Thoughts On Why We Loved Our Trip to London

A dull thud of reality hits me as I begin my daily carpool to Raleigh, North Carolina with the children. We’re not in London anymore!

We’ve been back only a few days trying to recover from jet lag, and racing through a tight work deadline for my presentation at a travel blogging conference, so I haven’t had much time to realize that our magical two-week trip to London is over and I’m no longer walking those cobblestoned streets, through the gorgeous city parks, and across bridges over the River Thames.

I wanted to start this series of London blog posts by giving a summary of why and how we loved it. One of our most memorable family trips. Let us know in the comments what other posts you’d like to see us create on travel to London?

During our first few days in London we had a miracle run of blue skies and warm(ish) weather – even stripping down to a T-Shirt for an hour or so.

Those are the moments where London comes fully alive – probably more alive than any other place I’ve been to. I was swept up London Summer Euphoria. I exclaimed several times. “I want to move back to London.”And ”I don’t know how, but London will be a large part of my future.”

Once the gray gloom of old was gone, it quickly changed to “No. I really couldn’t live here again!”London can, however, be a regular part my future. We’re so happy now that London is much closer to us than our Australian home.

The direct flights from Raleigh to London will be returning next month.

The Illusion of Time

Many of my friends know that I lived in London twice over two years. Craig and I visited many times while we lived in Dublin. But, crazily, it’s been 20 years though since we’ve last been there. To say we were thrilled is an understatement.

It was magical to return home to London. It was like I had never left London. I found my way back to the Tube (London Undergound train network) and enjoyed exploring the streets.

For two weeks, I existed in this weird portal of time, where it felt like I was just there yesterday and London was so fresh and alive within me, yet at other moments, I’d get stressed because I couldn’t remember the names of pubs I worked in, the addresses of the homes I lived in, or how to get myself back to the most delicious jam donuts I’d have every morning on my way to teaching at a school.

It felt like I had never been away, but it was so far back that my memory was failing.

Experiences and the feelings that accompany them never go away, which is why it’s possible to tap into them immediately after you return from those important places. But the tiny details of them that aren’t worth remembering, like phone numbers and street addresses, just can’t resurface in a brain that has to keep updated and relevant.

Then there was the concept of time. As we crouched down and walked into a 600-year-old pub with low ceilings or explored the 2,000 year-old ancient Roman Baths in Bath, it was a moment that blew my Australian DNA mind.

All in all, we spent ten days in London, Two days in Oxford and BathEvery street and cobblestone alley is a story that has a history that goes well beyond my understanding of white Australian times. My curious mind is filled with endless questions. These are the things I think we should have a cold beer and cider in a pub that has been around for 200 years to discuss.

Boredom doesn’t live in London

We saw neon lights on a wall at the Grind Cafe near London Bridge.

London is a city that never sleeps. Our 14 year old teenager did not complain of boredom once in two weeks.That’s a sure sign that there are so many interesting things to do in London to capture your curiosity and imagination, at any age. It is one of my favorite cities.

It was my first experience of London as a tourist. I kept saying to Craig, “What was I doing for those 2 years living here? I was astonished that I had never experienced this. “

“Ah, because you were always partying in the pubs”.

Yes. It is true. I was more interested in London living than exploring London. Fair play, I was 22 years old.

As a London traveler, I can tell you that it is a wonderful destination for all ages. You’ll never stop learning, you’ll never stop being amazed, surprised, or entertained. Whatever your interests or style you’ll find an experience and a neighborhood to match!

We were also amazed at the friendliness of the locals. I can’t tell you how many times people stopped to ask us if we needed help. It’s pretty easy to spot a confused or lost tourist, especially at a time when international tourist numbers are low.

Many people also helped us carry our bags up and down the stairs at tube stations, when we couldn’t find an elevator (lift).

I loved the chance to say hi to my girls each time. “Isn’t that lovely. Look around and see how many people want to help. Don’t be afraid to accept their help and thank them profusely.”

The Magic of Possibilities

I was living the life of a 22-year old Londoner, excited about her first independent adult experience in a foreign place. Then, I was able to share it with my daughters, seeing the potential for them.

