Hint: It never gets old.
“London always surprises us. Discovering unique neighborhoods or trying out Insta-worthy treats in one of the many markets, we always look forward to exploring this historic and vibrant city. Please share your experiences in the comment section. Cheers!”
-Andy Warren, Voyasea Travel
Staying at the Club Quarters Hotel Trafalgar Square was an absolute pleasure. The hotel staff were incredible, and our accommodations were clean, comfortable, and perfectly located—all at an unbeatable value.
Covent Garden
Surprisingly, this was our first visit to Covent Garden! If you’ve never been, it’s an eclectic mix of high-end shops, vibrant street performers, fantastic restaurants, and historic landmarks like St. Paul’s Church (where a resident church cat was on duty to ensure everyone was behaving!).
On the day of our visit, there was an artisan market going on. We love handmade crafts and supporting local artists.
Apple Market (In the main Market Building):
- Tuesday through Sunday: Operates as a true arts and crafts market featuring handmade jewellery, original prints, watercolours, and unique artisan crafts.
- Mondays: Switches exclusively to an Antiques & Collectables Market.
Jubilee Market (South Piazza):
- Saturdays & Sundays: Dedicated Arts & Crafts Market with handmade goods, artwork, candles, and clothing.
- Tuesdays to Fridays: Functions as a General Market (souvenirs, household goods, clothing).
- Mondays: Focuses on Antiques & Collectables.
East Colonnade Market: Runs daily with stalls selling handmade soaps, knitted goods, artwork, and gifts.
Very glad I researched this. Looks like there’s several daily markets! Have you ever been? Let us know in the comments below.
London Transport Museum
Definitely worth a visit (even if entry requires an annual pass 🤨)! The museum is a multi-level, immersive experience that guides you through the history of London’s transit—from horse-drawn carriages to the modern Underground system. Located in Covent Garden, the museum is open daily from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
VT Insider: Book your tickets in advance (we didn’t follow our own advice) and look for “off-peak” deals which will save you a few £’s. Museum website: ltmuseum.co.uk
The (VERY) British Museum
The mother of all museums—my goodness! I’m very happy we’re not the types who need to read every single detail on every single plaque, or we wouldn’t leave until the year 2060. Mind you, it’s packed in a very tasteful way with treasures from every corner of the world. We walked over from our hotel just as it started raining (shocker!), so if there’s even a slight chance of showers… and in London, you know there is… definitely pack an umbrella.
VT Insider: Plan your visit in advance. If you wing it like we did, you’ll likely feel rushed, unless that’s your thing. While you can take a chance on same-day walk-up tickets, your best bet is to reserve time slots online via the British Museum website. General admission is free, though a small donation (we gave £10) is always appreciated.
This place is HUGE so wear those comfortable walking shoes. Take a breather in the museum cafe and have a slice of lemon cake and a coffee or tea!
Dining Out
The Brits have completely cornered the market on Fish & Chips—hands down. But how does the rest of the culinary scene stack up? Here’s our short list of everywhere we ate, along with our honest opinions.
- Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken: We LOVE Nando’s so it was a no brainer to totally stuff ourselves with savory, flavorful, peri-peri chicken and fries (chips)— generously sprinkled with peri-peri seasoning. We both had the “Butterfly Burger” (no butterflies were harmed during this meal). I love the medium spicy sauce and the hubbs doused his burger with the spiciest offerings. 🥵
Bottom line. ★★★★ out of 5. Delicious. Generous portions. One star taken off for price. It is a little pricey for “quick casual” food. The food quality is what brings us back. Visit Nando’s to learn more.
- The Sherlock Holmes: I have to be honest, besides fish & chips, I’m not a huge fan of pub food. I am a fan of the pub atmosphere and beverages, especially the ales we can’t get in the US. We tried the cheesy garlic ciabatta (pictured) and the crispy smashed potatoes. Both were excellent small bites. For drinks, I had the Dr. Watson Amber Ale and the hubby had a Sherlock Holmes Pale Ale (when in Rome).
Bottom line. ★★★ out of 5. The atmosphere did not disappoint. The bartender was hilarious and almost got me to try the crispy duck nachos. It was fun to see local workers letting off steam after a long day. The locally crafted ales were amazing and I highly recommend giving them a taste. Just wasn’t thrilled with main course menu offerings. Judge for yourself at The Sherlock Holmes located at 10 Northumberland Street, St James’s, Greater London.
- 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo Pizzeria London: Okay. Let me first wipe the drool off my keyboard. Strepitoso! (that’s Italian for amazing.) The drinks. The pizza. The staff. I had never heard of this restaurant before, but they are the real deal—directly from Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Most of the staff are from Italy, so the moment you walk through the door at 50 Kalò, you’re transported. We shared a Margherita pizza with sausage, made with their signature proprietary flour blend. We’ll be going back for sure.
