Four Days in London
Monday, July 15, 2024
London Day 1
We boarded the Eurostar from Rotterdam (at 10:58 hrs), connecting in Brussels to arrive in London at St. Pancras (at 13:57 hrs). After checking in at the Premier Inn Euston, we wasted no time and walked to the British Museum. The museum’s treasures were awe-inspiring, but the crowds and heat were a bit unpleasant. Still, we managed to see the iconic Rosetta Stone and admire the Egyptian and Greek sculptures before the museum closed.
Next, we geeked out at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, exploring this pop culture paradise of merch and comics. We indulged in a massive pizza at Homeslice in the charming Neal's Yard before heading back to our hotel.
London Day 2
A restless night followed – the hotel doesn’t have AC and the fan was no match for the 27-degree heat. But, the breakfast was pretty good. We took a short walk to King’s Cross to stand in a 45-minute queue for a picture at the iconic 9¾ platform. After this we hopped on the Tube to Piccadilly Circus. We bought a red double decker bus at The LEGO® Store and a short stroll through St. James's Park led us to Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey and Big Ben were next on the list, followed by a delicious Mexican lunch at Wahaca Southbank near the London Eye.
View more images of day 1 on my Instagram
The Tate Modern proved a bit underwhelming without a guided tour, so we opted for the bustling Borough Market instead. After navigating the crowds, we found Humble Crumble – thanks for the tip Phoebe! Their incredible desserts were so good, we went for seconds (the next day).
A walk across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral and a quick bookstore visit filled the afternoon before we went back to the hotel. We were eager to try authentic Fish and Chips at The Rocket, but the meal was a disappointment. Lukewarm chips, weird tasting batter, and a 50-minute wait made for a disappointing meal. Luckily, London has plenty more culinary adventures to offer!
London Day 3
Our day began with a visit to the iconic Tower of London, followed by a scenic stroll across Tower Bridge. The stunning weather was a perfect backdrop, although the crowds, including surprisingly numerous school groups, were to be expected.
View more images of day 2 on my Instagram
Next, we made our way to Leadenhall Market which was used as Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies. After a coffee break we continued walking between the amazing architecture in London City, like the soaring tower nicknamed the Gherkin. Our next stop was Old Spitalfields Market, where Juliet found a beautiful ring and we indulged in another delicious Humble Crumble dessert.
Brick Lane was our next stop, and we discovered (yet another) food market at the Upmarket Brick Lane Food Hall. We had delightful gyoza (dumplings) and devoured Venezuelan arepas – a flavorful cornbread with endless topping options. After a brief detour to admire the infamous queue at Beigel Bake we boarded an iconic red double-decker bus, which took us to Trafalgar Square.
The National Portrait Gallery was our cultural destination for the afternoon. The highlights tour was an excellent choice, providing insights into the stories behind the portraits. It’s a must-do for any museum visitor, if you ask me.
For dinner we headed to Dishoom, a popular Indian restaurant. Our early arrival meant skipping the queue, allowing us to immediately enjoy the incredible flavors and textures. (we left no crumbs 😉)
View more images of day 3 on my Instagram
The evening concluded with a trip to “Back to the Future: The Musical.” The staging and special effects were truly spectacular. While the musical elements (the acting, the humor, the songs) weren’t my favorites, the iconic DeLorean’s on-stage performance was a mind-blowing highlight of our trip.
London Day 4
Today we immersed ourselves in the magical world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Located about an hour outside London, the studio is essentially a giant, interactive exhibition. Visitors follow a set route through iconic sets like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, marveling at props, costumes, drawings, and intricate scale models.
There are interactive elements like broomstick flying and wanted poster creation, plus a variety of food options (although we'd recommend skipping the tonkatsu burger and vegan hot dog).
View more images of day 4 on my Instagram
We could have easily spent another day exploring the studio’s wonders. It’s a truly captivating experience, even for those who aren’t die-hard Potter fans.
