A Short Trip to London

Falling in Love with London

I took a short trip to London a couple of weeks ago and fell in love. (Well, my true, only city love is San Francisco, but Seattle is a close second, and now so is London!)

The exchange rate was dismal for the dollar. If your money is the pound or the euro, now is the time to visit the US. Oops, sorry, I think it's closed to foreigners. The British money sure is pretty, and it's plastic. It has an odd but solid feeling.

Flying Out of Ancona Airport

My friend, visiting from California, and I flew out of the Ancona airport. If you're coming to Italy or leaving and you can get to Ancona, I highly recommend that airport. It's tiny, not crowded, has close parking, and a train station. It is a 3 to 4 hour train ride to Rome and Milan, and 2 to 3 hours to Bologna. And if you're visiting Italy, Ancona has some interesting things to do and see without the throngs of tourists. Plus, it's only a 25-minute drive to Senigallia, the wonderful beach town where I live.

The longest line I've ever seen at the Ancona Airport.

I've flown from Ancona to the US a few times, and the prices are comparable to flying out of Rome, Bologna, or Milan, especially when I factor in travel costs to one of those cities and a hotel stay both ways. Avoiding the hassle and stress is well worth a couple of hundred dollars, but a few times I've seen the prices to fly out of Ancona are less than those from the big cities.

Accommodation and Location

We stayed at the Millennium Hotel and Conference Centre in Gloucester, London. It was good. The hotel staff are very attentive and fun to talk to. The room was clean and the beds were comfortable. And the breakfast buffet was large with many choices. It is an old hotel, and it shows wear.

The subway is an easy walk just around the corner, with museums within walking distance. The Natural History Museum, V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum, and Science Museum are a 7 to 10 minute walk. And the choice of restaurants and world cuisine is right outside the door.

Food and Dining Experiences

Italian food is good, but there are so many other wonderful cuisines from around the world. Having many options is one thing I miss about living in Italy. Where I live, the number of non-Italian restaurants is very limited. And, of those, the food has been adjusted to meet local tastes.

London has every type of food! We ate at Baba Ghanouj Kensington, a Lebanese restaurant that was delightful. It's small, with about 10 tables. We were having so much fun with the servers; the guys were engaging and playful. The food was great.

We also ate at Little India, another small restaurant with great food. The servers were wonderful and attentive. (See my posts in restaurants.)

It was busy in Kensington as we were walking about. It took some time to find an empty table in any cafe. We finally found a table at Oil & Steen. It was a good break from window shopping.

Day Trip to Oxford

We took the train to Oxford to meet a friend at the Turf Tavern for lunch and later went to the King's Arms pub for a drink. What a town! The whole thing is pretty much Oxford University. And there were only a few tourists. (More about Oxford and the Taverns in a separate post.)

It was a lovely day but a bit rainy.

Museums and Gardens

We toured the V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum. It was fine. I'm not the best person to review a museum of ancient statues and carvings, and I'm not so interested in the art from the Victorian era, the 19th century, or the Renaissance (although I do like a good Renaissance Fair).

But I can appreciate the workmanship of the statues and other carvings. Large statues creep me out for some reason, but the carvings telling a story are amazing. The intricate detail was impressive, and I can appreciate the antiquity. And the patience and hours it took for each carving must have seemed endless.

We missed a lot; the museum is large, and we got tired. I would have enjoyed the hat collection. I like hats and have many. I even had one made by a milliner. It's an elegant black felt wide-brimmed hat. Something one would wear to the theater or fine restaurant if it were the 1940s.

The thing I found most interesting was that a woman was sketching the people while sitting in a chair she brought. I'm in awe of people who can draw and paint.

She let me look over her shoulder, and the sketches picked up the flow of visitors.

The building itself was my favorite part. Construction started in 1852, and they've been adding to it ever since. It is a mix of Victorian, Edwardian, Baroque, and contemporary styles. I may not like the art of those old eras, but I do like the buildings. I realize now it would have been a good idea to do a bit of research before going to know what exhibits there were to see. I would have preferred to see the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, but they were packed. The lines to get in were too long, and it wouldn't have been enjoyable. Maybe next time.

On a different day, we went to Kew Gardens. That was beautiful and very interesting. I would go back, especially in the spring. We had High Tea at the gardens, which was very good. (Please see my post on the history of the gardens.)

Kensington Walkabout and Observations

We walked around Kensington and saw people and shops, and a lot of dogs (we love dogs). It was fun. We didn't go for the typical tourist sites; that's just not our preference. And we missed checking out one of the many markets. The time just slips away so fast. Four days weren't nearly enough.

One thing that was very noticeable and consistent was that the people were so nice and extremely polite. It was a joy to be in the city.

History of London Tourism

Each blog I write, or most of them, I do a little research and include some information. Well, instead of looking at the history of London (which would require a book, and there are already many to choose from), I decided on the history of London tourism. It turns out the Romans were London tourists, and the city has been alluring to people ever since.

London's tourism history goes way back. Starting from Roman times, the city was known for trade and thermal baths. By the 17th and 18th centuries, London became a key stop on the Grand Tour for wealthy travelers, with museums, theaters, and landmarks like the British Museum opening in 1753.

The Industrial Revolution and railways made London easier to get to. Of course, the revolution opened up the world, and more people began traveling for pleasure and interest. This was when places like the Tower of London and the Crystal Palace grew popular, especially after the 1851 Great Exhibition, when Thomas Cook helped turn travel into an industry by organizing all-inclusive tours.

After World War II, London rebuilt and added modern sites like the London Eye and Tate Modern, alongside longtime favorites such as Buckingham Palace. Now, whether it's history or cultural events, London offers a bit of everything. The mix of old and new keeps it one of the top travel destinations in the world, with over 20 million international visitors annually. Since recovering from the pandemic, travel and tourism have contributed significantly to London's economy, accounting for around £27.3 billion.

The countries that send the most international tourists to London are led by the United States (3.5 million visitors in 2023), followed by France (1.6 million). Germany ranks third with around 1.14 million visitors, followed by Spain, Italy, and Ireland. Tourist visits from China and other Asian markets have been growing strongly since the world opened up again.

Until Next Time

From the Brits' friendly nature, the happening streets of London, to world cuisine, and the beauty of the English countryside, this country offers a unique experience. Taste food from around the world, hop on a train to witness the pastoral landscape roll by, or slow down, find a pub, and relax.

And don't worry about "looking like a tourist," the Brits have open arms.

Here a bunch of random photos. The menus are to show some prices, but we didn't eat at them. We walked by the little Italian restaurant in the photos; there are plenty in London.