London

We traveled from Paris to London by Eurostar. London is much colder than Paris. It’s always best to bring a coat especially you encounter morning rain. It can feel as chilly as spring in Toronto.

London is the vibrant capital of the United Kingdom with rich history. Its bustling streets combine with tradition and modernity.

We explored numerous locations, yet we didn’t capture everything in pictures. Sometimes we would like to enjoy the present moment.

Paddington Station

Paddington Station is a major railway and underground station in London. The station’s name is famously associated with the Paddington Bear.

Paddington bear is our travel buddy who comes from “darkest Peru”. We followed the bear to the Paddington Station, where he was adopted in London.

Stepping out from Paddington’s pop-up book into the real world!

The pop-up book can be purchased at book stores.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is not only a vital transportation route but also a popular tourist attraction. There’s a gift shop right under the bridge which offers a wide range of souvenirs.

It was also a place I visited in my dreams. And now, we are actually here taking pictures. Is this what we call dreams coming true?

Big Ben and the House of Parliament

We only took a few pictures of Big Ben and the house of Parliament while crossing the bridge.

London Eye

London eye is one of the world’s tallest observation wheels, but it didn’t hold much appeal for us.

Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square

We followed Paddington’s pop-up book and arrived at Piccadilly Circus. The statue of Cupid depicts the Roman god of love, Cupid, holding his bow and arrow. It has become a popular attraction and a spot while exploring Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.

Shopping and food

Markets in London are a must-visit for those who are seeking diverse shopping experience.

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road Market is famous for its antiques, vintage clothing and unique collectibles. it’s also the filming location for “Paddington”. Paddington brought us here to visit the antique store in the pop up book.

This store is just like in the movie, a genuine antique store. It’s called Alice’s.

This is the limited edition of Paddington which costs over 260 pounds

Apples Market and Jubilee Market

These two markets are very close to each other located in Covent garden. There are many designer brand clothing stores nearby, including quite a few French brands.

This picture is from the market official site

Soho and Covent Garden

Both areas offer an array of dining options , unique gifts and clothing. Hamleys is the largest toy store in the world. It worths a visit if you like toys.

London has several Harry Potter-themed magic shops, with one of the most famous located inside King’s Cross Station as the Platform 9 ¾ can be found there.

Our hotel is very close to King’s Cross Station. On the day we arrived in London, we initially planned to take a picture with the Platform 9 ¾, but there was a long queue of students waiting to take pictures. We decided not to turn back for another photo opportunity.

This shop is much larger than the one at King’s Cross, but for those who like to take pictures with the Platform 9 ¾ still need to visit King’s Cross station.

Chinatown is one of the attractions here, you may take a leisurely stroll as well.

The British Museum

The British Museum in London is free to visit, and you only need to book tickets in advance. I am not a museum enthusiast, but would like to see their exhibition “China’s Hidden Century.” It’s a great opportunity to explore and appreciate the cultural treasures from that era.

Due to the glass display cases, taking pictures can be challenging. “Goose tureen” is my favorite set of ancient porcelain.

The most delightful part of visiting the British Museum was purchasing this bracelet, which crafted with genuine pearls and adorned with religious-themed charms. It’s truly unique and adds a special touch to the overall design.

Food

The following restaurants each have their unique features.

Terry’s cafe

This is a classic and traditional British breakfast cafe with homely atmosphere.

Mother Mash

It offers a variety of mashed potato dishes with a selection of delicious toppings.

Poppie’s fish and chips

They are famous for serving traditional British fish and chips.

Chez Antoinette

It’s a causal French cafe in Apple Market. Their food is delicious, but there was a little incident. Mike found a dead bee in his salad. The restaurant offered 20% discount and waived the cost of his salad as compensation.

Cakes and bubbles

It’s a dessert restaurant. The chocolate eclair is unique and crispy.

Caffe Concerto London

It was a rainy day. We shopped at Westfield mall and passed by Caffe Concerto to have English afternoon tea. This is our second time dining at this cafe, the first time was at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Their desserts are well-made, but it’s not considered an authentic English afternoon tea. They didn’t provide a tea selection box, and the tea served was just tea bags. English afternoon teas in Toronto are more authentic compared to this restaurant.