London 2016/17 - Part 1

Going To London

Thursday - December 29th 2016

Claudia and I are big London fans. So far we had been three times and since we didn't have any plans for New Year's Eve this year, we decided to travel to London. So Thursday after work we packed our stuff and drove to Munich airport, where we spent the night at the Novotel, because the flight was departing Friday early morning. We stayed at the hotel already before and so we knew what to expect. After we checked in, we ate some sandwiches and then we got a couple of beers at the hotel bar before we returned to our room and went to bed.

Our Room

Our Bathroom

Friday - December 30th 2016

We got up pretty early and soon we were on our way to the terminal. Since the crowds were already big, we decided to go straight through security and then we got a coffee inside the international zone. Soon it was time for boarding and we were on the plane right on time. However once boarding was completed, the captain told us that our flight was delayed for two hours due to the heavy fog in London. Great, what a start! One and half an hour later we finally departed. An uneventful flight later our easyjet flight landed in London Gatwick, and after we caught our Thameslink train, we were on our way to the city of London. There we first had lunch at Nando's, which was a bit underwhelming. We both ordered the veggie burger with fries. It was okay, but nothing special. Later we took the tube to Waterloo Station and from there the train to Wandsworth Town, where our Holiday Inn was located. Claudia and I stayed at that hotel twice already and we always enjoyed it there. After we checked in, we refreshed a bit and since it was already late afternoon, we decided against returning to the city. Instead we got a couple of drinks at our favourite pub near the hotel called The Alma. For dinner we got some sandwiches at M&S and then we returned to the hotel.

The Shard

Nando's at London Bridge

Veggie Burger with Fries

Near London Bridge

Near London Bridge

Borough Market

Holiday Inn Express

The Alma Pub

London 2016/17 - Part 2

New Year's Eve

Saturday - December 31st 2016

Today was the last day of 2016 and we spent it in London. What a great way to spend the last day of the year. So after we woke up, we had breakfast, which was included in our package, and then we headed into the city. Our first stop was Oxford Street, where we went to the Disney Store to buy some TsumTsums. TsumTsums are small plush animals and we collect them. After we added three new TsumTsums to our small but growing collection, we walked to Soho and Carnaby Street. There we got a hot coffee at Starbucks and then we just strolled around the small shops until we ended up in the White Horse pub. A few drinks later we got hungry and went to Tibits, a vegetarian buffet style restaurant. The food was great and delicious.

Breakfast

Oxford Street

Disney Store

Disney Store

Disney Store

Regent Street

Liberty Department Store

Soho

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street

White Horse Pub

Tibits Restaurant

Tibits Restaurant

Lunch at Tibits

Since it was already afternoon we took the tube to Kensington, where we got our stuff for our New Year's Eve picnic at Whole Foods Market. With a full bag of goodies we returned to the hotel, where we got a couple of beers at the hotel bar and then we enjoyed our picnic in our room. We didn't have any tickets for the fireworks in the city and so we didn't bother spending the evening in the really busy town. At midnight we watched the fireworks on TV, welcomed 2017 and then we went to bed. It was not the most glamorous way to spend New Year's Eve, but we had a wonderful time.

London

London

London

London Underground

Piccadilly Circus

London 2016/17 - Part 3

New Year's Day

Sunday - January 1st 2017

The first day of 2017 ways lying ahead of us and after a hearty breakfast we took the train into the city. For today we had planned to walk along the Regent's Canal towards the Camden Lock Market. We started at Paddington Station and from there we just followed the canal to Camden. It was a beautiful route and the whole walk lasted for a little over an hour. Around noon we arrived at the Camden Lock Markets, where we got lunch from one of the many food vendors. We ordered Mexican food, which was so good, and then we just strolled around the many little shops. Unfortunately it started to rain and so we ended up at The Cuban Bar. We love that bar and during each visit to Camden we went there. A couple of drinks later the rain didn't stop and so we decided to return to the hotel, but not before we got one of those delicious vegan milk shakes from Cookies & Scream. Back in Wandsworth we stopped at The Alma pub, where we spent the rest of the evening until it was time for the first episode of series four of Sherlock. For dinner we got some sandwiches from Pret-A-Manger and after the disappointing new episode of Sherlock we went to bed.

Train Station Wandsworth Town

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Along Regent's Canal

Along Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Regent's Canal

Camden Lock Market

Camden Lock Market

Mexican Lunch

Mexican Lunch

The Cuban Bar

The Cuban Bar

Vegan Milk Shake

Monday - January 2nd 2017

After breakfast we packed our belongings and were on our way to London Bridge Station. From there we took the train back to Gatwick Airport. Since we still had some time to kill, we hit the pub and waited until our easyjet flight departed. Back in Munich it snowed a lot and so the drive back home was very unpleasent.