A Jaunt Around Town: London
I have a confession: I'm a total Anglophile. Everything about British culture fascinates me—whether it’s the sophisticated fashion, those delightful accents, or my not-so-secret crush on a handful of British and Scottish actors. But if there’s one thing that truly has my heart, it’s British TV. From crime-solving nuns and priests to a time-traveling alien in a blue police box, I can’t get enough. And don’t even get me started on the period dramas—they're absolute *chef’s kiss*.
After years of binge-watching my way through the UK (I’m honestly surprised I haven’t picked up a British accent by now!), I knew it was time for the ultimate fan move: a trip across the pond. So, I connected with Dynamite Travel to help plan the trip. Dr. Terika and her team were super helpful (as always) in providing guidance and recommendations for our trip. A few months after booking the flights, hotels, airport transfer, and train tickets, I struck out across the pond with a friend and camera in tow!
After an overnight flight of seven hours and 30 minutes, we landed in London! We made our way through Heathrow, waiting a zillion years for our checked luggage, and through throngs of Princess Cruise passengers, we found our chauffeur. Special thanks to Carlos for delivering us safely to our hotel, pointing out landmarks, and without triggering my motion sickness. I am a little disappointed in not receiving a passport stamp though ☹.
Sidebar: You've seen the chauffeurs in airports holding signs for their passengers, right? Never in a million years did I think I would be one of those passengers! I wished I could have captured a photo, but after an overnight flight with little to zero sleep, I wasn’t thinking, LOL.
The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, London
Whitehall, City of Westminster-London, England
Our trip's first and third legs included a stay in Whitehall in the City of Westminster at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel (Hyatt). The hotel and staff were terrific! Y’all, they had heated toilet seats and a heated towel rack! And I cannot forget the most beautifully appointed shower with gorgeous tiling, rain shower head, and the best hot water I could twirl like a rotisserie chicken in. Grateful for early check-in, we got a wee nap to help us adjust to the time difference. Then we were off in search of food. Thanks to Carlos' recommendation, we landed at Sherlock Holmes off Trafalgar Square, near the bridge to the London Eye and next door to the Charing Cross train station. Being an Anglophile, I had to order fish and chips for my meal and Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert!
Another side bar: Ladies, if you're looking for that man in finance whose 6'5, they hang out at the local pubs in the Whitehall district, all wearing navy blue suits. Thursdays are hot nights. You’re welcome 😊.
Around Town
One of our first shops was Waterstones, between Strand and Northumberland Ave in Trafalgar Square. I never told my travel agent that I’m a bibliophile as well…but we were perfectly placed between tons of bookshops in London and Edinburgh. Between the two cities, we stopped by seven bookstores and purchased a combined 17-ish books, Susan graciously purchased a separate suitcase for our book hauls.
On our first full day in London, we ventured out for breakfast to Café at Storey’s Gate at St. James’s Park. It was a delightful morning, and we sat out on the patio and enjoyed coffee and hot chocolate.
Another sidebar: Guess who is lactose intolerant? Also, who had the most hot chocolate she’s ever had in her life?
Cafe at Storey’s Gate
st. James’s Park-London
That day, we visited St. James's Park and met two lovely ladies from the Carolinas in front of the Duck Island Cottage. And yes, there were ducks…and pelicans…they were huge! We went to Covent Garden for light shopping and a water break. Then, we headed over to the National Portrait Gallery, where we heard a taste of home…”Hey Ya” played by an artist in front of the museum. Rounded out our day with dinner as we had to pack for the second leg of our trip to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Covent Garden
Architecture
As a photographer, one of the great things about London is the fantastic architecture! Baroque, Victorian, Gothic Revival, Tudor, Elizabethan, and Edwardian—my camera loved it all! Here in Atlanta, there are not many historical buildings in existence due to Sherman’s march and overpriced condos.
Atlanta Influences Everything
Never has there been a more accurate statement! The Dungeon Family and Outkast are in very heavy rotation across the pond! We heard a rendition of ‘Hey Ya” by an artist in front of the Portrait Gallery, to “So Fresh, So Clean” in Moulin Rouge! Having a bit of home in the heart of London reminded me that Atlanta truly influences everything!
View of the London Eye
Buy U a Drank
I take my mocktails, shaken, not stirred. As a non-drinker, I loved that every restaurant and pub we visited in London and Edinburgh included a generous mocktail selection. I also appreciated being asked about food allergies and the extra care with which my food was prepared because of them. Shellfish are my mortal enemy. *Shakes fist in the air
Return to Londontown
During our return trip to London, we met Susan's friend Debbie (Hi Debbie!) for dinner at Eat Tokyo and a show at Piccadilly Theatre. Moulin Rouge! was one of the best shows I've seen. The talent, set design, and singing were exceptional! Once again, we heard that familiar sound of home—this time in So Fresh, So Clean lyrics. The representation of races within the play made my heart sing. As a black American woman with Southern roots, seeing the main character of Satine being played by a black actress was heartfelt. Here in America, when a character that is traditionally played by a member of the majority is switched to a member of a minority race, it is met with trepidation. I'm not saying the UK doesn't have its share of negativity in this category or that the decision to have a black actress play Satine wasn't met with controversy; it was still refreshing to see the representation (someone who looks like me) on such a global stage.
China Town-London
We started the next day at Bill's Restaurant for breakfast. So tasty, with excellent service and a great ambiance. From there, we passed through the theatre district. I promptly stopped Susan as it appeared they were filming something…. It turned out it was a premier event for a new animated movie. Watching them set up the red carpet and props from the film was fun. We continued on to Cecil Court. If you love books, visit the area and stop by Alice Through the Looking Glass and Goldsboro Books, which specializes in first editions and signed titles (I’ll drop the names for the Edinburgh bookshops in the next post).
Next up was Mayfair, one of London's most upscale neighborhoods. Ladies, if you're looking for that man in finance with a trust fund, this is where they live. Bentleys, Rolls Royce’s, Aston Martins, and Ferraris lined the streets of Mayfair. As a fashion major, I couldn’t get enough of the luxury designer shops in the neighborhood. After window shopping, we searched for lunch and landed at Selfridges. More trust funds, ladies!!
Mayfair in London
The city and atmosphere were precisely as I pictured them: a mixture of modern and historic, bustling with people amongst baroque and gothic-style architecture. Red phone boxes dotted the sidewalks as double-decker buses whizzed by. Hearing “Mind the Gap” brought it all home for me. It was a terrific trek around London. After years of reading and watching about it, I finally visited the city, which did not disappoint! It was a dream trip, and I'm thinking of planning another visit 😊. Come back next week to read about our Jaunt Around Edinburgh and travel tips.
Here are all the neighborhoods and places we visited in London:
Covent Garden
Cecil Court
China Town
Piccadilly Circus
Mayfair
Soho
Leicester Square
Oxford Street
St. James’s Park
National Portrait Gallery
London Restaurants
Sherlock Holmes (British Pub)
Café at Storey’s Gate
The Clarance (British pub)
Bill’s Restaurant and Bar (Soho)
Caffe Concerto
Fumo (Italian)-absolute best service and amazing food!
Prezzo (Italian)
Eat Tokyo (Japanese)
