The Lone-don Soldier

London, England (3/3-3/5)

I’m a huge believer in bucket lists. I have a few things written down in my notes and some ideas in the back of my mind, but no physical piece of paper. Though, I have recently realized that nothing is stopping me from adding the bucket list item and then deeming it list-worthy.

This weekend I crossed off what I’ve decided is a lifetime necessity: riding in a car going the wrong way. I rode in a car where the driver sat on the right side and drove on the left side. Immediately checking off a bucket list item set the tone for a weekend filled with new adventures and incredible experiences.

Since it was my first time in England, I had many things on my itinerary for the weekend. To ensure I did everything I wanted, I had to separate from the rest of the group during the days. I needed to see as much of the city as possible, and the only way to do that was on my own clock. I took on the role of the lone soldier in London.

After dropping our stuff off at the Zedwell Piccadilly Hotel in SoHo, the group headed to brunch while I headed to Buckingham Palace. Since the Royal family has been the media’s go-to content these past few years, I had to see the root of the drama. I have never been particularly interested in the Royal family, but because my mom looked up to Princess Diana, and because I was recently compared to Kate Middleton (Yes, this is true. Yes, I had to include it), I felt it was my duty. The crowd surrounding the palace was full of people from every corner of the world. Even though I was by myself, I felt like we were all experiencing the history of the Royal family together.

Once I finished my time at Buckingham, I strategically mapped my next location on the other side of Hyde Park. It was a chilly day in London and the sky was filled with clouds. Runners scattered the park along with strollers and dogs. Watching the dogs play fetch made me miss Joey even more than I already do. I pictured him running around in the green grass and trotting along next to me as my adventure buddy.

I continued down Marylebone High Street and got to pass by the cutest buildings. The English townhomes and buildings look just like they do in the movies.

I arrived at Daunt Books and felt as though I had traveled back in time. The shop was historic but had a charm that created a sophisticated atmosphere. I walked around reading the back of all kinds of books from fiction to memoirs to poetry collections. The back room is dedicated to the store’s repertoire of travel books, taking up three stories of sorted destinations. The employees were very helpful and the smiles on their faces proved how much they love their jobs.

Across the street from Daunt Books was an inviting cafe that I decided to pop into for a quick look. It was too cute not to stay, so I sat down and ordered a latte. Along with my latte, I had some toast with marmalade and honey. The toast was delicious, and just saying the word marmalade made me feel like a true Englishwoman.

With a break from walking and fuel now in my body, I hopped on the metro to continue my day. It must have been around 3:00 pm because students flooded the train and bus. They were in their cute, gray uniforms with long socks and headphones. I loved eavesdropping on their convos and watching them say bye to their friends for the weekend.

I eventually made it to Abbey Road, home of Abbey Road recording studios and the famous crosswalk on the Beatles’ final album. People crowded the corners getting pictures and videos of themselves crossing the road. I will admit that I went back and forth across the sidewalk a few times. Next to the old recording studio is a little gift shop that sells all things Beatles related.

Fun fact about the Beatles: My neighbors Tomi and Georgio lived in England during the beginning of their marriage. One day a group of young men moved in next door. Those men were the Beatles. Tommy says that she caught a glimpse of the inside of their place one day and that it was a shitshow. I am picturing a slightly cleaner fraternity house.

After my fangirl moment, I got back on the Metro to check out Camden Market. My friends that studied abroad and visited London last year recommended this. Located next to the Regent’s Canal, Camden Market is a community of vintage sellers, handcraft artists, and chefs. The shops are located inside old corral stalls which match the authenticity of the goods sold. The food stands at Camden Market are also known to be excellent, so I will have to return one day to find out.

My phone was just about dead so it was time to head back to SoHo and meet up with the girls. We got ready as best we could in our R- sized room and left for dinner. Friday’s dinner spot was on the 39th floor of a tower that overlooked all of London. Sushi is a staple whenever we leave Italy so we made ourselves at home at Sushi Samba. We sipped on Pornstar Martinis and people watched as we enjoyed our rolls.

We went out on the town after expanding our crew. Ally and Tay each had hometown friends in London that same weekend. It really is a small world after all.

I slept well in the top bunk bed and was still filled with dopamine from the day before. When some of the girls went to lunch, I decided to explore Carnaby Street. Carnaby Street is an area in SoHo that has every shop you could wish for. I strolled around for hours entering stores I’d never heard of and trying on clothes I would never buy.

A unique spot I discovered was Kingly Court. KC is an indoor-outdoor, three-story food court that features cuisine from across the world.

I also spent a long time in Liberty– a massive department-style store. It is known for its "directional design, cultural collaborations, and inspiring curation."

Once I had done enough window shopping, I met up with the girls and we went to see some of London's staples. The London Eye was cool, but Big Ben was my favorite. The weather started to get pretty intense and the wind picked up, so we got our pictures and looked for shelter.

I closed out my time in London with the thing I was looking forward to most. I closed out my time in London with the thing I was looking forward to most. Similar to New York, London has multiple theaters throughout the city that put on musicals and plays. After hearing insane reviews from other Boulder girls, I bought tickets to see Dirty Dancing. The girls and I stuffed our pockets with peanut M&M's and took our seats in the theater. I had a smile on my face throughout the entire show and walked out feeling on top of the world. Something about live shows gives me such a rush!

London is my new favorite place. I know I say that every time, but this time I'm serious. I promise! I hope to return one day with my sister because I know she will love it as much as I did. Until next time London <333

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Stay: Zedwell Piccadilly Hotel https://www.zedwellhotels.com

Learn more about:

Daunt Books: https://dauntbooks.co.uk

Carnaby Street: https://www.carnaby.co.uk

The London Theater: https://www.london-theater-tickets.com