48 Hours In London: What to See and Do

Going to London has always been a dream of mines, so I decided to take a quick trip over to this amazing city while I was vacationing in Paris. Prince Harry had just tied the knot with his love, Meghan Markle a mere week before, and the city was still buzzing with excitement. Although I could only stay for two days, the decision came super easy to me, being that I’ve had an even bigger dream of riding on the Euro Rail ever since I can remember. I booked a couple of seats on the rail, and off we went. Trains are so fascinating.

Once I booked the train tickets, I immediately started to think about how I would spend these precious two days in London town, and how I could get the most bang for my buck, literally and figuratively. There were a couple of must sees, and one joint where I knew I would get my grub on.

As soon as I touched down in London, I was in love. The culture was so eclectic, the vibe so chill…it was just like what I’ve always heard and more. At that point I knew I had to reserve some time to just wander the city and take it all in. I also reserved just a tiny block of time, just in case I ran into Edris Elba, lol. Since I left home with zero intentions of shopping in Paris, I did want to pick up a few things in London.

Ok, so lets get into how I decided to use the two days that I had, in this super dense city..that has so much to do and see.

Where I stayed

I booked a super cute Airbnb that I found right outside of Camden. It was a perfect stand alone studio unit, with access to a really neat little mini kitchen area, that had a small fridge, microwave and a Nepresso. What I loved most about it, is that it was super clean and modern. Any sign of mildew, or embedded dirt where I’m staying, totally creeps me out.

Full disclosure: After I fell in love with the place, and decided that this would be my crashing pad every time I came to London..I returned the first night to find that the mattress was literally rock hard. I mean anyone over twelve probably wouldn’t do well on it. I thought I would need back surgery after two nights. My dream was dashed.

It’s definitely a great idea to peruse the Airbnb listings for available rooms/units in whatever city your going to visit. Just pay extra attention to the reviews for the bed..lol. Here’s the direct link to this uber cool spot, just in case you don’t mine your beds feeling like they came straight out of Bedrock..you know..the Flintstones…lol.

I’ve also linked a quick video here, if you would like to see more of the place.

What I did

Day one

The moment I dropped my bags, I headed straight to the London Eye. I’ve seen this crowd size ferris wheel so many times in pictures, and in movies, that I had to see it up close and personal. After seeing it, I had to  decide if I wanted to ride it. Well its one hell of a machine..just gorgeous in person, but I decided to past. Just seeing it was thrilling enough for me. Those giant people filled pods were a bit overwhelming…yikes!

But for those of you who enjoy massive heights, and would like to see the most breathtaking views of London, don’t miss this one. The lines can get out of control, so be sure to book your ticket in advance. You’ll even have the option of reserving a time slot. There’s also many other attractions for the whole family, in the immediate surrounding area. Reserve your time slot here.

Now, no visit to London would be complete without a stop to admire the ambiance of the royal Palace. Buckingham Palace definitely has a certain air surrounding it..from the regal look of the structure, to the super focused guards outside. I felt like I’d been transported back in time…even though there was a thousand other people in the area..sigh.

Where I Ate

At the end of my first day in London, I wanted to indulge in good food, and some good entertainment. The Blues kitchen was the perfect spot. It checked off those boxes and some. This restaurant and live entertainment lounge was everything. It was quite large, and the layout of the place was perfect. I loved the decor. There were artistic images of great blues and rock and roll legends everywhere. The band playing that night, was kicking out some great tunes..the place was pumped.

Although I don’t eat meat most of the time, I do indulge from time to time in a good old plate of ribs. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I go vegan..lol. The BBQ platters were off the chain. They had some really good veggie platters also..there was something for everyone.

What I Did

Day Two

So day two was all about just exploring the city, and of course a little shopping. First stop, Camden Market. This mostly outdoor, indoor market was chock full of gems. You could find everything from good eats to light fixtures, and many things in between. I was especially happy when I stumbled upon the best vegan lunch spot ever, Rudy’s Dirty Vegan..right there in the market. There I devoured the best vegan pastrami sandwich I’d ever eaten..yums! When the day was done, I left with a few spoils to bring home.

After the market, we decided to just roam the streets in a few of the neighboring areas, and take it all in for a while, before being off to our next stop.

One of my fave things to do in any city that I visit, is check out their natural history museum. The London Museum of Natural history did not disappoint. If you love museums like I do, this one is a must. I had to tear myself away, so as not to spend my entire day there. The blue whale skeleton, in the museums Hintze Hall, named Dippy..had me mesmerized. See her being assembled here.

I’am also a big fan of elephants, they’re such beautiful elegant creatures. It was quite hard to capture the shear majesty of the mammals displayed, because most of them were huge.

As our second day was winding down, it was time to head off to a place I’ve dreamed of since I was a teen, Harrods department store. Now, I live in NYC and we have some of the grandest department stores in the world, but Harrods was next level. They had all the major designers and such, but what really surprised me..is the store has a whole floor of exotic furniture, paintings and art from around the world…I’d never seen anything like it. The sad news is, I only left with a tote and a makeup bag…insert crying emoji face.

Although my time in London was brief, it was well spent. I absorbed a lot of the culture, and I know this a city that, if given the opportunity..I will return to again, and again. It’s the kind of city that I would call, full of texture. Its steeped in history, the food is great, and the diverse mix of people in most areas of the city, is inspiring to say the least.

I couldn’t even scratch the surface in the two days that I was there, but what I do know is, it’s a city thats more then worth getting to know. It’s a place that made me feel right at home and welcomed. My suggestion, if you haven’t been, please put London on your bucket list. Make your way across the pond. We just might see each other there.

Until our next adventure, as always loves…stay inspired

xoxo