My Delicious Blog

Field Trip Friday – London

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(Field Trip Fridays are interesting, fun, travel, food-related or fishing adventures I like to share with you!)
This is my ‘grandest’ Field Trip Friday ever, because I had to fly more than 3,000 miles to do it!
I recently traveled to London with family members and when asked upon my return “What were your favorite things?” I had difficulty answering because there were just too many. Below are highlights, in case you’re thinking of taking a trip ‘across the pond.’
I started my journey with a plane picnic – cucumber sandwiches (a little beat up after airport shenanigans), shortbread, Paddington bear, and champagne to mark the big event. It was a welcome diversion 2 hours into a 7 hour flight. Sorry for the out-of-focus pic – it was really late and we only had an iPhone!
The first order of business upon arrival at 7:00 am local time was breakfast and our White City hotel offered a ‘full English breakfast’ with eggs, sausage, bacon, baked beans, black pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast. Delicious, but I learned I’m not a fan of that black pudding.
Spring was everywhere – bluebells, violets, hyacinth, primrose and more, but daffodils were especially prominent.
Most major museums in London are free, so we enjoyed British Museum (see the amazing Rosetta Stone); the Sir John Soane Museum (architect who bequeathed home/collections after death in 1837); and the National Gallery-London (with works by Michaelangelo and other masters).
Westminster Abbey was amazing. The enormity of it, along with its history dating to 1066 is a bit overwhelming. I was especially struck by some everyday things like the guy painting ancient ironwork, a priest just passing by readying for mass, a woman arranging flowers, and vestments hanging in a closet – all alongside thousands of passersby, and the gravestones of folks like Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens.
I was traveling with theater-lovers, so we HAD to see some plays, including The Great British Bake-Off musical (a fun, heartwarming performance I highly recommend because “Good things come to those who bake. . .”); Titus Andronicus (the opening song was “Welcome to the bloodbath!” which gives you an idea of its theme) and Winter’s Tale, both at Shakespeare’s Globe, the original site dating back to 1599. Here’s a pic of the beautiful theater:
Ben’s Fish & Chips in London was delish – but a couple of passersby on the street actually tried to steal some chips!
A most unusual dinner was at Dans le Noir (“In the Dark”). Described as “a unique sensory and human experience,” it surely makes you appreciate your abilities. Visually-impaired servers lead you into a purely dark dining room where they serve several courses, but you have absolutely no idea what they are. Without vision, you rely on remaining senses, giving a totally different dimension to the meal.
Sunday Roast is a local tradition and the Fox & Pheasant in Chelsea didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed beef with horseradish, potatoes, parsnip puree, carrots, gravy and Yorkshire Pudding. No pint for me, though – I had wine 🙂
For a trendy dining experience, we lunched at art-inspired Sketch. One of my 23-year old nieces had it on her bucket list, so we simply had to go. For me, the egg-pod bathroom was the best part (you just have to see it).

I enjoyed several scones, biscuits, croissants and Welsh Cakes.  If you’ve never had a Welsh Cake, it’s similar to a scone – typically round, flat, sweet, a little dense but very tender, usually dotted with dried fruit. I have a similar recipe on the blog  – in my family we call them “Gold Rush Griddle Cakes” because that’s what the SunMaid Raisin folks called them. Give ’em a try or find an exact Welsh Cake recipe – you’re sure to enjoy them!

We spent two days in Wales (Paddington Station to Abergavenny, one of the most charming places you’ll ever see) visiting an extended family member. Honestly, half my pictures were taken there – it was THAT beautiful. Here’s a glimpse of mountains (with little Gypsy in the foreground) and a walk in Brecon Beacons National Park.

If that’s not enough beauty for you, check out this rainbow taken from our cottage window one morning:

On the drive back to London, we roamed Oxford University, which has churned out brilliant minds for almost 1000 years. The immense golden stone buildings, ironwork and cobbled streets were simply beautiful. Here we are at Radcliffe Camera, in the heart of the city:

Blenheim Palace in Woodstock is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the home to the Dukes of Marlborough. Its history, Baroque architecture, and formal gardens make it a must-see.

Finally, any post about London wouldn’t be complete without a shot of London Bridge, so here it is, all lit up.

 

 

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Comments

  4. Wonderful post, so glad you had such a marvelous time with your dear family members.
    London and European travel is so rewarding. It was so nice to see you Friday.

  5. What a lovely trip for you Nicole, gorgeous photos! I too loved the violets, and the view from your cottage, just breathtaking. All of it so memorable.

    • I thought of your garden while roaming some cottage gardens in Wales – so many different flowers and flowering shrubs, mixed colors, and lots of pollinators. It was a great trip – I’m so glad I went!

  6. What a lovely trip! Spectacular photos! The dark dining experience is so intriguing. I’d be game but I bet I’d make a mess. Glad you visited Dickens and Darwin. I love a full English breakfast so much, but a bite or two of black pudding is plenty enough for me (Toby devours the rest). Thanks for whisking me away to London!

    • Thank you Danielle! I’m sure you’d enjoy that ‘dark dining’ experience – it’s humbling, for sure, but a great learning experience. And I’m with you – one or two bites of that black pudding was plenty for me 🙂

  7. You lucky dog you! Visiting London is on my top 10 things to do on my bucket list and from the photos you posted it just may have been bumped up to a new top 5 bucket list that I need to create. I’m glad to see you’re back… I’ve missed you and your delicious blog!

    • I hope you move it up on your bucket list! London is an amazing place (and you don’t need to brush up on another language before going!). Thanks for keeping up with my blog, Joe 🙂

  8. Beautiful photos!! There wasn’t a place or delicious looking food I didn’t like. Especially loved the violets. You’re all beautiful. Happy you had such a lovely time.

  9. Nicole, it is great have you back. We have missed your blogs. The photos of your trip are wonderful. I plan a trip to Scotland next year where Clan Graham originated. I may have to make a stopover in London.

    • Thanks for being such a loyal follower, Tim 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it. How exciting to go to Scotland – I look forward to seeing photos of that trip!

  10. Gorgeous photos, Nicole! I really enjoyed seeing them and reading about your trip. Sounds like you had a wonderful time! My brother and sister-in-law lived in Oxford for two years back in the late 1980s (he got his Masters degree at Oxford), and I visited England and Wales at that time. There is so much more I’d like to see, though. And Wales! It felt like home to me (my ancestors on my dad’s side are from there, so perhaps that’s why). Your photos of Wales — especially the one with the rainbow — are breathtaking! Thanks so much for sharing this post.

    • Thanks Amy – glad you enjoyed my mini-trip! Like you, there were many places I wanted to see, but time ran out. Wales is an absolutely lovely place, and I wouldn’t mind living there!