London: Kate & Jackie

Where are we - London

Duration - An entire week (kid free!), which for two mums of three was a real treat!

The Journey over:

After farewelling our families, we jetted off to Heathrow (via Bangkok) on Thai Airways, a first encounter for us both. We were impressed by our spacious economy seats on our first sector and while the entertainment system didn’t blow our socks off, there was enough to keep us happy. The staff were friendly and attentive, and boarding was extremely efficient.

Bangkok Airport was a little bit underwhelming to begin with and we were worried with our 5hr layover, but as we walked on it opened up to reveal its seemingly endless shopping strip and plenty of dining options.

The second sector was not quite so well fitted out and definitely a bit squishier in economy but didn’t stop us getting some shut eye.

On arrival we had contemplated the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then one change to get to our hotel near Victoria Station. But so pleased we elected to get a private arrival transfer. The difference in price was fairly insignificant and for the ease and comfort, so worth it. Meant we avoided lugging large suitcases on the tube during peak hour too.

First Things First:

This was not a first time visit to London or either of us but we gave ourselves a refresh on the lay of the land and ticked off seeing the top tourist attractions (again) by spending day one of our trip on the Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus. Having arrived early in the morning, this was a great way keep ourselves on the go for the entire day. And London turned it on for us with a picture perfect, sunny day. Definitely be sure to barter with the various ticket sellers for their best price and you can generally get a Thames River cruise ticket thrown in for only a few pounds more.

Our Accommodation:

We made it back to the Rui London Victoria that evening and found our twin share room to be clean and spacious enough for us to both have our large suitcases out and accessible. The hotel was well placed, just a minutes’ walk from Victoria Station, which gave us easy access to everything we wanted to see in and around the city. Also provided super easy access for Kate on departure to Gatwick, as the Gatwick Express goes direct from Victoria.

The hotel was large and modern, not one of the many classic or boutique British options around the city, but it was well appointed. The buffet breakfast was great and wait staff attentive and warm. If you’re looking for something more traditional in the neighborhood then look no further than The Cleremont which is attached to the station. We had considered a stay here but they had no availability in a twin room.

Our Time in London:

This would be the longest amount of time either of us had even spent just in London and it meant we could take our time and really explore different pockets and neighbourhoods.

Some of our highlights included…

Wandering through Belgravia where shopfront after shopfront is adorned with gorgeous floral displays - it was just so dammed pretty!

A traditional British Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in Mayfair was something quite special - served with a glass of champagne, accompanying pianist and exceptional service. You will need to book in advance and definitely need to frock/suit up for the occasion.

And after filling our tummies with delicious treats we enjoyed wandering the streets of Mayfair and Soho. The highlight was the Liberty Store; London’s oldest department store housed in a heritage listed Tudor building, spread over 6 floors and made from old battle ships. We could have spent hours alone wandering the store and Kate was very excited to find their Christmas shop had opened for the year!

Kensington was another lovely neighbourhood and while exploring the area Kate made her first visit to the Natural History Museum - the Grand Hall and ‘Hope’ the whale skeleton certainly didn’t disappoint. It was also fun to see all the dinosaur exhibits - my two primary schoool age boys have obviously rubbed off on her! But it was extremely busy in the museum. I would definitely suggest going early (or perhaps much later in the day) - I arrived about 11:30am and it was already crazy busy.

While in Kensington we checked out Dishoom for lunch after a number of people recommended it. And now we can recommend it too - yummy Indian food, fabulous service and a great bustling atmosphere. Definitely glad we booked in advance, as it was very busy.

Camden Market was another first for us. We took the bus and while the trip is about 45min the journey was worth and being above ground meant we saw more of the city along the way. The market was a great mix of food, fashion, jewellery and souvenirs and the general area had a completely different vibe to being right in the city - definitely grungier. We really enjoyed this.

On the market tour, we also ticked off Borough Market. Loved it here - an absolute treat for the senses. We enjoyed one of our best London coffees at Monmouth and then turned to oysters and bubbles at one of the market vendors. The paella here also looked to die for but the very long queue was less enticing. Instead for lunch today we stopped nearby at The George, London’s last surviving galleried inn, having welcomed travelers since the 15th century, and now us in 2026!

While thinking back to coffee, perhaps our fave coffee of the trip came from Wolf Fox on Monmouth Street in Covent Garden. Quaint little cafe and fab service here also. Just a stones throw from the the market. While in the neighbourhood we popped by to see Henrietta Experiemental, a 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Covent Garden. Jackie was heading to Paris after our time to London to see more of the Experimental properties and you can read more about their gorgeous hotels in an upcoming blog from her.

Getting out on the Thames was yet another first and highlight for us - so we did it twice. Firstly, heading east passed and under a number of London’s iconic buildings and bridges.

And later in the week, south-west to Richmond which was a great little day trip out of the city proper. The trip takes about 2hrs on the river but you can go one way by boat and then return much quicker on the train. Along the journey we went through a river Loch - so interesting to watch the process of the water rising while onboard. Richmond is really picturesque and you can sense the slower pace being out of the city. Plenty of Ted Lasso fans about as this is where much of the show is filmed - we had lunch at Ted’s local which was yummy and with lovely views over the The Richmond Green. Wish we had a bit more time here to see more, but had to make it back to the city for drinks and dinner.

Starting with cocktails at Mr Foggs Gin Parlour in Covent Garden and finishing with an absolutely scrummy dinner at The Original Ivy, West End. Our dinner here was perhaps one of our most special. Food was so great and the service was also top notch. Another London icon that didn’t disappoint.

If you’re after a great view of the city then definitely worth visiting the Shard - but don’t bother with the Observation Deck. Instead book a table at Gong, the Shangri-La’s cocktail bar and take in the views from level 52 while sipping a signature cocktail - much better value and a lovely experience!

One view we had been looking forward to was from the Sky Garden. We booked dinner here but our table was set back from the window. You can pay extra for a window table and perhaps it’s worth it as we really couldn’t appreciate any sort of view from our table being just slightly further back. Or perhaps ditch dinner and just grab a drink at the bar one level down - the restaurant meal was overpriced and the service just ok in our opinion.

And perhaps ‘the’ highlight (for Kate at least) was seeing Bon Jovi at Wembley! Long time fan and the concert was the impetus for the trip. The concert was a 2hr45min best of collection and the band rocked the sold-out stadium. What a way to experience Wembley for the first time!

A final word:

Getting around London was made super easy using the City Mapper app. While the official TfL app was useful the City Mapper app wins hands down, giving you options for public transport, walking, cycling and drive routes. It even tells you what carriage to board the train based on your exit point when you get off. Loved it and used it constantly!

London really turned it on for us with summer hanging on. This will be a trip to remember for us both.