A Travel Diary || London, England

London, England

A year ago I took a trip with my parents and two of my best friends, Rachel & Daniel. It was my first time out of the country and something that I will never forget. We giggled the whole entire time, ate amazing food and were in complete awe at the history and beauty of it all. I cannot get enough of this city and exploring new places with my friends!

When we got there we changed into some fresh clothes and went a full day without any sleep. I remember never being so happy and so exhausted in my life before. Rach and I literally cried when we got into our beds that first night because we were so happy to be getting some rest. 

I realize even more now as I write this post then I did before just why I want this blog, its only been a year and as I look through some photos this morning I realized that there is so much that I don't remember! I remember the feelings and smells but most of all I remember the laughs and good times I had with my friends and parents, and that makes me SO happy!

Here is how it stacks up:

The Lime Tree Hotel:

I have so much to say about this bed and breakfast that we stayed at. It was off of Ebury Street and probably the best decision we made while booking our trip. It was so small and sweet and it included breakfast in the morning of course which was A) so delicious and B) a really nice and cost effective touch. The people that own the hotel were there and involved and very willing to help us on our way each day. I would definitely recommend staying there. I cannot wait to go back this summer and stay there after my study abroad!

 Buckingham Palace:

Okay, so you watch movies and you see pictures and then you see it in person and it is more than you could have ever dreamed that it would be. Something that i didn't know about the palace before arriving is that it isn't the home to the Queen it is only the official place of business. The Changing of the Guard was honestly the highlight of our trip. We had to get there several hours hours early, but it was well worth it and we were so glad that we did, thousand of people showed up. We met an Englishman named Michael who gave us a full protocol and history lesson while we watched and waited. The pomp and circumstance was so exciting! The English are VERY proud of their country and their Queen, it's kind of adorable.

The Tower of London:

The Tower of London is a historic castle originally built in 1078, which served as the royal residence for over 4 centuries. It later served as a prison, and many people were executed there including Anne Boleyn. It again served as a prison during the first and second world wars. It currently houses the Crown Jewels, which I must saw are AH- MAZING. In fact there are actually no words to describe the beauty or even the feeling of just looking at them. The tower was so much fun! The grass was so vibrantly green and the grounds were so rich with history!

London Eye:

The London Eye is a giant Ferris Wheel on the south of the River Thames. It was constructed in 1999 for the millennium, and to this day it is still the tallest Ferris Wheel in Europe. The capsules are huge and must fit about 20-30 people. It takes a good half hour to make a full rotation. Okay you guys, the view was incredible and something that i will certainly not forget anytime soon. Oh, and in the car next to us a couple got engaged. How amazing is that?

Windsor Castle:

Where Buckingham Palace is essentially the Queen's office, Windsor is her home. It was originally built in the 11th century for William the Conqueror. St. Georges Chapel was added in the 15th Century. It holds the remains of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, King George V, Queen Mary (also known as, Bloody Mary), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Albert (My Favorites) are buried elsewhere on the grounds of Windsor. The Queen was there the day we visited, and because she was holding a knighting ceremony which included Angela Lansbury, we were not able to see all the areas of the Castle open to the public. I guess that leaves more to see while I am there this summer. Just love everything else though, it was amazing. The town which the castle is in was so quaint and cute, we loved spending the rest of the day looking around.

Some other must see's:

1. Kensington Gardens

2. St. Paul's Cathedral 

3. Trafalgar Square

4. Westminster Abbey 

(I mean William & Kate's wedding was there that's a no brain-er)

5. The London Bridge

6. The Princess Diana Memorial

This of course is only a small fraction of the things that you need to see in London, and as far as food goes you really can't go wrong. Something that I absolutely adore about London is that it is such a melting pot of all the surrounding countries. You want some Italian food, you're going to get insanely good Italian food in London. There are so many walks of life in London and the energy is awesome. Definitely one of my favorite cities! I had the most incredible time with my friends and family. It was a week of jokes and a time to make lifelong memories.

Sincerely, Mackenzie