Quick Trip to London
On a last minute whim, my mom and I decided to meet up in London for a short 3 day visit. With her coming from New Jersey, and my coming from Cornwall, London was the perfect half-way meeting point. Having both been to London before, we decided to make this trip a casual walking tour.
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itinerary
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Places visited: Plymouth - Paddington Station - The Mitre - The Gore Hotel - Royal Albert Hall - Natural History Museum - Hyde Park - Bar 190 - Thai Taste
Plymouth
The train ride from Falmouth, Cornwall to Paddington Station, London is 4 ½ hours and follows the coastline for most of the trip.
Paddington Station
After meeting my mom in Paddington Station we decided to grab some snacks for at the hotel. The olive bar in Paddington has everything from chili infused olives to homemade backlava, and is definitely worth the stop.
The Mitre
With neither of us eating meat, we were lucky to find a great little pub close to Paddington Station that not only serves delicious rosé, but also has several vegetarian and vegan friendly options!
The Gore Hotel
Booking with airline miles, we stayed at the Gore Hotel, which is a 20 minute walk from Paddington Station, which takes you through Hyde Park. Being a block away from the Queen’s Gate entrance into Hyde Park, it was a perfect location.
It’s a beautiful hotel with uniquely design ed rooms, each being different than the next. Every room is custom fitted with four poster beds, artwork, elaborate mirrors, plush velvet couches, and spacious bathrooms.
The hotel also boasts a cozy library where you can sit and have afternoon tea.
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a distinctive and treasured concert hall located on the edge of Hyde Park. While we didn’t have time to see a concert there, it is definitely on our bucket list for next time!
Natural History Museum
With free entry, or a 5 pound suggested donation, the Natural History Museum is a great place to not only admire the beautiful architecture of the building, but to also see some amazing dinosaur fossils, and learn more about the creatures that swimin our oceans.
Hyde Park
Walking around Hype Park is so special, especially when all of the flowers and trees are in bloom. The park was lit up with color, and the beautiful weather made it even more stunning.
Bar 190
Before heading out for dinner we decided to have drinks in the bar attached to our hotel. Bar 190 has an extensive specialty cocktail list. We both had their Fred & Ginger, which consists of Tanqueray gin, fresh ginger, grapefruit, and lemon.
Thai Taste
For dinner we walked 15 minutes to a small Thai restaurant. The green papaya salad is a must try. It’s very spicy, but if you can handle a bit of heat, it’s refreshing and tasty!
Day 2 Itinerary
Places visited: Kensington Palace - Granger & Co. Chelsea - Buckingham Palace - Westminster Abbey - Big Ben - London Eye - Waterloo Bridge - The Globe Theatre - Tower Bridge - All Hallows by Tower Church - St. Paul's Cathedral - El Vino Fleet Street - Covent Garden - Chinatown London - Fortnum & Mason - Da Mario
Kensington Palace
I went for an early morning run through Hyde Park and stopped by Kensington Palace.
Granger & Co. Chelsea
For breakfast we were planning on trying a place called the Wulf and Lamb, which is a vegan restaurant on Pavillion St.
When we got to Pavillion St., though, my mom spotted a restaurant that her friend from home raved about, so we changed plans and went to Granger and Co.
Their almond milk cappacinos are made with homemade almond milk, and the coconut bread, avocado toast, and açaí bowls are all amazing!
Buckingham Palace
After a filling breakfast we set out on our all day walking tour of London.
Our first stop was Buckingham Palace. Crowded with tourists it’s difficult to get a close up picture, but it’s still an incredible site.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is as beautiful as it is famous. It has hosted every British and English coronation since 1066, and holds daily Protestant services.
Big Ben
We continued our walk over the Westminster Bridge, which gave us a view of Big Ben. It was, however, under significant construction, so we didn’t get the picturesque view of the tower.
London Eye
Walking along the south bank of the Thames, we passed by the London Eye, now sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The last time my mom and I came to London we went on the Eye, so we didn’t feel the need to do it again this trip.
Also located near the London Eye is the London Dungeon, where you can take a spooky tour and learn about Jack the Ripper.
Waterloo Bridge
Having the ABBA song, Waterloo, stuck in my head while walking past the Waterloo Bridge, it seemed only appropriate to get a picture.
The Globe Theatre
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre holds so much history, and seeing a Shakespeare play there is definitely on my bucket list!
Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is probably the most notable bridge in London. With centuries of bloody history taking place at the Tower of London as well as being home to the Crown Jewels, the bridge is an engineering marvel and is one of London’s favorite icons.
All Hallows by Tower Church
London’s oldest church, All Hallows By The Tower is an unassuming church just a block over from the Tower of London.
My mom and I were walking down the street and decided to pop our heads in. Once being made mostly from wood, following the Great Fire of London, it was partially rebuilt in stone.
St. Paul's Cathedral
Sitting at the highest point in London, St. Paul’s Cathderal is home to the seat of the Bishop of London.
We did not go inside, as the tickets were 22 pounds, and we had been inside on a previous trip, so we admired the architecture from outside.
El Vino Fleet Street
While wandering the streets in center London, we found a small wine bar called El Vino Fleet Street. Planning on just getting a glass of wine before finding somewhere for lunch, we ended up ordering food as well.
We were recommended by the bartender an Italian rosé, and ordered the Mezze Platter, which had toasted pita and sourdough bread, chopped tomatoes with feta cheese, hummus, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, roasted green peppers, and sliced beets. We also had a fresh green salad and some French fries.
Our one glass of wine was followed by glasses of Prosecco, and after a very satisfying lunch, we headed back into the sunshine to continue walking.
Covent Garden
The Covent Garden is a large square where you might find magician performers, opera singers, and open air market stalls.
Chinatown London
Continuing on our walk, we decided to take a turn through China Town. Colorful lanterns decorated the streets, and a beautiful arch welcomes you.
Fortnum & Mason
Being in the area, we popped into Fortnum and Mason, a famous tea company that also makes elegant wines, Turkish delight, and colorful marzipan.
Being on the pricier end, it’s always great when you can find items on sale, such as boxes of marzipan and golden chocolate eggs.
Da Mario
Craving Italian, and being exhausted from our long day, we decided to go to a close by restaurant called Da Marco’s.
We started off with an Aperol Spritz each, paired with pizza bread topped with fresh tomato sauce, garlic, and basil.
We then each had pasta dishes. Mine had eggplant and mozzarella, and my mom had a spicy Arrabbiata dish.
Day 3 Itinerary
Places visited: Italian Gardens
Italian Gardens
On our final morning in London, we took one last walk through Hyde Park on our way to Paddington Station.
My mom was taking the Heathrow Express to the airport, and then heading back to New Jersey, and I was taking a return train ride to Cornwall.
The sun was shining and the Italian Garden made the perfect place to end our short trip.