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London was so FUN!

I never really had a burning desire to visit, although I knew I’d like to see it someday. Boy, was I wrong. We only had this past week, 7 days and nights. It’s such a fun place to visit. We stayed in Bloomsbury, a 15 minute walk to Covent Garden. If we weren’t booking 2 rooms, I would have stayed right in Covent Garden. So quaint. We loved it all, a quaint lovely pub it seemed on every corner we just had to pop in.

Food was fantastic everywhere we went.

We did so much, and so many things no time for. So, next time during a shoulder season when foliage is blooming. The nice thing about winter travel, is we never had to wait anywhere! It was great!

Other than the usual sights we’ve all read about, a couple fun things I’m glad we did was go to Greenwich. (Cutty Sark, Royal observatory and the prime meridian, quaint town and lunch at Trafalgar Tavern!!) boat ubered over.

I also really enjoyed Notting Hill. What a gorgeous area. I read that it’s very gentrified since the 70’s, with the movie speeding that up. But Portobello Road is so quaint, found some fun purchases.

Harrods and Selfridges were a disappointment. Interesting to see, but so expensive. I was expecting it to be more like Bloomingdale’s with some more affordable departments. It’s all high end, I was surprised. We loved Liberty’s and unfortunately never made it to Fortnum and Mason.

It’s such a mixture of ancient and quaint, mixed with Uber cool modern.

I’m deathly afraid of heights, but was talked into the London Eye and was totally fine. I’m glad I did it. There is a large bench in the middle and I sat most of the time, but did stand some. It was beautiful. I just didn’t focus looking straight down a lot. You’ll be fine if you’re afraid like me,

I think one thing we could have done better was use the tube more. We don’t have public transport, so are intimated by it a bit. Plus, I always felt rushed and never had a moments peace to figure it out, so we walked a lot and just ubered back home sometimes.

Since we didn’t use the tube much, the oyster card was a waste of money. But we didn’t know we wouldn’t use it as little as we did. We still have money on them.

Anyway, I’m so glad we went. It’s just a fabulous city, I’m looking forward to next time to do the things we didn’t do and to take some day trips.

Most memorable restaurants: 1. Gordon’s Wine Bar (inside), one of the coolest experiences and places we’ve been. 2. Lamb and Flag, I had the best meal there.

Posted by
455 posts

Glad you had such a great time in London, and when you come back, John Lewis department store in Oxford Street is much more like Bloomingdale’s !

Posted by
735 posts

So glad you enjoyed London!!

When you visit again, consider using the free CityMapper app to help you navigate by tube or bus. It uses constantly updated info from Transport for London.

I have found the app indispensable, because I have a comically poor sense of direction and am terrible with maps.

Posted by
10499 posts

Lulu, I am so glad you had a wonderful time. And I agree heartily with your idea to go next time when spring is springing - London is gorgeous on the spring.

Posted by
9384 posts

Pleased to hear you enjoyed your first visit to my favorite city on the planet. Walking is a great way to explore but next time don’t let the tube intimidate you. Truly easy peasy especially if you travel before and after rush hour.

I’ve been enjoying London since 1972. Spent 6 weeks there last November. Already planning my 2025 sojourn. I’m never bored, love catching up with friends, seeing theatre, strolling the Regents Canal or Thames Path. Discovering new pubs, parks, meandering in free museums, having tea and scones, dining in ethnic cafes, visiting galleries, etc.

Isn’t the view from the Royal Observatory lovely!!

Posted by
166 posts

Thanks so much for sharing and great to hear you had such a good time! Do you mean Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden? That's one of my favourite pubs tho we've never eaten there... glad to hear it is good!

Posted by
16881 posts

Great to hear that you enjoyed London so much, Lulu. We're overdue for a return visit; it is truly a fascinating city offering so much to do and see! Besides Greenwich and the Eye, what else did you do for sightseeing?

