London for the day?? Yes!

Even though it already feels like a lifetime ago, it was just 2 months ago that I took my final solo trip of our European journey. I have previously written about our not-so-great ‘London for a weekend’ trip and then a much more desirable ‘England for a long weekend’ trip, so I felt I should finish all of that out with a ‘London for the day’ trip.

London is a quick 2.5 hr Eurostar train ride from Brussels, something even I can handle. The Eurostar is pricy, though, especially last minute, so I randomly decided to book this trip months in advance. At some point, I had a friend decide to come, but then life takes over and schedules are too busy and cancellations happen. But, I decided to just go alone and I checked off a bunch of English boxes!

My only actual requirement was recreating the picture on the Tower Bridge like my grandfather. So I planned my day around that and anything else was a bonus! It just had to be a totally “English” day.

Harry Potter

Started with Platform 9 3/4 and the Harry Potter shop.

Tower Bridge

Then I took the underground all the way across town, fighting my hatred for the subway, to recreate my Tower Bridge picture.

Big Ben

Next up, total tourist photo op with my London shirt at Big Ben (completely opposite side of town, requiring more subway of me). Even though it was under construction, I had to have the picture. I mean, I have the same picture at the other places on the shirt – Paris and Rome…just gotta get back to Reno!

Tea Party for One

English tea was next on the docket with an even more English theme – Peter Rabbit. Scones and clotted cream, weird but delicious little tea sandwiches, and amazing little desserts.

“Culture” (Wicked)

Finally, after quick stop at a Alice-in-Wonderland vintage bookstore, and a slow-paced walk to the WRONG Apollo theater, I completed my day with a sprint across town to the correct theater in the West End district. Made it in at 14:29 for a 14:30 show. Wicked was great – can’t believe I haven’t seen it before! There were parts that even seemed to be adapted to be “English”.

This last trip set the score for my England – ‘yay or nay’ trips with a 2/3 success rate! Though I never mentioned my Canterbury trip that ended with 4 cancelled trains and a 6ish hour bus ride landing me home at 4:15 am…but that’s for another time (or never 😂).

Pics of the day