Last April my best friend and I slipped quietly away to London for a long weekend. I didn’t post a single photo on social media. Somehow our closest friends didn’t even seem to know. We didn’t mean for it to be so secretive. We just literally picked a spot with cheaper(er) flights (right at $400), less than 8 hours away and plenty of good food options (the later being the most important) booked the trip, packed our bags (and cameras) and were off. Despite the perceived idea that women (and right brain thinkers) should be able to multi-task I simply can’t. If I’m enjoying a moment it feels like a complete departure (and entirely impossible) to step away and post something on social media (or text or call or do anything else conversational related). So on each trip I take I either choose to take an hour or two at the end of the day to recap or take that hour or two to get some more sleep. With only three packed days, sleep won out on this trip. We spent our days wandering about and eating our way through a city that was much more sprawling than I thought. It was a delight and I came home with a handful of rolls of film, a single antique letterpress drawer as a souvenir and the memory of so many delightful sights and tasty foods to treasure.
Here’s were you’d typically find itinerary tips and suggestions but although I loved our trip through and through I really wouldn’t suggest following our lead if you want to truly experience London especially for the first time (which I’m not sure is entirely possible in only 3 days). But for a quick rundown here’s what our 3 days consisted of:
+ A nonstop overnight flight from Tampa to Gatwick and train into the city
+ A high tea experience at The Ritz
+ An accidental wander through Green Park to Buckingham Palace
+ Shopping at Fortnum & Mason
+ A Hop-on-Hop-off Big Bus tour
+ Saturday morning antiquing and breakfast in Notting Hill
+ An Airbnb Street food Biking tour
+ A late night stop at Gordon’s
+ A half day tour to Stonehenge
+ A proper Sunday roast at Oblix on the 32nd floor of The Shard
+ A sky high view from the highest point in London at The View from the Shard
+ Lots of on and off “the tube” as they call it
+ And lastly Franco Manca pizza in bed on our final night staying at the Kimpton Fitzroy
I kept my medium format Contax 645 camera by my side for most of the trip and pulled it out from time to time (when it wasn’t raining) to grab some of the dreamy shots you’ll see below. Enjoy a peek through my eyes into a whirlwind London trip!
Spent the morning antiquing in the oh-so-colorful and charming Notting Hill.
Just a small film peek into the Airbnb biking street food tour (with more pics in my phone photo section further below).
Booked a half day tour to Stonehenge
Decided to book a late lunch and Sunday roast at Oblix on the 32nd floor of the Shard before an elevator trip up to the highest point in London at the View from the Shard.
Below you’ll find a few little iPhone peeks into the Long Weekend in London BFF trip that included a high tea experience at the Ritz, a hop on hop off Big Bus tour, one of our all time favorite Indian food restaurant experience, a morning antiquing in Notting Hill, a biking street food Airbnb tour, a proper Sunday roast, a half day to Stonehenge, our traditional “final vacay night” takeout pizza dinner in bed and lots more eating all along the way.
Our trip from start to finish (from high tea to pizza in bed) really revolved around food and pretty sights.
Our first day was started off with arriving in London after an overnight flight (and a little bit of sleep). We dropped off our bags and went straight to tea the Ritz. Then on to some shopping and wandering and stumbling on Buckingham Palace and a pretty park along the way.
A few delightful shopping experiences. Our fav, Fortnum & Mason.
We definitely hopped on a Big Bus tour for a quick overview of the city.
A chilly morning antiquing (and eating, of course) in Notting Hill. My favorite (and only) antique purchase of the day was a tiny letterpress drawer. Love!
A highlight of the trip, an Airbnb biking street food tour.
