I had been to London on a 2.5 week vacation. I planned the trip just with my 2 kids aged 5yrs and 2yrs. Though most people were amazed at how I managed the 2 kids on this trip, I was more amazed at how wonderful this vacation treated me! :)
Here is a brief of my travel (itinerary) in London & UK.
Day 1:
We took a train to Victoria station. Walked around to see the Buckingham Palace, Green Park and Hyde Park. The highlight of the day was kids chasing the pigeons at the Hyde Park! It was a very rainy day, but we enjoyed thoroughly. There is a small rose garden in the Hyde Park - I found it very romantic.
Day 2:
We went to the Kensington Palace. There is a Princess Diana memorial kids play park in the Kensington Garden. The Kensington Garden has too many bold squirrels running around! It was another wonderful day, despite the intermittent rains!
Day 3:
We started from East Croydon, took a train to London Bridge. Walked the bridge and went near the Southbank. It was the beginning of a bright and sunny day with the wonderful view of the Tower of London on one side and London Bridge at the other side! Then we took an underground tube to Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is more developed with huge buildings around. From there we took a DLR to Greenwich. We made a mistake - we should have got down at Cutty Sark instead of Greenwich. Greenwich isn't as beautiful a village, but I saw too many kids and prams there! :)
We saw the GMT line, Royal Observatory and then took a cruise to London Bridge. If I ever decide to stay in London, I decided where I will live - there were some beautiful houses along the River Thames looking down across a breathtaking view! :) We then walked up to London Eye and saw the London from the top!
Day 4:
Morning was spent lazing around. Then we went to Reading at my friend's house. Evening we strolled around the Reading downtown and did some quick shopping there.
Day 5:
We went to Oxford. I loved it! I think I can spend few weeks just staying at Oxford. Or better still - I wish I can come here to study! :) In the evening, Sonali treated me with scone and tea - a typical British tea-time snacks. It was yummy! Oxford now ranks at number 1 in my list of "best places". (Sydney ranks at 2 and New York at 3)
Day 6:
We had a lovely walk along the river at Reading. The best part of the day was feeding the ducks! And then a fight broke amongst the ducks and one hungry and bully duck beat the rest and ran towards us - he wanted to practically eat all the bread out of our hands! He scared the hell out of us & we ran away!
Day 7:
We had pre booked our tickets to the Chessington World of Adventures. It is a themed park with some rides and zoo and sea life. My 5yr old kid enjoyed a lot while my brother got thoroughly bored! We visited on a Monday hoping it wont be crowded but were surprised to see so many people even on a Monday. Each ride had a queue with around 30mins of waiting time! My feedback for this place is 3 out of 5 stars. If you really want to see the place, plan a 2 day trip. If 1 day trip, try to reach as early as possible.
Day 8:
After a lovely but tiring week, its but necessary to spend time at home doing nothing and just relaxing! Hey - "nothing" is not really apt on vacation. My brother bought a remote controlled helicopter and we enjoyed flying it today!
Day 9:
We took a take a train to Edinburgh, Scotland. We started at 5am in the morning! That day was a terrible rainy day, and considering our day had started very early morning, we just went out for a short stroll around the hotel which was located at the City Center.
Day 10:
Our plan was to take a bus tour to the Scottish Highlands. But kids below 3 yrs are not allowed on the bus. We had not carried our driving license so could not hire a car either. So we toured Edinburgh in double decker buses to realize Edinburgh is a beautiful city!
Day 11:
We went to Gorgie Farm in the city, did some shopping on Princess Street and took a late evening train back to London. The day was sunny and warm, so in 3 days we got to see 3 types of weather - rainy, cloudy and sunny!
Day 12:
It was a Saturday and we lazed at home chatting with my cousin in East Croydon. We went out in the evening, had dinner at Pizza Express and saw London by night. Piccadelli Circus area was crazy on Saturday mid night - it was heavily crowded and all people were in celebration mood! Wonder when the partying in London ends on a Saturday night!
Day 14:
We went to Wimbledon town with a college friend and his family. Wimbledon is a very sophisticated city. In the evening I went to Wembley to meet another cousin over dinner and stayed at her house.
Day 15:
Bag packing time! We had to fly back the next day!
Here is a brief of my travel (itinerary) in London & UK.
