Last month I had the pleasure of visiting London, England. I finally went to a whole new continent ya’ll! I was traveling with a good friend of mine and we really had a nice time. This visit was the first of three countries.
We landed in London at about 7 am. That’s 5 hours ahead of our Eastern Standard Time. We got to our hotel room maybe 10:00 am. The great thing is that we were able to check-in at that time. I think that’s unheard of in the US. At least for me it is.
London Hotel Accommodation
Let me tell you about the culture shock. So the hotel room was different than I’m accustomed to. It was small for sure. The toilet was in a separate room from the sink and tub. There were bath and hand towels, but no washcloths! Yep, sounds crazy right! My grandma gave me a heads up, so I brought a couple with me from home. There was no air conditioning. However, the window in our room opened. It just so happened the 100-degree heat in SC didn’t show up there, so we were fine without air conditioning.
The continental breakfast is not the same as it is at home. There were no fruits, no sausage or bacon, no eggs, no oatmeal, and no waffles. I drank water, juice, tea, and coffee. As for my meal, I ate cheese and croissants. The sliced ham and some other type of meat with cheese in it was too light of a pink for me to eat.
The physical location of the hotel was great! We could walk up or down the street for food, to catch the bus or even the subway. My friend learned there was strength in weakness. She didn’t feel comfortable riding the subway (the tube) initially. Neither did I. We ended up riding the subway after missing the bus a couple of times. She led, and I followed. LOL
Here are some of the places we visited and things we did within the city.
10 Things to do in London, England
1. Tower Bridge
This is a beautiful bridge above the Thames River. It’s been in existence since 1894. Instantly I thought it was the infamous London Bridge that my peers and I sung about when we were kids.
2. Westminster Abbey
This is a huge cathedral where Prince Charles and Princess Diana married. It’s existed for over a thousand years. Several tombs are located inside. Reminds me of Egyptian tombs. As you walk around you’re given headphones to hear the audio version of the various historical references.
There’s a smaller church (I can’t remember the name) right in front of Westminster Abbey, or on the side depending on how you view the building. This church is still active. There’s an opportunity to go inside and I did. To me, it looks like historical Black churches especially with the dark wooden benches as pews. And guess what ya’ll? Throughout the walls of the church are names of deceased members and their contributions to the church. Like many older Black churches.
If you want to go to Westminster Abbey, get there early. We waited over 1 hour to get inside. Maybe because it was Saturday. Then again, the Queen’s birthday parade took place in the same vicinity. It drew a huge crowd and prolonged traffic.
3. Buckingham Palace
This is where the Queen lives. She also spends time at Windsor Castle. Here is where you can also see the Changing of the Guards. We didn’t arrive in time to see it on Friday morning. It usually begins at 10:15 am.
4. Big Ben
Currently, this site is under reconstruction, but here’s a great picture. Big Ben is The Houses of Parliament’s clock tower. And The name Big Ben is actually referring to the massive bell inside the iconic landmark.
5. London Eye
The London Eye is a great way to see the city skyline. This Ferris wheel has been in existence since 2000. You will need a ticket to ride. We’re told there are lots of proposals on the London Eye.
6. The Shard
Experience fine dining and breathtaking 360-degree views of London, England at The Shard. We didn’t do either of the two. On the first day, the line was long. It started moving slowly, only to get to another line, so we left in order to catch the bus back to the hotel. On the next day, the line was extremely long. Waiting was not an option.
7. Decker Bus
These double-decker buses are all around. I’m certain you’ve seen them on tv or in a movie. Currently, they are in different colors and not just red. Primarily we rode on the Big Bus Tour (double-decker) to get around town.
8. Afternoon Tea
I was excited to partake in afternoon tea. I read that’s what the locals do in the afternoon. Since we still needed to eat dinner, I chose the lighter menu option of scones and tea instead of the platter of larger desserts. Maybe I will do that next time when I come back.
9. The Market
The Borough Market is one of Britain’s most renowned food markets. Here you can find all sorts of food from the popular dish fish and chips, squid, oysters, donuts, wine, and fruits and vegetables.
10. Florence Nightingale Museum
The museum is located in the Westminster District near St. Thomas Hospital. There’s so much nursing history in this building beginning with key moments in Nightingale’s life who is known as “The Mother of Nursing.” I definitely learned some new things about her. One is that we both have a passion for writing. The museum also contains artifacts such as the nursing school curriculum and medications used during the Crimean War.
