For travel planning I have two main methods. 1) Set the date months in advance, or 2) leave this week. In May of 2026 we took a last minute trip to London, a city we’ve been to a few times on 48 hour layovers between Kazakhstan and the United States, but this was our first stay of about a week. On our layovers, we had enough time to see one or two things per trip, though we often prioritized relaxing and getting ready for the transatlantic leg of our journey.
A big priority for us on this trip was to visit the British Museum. It’s free to visit, but one needs to get a ticket from their website to secure a time to come. In recent years the world has started to really look at the role of institutions like this in keeping cultural artifacts from cultures around the globe. There is much to be said on the topic, and it’s really worth digging into the podcast “Stuff the British Stole” by Marc Fennel for a deeper dive. Suffice to say I think it’s about time to begin repatriating.
All that said, we were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the museum, and of the artifacts on display. We made a special point to visit the Rosetta Stone but our photos in that surprisingly dark room came out very blurry. It’s incredible to see, and its role in helping scholars to understand the ancient Egyptian language is fascinating. It was awe inspiring to be in the presence of ancient artifacts I have seen in documentaries and magazine articles.
The space can be overwhelming to those with sensory issues, so bear that in mind and pop over to the info desk upon arrival. At the desk they have maps that will potentially make your visit more peaceful with notes on quieter spaces, and they have “ear defenders,” big sound blocking earmuffs to make the space quieter if you need that sort of assistance.
We walked across the Millennium Bridge while on a Harry Potter themed walking tour of the city. The tour was more fun than I expected as an adult. Our guide, Ivan from Madrid, had an iPad he carried to show clips from the movies which corresponded to our location. He also had other historical tidbits and architecture facts that were fun beyond the films. There were so many themed tours, and probably one for anyone who has a pet British fascination. It’s hard to be a Harry Potter fan these days and to also support Trans and non-binary youth. The Trevor Project has a guide on how to be an ally.
We had a couple of walks through China Town, and a couple of meals!
Transportation is a big topic on this website, and London is a fantastic city for transit and mobility watching. We spent a good amount of time taking the Underground, Overground, and busses all the while checking out the various stations.
London busses are a fantastic, and cheap, way to see the city. For about half the cost of a trip on the Underground —₤1.75 each — we sat on the second story of the iconic double decker busses and watched the city go by. In central London there is a lot of stopping and starting which can cause some whiplash inducing slingshot movements while finding a seat. Be super careful on the stairs!
Paying for transit in London by tap-to-pay credit card or phone is what we were told is the best and most economical method for getting around. We did have to buy an Oyster Card, the prepaid Transit for London (TfL) transit card, for one of our group of three, because I didn’t have enough credit cards to all three of us. Unlike Palm/Mallorca where a single credit card can pay for up to 4 passengers, in London it seems it’s one card per passenger so plan accordingly. Make sure if buying an Oyster card for kids 11 and younger to get the proper half-price discount applied for maximum benefits. We were unaware when we bought the card, so one of the many super friendly TfL staff we met along our trip helped to sort the discount out and apply the discount retroactively the trips we already paid for. TfL has a maximum fee of about ₤10.00 per day for busses, Underground and Overground (excluding the ferry I think) when paying by tap-to-pay credit card/phone or Oyster Card. It’s also worth noting that some service, like express trains to the area airports, may require a special ticket and don’t fall into the maximum daily fee scheme found on the main transit options.
When exploring cities, I make a point of making sure I take a moment to look down, and to photograph some of the details I find.
London is home to world class architecture. There are famous examples of contemporary, modern, victorian, and older that I have seen hundreds of times on television shows and movies. Seeing some of them up close felt like spotting a movie star on the street. Most of these are so iconic, I didn’t really know how to photograph them to make them mine. I did find some other wonderful buildings that were exciting to look at that were like lesser known stars and were happy to be my models for the excursion.
I am lucky enough to have a number of friends who live in or around London who gave me most of the great advice and tips on visiting that I have been able to pass on here. As a result, London was a wonderful experience. My kids are already planning and finding ways to raise funds for another trip as soon as possible. I’m all for travel, and I look forward to London and many other destinations in the future!