Can we time travel back a few months, to April?
We traveled to London to run a marathon. I had just one must see on my list, touring The London Tower.
We planned our trip to arrive a week before the marathon, to adjust to the timezone, and allow time to explore the city.
Regents Park served as our home base. We took the red-eye from NYC to London. Bill had meetings within hours of our arrival so I grabbed my umbrella and walked every inch of Regents Park. The flowers were spectacular but expected since this is home to The Queen's Walk. It's absolutely divine.
I walk everywhere when we travel. This let's me get lost, discover, and feel the city. One day while walking from Covent Garden to our hotel I spent an hour walking in circles at Seven Dial Corner. I did master navigating Seven Dial which sends you in seven directions and serves as a shortcut.
Right: Covent Garden, Neal's Yard, and Seven Dial.
The Underground... we were a bit reluctant to use it but it's SO much easier to use than the NYC subway system.
We even spent 24 hours in Birmingham.
Over the next few days I visited, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abby and Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and more. London is a walking city.
Bill and I spent one day touring The Tower of London, traveling via the Underground to visit the marathon expo (pick up our race packets), and dining at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant.
The next day we ran a marathon, flying home the day after the run. You can read about my marathon experience HERE... it was amazing.
In 2013 I spent a week in Oxford, and 36 hours in London. Visiting Shakespeare's Theater, walking through Highgate Cemetery, and hiring a taxi for the afternoon to drive us through the city. My father and I ended up in Notting Hill, at a bookstore. CLICK HERE to read about how I traveled from NYC to London.
They say people identify with London OR Paris, preferring one over the other. I adore both cities. Do you have a favorite?