Summer Nights in London
When you have friends visiting you abroad, what better place to take them than an evening in the heart of London?
A dear friend, Jordan came to visit us as she had never been to London. We sent a map of the city that illustrated key places for sightseeing. Jordan circled Big Ben and Covent Garden among other places. We set out as a group of six from Surrey. While we knew our departure time, we still had to run to catch our train. One would think that we adapted to public transportation. Alas, we are still simply Americans at heart. Once boarding, our ride passed quickly through laughter and joy. We arrived at London Victoria. Our first stop was coffee to keep us awake during the evening’s exploration.
At expat escapades, we are avid fans of Blank Street Coffee. In 2023, they won the award for “Best Coffee Chain UK and Ireland.” While we did not get a vote, we ominously agree with this decision. Thus, we had to take Jordan there. Unfortunately, Google maps led astray to another coffee shop. We still caffeinated up and set out for our evening in the city.
Our first stop: Buckingham Palace
Back in early April, you had to fight the crowd to stand anywhere the palace gate. During our June evening, the crowds were low and sparse. Jordan was able to experience the palace up close and personal. Well… as far as the guards would allow her. We departed for our next location without seeing his majesty.
All photos by a member of our team
Second Stop: Parliament Square Garden
We walked along St. James’s Park on our way to the garden. As we rounded the bend, we set our sights on Big Ben. Completed in 1859, the clocktower stands three-hundred and sixteen feet in the London sky. Big Ben has had its Hollywood debut in movies such as The Great Mouse Detective, Mary Poppins, and Harry Potter.
Whether it is your first time or hundredth, Big Ben is bound to take your breath away. Our group certainly paused after seeing it.
We turned the corner and approached Westminster Abbey. Built in 1269, the Abbey has hosted coronations and weddings such as Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton. The state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II was also held in the church. While we were unable to tour the inside, we stood amazed at the beauty of its exterior.
We ventured up Whitehall Street passing historical monuments such as Nelson’s Column and the Women of World War II. We wandered through Covent Garden known as a hub for shopping and entertainment. You will likely stumble upon several street performers with immense talent. If you are looking to take something home, we recommend Whittard. They have a wide selection of teas, hot chocolates, and coffee.
We settled on dinner in Chinatown. Not to be confused with the neighborhood in New York City, Chinatown, London offers over seventy authentic Asian shops, restaurants, and more. After wandering the streets, we settled on Gourmet Kitchen. We recommend their dumplings, buns, and fried rice.
Third stop? Tower Bridge
We hitched a ride on the Underground to Tower Bridge. While some might call it London Bridge, the icon bridge is not the same as the one from the nursery rhyme. Tower Bridge is a suspension and bascule bridge.
While walking across, we witnessed it swing upward to provide clearance to boats traveling through the River Thames. We were also able to see the bridge light up the London skyline.
Our final stop concluded with a return to Big Ben. If you have ever seen Peter Pan, you may recall the iconic scene where he flies across the clocktower with Wendy. Well not much has change. The whole tower and clockface mingle with the stars in the night sky. We all admired in solitude at its beauty while the bells chimed eleven o’clock.
