After saying goodbye to the winter wonderland of Austria, we hopped on a two-hour flight back towards London, England. We would be closing out 2019 and ringing in the New Year of 2020 in the capital of the United Kingdom. After a full week of being on our Europe trip, the exhaustion hit all of us the moment we arrived to London. Arriving on the morning of December 31st, we took it easy on our first day, adding in a mid-day nap to re-energize ourselves for our New Year's Eve plans that night.

We had an additional travel companion for our London trip! Pictured from left to right is the lovely group: Danny, Ali, me, Sabina, Rita, Christine, and my cousin Kevin (welcome to the travel squad!). Our common inside joke for this trip - the famous quote brought to you by Joey Tribbiani from Friends, "In London!" and "London Baby!" We must have heard those words come out of the boys' mouths over 100 times in the span of our 5 days spent innnn london! (see what I did there 😆)

The Airbnb

We stayed in a spacious flat located right around the corner from the famous Bermondsey Street. With 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a large common room, the 7 of us fit comfortably with ease. It doesn't appear this apartment is listed on Airbnb any longer, but if you would like to reserve it elsewhere, I have located it on booking.com.

Mode of Transportation

We walked at least 5 - 8 miles every day that we were here. Given the cold weather in the middle of winter, I highly recommend comfortable shoes that will also keep you warm. Our wardrobe remained the same as our travels from Austria, wearing long insulated jackets and layering up, as we spent most of our time outdoors sight-seeing. It rained frequently, so pack a portable umbrella if you can! Additionally, we used plenty of Ubers and rode The Tube a few times, which was quite the British experience! 🚅

The Itinerary

Bermondsey Street

Given that our Airbnb was located right around the corner from this charming street, we spent a good amount of time walking through Bermondsey and getting a taste of some of the best food that we ate in London: pizza, tapas, and croissants included 🤤

Franco Manca

This was the tastiest pizza joint I had during my trip. Artists compete for a chance to display their work on the walls of the restaurant. The art work was so creative and fun to look at while enjoying a sourdough pizza.

Pizarro

This restaurant has a large modern space with an open kitchen, serving tapas and other Spanish cuisine. The food here was absolutely delicious! We visited this restaurant on New Years Eve, sharing our final meal of 2019 together.

Comptoir Gourmand Bermondsey

Hands down, this croissant was the tastiest thing I ate during my Europe trip. The buttery and crispy wrap included a creamy sauce with ham and melted cheese that oozed from the sides. This bakery has a wide variety of sweet and savory delights. An absolute MUST try if you are in this area!

Bokan 37

We made reservations to spend our New Years Eve at this 3-story high rise building. Given the last minute booking to join us, Kevin finessed his way into the party after some sweet talking 😉 The view from the rooftop was absolutely stunning, as we overlooked the lit up urban city.

The rooftop had a fun and lively crowd, including this group of Swiss visitors! We befriended one another after asking them to take our photos. Hello 2020! (Oh how we had no idea what was to come this year...)

London Bridge

This iconic bridge dates back to the nursery rhyme we have all been told as children. Luckily, there was no "London bridge falling down." The bridge offers a skyscraper view with staple red double decker buses frequently passing.

Tower Bridge

This bridge is adjacent to the London Bridge, both running along the River Thames.

Duck and Waffle

On New Years Day, we dined at the boujee restaurant located on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower. Reservations are required to attend and although on the pricey side, this experience was for a special occasion and included a several course meal.

Covent Garden

Also known as the Theatre District, the cobble stone grounds and Christmas lights made it a charming experience to visit. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and boutiques located in this cozy plaza.

Leicester Square

We came to experience a Christmas Market while in London. We purchased trinkets and sipped on mulled wine and hot coco while visiting the different booths of the market. Christmas time here is pure magic ✨

Trafalgar Square

A public square located in Central London, it was designed in 1830 to commemorate the British victory against the French and Spanish fleets in the Battle of Trafalgar.

St. Paul's Cathedral

We unfortunately were unable to see the inside of the church and watch a mass given the busy Christmas season. This will be an event I hope to attend during my next trip to London! However, the exterior architecture of the cathedral is simply stunning.

