After  48 hours in Lisbon, a week in Marbella, we flew to London!  I love London… especially in July.  The weather was lovely while we were there, and I find the people and places so charming.  I think it is my favorite big city.   I used my Glimpses Guide book to plan much of our trip.  They have entire itineraries, especially geared toward kids in mind.  While also having plenty of suggestions for date nights too.  I have never had such a handy guide book!  Plus with their profits they send disadvantaged youth to travel.  Bonus is they look great on a coffee table.

The day we arrived we checked into The Londoner.  We loved the location, and we booked through AMEX with points.  With AMEX fine hotels you get early check in, late check out, breakfast every morning, a room credit – which makes it a pretty good value overall.  The hotel is relatively new, and I just think they were working out the kinks.  I’d probably try somewhere else, but for utilizing the points, it was still a good stay.

We walked up to The Wolseley for an early dinner (a glimpses guide recommendation).  We walked through Hyde Park that night to see Buckingham Palace before turning in.

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel, then walked to see Big Ben, then walked to see the Changing of the Guards.  We went to Harrods for a bit of shopping.  I think Harrods is just the best, and I could easily spend a week in there!  We met up with my sister and nephew who happened to be in town at the Princess Diana Memorial Park.  That park is incredible!  We walked through a lot of Hyde Park that day, popping into playgrounds along the way.  That night we went to Tamarind with our friends.  It was sooo good!  If you love Indian, you’ll enjoy this!

The next day we had the Adele concert!  Our friends had invited us, and we were just sooo excited!  I had been looking forward to this for ages.  She didn’t come on until 8, so we were able to tour around London more.  We went to Liberty for me, and Hamley’s toy store for the boys.  We then took the bus to The Ivy Chelsea Garden.  The decor was insanely good, food was great, service was just okay.  But I’d still go in a heartbeat, and it’s a great spot with kids.   Not stuffy at all.  This was a glimpses guide rec too.  We went to the Natural History Museum.  Their museums are all free – some exhibits are at an added expense though.  We met up in Notting Hill at a pub with my sister before heading back to our hotel to get ready for Adele.  I teared up throughout her concert!  She is so talented, funny, and engaging.

The next day we met up with our friends at Churchill War Rooms.  We had a couple guides.  one that took the kids, and one that took the adults.  It is a must visit, especially if you have anyone World War II history buffs in your group. We went on the London Eye then, said goodbye to our friends.  Headed to Nottinghill for lunch, meandered around, had dinner around there.  I can’t remember what it was, but we were hungry, and it was good.  We left bright and early the next morning for San Sebastián.  I can’t wait to go back to London!

Shop the black on black look here // casual London look here