Destination: London

London was a no-brainer when choosing destinations in Europe. First of all, it was easy for Jay to commute to work from there. Add that to the abundance of (free!) museums, monuments, and amazing restaurants, we knew it was a good place to start our two month “European Vacation”.

Accommodations:

Our AirBnb in London was definitely a learning experience. Having left Aruba where we were staying at a resort, we had a certain amount of comfort that we enjoyed. We knew living in a city like London would be different – everything being smaller for example. What we didn’t plan for was dealing with uncomfortable beds/pillows, appliances that didn’t work properly or at all, and one of two showers not being reliable for our family of 6. When you book an AirBnb, there is an expectation that what is represented is what you get and we find that it’s best to prepare for things to go wrong while hoping they all go right!

On the positive side, we loved the location! It was close to a large grocery store, 2 metro stations and several open grassy parks. We felt safe and were able to easily get outside to enjoy the area.

Activities:

The London Pass – We planned most of our sightseeing around the benefits of the London Pass. This pass allowed us entry to 103 attractions in and near the city for a single fee. We simply purchased the pass online (we chose the 4-day option) and then made reservations for timed entry for the non-negotiable spots we agreed upon as a family. The rest we just squeezed in as we saw fit.

Arsenal Tour – We were so impressed with Emirates Stadium, the third-largest stadium in England. The tour included an audio guide and free headphones. We got to sit in the players’ seats, see the home and away changing rooms, the press box, the head coach’s office, the Diamond Club, and even walk through the players’ tunnel. The Arsenal Museum was nice to visit after our tour and of course the gift shop was huge and full of options.

Chelsea Tour – Stamford Bridge felt different than Emirates. Despite it’s size, it felt more like a neighborhood stadium with a more personal feel. Instead of an audio guide, we had a human guide. We really enjoyed his stories and personal touch as we walked through the halls of the stadium. We wandered through the players’ tunnel to their theme song, explored the changing rooms (learning about the intentional design flaws made in the away room), and sat in the press room chairs ready for the post game questions.

National Portrait Gallery – This museum wasn’t originally on our list, however it was highly recommended by a friend (hi Beth!) so we squeezed it in. I honestly could have spent all day there. From paintings to sculptures, there was a wide variety of people represented in this collection. The kids were excited to see familiar faces (not all old dead people!) as well.

Tate Modern – Just across the Millenium Bridge, the Tate Modern offered an open and airy space for us to enjoy the collection. The kids were intrigued by the drawing room “Tate Draw” that was offered on the lower level where they could use computers with inspiration photos to make their own art. There were even comfortable couches in the room for those that just needed a rest. This allowed me to explore on my own for a bit which was a perk! The gift shop at the Tate was very appealing though I didn’t take anything home with me!

Royal Mews – Our horse lover Harriet was the inspiration for this selection. The Royal Mews is where the royal stables are located as well as where the special carriages and vehicles are stored. The training center where not only are the young royals trained but the horses as well – is also located at Royal Mews. I probably would have passed this one by if it weren’t for Harriet’s interest, but I’m so glad that we included it. There was a lot to see and learn.

Kensington Palace – This is where we met up with my friend Sean and his children as they hadn’t been to the palace before so it was new for all of us. While we enjoyed the company very much, it was probably our least favorite tour in London. There really didn’t seem to be much special about it. Perhaps we should have spent more time learning about it beforehand so we could go into it with some curiosity and questions. I’d love to hear of anyone that went and had a better experience. Maybe we missed something!

Tower Bridge – This was of course up near the top of our list. Tower Bridge feels like the center of London and we knew the kids would love to climb up to the top. We did have to make a timed reservation to be able to get inside which was easy to do. You are guided up one part of the tower, across the top (including a glass floor looking to the Thames below!), and down another side. The views are beautiful and there was quite a bit of interesting information to learn – I particularly enjoyed learning about the different designs considered before they decided on the one we see today.

Cutty Sark – Located in Greenwich, the Cutty Sark was the little engine that could. It was a clipper ship built in 1869 for the tea trade. Just a few years later the Suez Canal made transport from China easier and faster, so Cutty Sark began transporting wool from Australia to England and held the fastest time between the two locations for 10 years. This activity allows for exploring the ship, hands-on activities (we learned how rope was made and got to make it ourselves!), and interactive exhibits as well. Definitely a great activity for all ages.

Tower of London – This spot was brought up on several sites as a great place to take your family in London. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about it before going. It turned out to be another highlight of our trip. There was something for everyone here – from the Crown Jewels, to stories of torture and execution, to the lives of the Yeoman Warders that not only give the (really funny/interesting) tours but also live on site to protect this historic fortress.

St. Paul’s Cathedral – The first of many visits to cathedrals on our European tour, St. Paul’s was a great place to start. The audio guide offered tours specifically for adults or children so we could hear stories more tailored to our age and interest. We had heard about climbing up to the dome and were lucky to head up the 528 steps to the top for some of the best views of London before they closed it for an upcoming mass. The stairs felt like they would never end yet we were eventually rewarded with fresh air and the vast skyline below.

