Oh, London. What fun you were. Back in September, I took a lil’ trip across the pond from Paris to London to visit a friend studying abroad there. While I was only there for less than three days, I was still able to do some really fun things! Keep reading to see the five coolest experiences of my brief trip to London!
Churchill Arms Pub: Now, my friend and I don’t even like beer, so we didn’t come to this pub to drink. But, for a pub which is covered in flowers from the ground all the way up to the roof, we were willing to take the time to check it out. I’m so glad we did! This was such a cool spot to see. We came with some other London friends, who got beers, so we weren’t just two losers standing on the sidewalk staring up at the building. We were just two losers standing on the sidewalk gazing up at the building next to our other friends who were drinking and socializing like normal human beings. No big deal.
Abbey Road: The two of us are HUGE Beatles fans. We had a few hours to kill before I had to get back to the train station, and on a whim, we decided to go check out Abbey Road! We took pictures on the street, signed the wall outside the studio, and bought fun little souvenirs at the small gift shop. This was definitely one of those cool once-in-your-life experiences. Now, I can always say I’ve been to Abbey Road!
Brunch at Farm Girl Cafe in Notting Hill: Our second morning, we set out to explore Notting Hill so that we could stop by a super cool brunch spot called Farm Girl. This popular cafe is known by Londoners for its healthy but delicious food: I’m talking buckwheat berry pancakes, vegan donuts, and blue matcha lattes. And oh my goodness was it good.
Explore Selfridge’s: Oh boy, was this fun. We got lost in here for close to two hours and only left because they were closing. Think Nordstrom, but ten times bigger and better, then add a dessert floor and a Christmas floor. Now you’re getting the idea.
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason: We both agreed that if we were going to do London, we were going to do it right. That meant a real, traditional afternoon tea. Not only was it my favorite experience of the weekend, this was one of my favorite experiences of all time! What can I say? I just really love tea. The 80-year-old British lady inside me was having a ball with all the finger sandwiches she could eat. Although this tea was quite a splurge, the price was absolutely worth it. The ambiance of Fortnum & Mason was incredible, the staff was very kind, the tea was delicious, and we definitely got our money’s worth of food. (We couldn’t even finish all of our sandwiches and desserts, plus they sent us home with a huge to-go box of cake! So basically, it was the best day of my life.)
If the charming double-decker busses and the Tower Bridge aren’t reason enough for you to visit London, these are five more amazing things to check out there! I can’t wait until my next trip to London, which will hopefully be much longer!
Until next time!
-Brooke
