london in july 💌

Hi gentle readers! Figured I’d place a tiny disclaimer at the start of this post.

Disclaimer: I’ve shared my international trips in the past, and I just want to say several things. One, I don’t travel internationally more than once a year. Two, all of the trips I have been on have been in some way subsidized. Israel/Palestine was mostly paid with a grant and then I paid some money as well. In Ireland, I had my hotels and plane travel covered. I mostly paid for meals and souvenirs. I also spent a bit of that trip reporting and working on producing stories, so it wasn’t full on vacation. And this international trip to England is a work trip, which was partly expensed. Lavish international vacations are not the norm. I am meeting and working with our London office, which is an enormous privilege, and I want to say is not the norm. 

DO NOT FEEL BAD IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP PLANNED.

If anything, my normal travels are weekend trips that are a train or road trip away where I stay with friends and family to lower the cost. 

I just wanted to add that disclaimer in case it seemed like I am rolling in dough, lavishing hopping on planes. An international trip is definitely not my usual day-to-day, just to be clear! I never want to perpetuate an unrealistic reality. 

Saturday July 5, 2025

On Saturday, July 5th, I woke up at 3:45ish to get ready to leave for the airport by 4:30. I took a flight out of Newark. Newark isn’t that hard to navigate, especially since I had been a few times before. I unfortunately had the middle seat on the plane but it wasn’t too bad. I watched two movies: Flow (about animals navigating a huge flood) and Downton Abbey (which the person sitting next to me was definitely watching along. He had stopped reading and was definitely interested.) When it comes to watching movies or TV shows, I’m very reactive. I have to talk to watch through something, so it was hard to keep quiet. 

After the plane landed, I did get to know a tiny bit more about my fellow seatmate, which was very pleasant.

I arrived by 8:40ish to London! Heathrow Airport has different levels for whether or not you want to rent a car or get a taxi or meet your Uber, which was slightly confusing. It was about 10:20ish when I arrived at the hotel. We stayed at the Doubletree Hilton Angel Kings Cross. A bit of a walk to Kings Cross station but still centrally located. 

Related Post: the emerald isle

Sunday July 6, 2025

I had an itinerary for this day. I woke up and went to 26 Grains for breakfast. Taking the tube was easy but navigating to this restaurant was not. It’s hidden in an alcove, but I didn’t know that prior to my walking around Covent Garden.

Covent Garden is a wonderful place to go shopping. They have TK Maxx (lol), but just take note that if you are going on a Sunday, things don’t open until 12 o’clock. While I was wandering Covent Garden, there was this live performance of a man doing a makeshift tightrope walk. Very fascinating. 

I wandered over to St. Paul’s church. Very cute walkway, and it was a delight to meander around. As I headed over to St. James Park, I accidentally stumbled onto my later point on my itinerary, St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

I found my way to Westminister Abbey and Big Ben, and my one experience was everything is so much smaller in person. Throughout this trip, I just kept finding little hearts and it felt like it was Jesus showing me his heart. ❤️

While at St James Park, I stopped to admire the swans and geese. Such a peaceful presence in the midst of a touristy place. I found Buckingham Palace and took many a photo. Honestly, by this point, I was walked out. I really underestimated how much walking I was going to do because my itinerary was very tube based. Having spotted the London Eye in the distance, I took a break for 15 minutes to recover and then headed back. 

The London Eye is really cute and it’s right across the Thames, so it makes for a wonderful photo. I was particularly tempted to take the water tube – in London, there are boats that also function as part of the London underground. (That will probably be for a return trip.)

I took the tube back to Covent Garden to eat at Wahaca, which my friend Cata’s mentor/friend recommended to me. Eating alone is such a weird experience. I eat alone in New York City and feel fine, but it just felt so off when I was in London. The food was delicious. The buttermilk chicken taco *chef’s kiss*

I then decided to do some tea shopping before I had to make my way to St Martin-in-the-Fields. I may have spent more money than I anticipated. (My bank account is still recovering lol) I went to Mariage Freres and Bird and Blend after a quick pit stop at Whittard earlier on in the day. I popped into a bookstore, Waterstones, just moseying around, when lo and behold, the sky starts pouring. I walked away with two books. 

