everything i did and thought while on a 48-hour solo-escape to London.

going on a solo trip is something i had always dreamed of doing but never thought i would have the guts to actually execute. now that it’s all said and done, i couldn’t think of a better way to get outside my comfort zone.

what surprised me the most about this experience is that the real challenge wasn’t navigating a new city or being alone. it was the realization that ‘wherever you go, there you are.’

because when you’re so far removed from familiarity and have nowhere to run, you have no other choice than to be faced with what you’re currently carrying within.

and this trip made me realize that my shoulders had finally dropped.

not because i discovered something new, but because i’ve finally gotten to a place where i no longer feel the need to question anything about myself. that i can just exist as i am.

when you build a life that actually mirrors you, when you consciously attempt to show up to each moment honestly and without putting up fronts, you realize that no matter where you are in the world you can still feel at home because you’ve been able to find that within yourself. 

THE LONDON ITINERARY

DAY 1: NOTTING HILL & COVENT GARDENS DAY

AM

• coffee and pastry from Layla Bakery
• walking and shopping in Notting Hill (favorite spots below)
  • Portobello Road Market
  • St. Luke’s Mews and Denbigh Terrace to see the famous colorful houses
  • Lover’s Lane Vintage
  • Westbourne Grove for window-shopping (Soho Home is a must-see)
• lunch and a pint at a neighborhood spot like The Duke of Wellington or Canteen (they apparently also have a killer chocolate mousse)

PM

• walk around Hyde Park
  • i saw the most beautiful duck of my whole life at The Round Pond across from the Kensington Palace
• grab dinner in Covent Garden
  • Twenty8 Nomad has a great fixed pre-theatre menu, and word on the street is that The Ivy Collection & Ave Mario do too
• catch a show at The Royal Ballet and Opera house
  • i had the chance of seeing Marianela Nuñez, who my sister Emma believes to be the best ballet dancer in the world right now, perform as the prima ballerina in Giselle
• go out on the town in Soho
  • my brother had so many ciders at John Snow Pub a few years ago that i got abs from listening to him speak
  • and if i had the stamina in me this trip i would’ve gone to somewhere lively like Below Stone Nest

DAY 2: MAYFAIR, MARYLEBONE & CHELSEA DAY

AM

• wander around the Mayfair and Marylebone neighborhoods on the way to…..
• grabbing brunch at Abuelo
  • & if the line is too long, Boxcar is a good backup
• do some damage at Selfridges
  • there’s an area dedicated to Jelly Cats and the Cinema at Selfridges also has a photo booth
• window shop along New Bond Street (damage continuing)
  • a highlight of my trip was getting a tour of the Diptyque flagship store and learning about the history of the company from one of their associates, Ollie

PM

• stock up on tea and souvenirs at Fortnam & Mason
  • against all odds i somehow walked out of there with a new hand cream and shower cap
• see a range of art at the Wallace Collection
  • the museum is free of charge and includes pieces from Marie-Antoinette’s collection
• stroll around The Regent’s Park
  • this is their equivalent of Stockholm’s Djurgården imo
• walk across Abbey Road
  • and bonus points if you’re listening to the album while doing so
• window shop along Chiltern Street
  • Anna + Nina is an adorable home store, and they also have an Airmail
• pop into The Hart for a drink & apps
  • which is apparently a hot-spot for Londoners at the moment
• Sunday Roast at The Good Oak
  • this was my favorite meal of the whole trip, and they apparently have live music on Saturday

THINGS STILL ON MY LONDON TO-DO LIST:

• visit the Schiaparelli exhibit at the V&A Museum
• have high tea at Sketch
• experience the skyline at The Sky Garden
• get a martini at Dukes Bar
• try the chocolate mousse at Canteen and chocolate chip cookie from NAC
• see if the tuna melt at Dover Street Counter would make my top 10
• catch The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace
• spend time exploring the areas of Shoreditch & Battersea
• FINALLY visit Daunt Books

THE WEDDING AT MIDDLETON LODGE ESTATE

if you ever want to escape into the English countryside, i cannot recommend the Middleton Lodge Estate enough. the property is home to a Michelin-star rated restaurant, clay shooting range, full-service spa that makes you feel like a fairy, and rooms that make you feel like royalty. also being a two-hour train ride from London makes it the perfect weekend getaway or addition to a European vacation. i had the honor of attending my Columbus next-door neighbors’ wedding here, and it’s gone down as one of the most special events i’ve ever had the privilege of being part of. it goes to show that you never know where life and the connections you make will lead you.

SIDE-NOTES

• through the trip research process i discovered one of my new favorite instagram accounts, @fox.in.london, which is full of London mini-guides
• public transit is cheap and very easy to navigate – the Tube is how i got around other than walking
  • they cap prices daily when using the same card
  • the Elizabeth line >>>
• Virgin Airlines has a high tea snack box on flights coming from London
  • round trip was only $70 + points redeemed from my Bilt card)
• Apple Maps guides continues to serve as my favorite way to organize all of the restaurants, bars and shops i want to go to in a city

💘, HANNA