London: The Perfect Travel Guide

I finally sat down to write my London guide! We went in September and I’m still reeling.

LONDON OUTFIT DETAILS:

GAL MEETS GLAM DRESS | ASOS BELT | PATRICIA NASH BAG c/o | SAM EDELMAN FLATS

London Travel Guide: Where to Stay

• London prices can be absolutely insane, which is why we opted to stay at the Cherry Court Hotel near Victoria Station. It is a small hotel (only 75£ per night) with teeny rooms, but extremely clean. The owners are super nice, and it is a very safe area within walking distance to all the public transportation. The owners (a mother daughter duo) provide a basket of fruit and granola bars every morning to munch on. When we travel we rarely spend time at the hotel, so a clean cozy bed and a hot shower are all we need! We prefer to spend our money on activities and food, rather than lodging. If you have multiple destinations on a trip, chances are the lodging is going to be more of a splurge in some cities. For this trip, our splurge was in Bath. I highly recommend the Cherry Court Hotel, especially if you’re on a budget and have a similar travel philosophy.

London Travel Guide – What to Do:

We were there for 3 days and 4 nights, so we packed it all in! You could honestly spend 2 weeks in London and still not do everything. Here are my highlights.

• Westminster Abbey – get time-entry tickets in advance!
• Shopping on Carnaby Street – more hipster shopping, and such a cool area to grab a drink.
• Shopping on Regent Street – this is the fancy shopping!
• See a Show in the West End. We saw the Harry Potter Show and it was incredible.
• Visit all the big beautiful department stores – Selfridges, Liberty, Harrod’s, oh my!
• The British Museum – especially if you love ancient history.
• National Gallery – you can pop in and see the highlights. I personally like the Van Goghs.
• Churchill War Rooms – buy tickets in advance. This underground museum is basically frozen in time from the day WWII ended. Just incredible.
• Hop On Hop Off Bus tour – London is HUGE so this is a great way to see the city. And if you have a good guide, they will point out little historical tidbits. Super touristy, but we enjoyed it and used the bus as transportation, too.
• Tower of London – The beefeaters give this tour. Once inside, you can see the crown jewels! Just breathtaking.
• Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace – it’s nice to see a little pomp and tradition.
• Notting Hill – its really cute but takes awhile to get to and it is really crowded.

LONDON OUTFIT DETAILS:

ORANGE TEE | LEVIS DENIM | SAM EDELMAN FLATS | HAT | GLASSES | PATRICIA NASH BAG c/o | (Dan’s sweater)

London Travel Guide – Where to Eat:

• I highly suggest eating ethnic food while in London, as it is FIRST CLASS. A few favorites:
  • Dishoom – the best Indian food I’ve ever had. It happens to be a chain. And their cocktails are out of this world.
  • Bao Soho – the most delicious Taiwanese buns and small plates.
  • Brasserie Zedel – a French bistro-style restaurant that’s really popular with the pre-show crowds. They make it feel like you’re transported to 1920s Paris.
  • Tea At Fortnum & Mason – hands down one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! Absolutely book in advance.
  • Gordon’s Wine Bar – super fun and lively and looks like it is 500 years old.

LONDON OUTFIT DETAILS:

OLIVE TEE see how I styled it here, too | MODCLOTH GREEN MIDI SKIRT (more HERE) | SAM EDELMAN FLATS | PATRICIA NASH BAG c/o

London Travel Guide – What to Wear in Fall:

• I visited in late September, and the weather fluctuated between chilly and warm. I recommend layers, and as always, comfortable walking shoes.
• Footwear: I lived in these camel flats in England (when I wasn’t wearing my favorite booties, of course)! They’re so comfortable, and had no break-in time. The brand just released a rose gold pair that I definitely need for spring.
• Skirts or pants? I like to pack a bit of both, especially in the fall when the weather is unpredictable. But a gorgeous midi skirt covers your legs and looks killer, too.
• Tops: when you husband makes you pack for 10 days in one carry on (see it all laid out here) you learn some tricks. I love basic lightweight long sleeve tees like this one because they are inexpensive, come in a bunch of colors, and fold up really small. You can always roll up the sleeves if the temperature rises.
• Bags: I highly recommend a good crossbody bag, rather than a tote or a satchel. That way you can be hands-free to take photos, hold hands, eat on the go…etc. You can also keep the bag in front of you to protect your belongings while in crowds or on public transportation.
• Accessories: Instead of getting all my jewelry in a tangle, I opted for some stud earrings, sunglasses, a layered necklace, two hats, and a cute belt on this trip. I was really happy with my selection.
• Hair tools: You guys know I can’t live without my beachwaver. They had JUST released a dual-voltage version days before my trip, which was safe to bring to Europe! So I snatched one up and had perfect hair the whole trip.

Hope you love London as much as I did! There are direct flights from Chicago, so I MOST CERTAINLY will be back!

Loving this London travel guide? Don’t forget to check out my other England Travel guides:

• The Ultimate England Packing List
• Bath
• Winsdor and Windsor Castle
• The Cotswolds
• York

–Roxanne