Words and photos by Olivia Declercq, our Jetsetter Journalist for the fall semester, reporting from her study abroad home base of Aix-en-Provence, France.
This weekend was my first international weekend trip since I arrived in Europe, and I worked hard to put together the perfect itinerary to fit in all of the history, culture, and excitement a trip to London requires. Prepare yourself, this list of activities is not for the weak!
I don’t have courses on Fridays, so I was able to take a Thursday night flight out of Marseille and start my weekend in London on Friday morning! I got an early start with a trip to Buckingham Palace at 9:30 AM.
The outside of the palace isn’t as extravagant as Notre Dame or Versailles, but the inside more than makes up for it. The State Rooms are lined with gold, art, and intricate carvings that bring the royalty of the working palace to life. The tours are a bit short, so don’t expect it to last more than about 45 minutes.
After exploring the palace, I wandered over to my 12 pm reservation at Swan London for a very stereotypical English afternoon tea. This, admittedly, was not the cheapest part of my trip, but it was so much fun. The service included an artisanal tea, four little desserts, two scones, and four tea sandwiches. Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere was wonderful.
Next, a trip to London couldn’t be complete for a history dork without stopping for a show in Shakespeare’s Globe, so for an affordable afternoon outing, I bought a peasant’s lawn ticket for only £8 and was met with a hilarious performance of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” It’s not the original theater, which has a modern building standing in its grave, but the recreation of the traditional theater is just as immersive and exciting!
Then it was time to put on some evening attire and head into the theater district for a show in the West End. As a Broadway fan, it was a must-see ticket item, and I wasn’t disappointed. I was able to get a ticket to see "The Lion King" for only $44, and while I wasn't in the front row, the show was still phenomenal!
Putting an end to Friday night, I met up with a friend studying abroad at Oxford for a night out in London! We went to a small bar in the heart of the city where we caught up after months, listened to some music, and shared a late dinner.
After a night out, Saturday morning hit way too early, but a seasoned traveler knows the value of hitting the sites early! At 9 am, I grabbed a coffee and wandered to the beautiful Westminster Abbey. The location of royal coronations and the abbey’s rich history are well worth discovering.
After exploring the religious heritage in the heart of London, it was time to get into the government. A quick walk across the street to the Parliament and Big Ben for my 9:30 AM ticket put me into the mid-1800s for the rest of the morning. My tour guide, Iwen, was wonderful. Our tour was two hours long, but it was engaging every step of the way with stories, jokes, and history.
After exploring the history of London’s oldest monuments, take some time to wander across Westminster Bridge and grab some fish and chips for lunch. Lunch was delicious, and we walked to the British Museum after grabbing some ice cream.
I will admit, the British Museum was an interesting experience, but I think my own opinions about decolonial studies and cultural appreciation may have clouded the excitement of the institution. Regardless, it is the setting for Night at the Museum.
After spending three hours in the British Museum, we hopped on the Tube and rode out to Notting Hill. Truly a buzzling marketplace, Notting Hill is perfect for someone looking to shop. However, it was also extremely crowded and a bit slow to navigate. The Notting Hill Bookstore was slightly disappointing due to overcrowding and the small size of the shop, but it was still fun to wander around.
To end the second day in London, we stopped for South Asian cuisine. London is known for having delicious South Asian cuisine, and the food we ate definitely lived up to the hype! That left the rest of Saturday night to chat, experience the city nightlife, and say goodbye for a while.
Thanks, Olivia!