At St Martin-in-the-Fields, I rested at the Cafe in the Crypt and then enjoyed their Choral Evensong service. For dinner I ended up (due to a scheduling mixup), having Five Guys at the hotel.

Looking back I would have done this day differently — Columbia Flower Shop Market would have been my number one spot. I would have attempted to take the bus. Though I enjoyed Evensong, what I was really looking for was a Compline service. For dinner, ideally, I would have gone to Churchill Arms.

By the end of my first full day in London, I walked 31,650 steps. I did not fully recover from this until I got home.

Monday July 7, 2025

My original plan was to visit Pophams Bakery before work, but I headed to work a little bit early with my colleagues to take the confusing but scenic route of Regents Canal. Apparently people live on these boats, and there’s even a boat cafe!

I met some of my colleagues. And it’s so weird to meet people tangibly after seeing them on a screen. The main lesson learned here: photos/videos do not do people justice. I met one colleague and immediately was floored by their presence, and I’m sure there’s science to this but I was so shocked. Seeing eye colors, experiencing new people’s energy was an overwhelming.

Unfortunately, food during this trip was probably my biggest low.

We ended up doing dinner across the water in Southwark. The view was stunning. It was very much a grab a glass and chat vibe, which was good if you wanted to mingle across groups but not so good as meeting everyone for the time situation. I stuck close with my colleague Rebecca, and got to learn more about Andrea, who had a history in music before switching to publishing. Her life advice: be open and explore your options.

On our Uber back, I learned, along with my other American colleagues, apparently, the U.S. is closer to Ireland than the UK is to France. I guess France is more to the south. *jaw dropped* It just feels mindboggling information.

Related Post: Israel, yes ’twas rael

Tuesday July 8, 2025

Grabbed breakfast with the Brand team. It was a very meeting heavy day. I had my presentation, which went well! We did end up doing a circus activity in Shoreditch – we did tightrope, stilts (which were the worst), juggling (I loved!) and spinning plates. So fun! Good to learn more about my overseas colleagues and who I want on a sports team with me.

We did do a sit down dinner at Camino, which might have been my least favorite of the whole trip. My tortilla was more of a quiche with no crust. What saved this experience was the sangria. Unfortunately, the sangria was at the start of our time there and it was steadily disappointing. Luckily for me, I got to talk more of one of my colleagues who was truly a delight. 

The commentary did not disappoint. May I present to you the iceberg theory? According to my colleague, we think we know what attracts us to other people, the tip of the iceberg, if you will. However, what actually attracts us to other people is so unconscious, it’s inexplicable. 

I hate this theory because I actually think it’s right. Is it actually right?

Gentle reader, tell me your thoughts. Everyone I have found myself attracted to has almost always fit a certain box but not quite, and it’s hard to actually pinpoint what makes me want to get to know them more. This theory has now lived rent-free in my head. Thank you, green-eyed sir! (Also, everyone has nice eyes. My eyes are so boring in comparison).

We went to Big Chili’s after the restaurant (where I enjoyed a kiwi lime cider) and then the hotel bar where people discussed religion! Love a religion chat. Unfortunately, it didn’t last very long. Ended the night thinking of Future by Paramore, which I haven’t listened to in years. 

Wednesday July 9, 2025

Half day at work. Went to The Wolseley in Piccadilly for tea and scones, as you must in the UK. Finally took the bus and felt so on top of London transit. Headed up to Notting Hill for wandering around. Stopped in Daunt Books, where I spent money on more books. I love asking for a recommendation and using it. The store clerk, a nice young lady, had finished reading Slanting Towards the Sea. I was feeling a complex love affair, so I decided to pick it up.

I had to pop into a church because if the doors are opened, don’t you want to glance inside?

On this trip, I saw daisies and hearts, which felt very close to my heart.

Headed back to Kings Cross for dinner with a new friend, Summer, at Porte Noire. We talked for three hours about everything—politics, moving countries, dating and attraction. I don’t think I’ve talked to someone like that in a long, long time. It was wonderful!

Got back to the hotel. And decided to do the work I totally put off. 

Thursday July 10, 2025

My Thursday was essentially getting back to the states. Didn’t have time to go to Borough Market as planned :(. Ended up wandering to the canal and enjoying the sun! Such a gift to have gone and returned!

Signing off,

Gigi