2 Days in London

Back in February we had 48 hours to explore London, 
visit the touristy sites, and stuff our faces with any food that wasn't Italian. 

Pub Grub

London gets a bad rap for having terrible food.
Whether the label is deserved or not, 
locals will tell you to avoid dining at London restaurants 
and strongly advise you to go to a pub instead.

 A nearby pub was recommended to us for dinner. 
I ordered beef stew while my husband had a stout pie with chips (aka fries).
The more time I spend in Europe, the more I’m convinced that Europeans 
like fried potatoes just as much (if not more) than Americans.
Potatoes accompany everything!

£££ Expensive London £££ 

Budget-minded travelers should keep in mind that London is expensive!

The British pound is worth a whopping $1.60
... here I'd finally adjusted to the euro at $1.10.

Not only is the exchange rate jaw-dropping, but prices in general are quite high as well.

Finding a hotel in London for under £100 pounds per night can be a challenge.
Many major attractions (Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, London Eye) cost around 20 pounds.
On the flip side, most museums in London are free to enter!

Our London Travel Guide has a few tips on ways to save money in London.

Day 1 - Westminster

The morning started off with a traditional English breakfast provided by our hotel.
It was much more filling than the typical Italian espresso and a pastry.

We took the tube (underground) towards Buckingham Palace.
On the way there we walked through St. James Park, 
home to a famous colony of pelicans and rare black swans.

There isn't much to see at Buckingham Palace unless you come to watch the Changing of the Guard or join a summer tour.

Nevertheless, you have to take a picture of the famous building and the palace guards on duty.

We strolled over to Westminstser Abbey where royals are crowned, married, and laid to rest.
 Long lines and expensive admission prices deterred us from going inside this time.

Next we headed toward the iconic Big Ben, 
which contrary to belief is not the name of the clock tower.

Big Ben is the name of the bell "inside" of the tower, which ironically isn't very big at all.


Only a select few UK citizens are permitted to tour the tower each year. 

The Elizabeth Tower is attached to a Gothic style building 
called the Palace of Westminster where the two houses of Parliament meet.

From the Westminster bridge we could see the giant Ferris wheel called the London Eye.

Although it might look like an amusement ride, it really functions as an observation deck.

Each pod holds up to 25 people and 
revolves every 30 minutes.

After a brief stop in Chinatown for bubble tea, we rushed over to the British Museum.
Notable treasures include the Rosetta Stone and Lindow Man.

Unfortunately we only had 20 minutes to explore,  but we were able to catch a glimpse of the Rosetta Stone before running off to the airport. 

Day 2: Tower of London

After spending five days in Iceland, we flew back into London for a second time.
We took the train to Tower Bridge along the river Thames.

On one side of the river you will see industrial London with futuristic architecture 
and the HMS Belfast sitting quietly in the harbor after years at war.

On the other side of the river is the Tower of London steeped in history 
and still protecting of the Crown Jewels.

We spent the entire afternoon exploring the Tower of London, including White Tower, Traitor's Gate, and the Crown Jewels. 

Traitor's Gate

By the end of the afternoon, our adventures had finally caught up to us.
We trained back to the airport hotel for some much needed rest.

Two days was not nearly enough time to see London!