Traveling to London: My First European Adventure
Traveling to London has been on my to-do list for a long time. The city’s culture, architecture, fashion, and their love for tea had always fascinated me. I was even thinking about moving there for college. Crazy, right?
There were so many things I wanted to see and do, but my days in the city were very short. London was my first stop in Europe, and I was determined to make the most of it!
Here are some of the activities I was able to fit in my quick two-day trip while covering some of its landmarks.
Watch a football game and have a pint at a bar
My first day in the city was a real struggle as I just got out of a 15-hour flight. After a quick nap, my group and I made our way to the nearest bar we could find. This bar was great. It had everything you could think a London bar would have: a football game playing on the screen, a classic English menu, and a wide variety of beer options.
Walk around Regent Park
Just a few short blocks from the bar was a beautiful park called Regent. This park was exceptionally well maintained with incredible flower displays, stunning rose gardens, and fantastic living sculptures. I enjoyed exploring this park.
Eat at a trendy restaurant
After browsing through social media for London’s top Instagrammable spots the next morning, I came across Sketch. This gastro-brasserie restaurant has a labyrinth of quirky rooms. Each had its own story and design but what I mostly found impressive was the bathroom! It had these odd, egg-shaped toiled pods and futuristic music in the background. I would’ve loved to eat at this trendy restaurant, but I failed to make a reservation. Oops!
See the Buckingham Palace
The Buckingham Palace is one of London’s most famous landmarks. It’s the headquarters and the home of the British Monarchy. The Changing of Guards ceremony is a popular event to watch here, but there wasn’t one when I went. Seeing the Royal Palace from the outside and exploring the gardens and the park was pretty amazing. There’s nothing quite like a self-guided royal walking tour.
Visit the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower
Visiting the Houses of Parliament is the top thing to do in London, so I wasn’t surprised to see a tremendous number of tourists around the place. Many people were there on a walking city tour or waiting to see the inside but admiring the architecture from the outside was still very pleasant. Although, I was a little disappointed to see the scaffolding on the Elizabeth Tower, also known as “Big Ben,” but hey – now I have a reason to come back.
Catch a glimpse of the London Eye
From the Houses of Parliament, I was able to see one of the country’s most popular attractions, London Eye. My group and I had no intention to ride the Ferris wheel, but it was cool seeing so many landmarks in one area.
Hang out at a rooftop bar next to St. Paul’s Cathedral
To cap off a jam-packed trip to London, we made our way to MADISON rooftop bar. I chose this bar for its incredible view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The food was pretty good, and the cocktails were great. The price range was a little higher than usual, but the views were so worth it. I’d highly recommend catching the sunset from here.
A two-day trip is definitely not enough to fully experience London. There were so many other places I wanted to see, but it sure felt like I made the most of it.
Do you have any other travel tips when visiting London? Comment below!
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Hey there! My name is Margareth. I'm a curious individual, with a great desire to explore eclectic cities, gaze at the great wonders of the world, and more importantly - inspire others to live, love and travel.
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