It was a magic that transcended even the most powerful wands in Ollivanders.

I loved seeing London, Bath, and Oxford through my girl’s eyes. I was thrilled each time I saw them engage in an experience and say how much they liked it – even museums, which I thought they’d be bored by.

Of course, with much of our trip following the Harry Potter trail, they couldn’t help but be mesmerized, especially when our walks around the city would takes us down alleyways that were the inspiration for Diagon Alley, or past Piccadilly Circus or Kings Cross Station that features so much in the world of Harry Potter.

Imagine how they felt when they saw it come to life while standing in its middle.

It was amazing to see their openness to the possibilities. It’s why I travel so much with my girls. You can only know what you know. By expanding their knowledge, they can see more possibilities and potential for the future.

All I want is for my girls to have a great life and know they can do anything.

Craig and Craig were told by someone last year that they were terrible parents and completely selfish for living with their girls.

We have given them so much more.It is in their personality, creativity, intelligence, passion, expressed loves and indepencence that I see it. It is evident in their engagement with life. I can see their strength even in difficult times. (Yet they are too young for that).

I know they will be independent adults. I am grateful to have been able to give this gift to them. So, I’m sorry, no pet could ever give them that gift. Nor will living your life to the beat of other people’s drums just to make THEM happy (who is being selfish?)

I believe that the SacrificesCraig and I have made many sacrifices over the years to make sure our girls have these opportunities and gifts. We never remained on our comfy couch afraid to go out and live large, so we won’t’ be listening to people who try to drag us down from that position.

Cultural Connections

Craig and I were also thrilled to be able to reconnect with a culture so similar. It was the closest thing to Australia that we could experience without having to fly 24 hours.

We discovered many Australian coffee shops that served great coffee and delicious lamingtons. We sometimes heard our accent in those passing by, which is a glaring sign of how much things have changed because usually when I walked around London the most prevalent accents I’d hear were Australians, Kiwis and South Africans – all of it now a rare treat.

We saw memorials for our ANZAC troops and everyone who had a conversation with me knew a lot about our country. Monograms’ tour guide seamlessly weaved in Australian stories throughout the tour. I didn’t even realize I missed that global connection where other cultures really know and understand you.

I don’t mean that to be offensive to Americans, it’s just a very different kind of knowing.

We loved being taught how to use words such as toilet, bin, bill, and lift without being made fun of. I love the English people are known for their loose personality and senses of humor.It is very similar to ours. Where appearances don’t matter much. You can be loud in your conversations, laughter, singing and dancing, drop a few extra cuss words, rib each other a little, and it’s all just normal. It felt much more liberating and relaxed.

We laughed at the Americanization of our lives. We’d walk into a pub looking around for the host to be seated, only to realize in the UK, like back home, you find your own seat and order at the bar.

It took us several days to train ourselves to ask for water, as we’ve become so used to having excellent and attentive service and a pint full of iced water as soon as we sit down (by our table server) and then have it constantly refilled without asking.

As a result, I was severely dehydrated for several days. This was our greatest culture shock! And when there was a water jug sitting on the bar for you to fill your own glass, the glasses were tiny, so I’d have to stand there, chug 4 glasses before taking the tiny one back to my table.

Warning! The English coffees are small. You won’t find any 16oz massive cups here. 8oz is the norm

But the beers are great and Craig loved tasting plenty local cask ales – they’re a little on the warm side, which suits the weather. The ciders were delicious. My tip is Old Mount Berries Cider. In a cup with ice – delicious.

What we loved so much about the alcohol in the UK is that it’s a low percentage. My ciders were only 4.4%, so I could have just one or two a day and feel great. Craig and I both agreed that the ABV% in the US was too high, especially for strong IPA beers. They are on average 6.2% here, sometimes as high as 10%.

What’s great with a pint or two of beer in the UK, and what do you recommend? Well, classic fish and chips or pie and chips which we also love in Australia and can’t get similar in the US. Craig was a gluten-free person so he got to eat as much as he could!

