After leaving Rome, our final stop was London.
This leg of the trip was a little different—my wife had returned home, so it was just me and my stepkids navigating London together.
We had 48 hours.
Not nearly enough—but more than enough to fall in love with the city.
Click here to find out what I would do differently next time in Paris.
Click here to read my takeaways on what’s worth it, what’s not, and what I’d do differently in Rome.
Getting to London (And a Ryanair Lesson)
We flew from Rome’s Ciampino Airport to London’s Stansted Airport on Ryanair.
Luggage charges are always a potential issue on low-cost airlines. I’ve had my issues previously with Spirit and Frontier in the United States. So I knew their carry-on suitcases needed to meet the dimension requirements. They had no issue on two flights with Vueling Airlines, so I was confident we wouldn’t have an issue with Ryanair.
I was wrong.
The suitcases were less than an inch too long
The ticketing agent said we had to pay 80 Euros to check my stepson’s suitcase. But my stepdaughter’s suitcase could be carried on.
Same suitcase. Same size. Different treatment.
I considered arguing the point, but feared that he would charge me 80 Euros for her bag, so I bit my tongue and handed over my credit card.
Lesson learned: Low-cost airlines come with hidden costs—and inconsistent enforcement.
If I had to do it again?
I’d choose to fly with Vueling without hesitation. Same size restrictions as Ryanair, but never enforced for an inch or so too big. In the end, what I thought I was saving by flying Ryanair became more expensive than Vueling.
Getting Into the City (Do This Instead)
We took an Uber from Stansted rather than taking the train into the city. This was a mistake. I thought I was being smart using Uber, but I didn’t consider rush hour traffic. For roughly the same price, we would have arrived about an hour earlier, taking the train. With only 48 hours in London, that one hour was precious.
Where We Stayed in London
We stayed near Gloucester Road Station—just one stop from Earl’s Court.
This turned out to be an excellent location:
- Easy Tube access
- Plenty of restaurants
- Very walkable
The hotel (Millennium Hotel & Conference Centre) delivered a surprisingly great experience—from check-in to room upgrade.
The difference in accommodations compared to our prior stays in Paris and Rome could not be more stark. This was a traditional hotel with a doorman, bellhop, and seemingly white-glove treatment throughout. We definitely felt like a VIP.
This was a great home base for exploring London.
Day 1: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace & Freezing Temperatures
As we didn’t have time to relax, we immediately headed out, and our first stop was Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
It was cold. Really cold. This was a windy, gray, blustery day that defied what the weatherman forecasted. We were fools to pack and dress based on the forecast, especially in London, where the weather can change instantly.
To battle the cold, my hands stayed in my pockets rather than on my camera. Pictures would have to wait. I was in survival mode.
Lunch at a Proper English Pub
We stopped at St. Stephen’s Tavern for fish and chips and a pint of beer.
The portion size? My piece of fish was nearly as long as my arm from the elbow to the fingertips. One look at it and I knew the small cup of tartar sauce wasn’t going to be nearly enough (I needed two more!).
This place is exactly what you hope for in a London pub.
Warm, lively, and full of character.
Strolling Through St. James’s Park
Walking through St. James’s Park on the way to Buckingham Palace was one of the more peaceful moments of the trip. Still cold and windy, but quiet—unlike the area around Big Ben.
Dogs were walked without a leash, not straying far from their owners. I would never be able to take my dogs to a park like that.
And the pelican! He was a very stately looking chap! Apparently, he is some sort of celebrity in the park.
I really couldn’t help but notice the calm quietness of the park compared to the area around Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. To be able to escape from the noise and busyness of the city, even for a few moments, really gave me a welcome break that I didn’t realize I needed from the go-go-go.
Buckingham Palace (Even Without the Ceremony)
We missed the Changing of the Guard—but the area was still packed. Had we taken the train into town rather than the Uber from the airport, we would have been able to see the ceremony, which only takes place four times a week. That decision proved costly when time was so limited.
Watching the guards’ routine—precise, repetitive, almost theatrical—was oddly entertaining.
I assume the guards are for show and not security. I say that because the two guards on duty were short and slender. Definitely not what I expected guarding the palace.
Piccadilly Circus & Classic London Moments
To help combat the cold, we found a Starbucks on our way to Piccadilly Circus. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a coffee as much as I did that day.
My stepkids waited patiently in line for the iconic red phone booth photos. The phone booths were covered with stickers and graffiti (what a shame). But that didn’t stop them from getting their Instagram pics. Ironically, there were two of the phone booths by our hotel without the crowds or graffiti. Don’t ask me how we missed them.
