London, England

London is one of the most exciting cities with such a wide variety of things to do! London has so much to offer from amazing shopping to all the site seeing. London felt very close to my heart because it reminded me of home. London is the capital of the United Kingdom and is filled with history. Walking around the city feels like you are walking through a museum. London has a LOT to see so I would suggest planning at least a few days to see all of the city. Here are some of my favorite spots that you should check out if you are planning a trip to London!

1. Southbank! The Southbank is my favorite place in London to be at night. It is located right along the river and has many people walking around all over. The area is filled with gourmet dining, family restaurants, and even a variety of food trucks. There are also many different ice cream trucks which are perfect if you want a quick treat! There is also a skatepark where you can watch people skating and doing different tricks. The Southbank is always filled with people and has so much going on. It is a really fun spot to walk around at night!

2. Knotting Hill! This area is known for the famous pastel colored houses! Stop by Portobello Market for some great food as well as cute souvenirs. This market is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm. While you are in the area, see if you can find the Little Yellow Door. This pub is really like nothing you have seen before, it feels so cozy and you will forget you're at a restaurant. Not many people know about this spot because it is hard to find if you aren't looking for it!

3. Walk around River Thames! This spot has a variety of places to walk around and explore. Walking along the river around sunset time is absolutely beautiful. Many sights are centered around the river so it is a good spot to start at. While walking around, you can grab a snack or a drink at the tiny food stands.

4. Shoreditch! This area of London is very hipster and is known for all of its amazing graffiti featured around the town. This is a great place to come for dinner because there are many restaurants located all over the the town. If you are over 18, there are a lot of clubs where you can go and have a drink.

5. Soho! This area has the best shopping! It is filled with pubs, shopping, and dining. There is both nightlife as well as activity during the day! When walking around, make sure to stop by SOHO Coffee Co. on the outskirts of Soho for a quick coffee break! They also serve delicious sandwiches.

6. London Eye! The London Eye is a giant ferris wheel. From the top, you can see the entire city of London. If you are planning to go, I would recommend getting your tickets ahead of time because the line can get pretty long. I would also recommend going right before they close at sunset so you can see the city with the golden glow!

7. Buckingham Palace! This is where the queen of England lives. The changing of the guards is interesting to watch but it can get very crowded so I would plan accordingly. You can see all of the guards come outside and march through the streets.

8. Tower Bridge! This bridge crosses over River Thames. Make sure to walk across the bridge. Walking distance from the bridge, there is a grassy area that has food and drinks which is a fun spot to hang out!

9. Camden Locke Market. This area offers a wide variety of dining so make sure to come here when you want to get some food! This area has a great night life.

10. All of the beautiful sights! Walk by Big Ben and Westminster Abbey during the day or lit up at night. They look surreal. You can also take a quick stop in one of the beautiful parks all around the city and have a picnic.

11. Mayfair! This is an upscale district of London and has some exclusive hotels and gourmet restaurants. Make sure to stop in one of the delicious bakeries that are filled with unbelievable gourmet desserts.

12. Spend time exploring all the different streets and hidden gems that London has to offer. I would recommend spending time exploring Piccadilly Circus as well as Oxford. Trafalgar Square is also a nice area to explore and get some food.

I can't wait for you to get to explore all of the wonders of London! Hopefully this post helped provide many ideas for what you will want to do while staying in London!

Talk Soon!

Sam