LONDON CALLING!
VISITING FRIENDSOne of the main reasons I chose Scotland was for the opportunity to visit with a long-time friend who was living in London temporarily. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to reconnect - even if it meant sleeping on her sofa for a few nights with the cat (I'm allergic!). It was also great to get a local perspective of London and explore a few "gems" together!
My flight from the east coast to London was fairly simple all things considered. The only complication was flight delays (a common theme on this trip!). After the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station, we met up and took the tube to their place. Although I desperately wanted a nap, it's always better for jet lag to stay active until bedtime in your new location. My friends live right near Kensington, so we explored Kensington Palace and Gardens before dinner. Bonus for us, there was a special exhibition at the palace on fashion called Crown to Couture! We also got to explore the rooms where Queen Victoria grew up in the palace.
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Travel Tip: Do the Thing!
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WESTMINSTER ABBEY & MOREAfter sleeping about 12 hours (no joke), my friend Alison planned a wonderful brunch at Eggbreak. The food was delicious! Over brunch we made plans for the day, including a tour of Westminster Abbey, a quick walk past Buckingham Palace, and a visit to the Queens Gallery around the corner for their exhibit on Dressing the Georgians. (Ironically, the Georgians featured prominently in the history we learned in Scotland, so this was good prep for my later trip!)
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One of the things that impressed me the most about Westminster Abbey was, while we were exploring Queen Elizabeth I's tomb, they made an announcement to remind everyone that the abbey is a place of worship and held a moment of silence.
And, of course, every good day should end with ice cream & friends!
And, of course, every good day should end with ice cream & friends!
KEW GARDENSFor my last day in London, we planned a full-day trip to Kew Gardens. (Pro-tip: Be friends with a member - you can get in for free!) Kew Gardens is enormous (believe me, we only walked part of it and my feet were sore the whole way to Scotland!). The flowers were amazing, and we also had the chance to explore Kew Palace and learn more about George III, Queen Charlotte, and their 15 children. Kew Palace was not a happy place for King George and the visit was enlightening about his health struggles, which doctors are still unclear about today.
Travel Tip: Don't Forget Sun Protection!
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On a happier note, we also took time out for afternoon tea at The Original Maids of Honour.
For novices to afternoon tea (like I was!), Alison taught me everything!
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Like fancy Londoners, after walking 26,000+ steps around Kew Gardens, we limped into Waitrose and picked up sandwiches and snacks to munch on for dinner at Alison's apartment while watching Netflix.
For more lovely photos of Kew Gardens, check out the slideshow below.
For more lovely photos of Kew Gardens, check out the slideshow below.
Fun Fact!
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