A Long Weekend in London

where we stayed

The last time that we visited London we stayed at the London Edition and loved it, so we decided to rebook again for a couple days during our stay this go-around. It’s in Fitzrovia which is just north of Soho. I love the Edition because it feels really special. It’s a dark and moody hotel, that seems to brim with elegance. I love popping down to the marble lobby for a drink at their bar - it’s not to be missed!

A few days later we moved down to the southbank, as it was where Jackson would be working for the next week. We stayed at the Shangri La and loved it. It’s located inside the Shard - which is one of the largest skyscrapers in the city. Our room was on the 65th floor and overlooked the entire city of London – it was amazing! I highly recommend taking a spin up to their wellness center - the views are incredible and you can relax in their heated pool or get a spa treatment. Our room had a lovely bathtub, so I was thrilled to take a couple soaks each day after walking around the city.

where we ate

We arrived on a Friday morning - so we went straight to our hotel to rest and regroup. After a little nap, we woke around 5PM and decided to try and kick our jet lag by going out for a drink and some dinner. We stumbled upon a local pub down the street from our hotel. Afterwards we ducked into a newly renovated tapas spot called Ember Yard. It was so so so good - we ended up getting 7 dishes between the two of us which was perfect. The chorizo was to die for!

The next day we woke up late and watched the rugby final in bed over room service. After we braved the rain and ventured out for a walk to Hyde Park. We did a bit of shopping on the way and then ate lunch at Granger & Co. It was delish!

Here are a few other favs that we visited during out stay:
Farmacy - veggie and all farm-to-table, with an Aussie influence.
Farm Girl - great for breakfast and lunch!
The Real Greek - causal but amazing! Get any of the sandwiches.
Kaffeine - we frequented this place for coffee each morning.
Circolo Populare- get a reservation! This place fills up and they’ll turn you away at the door if their waitlist is full (and it fills each night!)
26 Grains - great for a warm bowl of breakfast grains. It’s in the cutest little square with shopping around it.
Padella - we ate here for lunch during the week. They make fresh pasta daily and have a ton of rotating dishes each day. Definitely one to also book in advance, as it fills quite quickly!

where we wandered

There was a ton of great shopping where we stayed in Soho. My top favs:
Liberty London - you must go here if you’re anywhere in London. I love their home goods.
Harrods - duh, such a fun experience
Sézane - in Notting Hill, their shop in London is so cute!

Depending on where you’re staying there are a ton of great parks to wander to for a little fresh air. We love Regents Park and just recently strolled through Hyde Park. It’s such a nice way to start a morning, grab a coffee and take a stroll along the tree-lined walkways! I love getting away from the crowds - as an introvert - it’s nice to not always feel like you need to be in a line or crowd. London is one of those special cities that seems to have either an amazing restaurant or cozy bar on each block, so hopping from one bar to the next is quite easy.

Victoria Albert Museum - An amazing museum, if you go to one this should be it!
Borough Market - I went here everyday when we were on the southbank! Such a great outdoor market that reminded me of the Ferry Building here in SF. Great for grab and go lunches or to find special treasures to take home!

a little spa day

I wanted to take a little “me” time at the end of our trip to have a pamper day at the spa. I spent a few hours doing some research on where to go near our hotel on the southbank and found this one. I booked a full body massage and then the deep cleanse facial. It was so amazing! While there, I discovered a new favorite skincare line that I can’t wait to share later. I’m still doing a bit of experimenting but so far I’m in love.

our travel philosophy

I love the way we travel. We’re not “must do” people - we don’t make lists of things to do each day, nor do we enter each trip with a set schedule. We’re super off-the-cuff and tend to be fairly casual with how we spend our time. My favorite days are ones where we sleep in, go for a walk to discover a new neighborhood and then indulge in a nice meal. I find that there is so much go-go-go about life back home that I really try to just relax while traveling.

That said, this isn’t a formal “guide” but rather just a little list of things that I’d recommend if you’re in the city of London anytime soon. If you’re like me, then you’ll love getting to meander through Hyde Park with a flat white in hand, and perhaps a good book in your bag.

Happy Travels!