Trip to London, England: Visiting the Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and More!

Written By

Kim Chwalek

Food & Home
Faith
Beauty
Connect With Me

I'm a 25-year old girl based in Denver, Colorado. Kim Collective is a space where I share about beauty, faith, food & home, style, travel, well-being, and everything in between. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi, I'm Kim

Travel
Wellness
Style

After traveling on a flight from Los Angeles for 11 hours, I arrived in London, United Kingdom. Throughout my three-day trip to London, I walked my way through most of the city, enjoying the famous sites, including Hyde Park, Big Ben, and the Globe Theater. I’ve always believed that walking is the best way to see a city, so it was great to enjoy the hustle and bustle of London on foot.

 

225AB160-E6BF-40A3-899D-05DB959794B5.jpg

 

3-Day London Itinerary

Day 1

  • Buckingham Palace: Start your visit with the iconic Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch. Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony for a quintessentially British experience!
  • Trafalgar Square: Walk down to Trafalgar Square, a historic public space surrounded by museums and galleries. Then visit the National Gallery, which is home to an impressive collection of European paintings.
  • Sherlock Holmes: Walk to The Sherlock Holmes pub for a unique literary-themed experience inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective.
  • Leicester Square: Spend the afternoon in Leicester Square. If you have time, walk a quarter-mile to Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel for afternoon tea! If you’d rather do drinks, I recommend Lyceum Tavern or Nicholsons Pubs in West End.
  • Big Ben: Walk towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Explore Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • London Eye: End your day by riding one of the most iconic landmarks in the city, which offers panoramic views of London’s skyline!

Day 2

  • Gabriel’s Wharf: Begin your day at Gabriel’s Wharf, a charming riverside area with shops, cafes, and art galleries.
  • Shakespeare’s Globe: Immerse yourself in the world of William Shakespeare at the reconstructed Globe Theatre.
  • London Bridge: Walk along the Thames to London Bridge. Explore Borough Market for a diverse range of food options and unique local products.

Day 3

  • Neal’s Yard: Stop by 26 Grains for breakfast!
  • SoHo: Head over to SoHo to explore the eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, and shops in this trendy neighborhood. Be sure to stop by Liberty London, then South Molton Street in Mayfair on your way to your next destination.
  • Harrods: Dine and shop at this world-renowned luxury department store located in the Knightsbridge.
  • Hyde Park + Kensington Gardens: Finish off your day with a stroll through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Stop by Churchill Arms for a drink afterward.

☕ Quick Tip

In need of a coffee break? Keep an eye out for Pret A Manger, Caravan Coffee, or Drury Tea & Coffee.

 

IMG_0541.JPG

F6C0F992-949F-47B1-9BAD-BC836EDB0ABE.jpg

 

My Trip to London

In the photo above, I am sitting in front of the famous Big Ben Clock Tower. It’s located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. Below, you can see a photo of the Great Buckingham Palace’s beautiful fountain. In this circle, many people stop to hang out or photograph the area, so they’re often blocking the street. Out of all of the places I saw, the Great Buckingham Palace––adorned in gold and shielded by wrought-iron fencing––was my all-time favorite. I loved the palace’s towering columns, glass windows, and intricate four-story frame. Every aspect of the Great Buckingham Palace had so much detail!

 

📍 Buckingham Palace

📍 Neal’s Yard

London may be grey and gloomy, but hidden pops of color keep the city lively. Small mom-and-pop shops, flower gardens, and colorful walkways breathe life into the city’s old streets. One of such places is Neal’s Yard––one of my favorite places to visit. This center has a ton of skincare shops, clothing boutiques, and delicious food! There are also lots of vegan and vegetarian options (for those who are interested!). 26 Grains is a great option with green smoothies, overnight oats, and dairy-free desserts! But if veganism isn’t your thing, no worries! There’s lots of food in the area. Rich pasta, fresh seafood, tender meats, and freshly baked loaves of bread are never short in supply only a mile away in Gabriel’s Wharf.

 

 

📍 Chinatown

 

📍 Sherlock Holmes

D45CE4DB-7424-4B21-B4A8-993661EE4F0E.jpg

 

📍 Liberty London

Liberty London is a designer department store that sells luxury fabrics, designer clothing, homewares, and beauty products! The interior of the shop is gorgeous and features rows upon rows of designer wares that can satisfy any clothing craving. I love shopping here because this shop features some of the world’s best fashion brands.

 

📍 Gabriel’s Wharf

IMG_0539.JPG

 

📍 Harrods

Harrods is a luxury department store that is located in Knightsbridge, London. Harrods’ motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique, which is Latin for “all things for all people, everywhere.” The shop has 330 departments that cater to up to 300,000 visitors per day. It’s a beautiful set-up and definitely worth a look! There’s plenty to explore. Everything you can imagine is sold in this 5-acre store.

 

London is an amazing city to visit! There’s so much to see and do. I love the pedestrian-friendly layout and would love to have the opportunity to work here one day. If you’ve been on a trip to London, let me know what you think of this city in the comments below!

XO, Kim

Comments +

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured post

10 Après Ski Outfits to Shop This Winter

Après ski is a skier’s social hour, so you want to dress right for the occasion! Shop these 10 stylish après ski outfits.

category here

my nightly
skincare regime

You can either type this featured post content manually or use a post look-up function in SHOWIT directly. It can also rotate between several posts.

The Latest on Kim Collective

Follow me on

Instagram

Explore

The Blog

We're welcoming new contributors, too!

Browse

The Library