While working on this review, I noticed that the London location is the only one outside Italy. Lucky! The best part, 50 Kalò is attached to Club Quarters Hotel Trafalgar Square. You can find 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo Pizzeria at 7 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, London.
Bottom line. ★★★★★★★★★★ out of 5. Correte!, don’t walk to 50 Kalò. You will not be disappointed. The menu is extensive so take a gander before you go. The people next to us had TIRAMISÙ for dessert and I almost asked for a bite.
The Best for Last
We had an amazing, short stay in London. All the sightseeing we did on this trip was new for us, with the exception of a sneaky tour of Westminster Abbey (more about that later).
The highlight of this trip was our exhausting, but well worth it, trek up to the top of Elizabeth Tower—known around the world as Big Ben.
Westminster Abbey (Photo 1 Top Left)
When I say it was a sneaky tour, we had lunch in the Abbey’s cafe. We didn’t want fast food and, since we walked everywhere on this trip, we needed a restful place to sit. Our chicken pesto sandwich was surprisingly good—though nothing I would rush back for.
After lunch, we needed to use the restroom, and since we were already inside, we figured we’d pop in and say hello to King Charles. We took a quick walkabout, having already done the official tour on a previous trip. With our Big Ben tour time quickly approaching, we headed back out and made our way toward the Houses of Parliament. So in reality, we didn’t overstay our welcome in the Abbey. And unfortunately, no King Charles. I highly recommend taking the official tour. Not our quick breeze-by! You can find details on Westminster Abbey website.
Houses of Parliament (Photos 2 – 5 Top Right to Bottom)
We were quite early for our Big Ben tour, but to our delight, both Houses of Parliament were in session that day. A very friendly and engaging page let us know that we were more than welcome to go inside and sit in on the sessions.
After filling out a brief form, we were directed up a few flights of stairs (a harbinger of what was to come!) to a session of the House of Commons. As fascinating as it was to be allowed to view the session, the topic was fairly mundane, which is fine. It’s important to the citizens of the UK. We were expecting yelling and drama but alas, everyone was civil.
After our Big Ben tour, we attended a session of the House of Lords. Again, it was interesting to hear various perspectives but it was dry to us as outsiders. Don’t tell my British friends I said that.
The stained-glass photos show the public areas inside the Houses of Parliament, which is truly a stunning space. The main hall, Westminster Hall, is where British royalty and world leaders have given iconic speeches throughout history. It is definitely worth adding to your tour list on a future visit!
Visit Tours of UK Parliament for more information.
Elizabeth Tower | Big Ben (Photo 6 Bottom Right)
Big Ben is an icon of the UK. Actually, the structure itself is the Elizabeth Tower—renamed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. “Big Ben” is technically the massive bell housed inside. There are too many facts and history to cover here, so instead, I’ll help prepare you for what to expect on your tour!
FIRST. Tickets. How do you even get up there? Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-pleasant news, but getting tickets requires planning, speed, and a little bit of luck.
- When they drop: Tickets are released on the official UK Parliament website on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM UK time for the following month’s slots.
- How fast they sell: They routinely sell out within minutes, so set an alarm, create an account ahead of time, and refresh right on the dot!
- Age restrictions: Children must be at least 11 years old to join the tour.
SECOND. Stairs. There are 334 steps to climb!
- Breathing room: The good news is that tour guides stop at various levels along the way where you can sit and catch your breath.
- Fair warning: To quote the official Big Ben tour info directly: “The Big Ben tour is a physical experience and may not be suitable for everyone.“
THIRD. No phones. The tour lasts 90 minutes, and everything you see, hear, and learn is strictly captured in your brain!
- Locker storage: All phones and personal belongings are locked away at the start of the tour.
- Unplug & enjoy: Embrace a brief moment of distraction-free time away from your screen—you’ll be completely fascinated by what you experience.
The tour takes you directly behind the clock faces and up to the upper level where the world-famous bell, Big Ben, is housed. Spoiler alert: the tour is timed so you’ll get to hear the bells chime up close! (Don’t worry, ear protection is provided.)
If you’ve been on the tour or have any questions, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
View Big Ben tour details on the official UK Parliament – Big Ben Tour site.
Reserve your tickets on the official Big Ben Tour ticketing website.
Thank You for Joining us on our Tour of London
We’ll be back with more from London and the UK at large in future Discoveries by Voyasea Travel segments. In the interim, enjoy a final “artistic” look through our hotel room window! Watch out Spielberg.
Video by Voyasea Travel.
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