Day 1:
We took a train to Victoria station. Walked around to see the Buckingham Palace, Green Park and Hyde Park. The highlight of the day was kids chasing the pigeons at the Hyde Park! It was a very rainy day, but we enjoyed thoroughly. There is a small rose garden in the Hyde Park - I found it very romantic.
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| Rose Garden, Hyde Park |
Day 2:
We went to the Kensington Palace. There is a Princess Diana memorial kids play park in the Kensington Garden. The Kensington Garden has too many bold squirrels running around! It was another wonderful day, despite the intermittent rains!
 |
| Princess Diana Memorial Children's Play Park |
Day 3:
We started from East Croydon, took a train to London Bridge. Walked the bridge and went near the Southbank. It was the beginning of a bright and sunny day with the wonderful view of the Tower of London on one side and London Bridge at the other side! Then we took an underground tube to Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is more developed with huge buildings around. From there we took a DLR to Greenwich. We made a mistake - we should have got down at Cutty Sark instead of Greenwich. Greenwich isn't as beautiful a village, but I saw too many kids and prams there! :)
We saw the GMT line, Royal Observatory and then took a cruise to London Bridge. If I ever decide to stay in London, I decided where I will live - there were some beautiful houses along the River Thames looking down across a breathtaking view! :) We then walked up to London Eye and saw the London from the top!
 |
| Thames River and Big Ben, from London Eye |
Day 4:
Morning was spent lazing around. Then we went to Reading at my friend's house. Evening we strolled around the Reading downtown and did some quick shopping there.
Day 5:
We went to Oxford. I loved it! I think I can spend few weeks just staying at Oxford. Or better still - I wish I can come here to study! :) In the evening, Sonali treated me with scone and tea - a typical British tea-time snacks. It was yummy! Oxford now ranks at number 1 in my list of "best places". (Sydney ranks at 2 and New York at 3)
 |
| Scone and Tea |
Day 6:
We had a lovely walk along the river at Reading. The best part of the day was feeding the ducks! And then a fight broke amongst the ducks and one hungry and bully duck beat the rest and ran towards us - he wanted to practically eat all the bread out of our hands! He scared the hell out of us & we ran away!
 |
| Ducks and Swans at the river in Reading |
Day 7:
We had pre booked our tickets to the Chessington World of Adventures. It is a themed park with some rides and zoo and sea life. My 5yr old kid enjoyed a lot while my brother got thoroughly bored! We visited on a Monday hoping it wont be crowded but were surprised to see so many people even on a Monday. Each ride had a queue with around 30mins of waiting time! My feedback for this place is 3 out of 5 stars. If you really want to see the place, plan a 2 day trip. If 1 day trip, try to reach as early as possible.
 |
| Sea Life at Chessington World of Adventures |
After a lovely but tiring week, its but necessary to spend time at home doing nothing and just relaxing! Hey - "nothing" is not really apt on vacation. My brother bought a remote controlled helicopter and we enjoyed flying it today!
Day 9:
We took a take a train to Edinburgh, Scotland. We started at 5am in the morning! That day was a terrible rainy day, and considering our day had started very early morning, we just went out for a short stroll around the hotel which was located at the City Center.
 |
| Scott Monument, Edinburgh |
Day 10:
Our plan was to take a bus tour to the Scottish Highlands. But kids below 3 yrs are not allowed on the bus. We had not carried our driving license so could not hire a car either. So we toured Edinburgh in double decker buses to realize Edinburgh is a beautiful city!
 |
| Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh |
Day 11:
We went to Gorgie Farm in the city, did some shopping on Princess Street and took a late evening train back to London. The day was sunny and warm, so in 3 days we got to see 3 types of weather - rainy, cloudy and sunny!
 |
| Gorgie City Farm, Edinburgh |
Day 12:
It was a Saturday and we lazed at home chatting with my cousin in East Croydon. We went out in the evening, had dinner at Pizza Express and saw London by night. Piccadelli Circus area was crazy on Saturday mid night - it was heavily crowded and all people were in celebration mood! Wonder when the partying in London ends on a Saturday night!
 |
| Trafalgar Square |
Day 14:
We went to Wimbledon town with a college friend and his family. Wimbledon is a very sophisticated city. In the evening I went to Wembley to meet another cousin over dinner and stayed at her house.
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| Wimbledon |
Bag packing time! We had to fly back the next day!