London Day 1
We boarded the Eurostar from Rotterdam (at 10:58 hrs), connecting in Brussels to arrive in London at St. Pancras (at 13:57 hrs). After checking in at the Premier Inn Euston, we wasted no time and walked to the British Museum. The museum’s treasures were awe-inspiring, but the crowds and heat were a bit unpleasant. Still, we managed to see the iconic Rosetta Stone and admire the Egyptian and Greek sculptures before the museum closed.
Next, we geeked out at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, exploring this pop culture paradise of merch and comics. We indulged in a massive pizza at Homeslice in the charming Neal's Yard before heading back to our hotel.
London Day 2
A restless night followed – the hotel doesn’t have AC and the fan was no match for the 27-degree heat. But, the breakfast was pretty good. We took a short walk to King’s Cross to stand in a 45-minute queue for a picture at the iconic 9¾ platform. After this we hopped on the Tube to Piccadilly Circus. We bought a red double decker bus at The LEGO® Store and a short stroll through St. James's Park led us to Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey and Big Ben were next on the list, followed by a delicious Mexican lunch at Wahaca Southbank near the London Eye.
View more images of day 1 on my Instagram
The Tate Modern proved a bit underwhelming without a guided tour, so we opted for the bustling Borough Market instead. After navigating the crowds, we found Humble Crumble – thanks for the tip Phoebe! Their incredible desserts were so good, we went for seconds (the next day).
A walk across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral and a quick bookstore visit filled the afternoon before we went back to the hotel. We were eager to try authentic Fish and Chips at The Rocket, but the meal was a disappointment. Lukewarm chips, weird tasting batter, and a 50-minute wait made for a disappointing meal. Luckily, London has plenty more culinary adventures to offer!
London Day 3
Our day began with a visit to the iconic Tower of London, followed by a scenic stroll across Tower Bridge. The stunning weather was a perfect backdrop, although the crowds, including surprisingly numerous school groups, were to be expected.
View more images of day 2 on my Instagram
Next, we made our way to Leadenhall Market which was used as Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies. After a coffee break we continued walking between the amazing architecture in London City, like the soaring tower nicknamed the Gherkin. Our next stop was Old Spitalfields Market, where Juliet found a beautiful ring and we indulged in another delicious Humble Crumble dessert.
Brick Lane was our next stop, and we discovered (yet another) food market at the Upmarket Brick Lane Food Hall. We had delightful gyoza (dumplings) and devoured Venezuelan arepas – a flavorful cornbread with endless topping options. After a brief detour to admire the infamous queue at Beigel Bake we boarded an iconic red double-decker bus, which took us to Trafalgar Square.
The National Portrait Gallery was our cultural destination for the afternoon. The highlights tour was an excellent choice, providing insights into the stories behind the portraits. It’s a must-do for any museum visitor, if you ask me.
For dinner we headed to Dishoom, a popular Indian restaurant. Our early arrival meant skipping the queue, allowing us to immediately enjoy the incredible flavors and textures. (we left no crumbs 😉)
View more images of day 3 on my Instagram
The evening concluded with a trip to “Back to the Future: The Musical.” The staging and special effects were truly spectacular. While the musical elements (the acting, the humor, the songs) weren’t my favorites, the iconic DeLorean’s on-stage performance was a mind-blowing highlight of our trip.
London Day 4
Today we immersed ourselves in the magical world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Located about an hour outside London, the studio is essentially a giant, interactive exhibition. Visitors follow a set route through iconic sets like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, marveling at props, costumes, drawings, and intricate scale models.
There are interactive elements like broomstick flying and wanted poster creation, plus a variety of food options (although we'd recommend skipping the tonkatsu burger and vegan hot dog).
View more images of day 4 on my Instagram
We could have easily spent another day exploring the studio’s wonders. It’s a truly captivating experience, even for those who aren’t die-hard Potter fans.