Favorites Series: London

My four day stay in London in January 2024 is still in the top three of my favorite trips to date. And I’ve been to a lot of places. I’m a royal family junkie, which is a big part of the appeal. But the history, the architecture, the beauty – it captivates me. To walk the same halls strolled by Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria and Princess Diana – it gave me butterflies. To stand in the very spot forty-three years after the fact where Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles said their vows when I was but ten years old … that was an experience I never even dreamed I would get to have. 

Hopefully these photos will give you at least a smidgen of the joy that seeing these places in person gave me. 

Inside Westminster Abbey. The ceiling in this room just may be the most beautiful ceiling I’ve ever seen. There is a mirrored table on the floor facing the ceiling that gives a gorgeous view as well.

Kensington Palace – Birthplace of Queen Victoria, and home to Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate, and so many other historic figures that fascinate me. If you have seen all of the documentaries about the death of Diana, you will recognize the first photo as the gate where thousands of people left flowers and mementos. There was only one other place in London I toured that topped Kensington Palace. 

This statue of Winston Churchill was among the first captivating landmarks I came across on my first day wandering around London. And I just happened upon the Royal Band on my stroll toward Buckingham Palace that same day.

I confess that I knew little of Queen Victoria prior to my visit to London. I recall seeing a statue of her inside the City Hall of Derry, Northern Ireland, which had survived a bombing of the building – though not without some damage. During my stay in London, I learned just enough about her to pique my interest. Since then, I have learned a great deal about her, and she is now on my list of Royal’s who fascinate me. 

This beautiful bridge has captivated me for years. I dreamed of one day seeing it in person, and I finally got to. Not only did I get to see it in person, I got to go inside of it and walk across the glass floors of the sky walk-ways and experience spectacular views of the city. Should you find yourself in London, don’t miss this! It is conveniently found next to the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are held, so you can see that as well while you’re there. The black and white may be my favorite photo I took in London (did you notice the plane?).

This church is simply breathtaking. Well worth a visit while in London. My words nor my photos can come close to conveying how spectacular this place is. You can visit my Facebook page here to see a reel I made of the inside. If you are interested at all in the history of nursing, know that Florence Nightingale was affiliated with this church as well. Though she is not buried here, there is a monument for her in the basement. The history of the construction of this church is also quite fascinating and unique.

This is THE balcony at Buckingham Palace – the one we see the Royal family waving from during special occasions. Seeing this in person was another goosebump moment. The only thing better was touring the inside – the absolute highlight of the entire trip. I was almost numb walking around inside; in a state of semi-shock. Sadly, photos inside are not allowed, so I have to rely on my memory for recall of all that I saw in there, which included a lot of art of Venice, Italy (another favorite place of mine to visit).

Speaking of Italy that I love so much, I also love a good glass of Prosecco! This was hanging inside an Italian restaurant in London where I had lunch one afternoon. I just had to snap a picture!

Both of these photos were taken inside of Kensington Palace in the area where Queen Victoria was born and raised. I especially love the setup on the desk in the first photo.

Westminster Abbey – yet another iconically historic building where so many Royal affairs have taken place. And another place that left me in a near state of disbelief regarding the fact that I was walking around inside of it – the same place where the beloved Princess Diana’s funeral was held … under the same roof that held a birds eye view of the weddings of William and Catherine, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (as well as Queen Elizabeth’s parents), along with so many others – not to mention every coronation since 1066.

While in the taxi on my way to the hotel, the first photo above was my very first glimpse of “classic” London. I had no idea that Buckingham Palace was directly to my right because I was so focused on Big Ben. Even today, looking at these photos, I cannot get over how stunning and detailed the architecture is.

Just a few of the stunning sunset photos I took one evening.

I have yet to do the research, but plan to see if J. Dryden is a relative since I have ancestors that hail from England. Additionally, the Shard building was so unique. I snapped quite a few photos of it and learned on my last night there that it is a great place to visit. It houses offices, a five-star hotel, restaurants, and an observation deck! Next time, I will definitely pay a visit to the inside.

Night time in London just looks cool. Period.

It was difficult to get a good photo of the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain because it has such a large circumference. Regardless, it is beautiful and serene. Though nothing like I pictured in my mind prior to seeing it, I found it very fitting.