London

In October 2019, I went on a girls trip to London, Paris and Brugge. I loved traveling in October because there were fewer crowds, and the weather was a cool 55F for the whole 10-day trip. On our first day in London, we explored on foot. We stayed in an Airbnb near Victoria Station, so it was easy to catch the express train to Victoria from Heathrow, walk to our Airbnb and walk to sites like Buckingham Palace, Westminster and the Eye. We were jet lagged but didn't want to waste our trip going back to the Airbnb early, so we bought tickets to a show at The Comedy Store in Piccadilly Circus to rest, laugh and enjoy a pint.

I have been enamored with tea parties since I was a little girl. I had a few birthday tea parties through the years and modeled my bridal shower after a tea party. When planning a trip to London, finding an elegant and delicious afternoon tea was a high priority.

Kensington Palace and Garden is a beautiful place to spend a day. We enjoyed walking through the park, watching the swans dive in the pond and looking at the flowers. We had a beautiful afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes. Then, we shopped around the High Street. It was a true highlight to enjoy the area and have my first real English tea.

On our last evening in London, we pub crawled to a couple cozy places near Kew Gardens. My favorite was Tap on the Line, an historic pub connected to the tube station with delicious fish, chips and mushy peas and cold, local brews. The restored bar and mixed and matched furniture give a homey vibe to relax and watch the trains pass.

I had a great time in London, but I can’t wait to go back and spend less time browsing tourist sites and have more local fun. My favorite parts of traveling are always the unplanned things I stumble upon or places I’m surprised by. While wandering and looking for the tube stop, we turned a corner. We were met by this vibrant rainbow pedestrian tunnel. The art was full of personality, and we were so happy to experience it.

Have you been to London? What are some of your favorite local places I should check out on my next trip?

Cheers!