Discovering More of London, and a Side Trip to Bath

Posted by CaliMom (Los Angeles) on 08/16/26 05:23 AM

After cancelling two planned trips in late 2025 and early 2026, I finally made it to London! This trip came together rather quickly so I did not do a lot of advance planning or ticket buying. Some of you might remember that my youngest daughter moved from New York City to London last summer. Well, the calendar cleared and Mother's Day was approaching so it seemed like the perfect excuse to make the 11-hour journey from Los Angeles to London to check our my dd's new life!

I stayed mostly at my daughter’s new flat in Balham, south of the Thames. It gave me the chance to get to know her neighborhood, revisit London through a different lens, learn the tube system intimately and spend a couple of days exploring Bath during a side trip.

The Long Journey from California
The overnight flight from Los Angeles was surprisingly comfortable. My American Airlines window seat made it easy to get some sleep, and we landed at Heathrow right on schedule. Following the crowd, Passport Control was a breeze and I had my luggage in no time. I was surprised how easy this process was. Soon, I was aboard the Elizabeth Line headed toward Liverpool Street before changing to the Northern Line for the trip to the Clapham South station.

Stepping out onto Balham Hill, my daughter was waiting for me. It was wonderful to finally see where she lives after hearing so much about it. Balham feels like an authentic British town rather than a tourist destination. It is filled with young professionals, families pushing strollers and bustling cafés, housewares stores, workout studios -- everything an American suburb might have but all in a charming walkable neighborhood just 2 ½ miles south of the Thames.

We set out to enjoy a pub and have dinner. Our first stop was Devonshire Pub. The patio was packed on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Then we were off to 1910 Cantina Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar. Perhaps my DD was missing Southern California … darling place and great food!

The kids were off to a party so I settled in, unpacked and got some sleep.

Posted by CaliMom OP

Los Angeles

08/16/26 05:27 AM

1067 posts

A Perfect Mother's Day

Mother's Day couldn't have been more enjoyable.

We started the morning at Nata's, a charming neighborhood café known for its Portuguese pastries and excellent breakfast. From there we hopped on the Tube toward Kew.

I had no idea that the village of Kew was so cute. We arrived at he most delightful market and picked up delicious pastries. We then took a long walk through a stunning neighborhood of large single-family homes with lush landscaping and tree-lined streets.

After a 20-minute walk, we arrived at Kew Gardens just in time for the complimentary one-hour guided tour, which ended up lasting nearly two hours thanks to our lovely guide. As someone who loves history, I found the stories fascinating.

I learned that the gardens trace their origins to Princess Augusta, the mother of King George III, who began developing the botanical gardens in the mid-18th century. Kew Place was built in 1631 for a Flemish merchant before becoming the summer home of King George III in the 18th century. The estate eventually became part of the royal holdings and it was Queen Victoria who gave Kew to the public.

Walking into the iconic Victorian Palm House with its wrought-iron framework and spiral staircases felt like stepping back in time. We loved the Princess of Wales Conservatory, with its ten distinct climate zones ranging from desert cacti to lush orchids,

By late afternoon we made our way to nearby Richmond.

We walked the town to see the Ted Lasso filming locations and stop in a shop or two. The day ended with a traditional Sunday roast at The White Cross, a lively pub perched on the banks of the River Thames. I definitely recommend this place if you are in Richmond -- between the excellent roast, the riverside setting and gorgeous interiors, it felt quintessentially English.

We finally returned to Balham that evening,15,338 steps later.