The Perfect London Weekend

My first weekend in London turned out to be quite fun! On Friday, Kenz and I met up with his old friend Jan and his friend at a Swiss restaurant called St. Mortiz in SoHo for yummy fondue. Jan and Kenz met at a Leo Youth Camp in Tokyo almost 10 years ago. Who would have guessed, after all these years, they end up living in the same City?

Saturday morning, we made our way to the Borough Market, London’s oldest food market and a foodie’s paradise. Borough Market was packed with locals and tourists alike, and was quite busy due to the holiday season.

Between chorizos, German sausages, mulled wine, and chocolate brownies, we were stuffed and enjoyed a long stroll from London Bridge to Tower Bridge along the south bank of the River Thames to burn off the extra calories.

The famous Tower Bridge:

Later in the evening, Kenz and I went to see Harold Pinter’s “No Man’s Land,” a play about two aging ‘poets’ set in Hampstead. It was excellent! If you are in London, going to the theater is a must!

Sunday afternoon, we explored the exclusive neighborhood of Knightsbridge, Chelsea & Kensington. This area I would say is equivalent to the Upper West Side and Park Avenue of New York City: old money, stunning rowhouses lined with trees, and very elegant. We walked from Sloane Square to Harrod’s, London’s famous shopping institution, and then to Hyde Park, which is sandwiched between Knightsbridge and Notting Hill/Marylebone (another neighborhood yet to explore).

Instead of taking the tube home, we opted to take a double decker bus back to Clapham Common on the 137 (15 minutes away). To end the perfect weekend in London, I decided to make a pot of corn and chicken chowder and spent the evening at home with a cup of tea like a proper Brit.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

Cheers, Lily