Our favorite spot in London? Easy to answer, Borough Market. Our least favorite thing we did? Easy again, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. We only had a short 48 hours so we made the most of it and saw as much as we could. I’ll start with our favorite experience, Borough Market.
Borough Market is full of fresh veg and fruit, but also has unique restaurants and amazing pastry stands. We miss our California farmers markets so getting a taste (literally!) of what London has to offer was really enjoyable. After reading some great reviews, we decided to make a stop for a grilled cheese at the Kappacasein Dairy stall. It is everything you think it will be. Gooey deliciousness in between two slices of sourdough bread.
We’re big fans of saving money by what we choose to eat while on the road so eating from stalls was perfect. We generally only sit down at a restaurant once per day to avoid spending too much money. That leaves more budget for wine and beer or whatever the locals are drinking.
As you can see from the photo above, we had a breathtaking view of the Changing of the Guard. We were behind a family that had sat outside for 4 hours to get the same view as we did…the crowds were honestly just too much. Unless this is your top thing to see in London, I suggest skipping it altogether. Being trampled isn’t my cup of tea and you really don’t even see the guards unless you are a kid on someone’s shoulders.
Big Ben was under construction and we didn’t get a chance to go inside Westminster Abbey because it was a Sunday (whoops!). In no particular order, we took some photos of the London Eye and walked by The Tower of London and across the Tower Bridge. I thought the Tower Bridge was the most interesting architecture in London with its baby blue highlights making it look almost cartoonish.
We went to the top of the Shard which was a nice place to chill out and take in the views of the city. We went to the British Museum to escape the rain and to our surprise saw the Rosetta Stone. We ate delicious Indian food at Nando’s and saw a play in West End. At times we were freezing and escaped the cold by taking the underground to different parts of the city.
I think we’ll head back to London when the weather is more favorable or we’ll head out to the countryside and enjoy the slower pace. London is a great city to explore with much to offer. I’m learning that sometimes having fewer things on the agenda can lead to more surprises and it’s okay not to see it all.