London Travel Recap: Our Last Day in the City

I do still exist! Blogging from abroad turned out to be a little more challenging than I expected, so I decided to take a short break and enjoy the trip without worrying too much about posting in real time. Sometimes travel days are full, internet access is unpredictable, and by the time the day is over, all you want to do is rest. That has definitely been the case during our time in England.

Today was our last full day in London, and tomorrow morning we fly home. We have spent the past five days exploring the city, eating our way through as much good food as possible, taking photos, walking around, and trying to soak it all in. London has been exciting, beautiful, busy, and completely exhausting. I am so glad we came, but I am also more than ready to get home to my puppies.

Since I have not been able to write full travel updates while away, I wanted to share a quick London recap with a few photos from my iPhone. These are just small snapshots from our final day in the city, but they sum up the feeling of this trip pretty well: lots of walking, lots of food, classic London sights, and plenty of little moments that made the visit memorable.

A Sweet Stop for Laduree Macarons

Today I had my first ever Laduree macaron, and it was absolutely worth it. After hearing about them for so long, I was excited to finally try one in person. It felt like one of those small travel experiences that becomes more memorable simply because of where you are and how much anticipation is attached to it. London has offered no shortage of delicious food, and this little treat was a perfect addition to the list.

I am fairly certain I have gained a few pounds this week, and honestly, I am not upset about it. There has been so much good food everywhere we have gone. When you are traveling, especially in a city like London, it is hard not to say yes to one more pastry, one more snack, one more meal, or one more sweet thing that catches your eye. This trip has definitely been a reminder that food is one of the best parts of experiencing a place.

Visiting Buckingham Palace

We also went to Buckingham Palace today. I was excited to see it, of course, because it is one of the most recognizable places in London. Still, I have to admit that I was a little underwhelmed after visiting Windsor Castle yesterday. Windsor Castle made such a strong impression that Buckingham Palace felt less dramatic by comparison. That does not mean I am not glad we went; it is still one of those London landmarks that feels important to see at least once.

Part of travel is realizing that not every famous place feels exactly the way you expect it to. Some places surprise you, some places overwhelm you, and others are more meaningful because of the history attached to them than the experience of standing in front of them. Buckingham Palace was still worth visiting, but Windsor Castle definitely stood out more for me.

Classic London Red Buses

I took an abnormal number of pictures of red buses while we were in London. I know they are everywhere, and I know they are one of the most obvious symbols of the city, but I just really like them. There is something about seeing those bright red buses moving through the streets that makes London feel exactly like London.

Even after several days here, I still found myself reaching for my phone whenever one passed by in the right light or at the right angle. Sometimes the simple, familiar details of a city are the ones that end up being the most fun to photograph. The red buses were definitely one of those things for me during this London trip.

Good Food, Full Days, and Heading Home

This week has been packed with good food, long days, and so many little moments that I want to remember. I am tired in the best possible way. Five days in London was enough time to see and do a lot, but it also left me feeling like there is still so much more to come back for someday.

For now, though, I am ready to go home, sleep in my own bed, and see my puppies. Traveling is wonderful, but there is always something comforting about returning home after a busy trip. I will be sharing more England posts next week, including more photos and details from the places we visited. For now, this quick London travel recap is all I have the energy for, and it feels like a good way to close out our last day in the city.

That is all for now. More England travel posts are coming next week!