Two Nights in London: A Surprise Stop That Stole Our Hearts

On our last trip to southern Spain, we made a last-minute change to our usual route. Instead of flying into Lisbon, we decided to fly direct to London, spend a couple of nights, and then hop on a Ryanair flight to Faro. From there, we’d pick up a rental car and drive into Spain. 

London wasn’t high on my bucket list — it wasn’t even calling my name — but we figured, why not? We had never been, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to tick it off the list. What we didn’t expect was to be pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed it. 

We arrived at London Gatwick and took the train into Victoria Station before transferring to the Underground to reach our hotel which was a 3-minute walk from Paddington Station. Our home base was a charming little 3-star spot just north of Hyde Park. The location was perfect for exploring, and the complimentary breakfast each morning was a welcome bonus. 

Day One – From Big Ben to Fish & Chips 

After checking in and taking a short nap to shake off the travel fatigue, we set off on foot to explore. Our route took us past Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, then to the Royal Horse Guards where — naturally — we had to take the classic tourist photo.

We meandered through shops, admired the city’s mix of architecture, and browsed food halls before strolling peacefully through St. James’s Park toward Buckingham Palace. 

While the palace itself felt slightly underwhelming, the experience was still worth it. That evening, fish and chips were non-negotiable. We found ourselves at The Clarence on Whitehall, where the fish was crisp, the chips golden, and the price… well, a little shocking. At $91 CAD for two fish and chips, one beer, and a Coke, it was a reminder that London isn’t exactly a budget destination. 

Fish and Chips at the Clarence

We ended the night with a visit to Trafalgar Square, where we enjoyed a leisurely walk through the iconic plaza.  From there, we made our way up to the vibrant and bustling Leicester Square before continuing to the Sondheim Theatre for a performance of Les Misérables. The show was spectacular — and the ticket prices were a bargain compared to Toronto. 

Day Two – Museums, Markets, and More 

After a hearty hotel breakfast, we set off for the British Museum — which is completely free (and absolutely worth your time). We spent the morning exploring its treasures before heading to Seven Dials Market so my husband could try the famous Dirty Bagel. I wasn’t feeling 100%, so I opted for some sushi instead. 

The afternoon was a self-walking tour of London’s landmarks: St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Bank of England, and a quick detour to Leadenhall Market — a must for Harry Potter fans like me, as it was one of the filming locations for Diagon Alley. 

Leadenhall Market

From there, we made our way to the Tower of London and crossed Tower Bridge into the bustling Borough Market. Here we sampled the legendary Scotch Eggs (a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, breaded, and fried) and indulged in Humble Crumble — a dessert topped with hot or frozen custard (we tried both). Canada needs this chain immediately! 

Tower Bridge

Humble Crumble

After circling back all the way to the London Eye and Westminster Bridge, we hopped back on the Underground and headed to Wembley Stadium to meet my godson and his lovely girlfriend for dinner and a stroll around the area before returning to the hotel to pack for our flight the next day. 

Departure Day 

The next morning came early — a 5:20 a.m. wake-up to catch a bus from Paddington Station to Stansted Airport. The bus was comfortable, but the ride was a long one — about 1.5 hours. Stansted Airport is a bit out of the way and serves mainly low-budget airlines, making it smaller than the main London airports. But being small has its advantages: we barely waited in any lines, whether at security or check-in, which made the early start a little easier to handle. From there, we boarded our Ryanair flight to Faro, ready to continue our journey through southern Spain. 

Final Thought 

London may not have been on my dream list, but it won me over with its energy, history, and hidden gems. Sometimes the best travel memories come from the places you never planned to love. It’s truly a destination worth traveling to, and next time, we plan on venturing beyond the city to explore England’s beautiful countryside. We will definitely be back!