Day 1 : Abbey Road & the Cheese Barge
Greetings from across the Atlantic! Today one of my best friends, Jeff, and I flew BOI-SEA-LHR for a few days of fun in the United Kingdom!
Upon arriving at London Heathrow International Airport we took the underground to our hotel to drop off our luggage. We wasted no time and chose Abbey Road as our first adventure. (I see you, Beatles fans!) Jeff and I snuck through the crowd and dodged a few cars for photos and visited the gift shop.
After missing the bus headed back (I ran the wrong way down the road) we decided to walk and stumbled upon Little Venice! For dinner Jeff picked the Cheese Barge, a literal floating barge converted into a restaurant. We indulged in crispy grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with mozzarella, smoked bacon and chili honey with a side of fried cheese curds.
Our last stop of the night was The Phoenix, a local English pub around the corner from our hotel. We played Rock n’ Roll Bingo and laughed about how we couldn’t believe we made it here.
Day 2: EYE Love You, London!
What a DAY! Jeff and I started at St. Paul’s Cathedral with a self-guided tour. Our next stop was the Gherkin, one of London’s most famous skyscrapers. We snapped a quick photo before heading to Polo Bar, a 24 hour establishment that serves heaping portions.
Our stomachs were way too full, so we rolled our way out the door to the Tower of London! Our route took us through the battlements, the White Tower and the Crown Jewels.
From the Tower, we made our way to the pier to catch an Uber Boat (yes, they’re real!) As we sailed the Thames River we caught a great view of the Tower Bridge. Next stop: the London Eye! The Eye has been a bucket list item for me for quite a while. This 30-minute ride takes passengers up 135 meters for a spectacular view of the entire city!
Last on the list of our city tour was Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, tours for both weren’t running at the time, but we were able to see the beautiful structures from the outside.
We headed back to the hotel for a quick refresh before seeing what London’s nightlife had to offer. Our bar choices included Blame Gloria, The Escapologist and Stereo Covent Garden. All three bars were colorful, exotic and played music that kept us dancing all night!
Day 3: Camden Market
Jeff and I took the double decker out to Camden Market. Cobblestone streets intertwined like a maze with a surprise around every corner. The market was filled with vintage clothing boutiques, souvenir shops and jewelry designers. Vendors shouted and handed food samples to everyone passing by.
We started at Dez Amore, a tiny spot specializing in hand-made Italian pasta and gourmet burgers. The staff invited me to slice my own pasta and watch as they spun it in the giant cheese wheel.
After hours of shopping we were off to our next destination: Platform 9¾ from Harry Potter at King’s Cross. A quick photo op and a pit stop in the souvenir shop and we were off!
Next stop: Buckingham Palace, soon to be home of King Charles III. The palace tours didn’t align with our schedule, but we were still able to see the outside.
It’s been a long, adventure-packed three days. We are headed back to the States tomorrow. I’m already thinking of where to go next!
Love Always.
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