I want to note, I started writing this post, before Her Majesty The Queen left us. Although her family is controversial, to me, she was exceptional!
May she rest in peace. So many people want to visit Paris, when they come to Europe. While it is great, it has nothing on London, for me. I absolutely LOVE London. Having taken my mom to both places, I asked her which was her favorite. She also said London! It is so beautiful! The people are so nice (in comparison). There is so much to see and do. It REALLY helps we can speak the language. Ha!
ACCOMODATION
We stayed at the Park Plaza County Hall. It is situated in an area where most things are reachable by foot. It is also very easy to catch a cab, from this location.
FOOD
Monocle Cafe | Great stop for any coffee snob, just ask Gary Janetti! :)
Saint Aymes | The cutest little bakery, ever! Sweet treats and hot drinks for everyone! Not to mention great for photo opportunities.
Lola's Cupcakes | For any sweet tooth craving, this is the place! Vegan options available. Multiple locations.
Smith & Wollensky | What a meal! Fernando and I were able to sneak away, and have a date night while in London. This restaurant was top notch, from the service to the food. I recommend the oysters, any steak, the truffle mash, and the chocolate cake. The drinks were, also, divine!
Street Food | While out walking, we came across a lot of street food vendors. They were located close to the London Eye, under a bridge. I, unfortunately, did not grab a name. We all enjoyed great chips, dogs, and burgers. If you find it, I highly recommend the truffle fries.
As expats, we were ecstatic to find a Chipotle!
From our dinner at Smith & Wollensky
ACTIVITIES
London Eye & Boat Tour | We did a combo ticket for these. Both were must-do experiences for your first time. The history, the views, its all fantastic!
Jubilee Gardens Playground | We stumbled upon this playground while walking to the London Eye. The kids really enjoyed all of the cool things. From climbing to jumping, they burned a lot of energy!
Kensington Gardens | Kensington Gardens offers so much, from paddle boats to playgrounds. You can also pop into Kensington Palace. Many of the booking sites, have tours available, some include high tea in the gardens. Everyone enjoyed their time spent here. Next time, I will definitely pack a picnic, because it is so charming and peaceful.
Diana Memorial Playground | Such a fun playground, full of fun for the kids.
Holland Park Adventure Playground | Another great playground, full of adventure.
Tower Bridge | Tower Bridge is an iconic landmark in London, as we all know. Walking on it, walking by it, it truly is a magnificent sight. I love Tower Bridge, as did my girls. You can explore Tower Bridge, however we did not have the time.
Covent Gardens | We loved coming here for some shopping and entertainment. There is always a performer entertaining the crowds. There are ice cream and sweet shops.
Hamilton on Broadway | This was a last minute decision, and SO worth it! Fernando and I are not play/broadway people, but we both LOVED this. I highly recommend the play, if you are able to. It ended up being my favorite part of our trip.
When you travel, do you search for playgrounds and zoos, first? I feel as a parent, it is the first thing I look for!! London had a lot of great playgrounds.
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