Royal Observatory/Prime Meridian – The Royal Observatory was founded in 1675 and is the birthplace of modern astronomy. It is here that longitude was figured out in order for those at sea safer and more accurate navigation. In 1884 a conference was held in order to establish Greenwich as the location of the Prime Meridian – the place that designated zero degrees longitude for the world. The kids thought it was cool to stand with a foot in each hemisphere!! Located on a hilltop overlooking the Royal Park, this is the spot to sit and soak it all in – maybe with a picnic…

Frameless – This experience is probably not in the top 10 most common sightseeing opportunities in the city, however seeing it on our list of options on the London Pass site, we were intrigued. I knew the kids would want something unique and different from the museums/churches we had planned and it fit the bill perfectly. Frameless is an immersive art experience – several rooms built with screens and mirrors that allow you to be a part of your most favorite art pieces including Monet, Van Gogh, Dali and more. Whether you are a little into art or a lot, I think most people would enjoy this.

Harry Potter Studio Tour (Warner Brothers) – Not a part of the London Pass, however it’s a must-see for any Harry Potter fan. The three older kids were extremely interested in this experience while George chose to spend a day with Jay doing something else. While I knew tickets would likely sell out ahead of time, I didn’t even look at the availability until we were in London. Let’s just say that we were lucky to get them at all. The first available were on the last day of our visit, and they were the last timeslot of the day (6:30pm). With a 9:30pm closing, you’d think 3 hours would be plenty! If we were to go again, I’d plan for at least 4 hours so as to not feel rushed. There is so much to see, experience and learn, making sure you have plenty of time is key to an enjoyable visit.

Parks – I can tell you this now that we have been to and left Paris and just arrived in Barcelona – London has the absolute best grassy parks for walking, playing, soccer, etc. We couldn’t find one grassy park in all of Paris (even with Google’s assist) and Barcelona is looking to be similar. We miss London parks!!

Dining:

Mayflower Pub – at the original 1620 mooring site of the Mayflower ship right on the bank of the Thames. Perfect cozy spot for a pint and some crisps!

Borough Market – We had heard so many great things about Borough Market and being in the area one day, we stopped in. While the variety of cuisines was vast and the tummies were growling, we felt it was quite overwhelming being so crowded – even on a Thursday afternoon which was supposedly a slow time. From the little research on the market I did before we left, I knew where I wanted to go and that was Kappacasein Dairy for their “toastie” – a mixture of cheddar, comte, and raclette toasted in sourdough bread with leeks and onions. It was the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. I will dream of going back there someday for it. The kids were drawn to the viral chocolate covered strawberries by Turnips. Due to my allergy, I tried them sans chocolate and they were the sweetest strawberries I remember ever eating. Highly recommend!

The Barn at Surrey Docks Farm – We stumbled upon this gem on a walk one beautiful afternoon. What a delight it was – right on the Thames overlooking the London skyline. Just behind the cafe is a working farm with free entry to check out their cows, pigs, ferrets, chickens, sheep, goats and more!

Surrey Docks – Within walking distance of our flat, this pub was perfect for a quick pint, though we were disappointed (and found it unusual) that the soccer matches weren’t being broadcast there.

Rajdoot – Jay’s favorite Indian restaurant in the city and that’s saying something because we’ve heard from some people that London has better Indian food than India (shhhh).

Honest Burger – Perfect spot to squeeze in some good burgers and fries before our timed entry at the London Bridge.

Maroush Express – Another of Jay’s favorites (can you tell he used to go to London a lotttttt for work?) – this Lebanese restaurant is delish. Whatever you get, make sure to have their special garlic sauce to accompany it. You will thank us later.

Coco Grill – The perfect spot for date night offering views of Tower Bridge and the sparkling lights of the city. The Mediterranean inspired menu was what caught our attention and it didn’t disappoint. Coco’s in-house mixologist creates a mindblowing array of non-alcoholic cocktails that made it hard to choose just one (so we had two).

Cheeky Scone – I am a sucker for scones. I will choose them over a muffin, croissant, or cinnamon roll any day. Jay and I went to London years ago and discovered this place when I noticed that scones were not as easy to find as I had hoped. I loved it so much, I had to go back during this visit. Think fancy doughnut shop, but scones. You get clotted cream and your choice of jams on the side. It’s a must-go for me and happens to be conveniently located right around the corner from Notting Hill.

The Perks:

Obviously, the fact that English is the primary language spoken in London makes it much easier for many reasons.

If anyone in your family has food allergies or sensitivities, London is the place to visit. I felt very comfortable as each restaurant offered an allergy menu. In fact, most servers asked about allergies as soon as they introduced themselves. I felt even safer than I do in the states eating out in London.

Coming from the country, the ease of traveling on public transportation will always amaze me. London’s tube and bus system is very intuitive and easy to use. By the time we left for Paris, the kids knew the stations and would have easily been able to make it back to the flat had we been separated.

The Not-So Perks:

I know it’s part of being in a city – or anywhere these days, but at least the area we were in felt like we were in a green cloud of Mary Jane most of the time. I was suprised to find that it isn’t legal in the city with how much of it we noticed around us. Not a huge problem at all, however the smell really bothered some of the kids and gets old after a while….

Not known for being inexpensive…London is a pricey place to visit. Lodging, food, and shopping in general just has city prices.

It’s a city, so sometimes it feels really crowded. The biggest suggestion we have regarding this is to avoid rush hour on the tube if you can!! If you aren’t on high alert, you will be run over!!

Wrap it Up, Amie

So there you have it, our summary of two weeks in London. I’d say in a nutshell but I went overboard, I admit. We absolutely loved our time there and couldn’t imagine liking any other city as much. We started getting our feet wet with the traveling – learning to adjust in an unfamiliar kitchen/flat, learning how to get from one place to another, and more than anything, learning how to all be in one place together a wicked lot. It takes practice.

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