I dream about London. Literally!

It’s the truth. When I sleep at night, I often find my thoughts stray to adventures across the pond. It may be a slightly outdated version of London today, but the city I remember comes to life in my dreams. If I close my eyes, I can still vividly recall the nighttime city sounds when I lived there many years ago.

How I long for my next visit. Perhaps in 2025 with a few nights in Paris via a train journey through the Chunnel!

Someday not too far away, I hope to get reacquainted with my favorite city abroad. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this post that takes you to London through my prose and photos.  

My London Classroom

In my dreams, I’m often on the Tube (subway) or on foot as I make my way to be somewhere. It brings me back to my good ol’ days as a student studying abroad and later living life as “real Londoner” a year after I graduated from university.

As a student, I had the perfect opportunity taking a British art history course that not only taught me about London’s significant art and architecture, but to experience it firsthand. Museums and architectural sites were free, so I just needed a Tube pass and good walking shoes. I toured with our class, my friends and most leisurely on my own.

Getting Prepared for My Visits

My visits are a homecoming to me. I enjoy visiting my favorite spots and walking miles getting reacquainted with the city vibes. I don’t do all the touristy things, but include a few new ones every trip. Things are always evolving and with city’s rich history, there’s so much to do and learn.

I’m a huge fan of guide books when revisiting London. For every trip, I get an updated version, usually a Frommer’s guide. I’ll thoroughly consume the guide before the trip, flagging pages of interest for my itinerary. The excitement with preparing for the trip is one the best parts of traveling sometimes, don’t you agree?!

I prefer a smaller, more condensed guide that I can slip into my bag if needed. I’ve got two in my Amazon cart and would recommend: London Day by Day or What Not to Do – London. If you want a more comprehensive book, try Frommer’s London (Complete Guide).

Laurie’s London Tour

And now, so many years later, I cannot visit London without saying hello to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the magnificent building is one of his most famous. Wren’s buildings are prominent in London as he’s known for rebuilding the “City of London” following the Great Fire in 1666. This historical and financial district is called the “City,” which is within the city and is also known as the Square Mile. The City has its own government, mayor and police.

As you read this post, watch for other mentions of Wren associated with London’s renowned architecture.

There are so many haunts I revisit and here’s a short list: Convent Garden, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Cleopatra’s Needle, Camden, Hyde Park and Hampstead. Most importantly, though, is experiencing the city by traveling on public transportation and foot while taking in the views and strolling along the Thames.

Soaking in the London Skyline

The City of London captivates me with its iconic skyline. Many of the tallest buildings have quirky nicknames (gotta love British humor!) based on their appearance. For example, there’s the Shard, Gherkin, Cheesegrater and Walkie Talkie. For my next trip, I can’t wait to see how newer additions integrated into the cityscape: Scalpel, Vase/Boomerang and Twentytwo.

Go by boat! I highly recommend viewing the skyline from the Thames on a boat trip. On our last trip, we went in April and the weather was perfect for a leisurely ride on the river. Definitely on my list for next time.

Getting the Best Views of London

Rooftop Bars: I’m a sucker for a view and there’s ample opportunities to see London up high from many vantage points. And so many are free. For our last trip, I changed out our St. Paul’s Cathedral experience by taking in sweeping views from Sabine. What a great way to chill out from touring all day while soaking up the city from up high.

We were too late to score tickets to the Sky Garden located in the Walkie Talkie building on your last visit. So, this goes on the list for next trip for sure! Or we can try one of the others featured in The Working Line’s 22 Best Free London Rooftops!

London Eye: If you’re not afraid of heights, you must take a whirl on the London Eye. The 360-degree views from the South Bank of the Thames are incredible and provide photo opportunities galore. Viewing the massive Ferris wheel is a sight to behold, and no wonder is the number-one paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom!

The Monument

Climbing the 311 steps up the spiral staircase of the Monument takes me back to my college days and what I learned in my British art history course.

It was erected on the site where the Great Fire of 1666 started. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren (of course!) in collaboration with Robert Hooke, the 202-foot column offers a public viewing platform to capture panoramic sights.

Favorite Places Revisited

I’ll often join my husband on a business trip, so that means I can wrap myself up in a big London hug while he’s working and meeting clients. We always make time to do new things together. But if I’m by myself, I’m more than content to visit old haunts and favorite places.

I’ll like to navigate my way through the neighborhods of South Kensington to Kensington High Street tube stops. I’ll retrace the steps I took as a student taking in the changes and enjoying what’s stayed the same.

To Muse on London’s Mews

While I’m in the South Kensington area, I’ll make it a point to walk through small picturesque cobblestone residential enclaves called mews. According to a resident I spoke with when taking photos, mews were originally created for stables and staff housing back in the day when horse and carriages was the mode of transportation. Today, they’re quaint and quiet residential areas. If you happen upon a mews when strolling around the city, do take a quick detour for some Instagrammable backdrops for your vacay photos!

Visit a Picasso, Mummy, Dinosaur – For Free

Did you know that many of London’s best museums offer free entry? On every trip, I’ll always pop into the National Gallery, even if for just 20 minutes, to view some of my favorite artists, especially the French impressionists. Located just steps from the Leicester Square, it’s inevitable I’ll be in that area at some point, so it’s easy to stop by and get a quick art fix.

I’ve done my share of many of London’s museums, but two are currently on my to-do list:

• The Natural History Museum is located in South Kensington and could kick myself today for never visiting it being literally around the corner from my dorm. I guess I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind then. I am today though.
• Tate Modern, sister museum of Tate Britain, is located in South Bank has been calling out to me. Tate Modern features international modern and contemporary art while Tate Britain showcases British art from 1500 to present.

Check out the London Travel Hacks article on the 10 Best London Museums for Free to learn more about which ones interest you.

London Is a Foodie’s Delight

My perceptions about British cuisine soon changed once I lived there. London has crazy good food. With its multiculturalism, it’s no wonder London Town is considered one of the world’s greatest foodie cities. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try some quintessential British dishes when visiting, and that should include a good Indian curry. Chicken tikka masala is a national dish (check out my healthy, low-fat recipe you can make in the Instant Pot or stovetop). On most of our London jaunts, we like to stop by a chippie. We are partial to the Golden Hind.

Never a Dull Moment

There’s always something to consume my time during visits. To round out this post, I’ll share a potpourri of excursions we’ve enjoyed during some of our visits.

I hope my fond memories of London and sharing some of what it offers will be helpful to you on a future trip. Remember to do your homework in advance and make sure you carry a London Subway map when traipsing around the city. Cheers!

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