I Went on a Bucket-Checklist Solo Journey to London and Acted Like a Vacationer

• Not too long ago, I visited London for the primary time, armed with an inventory of touristy issues I wished to do.
• From consuming in Borough Market to seeing Massive Ben, I did so many quintessentially London issues.
• I’ve no regrets about spending my three days within the Massive Smoke in complete vacationer mode.

I am a frequent traveler, however till lately, I would by no means been to London. The Massive Smoke has lengthy been on my bucket listing, so I deliberate a solo go to stuffed with touristy actions like visiting Massive Ben and touring the London Tower Bridge. Whereas I wanted my household might have gone alongside, my husband is usually unable to take day without work work and my youngsters have busy schedules of their very own. I knew it will be some time earlier than I might go to if I did not take a solo journey.

Armed with an inventory of issues I wished to do, like go to a London pub and store for quilted jackets in Notting Hill, I booked a flight and lodge and began packing. Here is what it was wish to play vacationer in London for 3 days, and why I’ve no regrets.

I went to London for the primary time with an inventory of touristy issues I wished to do

Whereas I knew I would be doing touristy actions like snapping pictures in a crimson phone sales space and driving a double-decker bus, I attempted to steadiness the journey with some off-the-beaten-path issues, too. I made a rule that I would not eat at chain eating places, and as a substitute of reserving dear excursions, I would stroll town by myself and actually dig into exploring all the pieces I wished to see.

I stayed in London’s Stratford neighborhood as a result of it was inside strolling distance of a significant tube station and close to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, house of the 2012 Summer time Video games. Actually, I spent my total first day in London exploring the Olympic Park, grabbing lunch inside, and trying out the Olympic-sized swimming swimming pools used throughout the Video games, together with different constructions.

I had Indian meals on Brick Lane, noticed Massive Ben, and went to Notting Hill for purchasing

Indian meals is my all-time favourite delicacies, and after I instructed associates I used to be going to London, every of them mentioned I needed to attempt the Indian meals there. “Curry within the UK hits totally different,” mentioned one. They usually have been proper. I spent my first night on Brick Lane, house to many curry eating places, and it was fairly empowering to wander out to dinner in a brand new metropolis by myself and discover a bit.

I had different issues on my London to-do listing, too, like seeing Massive Ben, purchasing in Notting Hill, and consuming the TikTok-famous chocolate-covered strawberries from Borough Market. Going into the journey with an inventory helped, and I used to be glad I would accomplished my analysis upfront.

Sure, British pubs are as a lot enjoyable as they sound, even for those who’re sober

I have never had any alcohol for the final yr, however British pubs are such a fabled a part of the tradition in London that I knew I needed to test a number of out. To my shock, pubs within the UK had simply as many alcohol-free beer choices as bars within the US. I might stroll in, order a booze-less beer, and really feel proper at house whereas trying out the scene.

And sure, British pubs are as a lot enjoyable as they sound. I cherished watching everybody collect in beer gardens, cheers’ing with their associates, and laughing. There have been reside bands at some, and DJs at others. The entire pubs have been thriving, energetic, and simply as a lot part of the tradition as they sound in all of the chick-lit I’ve learn. Sober or not, seeing one thing I’ve heard about my total life was very cool.

I frolicked sightseeing and have zero regrets about behaving like a complete vacationer

I toured London’s Tower Bridge, took pictures in entrance of Massive Ben, and visited Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Sure, a lot of what I noticed in London was touristy, and I am OK with that. As somebody who wakened early together with her mother to look at Princess Diana’s funeral and grew up listening to in regards to the Royal Household and their lives, it was surreal to see so many locations I would solely ever seen on a information broadcast or film display.

I felt probably the most out of my aspect after I attended a night present of Abba Voyage, an AI-generated Abba live performance that makes the band members seem as if they’re much youthful and really performing onstage. The present was an unimaginable and distinctive expertise, however I spotted I used to be not almost as a lot of an Abba fan because the locals after I was amongst a crowd of younger ladies, dressed up in sequins and belting out the phrases to “Mama Mia” with gusto.

I am unable to wait to return and cross extra issues off my bucket listing

I am so glad I took the time to spend a number of days in London, and touristy or not, my itinerary was really the stuff my desires have been fabricated from. With some on-line analysis, I created a full listing of must-see gadgets for my journey earlier than I went, and I did all of it. However there’s a lot extra I need to see.

London is such a bustling metropolis, and whereas I feel I acquired so much accomplished for a first-time go to, I can not wait to return and do extra. Subsequent time, I hope to take my household alongside, and since I’ve spent a lot time trying out components of town, I am excited that I will be capable of play tour information after they do go to.