This post is LONG overdue. If you follow us on social media you know that last fall we took a big family trip to London and Paris and I'm finally getting around to sharing about it on the blog! Our kids get a week off of school every September and when we originally started discussing options for a fall break trip none of them were overly excited about going to Europe. Not to say they didn't want to go, but they are at the age where they want to do things with their friends and if everyone else is going to the beach, well they want to go to the beach, too. Ultimately, the Mr. and I decided that this was one of those things we just had to decide to do because it was something they would appreciate down the road and boy are we ever happy that was made the decision. We had the best trip and the kids loved it!
We figured London would be a great first experience for European travel since there wouldn't be a language barrier and we could get an easy direct flight. The Mr. made all of our flight and hotel arrangements using points when we could and I spent several weeks researching and planning our trip. We knew we didn't want to overdo it so I planned for one to two activities a day so we could have plenty of downtime to explore the city and see where the day took us! During my planning I was overwhelmed at times because there is just SO much to see and do, but I really tried to pick attractions that I knew all of us could enjoy.
Day 1 : Arrival in London, Explore Hyde Park, Double Decker Bus Tour
We left Atlanta on a Friday night and were geared up for the long flight. The kids thought it was fun to get actual meals on the plane (a first for them!) and they loved the fancy LED lights of our Virgin Atlantic flight.
Since we flew overnight and arrived in London first thing in the morning we got a very little rest on the plane. However, we knew we had to power through and make the most of our first day. We jumped right into it by taking the train to the closest station near our hotel.
We dropped our bags, freshened up a bit in the hotel lobby bathroom and then set off to explore.
We grabbed a traditional lunch at a nearby pub since our hotel was right across the street from Hyde Park so we explored there a bit.
Day 2: Thames River Cruise, London Eye, Trafalgar Square
We made our way to the Thames River Cruise that took us from Tower Bridge all the way up to where the London Eye is. It was chilly on the river, but the tour guide was so funny and entertaining. We learned a lot and it was fun to see things from the water.
Inside the London Eye we had such a great view of the city! You have to do this if you go to London!
Be sure to check back later this week for the next part of our London trip including shopping, afternoon tea, a show, and the museums!