W is for War Rooms (Churchill's)

There are so many sights to see in London--the London Eye, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral.  The list could go on forever.  We went numerous times, and I never got bored.

But one people miss that I feel is a must-see, is Churchill's War Rooms.  One of the Imperial War Museums, it's actually a secret underground compound that was used during WWII as the headquarters for the core of the British government, and it has been preserved and restored to look as it did when it was in use.  The machines used to communicate, the boxes, the pens, the maps.  It's like you've walked into a time warp back to the 1940s.

Not my picture...I don't think you could take any inside.

It takes a few hours to walk through the museum, but taking the time to see this fascinating exhibit is worth it.  I'd also recommend getting the audio guide; it explains a lot that the the posted plaques don't have room for.

So, if you find yourself in London and a spare afternoon, please take the time to see Churchill's War Rooms.  They're fairly close to Westminster, and even in the middle of summer when London is swarming with tourists, it wasn't terribly crowded.

Have you been?  What did you think?

Hang on for X!

xoxo Sarah

U is for Underground

Ah, the Tube, or, as some call it, the Underground.  It's a rapid transit train system (subway, really) built under London, and it's amazing.  It services the main London area, though there are a few lines that travel out a little bit farther.

We loved that we could get pretty much wherever we wanted to be within a reasonable amount of time, just by taking the Tube.  Now, don't get me wrong--there were times where it was easier, shorter, or faster to walk on the surface between stops, or where line closures made life a little difficult, but the benefits outweighed the costs.

The London Underground just celebrated its 150th anniversary a couple of years ago. Obviously there were some huge changes--lines being added; the Oyster card being added in 2003 (a contactless ticketing system that makes life super easy), lifts and escalators, etc.

Compared to other similar transport systems in mainland Europe (the Paris Metro, for example), the London Underground is clean, well-lit, and (fairly) reliable.  There's even multiple apps in case you need to know how to get from A to B.

I might be a little obsessed with things with the Tube map on them. I have some mugs, a magnet, and I'd happily have a map stenciled on my wall, but I think my poor husband might object.  Though saying, "This is the Piccadilly line train to Cockfosters" will never not be funny.

*note* The Tube map doesn't belong to me, obviously.

Time for V next!

xoxo Sarah

L is for London

One of the best pics I've ever taken.
The London Eye, Big Ben, and a double-decker bus, all in one.

London is one of my absolute favorite cities.

Why?

Let me tell you.

It has all the modern amenities one would want from a world capital, but still has its old-world charm.  The tiny offshoot streets with amazing pubs and shops.  The winding roads and lack of grid pattern common in the U.S.  Individual buildings with more history in them than some entire U.S. cities combined.

The transportation systems...the Overground and Underground.  I'm devoting U to that, but it's a total win for London.

Trafalgar Square with the big blue cock.
Yes, that's what the statue is called.

The food--the sheer variety always blew me away.

Want amazing pizza? Go to Homeslice. It's inexpensive (for London) too.

How about some of the best gelato ever? Try Gelateria 3BIS. They were so good we ate there twice in one day.

Vinoteca had great food and wine, and was reasonably priced. I whiled away the hours with Rumer Haven there for an entire evening. So worth it.

In the mood for breakfast? How about a place that serves it until dinnertime? The Breakfast Club is right up your alley...they had some delicious huevos rancheros. Yes, a weird choice for London, but it was to die for.


Want something a little different? A friend recommended Kish if you want to try Persian food. Inexpensive, big portions, and oh, so good.

But enough about the food for now...how about the entertainment? You'll never be lacking for things to do in London. There were still things we didn't get to go to, but I think I'd never run out of options even if I lived there.

The London Eye?  A must-do.  Get your tix ahead of time and skip the line.

Tower of London? Definitely! Take a tour guided by a Beefeater, see the Crown Jewels, and take a Twilight Tour (if you dare!).

West End shows? Hit one up if you can! We saw Stomp, Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Book of Mormon.

Want to see all the big things, but don't have a lot of time?  We always recommended The Original Tour, which is given on a double-decker bus! We took most of our visitors on it--hop on and hop off at the stops near where you want to see something.  You could see the whole city from the buses as well, as long as you changed routes. Even better, I believe that during off-season (Nov-March, maybe?) your pass is good for 48 hours instead of the usual 24, but don't quote me on that.

Winter Wonderland happens each year in Hyde Park, and there's something for everyone.

Buckingham Palace is a must to at least walk by. Depending on the time of year, the changing of the guard can get crowded and hard to see.

Me in a phone box. Tower Bridge is in the background.

Love all things nerdy? Are you a fangirl or fanboy? Then Forbidden Planet is the place for you! My husband and I spent a whole afternoon here one day...totally worth it.

And don't forget to see Big Ben (which is the bell, by the way, not the clock as a whole, though it's come to mean that) and Parliament. Westminster Abbey is close by as well. We never toured, but we did get some good pictures.

Want something to entertain the kids? The London Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are literally right next to each other. My nieces and nephews love going, and they've been multiple times. They are definitely a fun day!

I really miss one of my favorite cities, and more London bits will appear in some of the other entries for the A-Z Challenge, so stay tuned!

The London Eye at twilight.

Have you been to London? What did you see?


Come on by for M tomorrow!


*note* All pictures in this post are mine.


xoxo Sarah