2018 London Day 1

To celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss, Tony surprised me at Christmas with a plan to go to London in June. We took the kids to my parents in SE Minnesota and flew direct to Heathrow from MSP on Sunday June 3rd. 

We stayed in South Kensington, at a boutique hotel that I would absolutely recommend. 

The Ampersand Hotel

The location was perfect, and across the street from the South Kensington Tube Station, close to Hyde Park, near shopping, and in a safe area we felt comfortable in. 

We took quick showers and set off on foot to explore the area. It was every bit as gorgeous as you could imagine. I had no idea when we started, after a red eye flight, and a customs line that was hours long, we would be walking all over central London later that day. I am so grateful we did. It was incredible. 

The Victoria and Albert Museum

We stopped at pub near Harrod's to grab some food, and a cocktail. Of course, we shared fish and chips and some scotch eggs. They were fantastic!

Green Park

We strolled through Hyde Park, and found ourselves next to Buckingham Palace. It was surreal to see these places in real life that I have read about and seen on TV and online so much. 

We continued walking, and found Westminster Abbey. 

And Big Ben {under construction}

After walking the South Bank for a bit, we crossed the Thames again and kept walking until we came across Picadilly Circus.

Picadilly Circus

And we ended up in Soho near Carnaby. 

I continued to be amazed that every corner looked like this. A cozy pub, history teeming from every inch of the city. I just fell in love with London. 

We had both read about this 'secret' bar that was underground and kind of hidden in Soho. We decided to try it, and we had so much fun trying to figure out where it was. It took a little bit, especially for having never been to London, and navigating one of the oldest cities, but we did find it. 

We had to wait outside for a table to open up, so we chatted with the doorman, and read the menu paper. 

Once we were able to go in, we headed down the stairs in into another world. The bar is set up to go back in time to just after WWII and it looks like an old tube car. It was fantastic.

We had a few cocktails, some light bar snacks, and I ended our first day in London with a glass of bubbly. I was in heaven.