Falling in Love with London & its Cozy Christmassy Vibes
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After #myenchantedadventure in Ecuador, I knew I wanted to wrap up my time in Latin America, go home, see my fam and our new puppy Lucy, and have a reset. But I had November and December completely open and knew I would go a little loco spending two full months in rainy cold BC at my parents’ house (love ‘em, but that’s not why I became a travel writer/digital nomad you know).
So I was thinking of where to go, and I was feeling somewhere with city vibes, somewhere cozy and Christmassy.
London was calling.
I’ve been to London 3-4 times, for 3-4 days, it was actually the first place I really travelled (on a Contiki tour from London-Athens like 10 years ago), and I’ve always found it quite cute, but never really felt it was my city, never felt it was particularly calling me, like I do with New York or Paris or obvvvviously Cape Town (check those links for my blog posts!). But I always liked it, and I have so many friends from London that I’ve met on my travels or know from Vancouver, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to go visit them and get to know the city a bit better and see what makes it tick.
A few years ago in Belize, I met my friend Phil on a sailboat cruise, and we quickly bonded over rum punch, reggae music, spearfishing, and an epic group of friends on our boat. I mean, I have never heard of a more solid foundation for a friendship. Anyway, he’s one of my travel friends who I’ve kept in touch with the most, and has always said I’m welcome to come visit and could even stay at his place (side note, to any friends reading this and considering offering me to visit — don’t say it unless you mean it because I WILL take you up on it :D). Phil is probably the most generous human on the planet and tbh I’m not sure what on earth he is getting out of this friendship, but he gave me the keys and went to stay at his dad’s flat and I had myself a little staycation in Chelsea, one of London’s most beautiful and posh neighbourhoods, for 3 weeks. I hope to return the favour at some point but in the meantime I’m sure he is just bathing in good karma. THANK YOU PHIL!!
ANYWAYS, at first I wasn’t sure how much I loved London. I have a few complaints (and I realize I signed up for all of these). It was FREEZINGCOLD at the beginning of my trip. I had one day where I decided to go out adventuring and it was just windy rainy and cold af. I was wondering why the hell I decided to go on a cold weather vacay.
Another ish I have is I felt like I spent my whole London life on the tube. The city is soo massive, to get to a friend’s place in Clapham it was like an hour’s journey, 3 tube rides, I mean I’m used to Vancouver where I would walk pretty much anywhere, or Cape Town where all my fave bars and mountains and beaches are within a 5-10 minute, $5 max Uber ride.
That’s another thing. London is TOUGH on the ol’ budget. I typically travel much more affordable places, and my bank account had a mini panic attack each time I bought everything from a tube ride to a glass of wine. And in London, things do seem to revolve around spending money. Instead of going on a hike or going somewhere to catch sunset, it’s going to a pub and spending the equivalent to what I would spend in a week in Cape Town.
OKAY I’M DONE BEING NEGATIVE because then I realized at some point I accidentally fell in LOVE with London!!!
London is so so cute. I honestly could not stop taking photos. I loved strolling around the beautiful, safe, quiet streets of Chelsea, taking photos of the stunning white or orange homes with their charming doorsteps. I felt like I was in Love Actually (another main motivator for choosing London at this time of year), I was pinching myself I was actually living a little chapter of my life in Chelsea. It was soso special, I honestly just love that for me.
I love all the quintessential London things — the red double decker busses and phone booths, the black taxis that look like they are from the olden days, the zigzag lines and “look left, look right” on the streets. I developed an obsession with mews. I love how they say “mind the gap” and have words like “Piccadilly”. I do LOVE a British accent and always click really well with English people on my travels, I think they are the funniest breed of humans. I love the landmarks like Big Ben, the parliament buildings, lovve Trafagar Square.
I fell in love with the pub scene. They are so cute and so British. Some of the ones I went to (and loved) were The Porcupine (the perfect pub for my last night), Slice of Life (amazing chicken burger), Cambridge (right beside Slice of Life — these were for our Harry Potter intermission). Went to Pembroke, Mr Foggs, Cadogan Arms (best cheese toastie of life I’m drooling), and Troubadour in Chelsea. Went to like 8 more pubs I cannot remember the names of, some in Clapham, some in Spitalfields I think? But it’s okay, there are pubs on every corner, just go wherever is calling you.
Other bars — obsessed with the cave vibes at Gordon’s Wine Bar, went to rooftop bar Boundary in Shoreditch, a speakeasy through a kebab shop Lounge Bohemia. Didn’t go there this time but also for my fellow speakeasy lovers, the mayor of scaredy cat town, through the fridge in Breakfast Club, is a must. Had pizza and the most delish burrata at Pizza East in Shoreditch and the pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria de Michele is apparently the best pizza in London, according to Phil’s friend from Naples, and I would have to agree). For fast food, Pret is literally life. I’m obsessed with their sandwiches, their fresh juices, their chocolate chunk cookies.
The highlight of my trip/year/life was going to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a west end performance. It was INSANE. The production was such a masterpiece, parts were literally magic, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time (ok partly because we got balcony seats — only 30 pounds!!! — so had to crane the neck to see the stage). I cried 4x. The TRANSITIONS with the cloaks, the staircase scene, the dementors that you can feel in your soul, the gillyweed, the whole nostalgia of the original harry potter books which I was so obsessed with (I was harry for Halloween, went to see JK Rowling do a life reading of Philosophere’s stone, was Cedric in my musical theatre dance… you get the idea) it was so so so amazing. I truly wish for every harry potter fan to go experience this. Make sure to visit the House of Spells store nearby too! The production is in 2 parts — part 1 at 2:00 pm, part 2 at 7:00 pm, both are about 2.5 hours, so buckle up for an EPIC EXTRAVAGANZA OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY.
The Christmas festivities were truly next level. Sometimes I wondered if they were TOO next level, but there’s no denying they will put even the grinchiest grinch into the Christmas spirit. Lights are strung across the streets, this is best showcased at Regent Street where there are twinkling angel lights. New Bond Street, with Cartier and other designer brands, also goes all out for Christmas decorating. But they’re all over the city. Also the markets are so festive, like Borough Market, Leicester Square or Trafaglar Square. Also went ice skating at Somerset House which was another Christmas bucket lister.
The most amazing part of my trip was seeing my friends. Every day I had a social engagement, at a pub or market or lunch or breakfast or strolling around browsing in shops and exploring the different neighbourhoods. It was so amazing to see all my friends who I’ve met in Guatemala, Cape Town, Colombia, etc, in their natural habitats, and to experience London through each of their eyes. I’m crazy grateful to have these people in my life, who value our friendship and made time and space in their busy lives to see me. I think that is one of the most beautiful parts of travelling in general, but especially solo travelling — I have besties all over the world.
Now, it’s home for Christmas, and then more amazing trips are right around the corner. It’s a beautiful life. :)