We also loved not having tipping to worry about. It was a joy to be able to walk up, tap, and pay, then walk away with the knowledge that we had. Servers are paid an hourly wage of around $13. Sure, the service isn’t as good as the US, I don’t think anywhere is, but it still wasn’t that bad.

While I knew we were having such a magical experience together while we were there, we often don’t process just what an indelible touch something leaves upon us until after it. So now, as I’m writing and processing it all, it’s hit me just how incredible our London trip was!

We had two weeks filled with joy, discovery and wondrous moments. We didn’t argue with each other, no one complained, and we had many, many laughs. While we did do some social media updates – mostly Instagram Stories and Reels – it was the first time in 12 years where we switched off from everything else and didn’t work while we traveled.

We spent our evenings eating and drinking pub drinks, and laying in bed laughing at the Australian and British TV shows. Our mornings consisted of getting up, having an English breakfast in the hotel, then walking out the door to explore. It was not about trying to fit in work before it.

We jam packed our itinerary with all the top attractions and local experiences you’d want in London, Oxford, and Bath. This was a once in a lifetime trip, there will be time for sleeping and rest when it’s finished.

We used the incredible London tube system quite a bit. We still walked 8-10 miles each dayIt was great, and I have no complaints. There was so much to see and do along the way they didn’t even really care, nor protest much, when I told them at our 7-mile point in the afternoon that we’d been slacking and needed to fit in at least another mile. They’d just roll their eyes and giggle and start walking with me.

Savannah would protest each time I’d start walking up or down the very long Tube escalators but would then acquiesce and join me. She and I found a fun way to pass the time together on the Tube – wordle. I swear I’d never play that trending game, but she pulled me into it. I miss our wordle time on the train. I miss our long walks in beautiful English parks and along Thames River. We also miss our evening chats over dinner about the day, with lots of laughter at the funny things that happened.

Celebrating 12 Years of Travel Blogging Success

This trip was about celebrating us. Over the past 12 years we’ve overcome many obstacles, setbacks, criticisms, crises, and failures to keep fighting for what we believed in and create our dream life for our family. Not just for us now, but for our girl’s future. To help thousands of others along the way to do the same for their lives.

I’ve only just realized That this trip was taken during our 12^thAn anniversary of our blog. What a way to acknowledge how far we’ve come.

We almost felt like the pandemic would be what finally got us out. But we held on. We regrouped, we dug deep and worked hard to survive.

We survived the worst days, especially in the travel business, and we persevered.

We didn’t lose everything like we thought we would. We may have lost some of our possessions over the years, but we were able, thanks to all that we have learned and grown over the past 12 year, to get back on track a bit faster.

In a world of hustle, it’s hard, and often rare, to actually stop, put your head up and acknowledge your achievements, the battles won, and the scars that tell the strongest stories.

This trip to London was our way of acknowledging that. It was a gift as it has inspired us to do even better and has brought us back to our initial mission and passion of this blog – to share the stories of the people and the countries we visit to help people discover and explore their own paths of joy.

I already have a master listThis t has 30 post ideas.rip – really helpful ones.

In three days since our return, I have written our post on Bath, Oxford and completed a 40-minute TBEX presentation – that’s some kind of writing inspiration I have not seen in years.

Why Travel?

This is why it is my passion and why I travel. I have made it the center of my life ever since I moved to London in 1997. Craig and I have thought about quitting for a while, and as we said to one another on this trip, as the girls played wordle in the hotel room while we snuck off to the local Camden pub. “I don’t know how I can ever give up traveling. I’ve tried and it just doesn’t work. It is what I live for. There is nothing else that brings me as much joy or makes me feel so alive.”

Sorry, girls. Your parents can’t help but sweep you into that vibrating pulse of life.

 And to you, our faithful readers and followers, we hope we can help sweep you up into it as well.

We appreciate your loyalty and support. We were so grateful to you for your tips and comments via social media and email. We’re so happy we could show you a small part of the UK, and one of our favorite cities in the world. We can’t wait to take you on our next journey, wherever it may be.