He Worked. I Wandered. We Ate Really Well.
(A London Story for His 50th)
A little planned, a little spontaneous, exactly what we needed
What started as a business trip for my husband somehow turned into one of my favorite ways to travel.
He had meetings during the day, which meant I had hours to explore London completely on my own. And honestly? I loved it.
I wandered through parks, hopped on trains, got a little turned around here and there—in the best way—and saw the city at my own pace.
Then every night, we’d meet back up and do what ended up being the best part of the trip: incredible dinners, great cocktails, and that “we’re really here” feeling that never quite wears off.
It wasn’t the trip we planned—but it might have been even better.
✨ A Little Solo Travel Note
As a solo traveler, I never once felt unsafe. Using Citymapper was a complete game changer—it literally told me which train to get on, where to stand, and when to get off. I never felt lost, which gave me so much confidence to just wander.
🚌 The “Let’s Just Get Our Bearings” Plan
We started with one of those hop-on, hop-off bus tours…
There’s something kind of comforting about sitting up top, letting someone else do the navigating, and just taking it all in. We didn’t hop off nearly as much as we thought we would, but it gave us a feel for the city in a way that walking alone probably wouldn’t have.
Also… highly recommend pretending you understand the map. It really adds to the experience.
We used Big Bus Tours
👉 https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours
🌈 Notting Hill (Don’t Skip This)
One of my favorite stops, hands down.
Notting Hill
Colorful, relaxed, full of little shops and coffee spots—it’s where you go when you don’t want to try too hard.
Don’t forget to pick up the iconic Notting Hill Bag (and bring some back for everyone in your life, they were big hits with my teens and young adults) Notting Hill Bag – Notting Hill Bag
That’s really the whole plan here.
🕰️ The Classics (You Have to Do Them)
Yes—do the big London things.
But don’t feel like you need to spend hours at every single one. Seeing some of them from the bus was honestly enough for me.
🌿 Slowing Down (In the Best Way)
I spent time in St. James’s Park
👉 https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/st-jamess-park
Grabbed lunch. Sat on a bench. Watched the world go by.
Simple… but one of my favorite moments.
🌸 A Little Escape From the City
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
👉 https://www.kew.org
Short train ride. Completely worth it.
Peaceful, beautiful, and a nice reset from the city.
🛍️ Harrods (Just Go Walk Through)
Harrods
👉 https://www.harrods.com
Even if you’re not buying anything—it’s worth it.
🌆 Nights in London (The Best Part)
🍸 We Didn’t Plan This… and It Was Perfect
Owl & Monkey
👉 Owl & Monkey | Cocktail Bar in South Kensington
📍 23 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JJ
No real plan—just followed a vibe and ended up here.
Drinks, food, great atmosphere… one of those nights you wish you could bottle.
🍽️ Dinner Above the City: Duck & Waffle
Duck & Waffle
👉 https://duckandwaffle.com/london
📍 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
The views? Unreal.
Watching the city light up, seeing Tower Bridge from above… absolutely worth it.
The food? Honestly… a little underwhelming.
Small menu, good but not amazing.
👉 I would 100% go back—but for drinks, not dinner.
🍷 Where We Exhaled: Margot
Margot
👉 https://www.margotrestaurant.com/
📍 45 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AA
This was our last meal in London—and it was perfect.
Romantic, cozy, not trying too hard.
And the chicken?
Hands down the best I’ve ever had in my life.
I would go back to London for that meal alone.
No question.
🍛 A Very London Experience: Dishoom
Dishoom
👉 https://www.dishoom.com/
📍 Multiple locations
The food was really good.
But the wait was long… and once inside, it was a lot.
Loud, packed, high energy—almost sensory overload.
I’m glad we went.
But it wasn’t the place we lingered.
🍝 First Night: LAVO
LAVO London
👉 https://lavorestaurant.com/location/london/
📍 The BoTree, Marylebone
Great first-night dinner.
Good food, great atmosphere—easy win when you’ve just landed.
💛 Final Thoughts
London is one of those places where you don’t have to do everything.
Some things you plan.
Some you stumble into.
And some you just take in as you pass by.
And somehow… that mix makes the whole trip feel even better.
He worked, I wandered…
~Heidi
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I felt like I was there with you, great photos and spectacular attitude 👏!!
I loved this! I was so entranced by London, and though I saw a lot and did many of the sites – there is still so much more to see and do! And a big yes to just walking through Harrod’s – just to experience it. There really isn’t anything like it!