Notting Hill

This trendy and affluent neighborhood features a colorful display of buildings. Located on Portobello Road, there are vintage shops, bookstores, and flower markets. It was one of the most unique neighborhoods visited in London.

Buckingham Palace

Home to the Queen of England and Royal Family members, visiting the palace is a must do activity! We were only able to see the outside of the palace, but saw the Changing of the Guards take place in the forecourt.

Sketch

This was the most "extra" activity we did during our visit. Given that England is known for their tea time, we booked an afternoon tea tasting delicacy at Sketch. Upon entrance, you have entered a magical wonderland.

The tea room is a burst of pink color, modern art work, and high end service. There were violinists playing while sipping on an endless buffet of tea, sandwiches, and pastries ☕️

I know this may come off as an odd recommendation - but make sure to go to the restroom at Sketch. It is very futuristic and modern looking, while making for a fun photo opportunity.

Regent Street

This famous street is a major shopping hub for high end fashion. Visiting London in December proved to be a Christmas wonderland, as the streets were lit up in extravagant and elegant decor.

Tate Modern Museum

There were so many cool exhibits we were looking forward to taking photos in at Tate Modern. However, we learned upon arrival that reservations are required far out in advance to visit these unique rooms, so make sure to plan accordingly if you wish to see them. We explored the modern art pieces that were visible to the public. We were meant to come here, because look at Ali's matching outfit with the art! This was voted the group's favorite photo while innn London.

London Eye

Also known as the Millennium Wheel, seeing the London Eye lit up in the darkness of the night was a magical experience. Look for the red telephone booths to really capture your perfect souvenir photo. Big Ben is located in close proximity to this destination. Disappointingly, it was under construction during our visit 🥺 We will hopefully catch Big Ben in all its glory next time around!

Borough Market

One of the oldest and largest food markets in London, we had a great time tasting cheese, olive oils, and enjoying fish and chips at this market. The Christmas decorations gave it an extra special aura as we sampled the goodies.

Comedy Show

Sabina booked us tickets to watch a comedy show one evening in SOHO. The comedian was Jordan Brookes: I’ve Got Nothing. Prior to attending the 9:30pm show, the girls went to the Soho Hotel Bar, known for their espresso martinis. We snacked on sliders, fries, and drinks. Following the hilarious set, we walked around the area and found ourselves underneath the beautiful Christmas lights.

Harry Potter Studio Tour

For all you mega Harry Potter fans - The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is absolutely required for you to experience. It offers exclusive, behind the scenes glimpses of the making of the films. To ensure you experience this whimsical world, be sure to make your reservations in advance.

We met with a group of Sabina's friends from LA, as they were also spending the new year in London. We thoroughly enjoyed walking the set and taking photos. You can find the famous 9 and 3/4 platform during the studio tour. Hogwarts, here I come! ⚡️

British Museum

The entrance into this museum is free of charge. There are some charges for certain exhibits and special events. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience roaming the grounds of this vastly site. Rich history and artifacts are stored in this well kept sanctuary.

Liberty London

The architecture of the buildings show off the European charm of the city. Before heading to this spot, Ali made a permanent memory and got his first tattoo while in London.

Following Ali's new ink, we ate at a delicious steakhouse restaurant called Flat Iron. We then headed over to Liberty London, where we met with Sabina and her friend Austin at a pub called The Shakespeare. Given they had not yet eaten dinner, they ordered fish and chips and a shepherd pie. Upon arriving back to our Airbnb, Sabina experienced a bad case of food poisoning and felt the aftermath up until the following morning 🥺 Luckily, we had two doctors in training in our group, so she was in good hands ❤️

Experiencing London for the first time was nothing short of a memorable time. We closed the chapter of 2019 and rang in 2020 all together on a rooftop bar while dancing to Ed Sheeran. London provided top-notch restaurants and dining experiences. The architecture and unique buildings created a charming walk and curiosity to further explore all the crevices. There is so much rich history, culture, and character to London. I am forever grateful for this trip with my family and friends, as it was unknowingly the last big hurrah for quite some time, given COVID-19 caused a global pandemic shortly after our Europe trip.