Visiting Elle in London – Our Adventures Across the Pond
I hardly know where to start in recapping my recent trip to London. But I do know once I get it all written, I will hopefully help give you some fun ideas for planning your trip to this incredible city.
I went to London to visit my sweet daughter Elle who is studying abroad in London & Rome. One week is the tip of the iceberg for London, but that's why travelers return again and again. I wanted to highlight the places we went to as well as share several areas we didn't get to see on our adventures.
Photo of Elle
Where we stayed:
We typically like to stay in two locations when visiting a new city for a week or more. This trip was no different. It's a great way to check out other accommodations and connect with different parts of a city/destination. I graduated from college in Hotel & Restaurant Administration and worked in the industry for almost 10 years, so hotels continue to be one of my passions. That said, we found two opposite styles of hotels in two different parts of the city and loved them both!
The Henrietta | Covent Gardens
This beautiful boutique hotel is an absolute jewel in the heart of London's Covent Gardens. The rooms are small but inspiring. The lobby is almost non-existent, but the adjacent bar and restaurant take on that role ideally. And the location is perfect! Surrounded by the best restaurant, bars, coffee shops, and shopping London offers, this hotel was an ideal place to stay.
Marriott County Hall | Westminister – South Bank
Located on the River Thames adjacent to The London Eye, this hotel is a perfect mix of old and new. The building is a British Landmark, once the headquarters of the local government. It has been completely refurbished, and the rooms are so fresh and hip. I took away some amazing design inspo which is always my goal. Each room has a great orange chair as a tribute to the seating in the former London Council debating chamber. So fun – I loved mine! My morning runs took me across three beautiful bridges, past Big Ben, Westminister Abbey, and the Imperial War Museum. Definitely surreal.
Where we ate:
Ave Mario – Great Italian food with a décor that is over the top! Pasta, pizza, sassy cocktails, and fun desserts. A perfect Covent Garden location. The whole dining experience was so much fun, And the bathroom was over the top.
Dishoom – Wonderful Indian food with a twist. They have several locations throughout London. We chose the one in Covent Gardens, which is the newest of the bunch. The ambiance and staff were fabulous!
Sarastro – Located in the heart of the theater district, you will find this carnival – I mean restaurant. Oh, what a fabulous time we had dining at this crazy, over-decorated, in-sanely fun theatrical restaurant! Our meals were good (not great) but the entertainment, staff, and cocktails made up for any shortcomings. I recommend this for a group (we had six) as it just makes it much more fun. Be prepared to drink, eat, sing, and dance!
Sketch – We researched a lot of places to have tea, and quite frankly, I would have loved to visit three or four spots after reading all the write-ups. But being with Elle and her love of pink – this was the hands-down favorite! We were spoiled by the staff when we showed up a day early for our reservation. Ha! And we loved every minute of the experience, except for some of the tea sandwiches. (A little fashion-forward on the food for us.) Make sure you hopscotch your way out, and once again, don't miss the loo!
Saint Aymes – Definitely one of the most adorable cafes in London. Owned by two sisters and their love of pretty, this little café started as a confectionary and totally blew up due to Instagram. It is definitely worth a visit for brunch. Great location in Covent Gardens and maybe not the best sweets in town, but the overall vibe is so sweet!
The Churchill Arms – one of our favorite pubs, this pub that is laden with flowers in spring and summer and stuffed full of Winston Churchill memorabilia is a fun place to grab a pint and a little Thai food.
The Shard – this iconic building represents the new London. It is 72 floors high and offers unbelievable 360 degrees panoramas of the city. With a viewing platform called "The View" and several restaurants and bars, I recommend investing in a cocktail at GONG or Oblix. Make a reservation in advance as there is no entry to the elevator if you don't have that.
Dukes Bar – known for serving the best martini in the world, this beautiful little bar in the Dukes Hotel is a jewel. But be prepared to wait as it is a small space in high demand. Our fancy martini was prepared tableside!
Where we went:
Victoria & Albert Museum – the world's leading museum of art and design. We loved the fashion, furniture, and architecture exhibits. Free entry; just make a reservation. Located in South Kensington.
Tate Modern – is one of the top ten most visited museums globally, and you will understand why when you get there. It is packed with the country's most impressive modern art. Sadly, the Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms exhibit was fully booked, which we had seen at SAM but would have loved an encore visit. You do not want to miss this art gallery. Located in Bankside close to Southwark station.
Stroll, shop, and eat in Covent Gardens – I fell in love with this area the minute I arrived. A can't miss location for sure.
The Hop-On & Hop-Off Double Decker Bus Tour – is the perfect start to your trip. I thought Elle would think it was dorky, but she was all in, and we laughed until we cried, learning all about the city of London and getting our bearings.
Tower of London – very good but not amazing. If you go, DO NOT miss the family jewels. They are extraordinary.
Notting Hill – just stop in for a look at the Notting Hill book store, a latte or tea at Farm Girl, a pint at any of the many local pubs, and definitely check out King's road – a sweet lane of pastel homes.
The Theatre – We saw Phantom of the Opera, but the theater district has any show you could wish for. I would suggest one of the less popular choices. And dinners nearby are easy and fabulous.
Fortnum & Mason – fun to see where the well-heeled locals grocery shop. Grab some English tea to bring home.
Harrods – located in Knightsbridge, you will want to bring your gold card to this department store because it is something else! You can literally buy anything at Harrod's – a car, a spa treatment, fine wine, Dior moisturizer, or a Prada handbag. We purchased one of the above! Do not miss their takeaway food hall. The best I have ever seen. Every type of food you could want and totally gourmet! Harrods is no longer owned by Dodi Fayed's father, so the two memorials to Dodi and Princess Di are gone, which I remember so vividly the last time I visited.
Here is what's on our list for my next visit:
An English Soccer Game
Borough Market – famous food market
Shoreditch – trendy area packed with art, shopping, and greats pubs & restaurants
Sky Garden – beautiful London views
Oxford & Carnaby Street – shopping!
Kensington Palace
Westminster Abbey
Should I add anything else to my list?
Cheers!
