Best of London in 7 Days
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Tour Day 1
Tour Group Meetup / Double Decker Bus Tour / Group Dinner
Today, we woke up bright and early to explore a bit before the tour meetup in the afternoon. We went for breakfast before wandering the streets of Chinatown on our way to the National Gallery. This was our favorite day because we had time to just wander at our own pace. We got to see Trafalgar Square without the crowds, stumbled upon St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, and heard the Sunday Church bells ringing... We rested on a bench in Leicester Square, with Paddington Bear sitting on the bench next to us. We relaxed with the sound of the fountain in the square while waiting for our timed-entry into the National Gallery. It was just peaceful to enjoy the calm sunny weather and the wind blowing through the trees.
Afterwards, we took our time admiring the paintings throughout different eras and styles. We grabbed some pastries and made our way back to the Hotel, where we would be meeting with the Tour Group and later heading out for our Double Decker Bus Tour. The bus tour took us past basically all the major landmarks that London is known for, and we got to see Big Ben up close! It being an open-top bus made the experience even better.
Afterwards, Dinner! We got our first taste of Fish & Chips at a local pub, as we got to talk and get to know more about our fellow tour members.
Tour Day 2
St. Paul's Cathedral / Afternoon Tea / British Museum
Today started off with an orientation on the Tube, which can seem a bit intimidating, but is actually really easy once you get to know it. It can get very crowded though! Big thanks to our Tour Guide Jamie, who made it less intimidating as we made our way to St. Paul's Cathedral. The dome of the Cathedral was incredible to see in person and the sculptures and artistry of the interior were very beautiful. It was interesting to hear how the Church had survived the Great Fire of London and the bombings in World War II.
Afterwards, we made our way to the Montague Hotel for Afternoon Tea. We got to taste 3 different teas along with a selection of sandwiches, desserts, and the best of all, scones. The scones with clotted cream and jam were both of our favorites. We then headed over to the British Museum. While there were interesting exhibits like the pieces of the Parthenon and the Rosetta Stone, being introverts, the crowds ended up being a bit much for the both of us. So, we chose to relax at a nearby park instead.
To end the day, we went to His Majesty's Royal Theater to see the Phantom of the Opera. It was Nate's first time seeing the play, and he loved the music.
