London will always be a special place for me.  I traveled here right after my wedding and the whole week was a dream... sappy.. yes..true..yes

The first time I visited London, I stayed in the Theater District at the Waldorf Hilton.  It was a nice trip--went to several pubs and caught some football games--finishing off the trip at Radio Rooftop Bar at ME London.  I walked all through London checking out the history.  Since my first trip- we've changed our location and stay in Mayfair.

This is my favorite area as it is close to the Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and my favorite pubs!--Ye Grapes, Shepherd's Tavern, and Kings Arms that is you! 

Places I've Stayed: 

Waldorf Hilton:  If you are heading to the Theater this would be a good choice.  Larger hotel but good accommodations that you can expect from Waldorf hotels.

Metropolitan by COMO: Modern hotel next to great pubs, restaurants and the Dorchester.  As you will learn quickly, my favorite food is Yellowtail Sashimi--why is this important? Well, because this hotel has a Nobu in it--ChaChing! Pretty Fabulous. This hotel is a minute walk from Hyde Park and about a 10 minute walk to Buckingham Palace.  If you are a runner, like myself, you will love the proximity to the park.

Flemings Mayfair: Boutique hotel with old charm.  Great Location--as everything in Mayfair is.  Nice basement bar for a nightcap.  

Places to Eat or Drink:

Duke's Hotel: The bar is famous for its Martinis and a regular spot for Ian Fleming.  Rumor has it he came up with the line "shaken not stirred" in this spot.  For a 007 fantatic--getting a dirty martini here was a Must. 

Things to Do:

Tower of London: Tower of London is a bit crowded, but a fun activity, especially if you have kids or a few friends with a good sense of humor.  The weapon room is pretty fascinating; however, my favorite part is the Royal Jewels.  Keep in mind the summer is much more crowded than the fall--there will be a long line in the summer for this section of Tower of London--but its worth it if you love crowns and jewels.

Buckingham Palace: When in London you mustn't miss the Changing of the Guard: daily at 11:30. *Travel Tip--make sure to get here early.  It will fill up quickly and is hard to get a good photo opp if you don't have a front row spot. 

Tower Bridge: I like to walk everywhere I go: good exercise and I get to see the hidden gems left out when taking cabs.  I planned a dinner at Aqua Shard at The Shard so we walked over the bridge and grabbed a pint on the other side prior to dinner.  It was a nice way to grasp how large the bridge is and the detail close up. 

St. James's Park: Park in central London bordering Buckingham Palace.  There is a small café in the park with small snacks and coffee.  *Travel Tip: come here prior to the changing of the guards and grab a quick cup of coffee and croissant. After the changing of the guards walk back through-it is a little less traveled and you may see a beefeater without a crowd. 

Hyde Park: One of the largest parks in London. So get your running shoes on! So beautiful to walk through, or grab a good book and sit down for a read.  This is one of my favorite spots in London, especially if I'm on an extended trip and would like some downtime. 

The Shard: Skyscraper- 95 stories tall.  Also known as the Shard of Glass.  Come here for a good view--there are a few good restaurants as well. 

Harrods: Shopping? Yes Please! There isn't a comparable shopping experience to Harrod's. Think of every single designer you could ever think of + restaurants + spa + salon... sounds pretty great, right? Well it is.  Harrods has everything and something about the place makes you want to buy something just to have a Harrods shopper.  Even if you don't want to drop money shopping-stroll through, because its people watching galore.  At least go for some tea and crumpets upstairs! I always make a point to come here.. even when i'm on a budget, I grab lunch upstairs--a girl's gotta eat.... surrounded by fabulousness. 

Big Ben & London Eye: I'm not going to lie and tell you I rode on the Ferris Wheel and loved it... because I didn't.  Being on a slowly moving ride with people I don't know isn't exactly the best use of my time... even if I have all the time in the world to kill. However, that being said I did walk through the city.. down to the water and admired it.  Big Ben on the other hand is beautiful. 

Places to Eat or grab a drink:  Granted London is very large, so there are a million places to try, but these are some spots I have been to that were great. 

Nobu: If you want good sushi, you cannot go wrong with Nobu.  This goes for a every city there is a Nobu.  

The Dorchester: If you get the chance to get to the Dorchester you must at least grab a drink. *Fun Fact, Scott and I were walking out of this hotel, and the outside is filled with people with signs. We walk out, realize all the signs were of Robert DeNiro.  He was staying at the hotel and walked out right in front of us.  This shouldn't be a huge surprise though as he is a partner in Nobu, which is located in Como by Metropolitan right next door. 

More to come.. 

Westminster Abbey

Day Trips: