This trip came together with me having a two week break back in Germany before a move to a new city. With some free time on my hands, I did what I always do—started searching for travel destinations. After a bit of searching on Google Flights, I found a great deal on a flight to London and booked it from August 25th to the 29th.

DAY 1-

“The wheels on the bus go round and round…”—now imagine that song sung by a child with a charming British accent. That was the start of my England adventure, beginning on a bus at the Frankfurt airport. The one and a half hour flight breezed by. However, navigating transportation in London was a different story. In my eagerness to reach the city center, I hopped on the first tube line without double-checking if it was the right one. Predictably, I ended up on the wrong route. Thankfully, London’s direction boards are clear and easy to follow, so it didn’t take long to correct my mistake. Transferring to the correct line was straightforward, and I was back on track in no time. A bonus is the ability to tap your credit card at the ticket scanning gates, skipping the hassle of purchasing a pass. Super convenient!

For my stay, I booked a room at Wombat’s City Hostel, which came highly recommended by travel sites. I opted for a women-only dormitory—not that mixed rooms are unsafe, but I find this option more comfortable. The hostel’s central location was a major plus, just a short walk from key attractions. The basement area has a great vibe, complete with a communal kitchen, a lively bar offering ping-pong and billard, and plenty of seating areas to relax and socialize.

After freshening up, I realized that my phone was at 5%. Due to spacing the fact that there are different outlets in the UK, I couldn’t charge it. Definitely a rookie mistake and decided to handle that issue later. So I headed out with my directionally challenged self and walked around London for about 3 hours without a map!

I began my adventure with a short five-minute walk from the hostel to Tower Bridge, where I also visited the historic Tower of London. This iconic castle has nearly a thousand years of history, whereas the Tower Bridge, which opened in 1894, is relatively young at around 130 years old. Most people mistake it for London Bridge because it’s far more striking and ornate in appearance.

With the help of the city maps along the streets, I continued my exploration and came across The Monument to the Great Fire of London. This column commemorates the fire of 1666 that destroyed much of the city.

Next, I wandered through Leadenhall Market, a picturesque covered market that feels like stepping into a vintage fairground, literally! Its charming architecture, with colorful light fixtures and ornate red-trimmed windows, creates a delightful and lively atmosphere.

Later, after successfully finding my way back to the hostel, I noticed one of my roommates heading out. I asked what she was up to and decided to join her when she mentioned she was going for a walk (even with my legs feeling like jelly from all of my exploring!) Her name is Silvana, she’s from Switzerland, and is so sweet.

We bonded over a phone call from my sister in the US, who needed advice on making sourdough bread from the starter I had left her at home. It turned out we both share a passion for cooking. After enjoying the stunning view of Tower Bridge illuminated at night, we headed back to the hostel.

DAY 2-

This morning, I had breakfast at the hostel. It wasn’t anything special, but for around £6 and the option to grab some fruit for later, it did the job. For reference, 1 pound is about 1,32 US dollars and about 1,19 euros. So breakfast was about 8 US dollars ($7,92).

Silvana and I then headed out to catch a bus. As we waited at the stop, we saw our bus approaching and not stopping, so we flagged it down. The driver then stopped, let us on, and drove a couple more seconds to the actual stop to pick up other passengers. We both laughed at the mix-up, agreeing that a bus driver in Germany or Switzerland would never have stopped early like that.

When we got off at Camden Passage, it was still early on a Monday, so most shops were closed, except for a few cafes. We found a small corner bakery called Buns from Home and picked up cinnamon rolls—mine was pistachio, and Silvana’s was cardamom. With our treats in hand, we headed to a coffee shop called Compane. The place was super cute and modern, and the coffee was great. We split the rolls, which turned out to be absolutely delicious.

At Piccadilly Circus, Silvana and I split up for the day, and I set off to explore more of London on my own.

My first stop was Buckingham Palace, which was absolutely stunning. Despite the crowds, I could have spent hours taking in the beautiful architecture and people watching. After that, I headed to Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben. The tower was impressive, and from there, I spotted the London Eye across the river. I crossed Westminster Bridge, walked a bit and ended up at the Urban Spoon Southbank. There I found a Nepalese food stand and enjoyed some tasty momo dumplings. The area was full of life, with food stands and people everywhere.

As I continued walking, I came across Shakespeare’s Globe. While the original theater burned down, this replica stays true to its roots by performing without modern lights or sound. The open roof means that the famous phrase, “The show must go on, rain or shine,” is taken quite literally here!

My final stop before my next tour was Borough Market, which was buzzing with activity. The market was packed with unique food stalls and fun decorations. I tried some orange wine, which is made from white grapes that are fermented with the skins, giving it the orange color. It was a bit more tangy than I expected, so I went with a glass of white wine as I kept exploring.

The next activity was a Tea Cruise on the River Thames, which I had booked in advance through Get Your Guide. Once on board, I was shown to my assigned table by the window. We were served tea along with a selection of treats like biscuits, small cakes, and sandwiches. The food wasn’t anything special since it was a commercial cruise, but the experience was still enjoyable. I took my coffee up to the deck and, for a while, had the space to myself. The views, especially of Tower Bridge from the water, were stunning. I just wish they had shared more history and facts about the buildings as we passed.

Later that evening, I met up with Silvana, and we made our way to a charming little restaurant called Emilia’s, nestled in a cozy harbor. The setting was absolutely perfect! Initially, they told us there were no tables available, but just as we were about to leave, a spot opened up right by the water in their open seating area. We couldn’t believe our luck! We started with a glass of wine and ordered food. My pistachio basil pasta was incredibly flavorful, and Silvana’s cacio e pepe was just as delicious. It was the perfect way to end a fantastic day.

DAY 3-

To kick off the day, I made my way to London Bridge, where my Harry Potter tour was meeting. Our small group of six began our adventure by exploring Borough Market. At the end of the market, we arrived at Stoney Street, where the exterior of the Leaky Cauldron from the Harry Potter films was filmed.

Next, we visited Trafalgar Square, where we admired the South African High Commission. This building served as the exterior for the Bank of Gringotts in the films.

Another highlight of the tour was the Millennium Bridge, famously destroyed by Death Eaters in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” during a dramatic scene.

While most of the movie was filmed in the studios, we also explored some darker alleys that might have inspired the studio sets. The tour was quite interactive and engaging, though I couldn’t help but think that a visit to the actual studios might have been equally or more captivating.

Between activities, I wandered over to Covent Garden, which was alive with street performers and crowds. The tempting food stalls and restaraunts stirred up my appetite, so I found Dishoom, an Indian restaurant that Silvana had recommended. The meal was fantastic, full of rich, complex flavors and very filling. Although it was a bit pricey, it was definitely worth it, and I highly recommend it.

On my way back, I popped into Fortnum & Mason. The store was large and impressive, and while I had intended only to browse, I ended up buying a few teas to take home. I also treated myself to a cardamom cinnamon roll from Buns from Home and enjoyed it while sitting near Tower Bridge on the river.

Later that evening, I attended The Play That Goes Wrong, and it was absolutely hilarious! This murder mystery comedy features a show within a show where everything on stage starts falling apart mid-performance. The theater was relatively small, and while sitting in Row C wasn’t essential, it was still thrilling to be so close to the action!

Day 4-

Taking the Hamersmith and City line this morning, I was headed towards Portobello market. I was a little confused at first on why it was so popular, until I continued walking farther towards Notting Hill.

The architecture and colors were beautiful. Plus there were lots of pop up stands along the whole street, great for grabbing a souvenir or some cute clothes to take home!

Later I visited the Sky Garden Bar with Vincent, a friend from my hometown who’s studying in London. To enjoy the stunning views for free, you need to book a time slot about three weeks in advance. However, the bars and restaurants usually have more last-minute availability on weekdays, so I managed to reserve a table for us the night before. We had a one and a half hour time slot with a minimum spend of £25 per person. The drinks were great, but the view was absolutely breathtaking! It was the perfect way to wrap up my London trip.

Overall, the trip was fantastic! Walking about ten miles a day was exhausting, but it was completely worth it for everything I got to see. London is such a vibrant city with so much to offer!