London and Leeds

Travel Day One - 14 September 2017 - Arriving in London 🛬

I convinced a long-time friend from Wisconsin to embark on a spontaneous four-day trip with me to London and Leeds. We flew via Virgin Atlantic from Atlanta to Heathrow Airport, and once we passed through customs and UK Border Control, we caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station in London. From there, we opted to walk to our hotel in Kensington Square Gardens, which was comfortable and welcoming. After dropping off our luggage, we headed out to explore the local bookshops.

While charting out our itinerary at the hotel, my friend noticed he couldn't connect to the data LTE network on his phone. He had to call his carrier to resolve the issue, which was promptly sorted out. Having cleared the hurdle, we were ready to travel via the tube, using contactless payment.

Given our hunger, we stopped by a lovely restaurant called Farmacy and enjoyed a fantastic meal. The waitress was both friendly and knowledgeable, offering tips on the UK and London. Once we were sated, we headed to our top destination of the day, Treadwell’s Bookshop, feeling like we'd landed in a wonderland. It is every book lover's paradise and is among the best in the city. We left the bookstore with ample reading materials and felt truly content.

Upon returning to our hotel room, we checked our emails and sent messages to our loved ones to let them know we arrived safely. Later on, we savored dinner at a Thai restaurant close by.

It was a thrilling and eventful day, filled with fun adventures and delectable meals. If you have any inquiries or would like us to recommend similar activities, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Taking the London Underground was easy using Tap and Pay and my contactless Capital One Venture Card.

Day Two - 15 September - The Long Train Ride to Leeds

An early morning rise enabled us to catch our train which left at 6:30 a.m. from Kings Cross railway station. We boarded the LNER train that took us to Leeds, and onwards to the village where my friend resides. Once we arrived, we spent the day in the village visiting my dear friend.

Later on, we hopped on a double-decker bus to travel back to Leeds. Famished from an entire day without food, we stopped at a Subway located in the train station to have a quick bite. With plenty of time before our train back to London, we ventured out for a leisurely walk around Leeds, taking photographs at several scenic spots.

As the evening approached, we caught our train back to our hotel in London, arriving later that evening. Though our time in Leeds was short, it was enjoyable, filled with hearty conversations, peaceful walks, and delectable food to keep us energized throughout the day.

Day Three - 16 September - Kensington Gardens, Watkins Books, and Dishoom

After breakfast at the hotel, we strolled over to Kensington Gardens, which offered an incredible experience walking through its serene paths. We were in awe of the round pond teeming with Ravens, swans, and ducks, wandering and swimming about. It was a spectacular sight to behold.

Our next stop was Watkins Books, which was conveniently located near the tube station. We spent some time browsing through various collections before making our way to Covent Garden for lunch at Dishoom, which sounded too charming to resist. The restaurant provided yet another fabulous meal, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Satisfied, we made our way back to our hotel.

Later that afternoon, I began feeling congested with an unpleasant sinus problem and decided to take a nap. Despite the unfortunate turn of events, we still enjoyed the rest of our day and went out to dine at a phenomenal Greek restaurant named Santorini. The cuisine was exquisite and beyond our expectations, making our evening even more memorable.

Day Four - 17 September - British Museum and Library.

We started our day with breakfast and then hopped onto the tube to visit the renowned British Museum. Over the course of at least an hour or two, we perused countless fascinating artifacts and exhibits. It was amazing to behold!

After the Museum, we made our way to the British Library, where we again wandered through numerous thought-provoking areas of the library. However, the impact of the sinus congestion was starting to take over, signaling that it was time to head back to our hotel.

Upon returning, we picked up a sandwich and smoothie from Pret, a popular sandwich chain, before settling in for some relaxing self-care. Though it wasn’t how we planned to spend the remainder of our day, it was necessary to take the time to recharge for what was to come.

Day Five - 18 September - Flying home. 🛫

The day to conclude our London journey had finally arrived, and we were headed back home. After breakfast, we made our way via the tube to Paddington station, followed by the Heathrow Express to the airport. Once we arrived, we printed our boarding passes and made our way through security, maneuvering our burdensome book-laden bags.

After successfully finishing security checks, we grabbed some food from one of the restaurants available within or close to the airport terminal area. We then patiently waited for our plane to arrive, and eventually proceeded to the gate for boarding.

Our return trip started with an eight-hour Virgin Atlantic flight to Atlanta. After landing in Atlanta, we boarded our Delta flight for the next leg of our journey, the flight home. We later arrived home safely, albeit tired, later that evening.

Although it is a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to a city filled with memories and rich history, we had created lasting impressions while also making our way back home safely.