Piccadilly Circus was buzzing! We walked around, occasionally going into a store (for them to shop and for me to warm up). My stepson returned the next night to get selfies with the street and stores all lit up.
The Nando’s Adventure
We returned to the hotel to warm up and charge the phones.
There were several restaurants within walking distance of our hotel, but my stepson insisted on Nando’s.
He led the way as we walked from our hotel to Earl’s Court. It wasn’t a particularly long walk, maybe 20 minutes, but we walked past the Gloucester Road and Earl’s Court stations to get there. Then we followed him back to the hotel, again walking past the stations that could have quickly returned us to the hotel while providing some warmth.
The next morning, I found a Nando’s within a couple hundred feet of our hotel.
Sometimes you just let the kids lead—and deal with the consequences. I don’t think I’ll let him live this one down.
Day 2: Markets, Neighborhoods & Hidden Gems
We started our day with a walk to Kensington Palace and through Kensington Gardens. The sun was out, and the temperature was perfect! The blue skies were such a nice change from the gloomy day we experienced the day before.
The palace itself? Underwhelming (at least from the outside).
The gardens? Beautiful and worth the visit. The garden and pond dedicated to Princess Diana were memorable. She was adored and missed based on the number of people paying tribute.
Camden Market (Come Hungry, Decide Wisely)
Camden Market is a sensory overload—in a good way.
- Incredible food options
- Energetic atmosphere
- Endless choices
My mistake?
Ordering one dish instead of sampling several. And the worst part was that my meal was basically what you would get in a mall’s food court. Just like the people in the mall luring you in with a sample, I was persuaded with that same tactic. Ugh.
Notting Hill & Portobello Road Market
As my stepson left us to attend a Chelsea match, my stepdaughter and I found our way to Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market.
Vintage shops and street vendors lined the street. The crowds generated this great energy, even up to the end when the vendors started to pack up. I found myself having to take a deep breath to remain calm as I worked my way through and around the mass of people.
But my stepdaughter was in her element. She could squeeze her way through the crowds to get to a vintage clothing shop and then off to another. It was everything I could do to keep track of her. But I wasn’t worried she would get lost—I had the credit card, so she would find me if she needed me (or the piece of plastic).
I spent most of my time with a vintage camera vendor. As I looked at all the old Nikon and Pentax film cameras, I noticed the small point-and-shoot cameras from 15 or 20 years ago were getting all the attention from the teenagers. What do they say? What’s old is new again, or something like that.
Final Night: A Proper Send-Off
We ended the day at The Stanhope Arms. A wonderful British pub with live music and soccer on the televisions. The place erupted when the team that I thought was Chelsea scored in the final minute. It wasn’t Chelsea. It wasn’t even their game. Shows you how much I know about soccer.
As I watched staff bring beer and food to the surrounding tables while ignoring us, I got up to ask the bartender how to get served. He pointed at the QR Code to download the app needed to place our order and pay. This old man isn’t ready for this high-tech world. I’m not sure what you’d do if you didn’t have a phone.
Ok, I don’t know why they say British cuisine is an oxymoron. That reputation couldn’t be further from the truth! The Duck Hash I had that night was hands-down THE best bite of the entire trip. Better than anything in Paris or Rome.
Lessons Learned in London
1. Take the train from the airport
Trust me on this one.
2. Dress for the weather
London in March is no joke. Dress in layers (oh boy, I can hear my mother’s voice when I say that!). And understand, in London, the weatherman is merely guessing.
3. The Tube is incredible
- Clean
- Efficient
- Easy to navigate
We even took the train to Heathrow to catch our flight home, a straight shot from the Gloucester Road Station.
4. Service charges are included
Most restaurants include 10% automatically. Check your bill before adding a tip.
5. Museums = missed opportunity
Here’s my biggest regret:
We didn’t visit a single museum.
And honestly, it would have been the perfect way to:
- Warm up
- Slow down
- Add depth to the trip
6. Two days are not enough
Like Paris and Rome, you need at least 4–5 days just in London. Add another day or two to visit Stonehenge, Oxford, or the White Cliffs of Dover.
Final Thoughts
London completely surprised me.
- The energy
- The efficiency
- The mix of history and modern life
It all just…works.
And while it may not be known as a “food city,” I thoroughly enjoyed the pub culture, the meals, and the overall experience.
I can’t wait to go back—and next time, I’m adding museums.
