Valerie
Valerie fell in love with London on her first trip to the city way back in 2011. Since then, she spent a year living in London and visits as often as she can. Join her to explore my favorite city on earth and learn everything you need to discover the best London has to offer!
The 9 Best Cheap Hotels Near London Waterloo Station
Looking for a convenient place to stay near London Waterloo Station? Even better – don’t want to spend a ton of money when you do? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, you’ll find seven great cheap hotels near London Waterloo Station...
Visiting London in December: What to Pack, Weather, Events & Things to Do (2022)
Here we are, approaching the end of another year. Some people find this a contemplative time, others realize they still have goals they want to accomplish before the calendar turns over. If one of your goals is to visit London this year, planning a trip to London in December is a way to accomplish it...
The 31 Best Afternoon Teas in London (2022)
Tea is as British as apple pie is American – it's just one of those food experiences that everyone associates with the country and culture. I've enjoyed afternoon tea many times while living in and visiting London, including at sketch, The Dorchester, Cutter & Squidge, and The Wolseley. Each experience is unique, and all were delicious – inspiring me to write up a list of the best London afternoon teas...
How to Do the London Wall Walk: A Self-Guided Walking Tour
I'm standing across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament, admiring the view. My guide suddenly says, "and behind us is the second oldest privately owned garden in London, dating back to the 12th century." [I later learned this is Lambeth Palace Gardens.] Needless to say: on my first trip to London, I was struck by the incredible history of the place....
The 17 Best Spots for Autumn Colors in London (Updated for 2022)
Hands down, one of the best parts of London in the fall is how the trees change color. You might not imagine London as a "leaf peeping" destination (not my favorite expression, but it's totally accurate, especially if you're an American) but it is. Across the city, parks, walkways, gardens, and even homes (covered in ivy) change color and the whole place is a riot of warm yellow, orange, and red...
Tower of London to St. Paul’s Cathedral: How to Travel Between 2 London Sites
If you look at any list of London's most iconic landmarks, two will appear on all of them: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. These two buildings both have uniquely storied histories, draw travelers each and every day, and are actually two of my personal favorite "tourist" spots in the City of London...
The 8 Best Cheap Hotels Near London Victoria Station
Figuring out where to stay in London is hard. First of all, the city is huge – just narrowing down a neighborhood or area is an important first step. Then you need to consider your budget, access to public transit, and other amenities in the area (like corner shops, pubs, and tourist attractions you might want to visit). In the end, you certainly can go wrong, but as you're reading my blog about all things London, I'll do my best to ensure that doesn't happen when it comes to choosing accommodation in my favorite city...
The 13 Best Pubs in Kensington, London
Some parts of London are known by all, whether you’ve visited or not. There’s the (once) dodgy East End, the historic City of London, and areas out West made famous through pop culture – think Notting Hill, a 1999 eponymously-named film about a West London neighborhood. Kensington is one of West London’s posh neighborhoods, and popular with visitors who are seeking iconic architecture, tree-lined streets and mews, and – of course – picturesque pubs. In fact, Kensington is one of the areas of London best known for historic and iconic pubs, though you can find great ones across all of London. Whether you’ve seen them on Instagram or just know that Kensington is…
Visiting London in November: What to Pack, Weather, Events & Things to Do (2022)
The sun was setting as I rode my bike along the Thames path near Westminster. Glancing over, I stopped in awe: rays of light shone out from behind the iconic palace, and I snapped one of my all-time favorite photos from the year I lived in London. Most surprisingly, it wasn't the sunny days of summer when I took that photo: it was November, and it has become one of my favorite times to visit London...
Tudor Sites in London: 11 Places to See Tudor London
Dating back nearly 2,000 years to the Roman period, London has existed through many chapters of history – and as England has long been a dominant force in geopolitics, many of these chapters are well-known around the globe from history books to pop culture...
