Some notes on my trip to London...
I made a solo trip to London last week. It was marvelous. I'm a city girl at heart so I fell right in with the fast-paced environment of London. It took me a few rides on the tube before I realized that the London metro is just like New York City's, a city I've spent a lot of time in. I adjusted quickly and was riding the tube like a pro by the end of my first day...
On the day I arrived, I meant to rest a little but I was too excited to stay inside. I went to Regent Street for shopping and then to Indian restaurant, Dishoom Carnaby, for dinner...
On my next and first full day in the city, I toured Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey. I’m not very religious but, I think most of us are programmed to see church and iconography as very moving. So, it’s no wonder I teared up when lighting a candle for a prayer at Westminster Abbey...
Most of my itinerary was meant to see the architecture of England (churches, government buildings, terrace homes). So, next was a tour of Benjamin Franklin’s old home. I deliberately chose the tour which did not include a historical re-enactment so I could walk through the home on my own. But it didn’t matter. I was held hostage for an hour by a tour guide anyway. In between rooms, I got in a few photos...
After the tour, lunch was needed so I walked to a pub nearby in Charring Cross called The Ship & Shovell (intentionally spelled "Shovell"). My Reddit research beforehand told me that, at a pub, you order drinks and food at the bar and no one typically waits on your table...
I was still loaded with energy so I took the tube to Harrod’s and went to the gift shop for my mom and sisters. Harrod’s is amazing. They have a department for everything. The best part of Harrod’s was the people-watching. Before leaving, I stopped by the dining hall for some takeaway. There, I learned why London is not known for their food (sorry, guys)...
Saturday, I got a late start but walked across Blackfriar’s Bridge to London’s museum of modern art, the Tate. The exhibit I most looked forward to seeing was Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider installation. I enjoy the beautiful, bizarre, and creepy...
Later in the evening, I had dinner in Mayfair at The Connaught’s Jean-Georges. Mayfair is very charming so I took a nice walk around the neighborhood afterward (my favorite after-dinner activity)...
The next day was the best part of my trip. In my research for finding and touring beautiful old homes, I came across the Sambourne house, the home of a deceased writer and illustrator in Kensington. The interior of the home was filled with dark wood and antique furnishings (the musty smell of upholstery makes me nostalgic for my childhood home). It was just the kind of home I was very much looking forward to seeing in London...
Kensington is beautiful. It’s just the kind of neighborhood I’d love to live in (by the way, I imagine that my future husband currently lives in Kensington. He already has grey hair but he’s still youthful for his age. He always sits with one leg crossed over the other and can’t use his iPhone without wearing his reading glasses)...
Walking through Kensington, I ran into the Design Museum which just happened to have The World of Tim Burton exhibit! The tickets were sold out but I’d seen it in NYC about 8 or 9 years ago. This time, I made sure to get some souvenirs. I picked up some printed items by Edward Gorey, one of Tim Burton’s inspirations...
The next day, I went to Fortnum & Mason (as commanded by my sister). I have a strict no-sugar and no-carbs diet so there wasn’t one treat there I could eat, unfortunately...
On my way out, I stopped in at another church to marvel at the architecture: St. James’s Piccadilly...
After a little more exploring by foot and far too much clothes shopping, I came upon St. James’s Square. Unfortunately, since it was a bank holiday, the private garden was closed. I stood, reading the park rules sign, and looked down and noticed this chunky little critter standing very close to me. Never in my life have I seen a squirrel get this friendly (he just wanted food, actually). American squirrels are petrified of humans. Maybe he just knew I had sweets in my pocket. I dropped a few crumbs from my protein bar...
I was pretty sure I was coming down with the flu so I stopped for some fresh ginger and vitamin C and rested for a little at my hotel. Still determined to get the most out of my trip, I (foolishly) went back out and walked 10 minutes to St. Paul’s cathedral. It's a stunning church...
Later that evening, I had a ticket to see John Lithgow in Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre at the West End (it was a good play but too emotional for me). John Lithgow's British accent is amazing...
The next day, it was cold and rainy and my flu got worse so I stayed inside for the most part (except for more shopping and a trip to Camden Market!). The day after, still sick and still determined to explore, I went to Kensington again for the Natural History Museum...
After the museum, I tried for the restaurant, Chutney Mary, but it wasn't open yet. On my way there, I came upon New Bond Street and stopped into Longchamp...
Afterward, I was still feeling under the weather and should have gone straight back to the hotel. But I was so close to Buckingham Palace that I could reach out and touch the gilded tines on the palace gates. So, I made the walk down alongside St. James's Park...
I caught a shot of some guards marching behind the gates. Marching is part of military protocol and tradition all over the world but, in this case, I couldn't help but think it was still performative for the tourists...
I don't usually go to gift shops but this trip was special to me so I made sure to buy some souvenirs. I call this my collection of obnoxious "I've been to London Totes". The most obnoxious of them all is the green Harrod's shopping bag.
How London stacks up against New York City…
- Amazing shops (I spent far too much)
- A little more culturally diverse (I heard so many different, beautiful languages).
- More frequently running subways (even in the evening).
- Friendlier people (or at the very least, less aggressive).
- Lovelier architecture (next visit, I’m going to find more cathedrals and also venture beyond the outskirts of the city).
I can't wait to go back and I'd like to start spending more time in London when I can. I'm so enamored with the city that I've decided to dedicate a page on my website to gents who would like to see me when I'm there. Having someone to paint the town with will make my visits even more special.
I've also created a separate travel diary website to chronicle my UK travels. If you are based in London full time or part time, bookmark my London website as I will update the blog with news of my upcoming London dates.
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