Next time, relax and learn how to travel by Tube, OK? Honestly, it's not at all difficult once you get the hang of it, and I'm a real knob when it comes to figuring public transport so if I can do it, you absolutely can too! :O)

Posted by
3183 posts

Lulu, thanks for your trip report. So glad to hear about what you liked. I’ll be in London in June so am making notes.
Kathy, thanks for the encouragement about the subway. It terrifies me.

Posted by
594 posts

Lulu, the London bug is extremely hard to avoid! We, too, have caught it and won’t be ridding ourselves of it for a long time! You described it beautifully, supremely historic but with such a cool urban vibe. We can’t wait to go back. We’ve been in fall and summer, I think spring is going to our next time to venture over. Glad you had fun and yes, do try to use the apps for the tube when you go back. If I can figure it out, anyone can!

Posted by
3382 posts

Next time I suggest using the buses, also. They are extremely easy with maps at the stops, plus you get to see London on the journey.

Posted by
1077 posts

I do think we would have used the tube more, but my husband is impatient and we needed to relax and just do it. The few times we used it, it was fine. Next time we will.

We did:

Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
National Gallery and Van Gogh
British Museum
London Eye
Les Miserable show
Greenwich
Notting Hill
Saw from outside Buckingham Palace
Walked miles each day seeing
Picadilly Circus at night walking down Regent Street
Soho and Covent Garden
City of London, but really didn’t stay…need to do it next time.
Walking down Oxford
Pubs, pubs, pubs and more pubs.

Missed on our list. No time. Borough Market, Tate, Hampstead, Churchill war rooms, more museums, Henry viii palace…next time,

Posted by
212 posts

To OP: so glad you got bit by the bug! My husband and I loved London so much that we moved here. You perfectly captured how fab it is and why. :-)

I love all the encouragement here for taking the tube - and it is convenient for longer journeys - but I am going to chime in with Wray and say “go buses!” I adore the bus in London. Cheap (very cheap) and as Wray notes, you can actually SEE London while you are travelling, which you cannot on the tube. Even if a given trip is, say, 20 minutes longer on the bus, you are sightseeing as you go! Can’t beat that, IMHO.

Posted by
3633 posts

Awesome! We spent 11 days there last year and still missed so much! I’m planning an extended trip to Europe next year and have been debating on whether to add a week in London at the end. I think you convinced me!

Posted by
556 posts

So glad you had a great time! I'm with Wray and Volva: although we use the tube a lot when there, I like using the busses (and walking just for discovery even on longer treks).
You can use your Oyster card next time.

Posted by
223 posts

Sounds like such a great time! I'm inspired to venture to the city in the winter months! I hope you try out the tube next time. I love it! For me, it's an essential part of the London experience, and so satisfying when you successfully figure out how to get from points A to B!

Posted by
1077 posts

Sara, it’s not as fun walking around in winter, but it’s wonderful to just walk into any bar or restaurant and have a seat. It’s busy, but not shoulder squashing busy. We were there during a cold snap I’m told. A couple days it was in the 40’s, and I didn’t even need a hat or gloves really. I think it’s like that most years.

Posted by
4811 posts

I never really had a burning desire to visit, although I knew I’d like
to see it someday. Boy, was I wrong.

I remember before we'd been to London, my wife and I looked at some guidebooks and decided that we'll someday get there but it was no longer a priority. A year later we found a seat sale that changed our mind and boy were we wrong to dismiss it. London is by far the best city I've been to in Europe so far. We're at the beginning of planning another trip there. This time for the last 2 weeks of November to catch the city all decked out in boughs of holly for Christmas.

Posted by
1077 posts

Allan, I’m not a big international traveler (yet) , but I’ve been to some of the larger western cities: Rome, Paris, NYC, LA, Rio, and now London. But of the European ones,

Paris is the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. It’s so romantic. We’re going back in the fall so our adult children can see.

Rome has my heart (Italy in general). There’s a warmth and beauty. I just love it.

London is easy, no language barrier, so fun…LOTS to do and we love pubs. I can’t wait to go back.