Exploring London

Sean and I had the opportunity to take a trip to London this month so I wanted to share some of our adventures.  We did multiple tours and stayed in a few hotels/areas, all of which was great fun. 

I love British history and have read many historical fiction books about British Royalty.  If you feel like you don’t know much about British History, think again.  There are multiple pop culture references throughout London and the surrounding areas such as The Crown, Bridgerton, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter, Queen Charlotte, Mission Impossible and Brave Heart that cover some historical aspects of England.

In many ways, London is similar to New York City with different districts that have their own very distinct vibe.  We stayed in the Mayfair (west end) area right across from Hyde Park by Grosvenor Square.  This was a very upscale, peaceful area that was central to many of the things we wanted to see.  It’s close to Westminster Borough (there is also a Westminster City) that houses Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace and Trafalgar Square.  All great places to visit and learn some history.

Buckingham Palace

For part of our trip. we stayed in Soho which was busier and more vibrant.  This is next to the Covent Gardens which is similar to Time Square in New York – a bustling area with lots of people. This is also where the theatre district is located.  If you’re looking to be in the middle of the action, either Soho or Covent Gardens is a good place to land.

The area around the Tower of London is also beautiful.  This is right by the River Thames and located in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.  There are some very nice restaurants along the water front in this area.  The tour of the Tower was great and provided much historical context but be ready for some gory and scandalous stories.  It’s not for the faint of heart!

We really enjoyed the parks in London.  They have integrated beautiful landscaping and gardens throughout. They are all considered Royal parks, donated to the public from the Royal Family.  When you need a reprieve from the big city, taking a quiet walk through one of the many parks is a welcome break. 

Regent’s Park

We also explored some of the areas around London.  We did a whirlwind tour of Oxford that left me wanting to explore more.  Oxford is a beautiful historic town that has been preserved because it was not bombed during the war.  It also has some fun Harry Potter vibes and of course, Oxford University.  You could certainly spend a full day there learning more tidbits about the oldest University in the UK.

Oxford

Windsor Castle was also one of my favorites.  It is only 40 minutes from London and fairly easy to get to.  We spent most of our time at Windsor Castle viewing the state apartments and St. George’s chapel where Royalty is buried.  It was odd, casually walking on top of Henry VIII’s tomb.

Windsor Castle

London also has a great food options.  We were able to sample London’s fabled Indian cuisine, traditional lunch pies, of course fish and chips and some surprisingly high-end fine dining experiences. The cuisine choices were as diverse as London itself. 

Between the history, vibrant London scene, fantastic food and beautiful parks, London is a great place to visit.  This felt like a very quick trip leaving us wanting to stay longer and explore more of England.