LONDON
Basic Info
Here’s what you need to know when planning a trip to London
London is expensive so be prepared.
Currency: British pound currently trading at 1.33USD (March 17, 2019)
Credit cards & ATM’s: ATM’s are commonplace and if your bank is part of the global alliance you maybe able to withdraw money without paying a fee. Check with your bank before you leave.
Weather: London is known for its notoriously gray weather and it is a good idea to keep an umbrella with you at all times
Getting around: The best way to get around London is to use ‘The Tube’. There is also the Heathrow express which gets you into Paddington station from Heathrow in about 15 mins. It is fast & efficient and costs about 25 pounds if you buy it beforehand https://www.heathrowexpress.com. But if your party is about 4 it might be better to uber to the different places in the city. It can be fast & cheap too. You can also use the cabs which are slightly more expensive but sometimes easier to get since ubers may have a hard time finding you. The cabbies are also very friendly & helpful. Added bonus is that they accept credit cards.
Where to Stay
We booked an Airbnb for our stay in London knowing that hotel rooms in Europe can be notoriously small. Our Airbnb by Sonder was a gem located in the West End (great area to stay) close to the British museum. But my search for hotels that offer a little more space for families in the luxury range yielded these results:
Taj Buckingham suites and residences
The Athenaeum
The Connaught
Things to Do
Once we reached Goslar, we started walking in the direction of the Rathaus. Along the way, we were able to see the majority of the city center which has some beautiful German architecture. We stopped by the Mattkirche Goslar St. Cosmas und Damian church. It required payment to go to the top of the church, but the view of the whole city was so worth it! Then, we stopped by a cute bakery that was right next to the church. They offered some German specialities, drinks and even had savory foods. So, we took the opportunity to walk around the city. We visited the Siemenshaus which is a gorgeous building with traditional architecture known as a "half-timbered house".
After this, we walked towards the imperial palace of Goslar. Although we did not go inside, they seemed to be having some sort of exhibition inside. The outside of the building is also beautiful, with a grassy front and a great photo opp. Next, we headed back to the city center to see the special clock. As it chimed at 3, it began a short little mechanical presentation about the significance of mining in Goslar. After this, we decided to head back to the train station as we had to reach Hamburg at a certain time. Along the way, we stopped by an Italian restaurant that had average food. The ride back home was a long one with multiple train delays, making it almost a 5 hour trip back home instead of 2.5! This goes to show that you always have to be prepared for little hiccups when traveling :)
Day 1: Afternoon Tea
We arrived around noon in London. Since we could only check in around 4pm we decided to have lunch closer to where we were located in the west end and checked in before heading out to the afternoon tea experience.
Afternoon tea…..how could we not try this English tradition. Quick searches yielded so many options and I list some of the ones that looked appealing to me – Afternoon tea at Sketch (if photography is your thing then this is probably one of the best places to go. If a traditional high end tea is your cuppa then I would suggest the afternoon tea at the Savoy. I was also intrigued to find Dominque Ansel had a place for tea which looked absolutely marvelous (pictures are everything). I also chose this coz of my partiality to non-meat options. High teas can be fairly pricey and start at $25 and upwards. However, I would warn you not to do this unless you have a major sweet tooth. The desserts on offer are far more than anyone can handle.
Day 2: Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace is within walking distance of Big Ben & Westminster Alley so consider doing it around the same time. If it’s your first time in London it is an essential stop. Sitting right on the river Thames its a beautiful spot for a picture. Westminster Abbey is stunning and worth visiting every time. The Palace is not open for viewing all year round but check out this site tickets for openings and availability of tickets. Walk to the London Eye and then take a cab to Borough market for a late lunch. Markets: We love visiting markets and decided to go to Borough Market open from 9-6 (a must for foodies). While you are there stop at Padella for lunch. The wait can be pretty long but well worth it and a great places for vegetarians because of the options. Other markets worth checking out are the Portobello Road Market for antiques and Old Spitalfields Market for British fashion.
Day 3: British museum, shopping on oxford street & Knightsbridge Museum
The British Museum is a must if nothing at least for the picture worthy interior space. What amazed me is that this museum is free. You will need more than a day to do justice to all that is there to see. We decided to pick a few things to see and would recommend that you plan what you want to see if you are pressed for time. While you are here consider checking out the Rosetta Stone. We spent the rest of the afternoon taking in the stores on Regent street and walking upto Piccadilly circus. We wound up having dinner at Sushi Samba. Sushi Samba has restaurants in Miami, Las Vegas, Amsterdam & London – a nice blend of Japanese, Brazilian & Peruvian culture with incredible views of London.