa. Cheerio loves!
