After a smooth 2-hour Eurostar train ride from Paris to London, we were officially in the land of tea, red double-decker buses, and accents we can only dream of imitating. The best part about the train? No airport drama. No liquid limitations, no removing shoes, no playing suitcase Tetris at check-in. There is security, but it’s quick and painless—10/10 would recommend.
Life on the Left Side
We spent our first three days outside of central London and decided to rent a car. Here’s a fun twist: in the UK, the driver sits on the right side but drives on the left side of the road. Cue the nervous laughter. We splurged on total insurance for the BMW X2 (good call), because hubby may or may not have gotten a little too close to the pavement a few times—rims included.
Driving in London isn’t exactly fast-paced either. The speed limit is 20 mph in most areas, so a simple 3-mile trip can easily turn into 30 minutes once you factor in traffic. And just like in Paris, bikers are everywhere—and helmets are not required, which made my nerves spike every time someone zipped past the car.
And then there’s country driving. Many two-way roads in the countryside are really just one-lane roads with a dream. If another car approaches, one of you will need to pull way off to the side so the other can squeeze by. Add hedges and stone walls on both sides, and it’s… memorable.
We road-tripped through the Cotswold villages (storybook charming), Castle Combe (tiny and beautiful), Richmond (because Ted Lasso fans must), West Horsley (to visit the now-infamous Ghosts UK manor), and even made it out to Stonehenge to see those iconic prehistoric stones.
One highlight was the Trout Farm shop in the Cotswolds, where the kids got to feed fish in the ponds before we sampled fresh trout ourselves. It was a simple but surprisingly fun experience that broke up all the history stops.
Pro tip: Download maps ahead of time! There were several stretches in the countryside where we had zero signal, and Google Maps saved us from becoming permanently lost in the English countryside.
Dress for the Mush
If you think summer in London is all sunshine and tea on a patio, think again. It’s cold, rainy, and puddle-heavy. One moment you’re zipping up your jacket, the next you’re peeling it off because the sun decided to show up for 4.5 minutes. Pack for layers and shoes you don’t mind getting muddy.
Also, London dresses more casually overall, so don’t stress too much about being “put together.” Paris, on the other hand, is noticeably more fashion-forward. People there dress—effortlessly chic and polished. But don’t let those TikTok or Instagram photos of people in flowy dresses in front of landmarks fool you: it’s windy. If you try the same, your dress will be horizontal before you can say, “Eiffel Tower selfie.”
Big Bus: Not Quite Paris
We decided to use the Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus to hit the major London landmarks. While convenient, I’ll just say this: Paris spoiled us. London’s Big Bus drivers weren’t nearly as friendly, and the buses didn’t seem to come around as frequently as other companies. But it still got us to the usual tourist hits: Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and more.
We even stopped by Leadenhall Market where the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter's is.
Windsor Castle? We skipped it. After a few days, we felt fully “medieval’d out.”
Technically, every major attraction in London is like a museum stop—complete with collections dating back to medieval times, from armor and cannons to swords and royal artifacts—but these require paid tickets. The actual museums we visited didn’t require entrance fees (with the small exception of the Florence Nightingale Museum, which we visited while in central London and does charge a fee). It’s advisable to book ahead online to skip the queue. If you’re like us and just wing it, you can join the non-ticket holders’ line, which moves along fairly quickly.
When we weren’t using the Big Bus, we relied heavily on Uber for getting around, which was straightforward and far less stressful than figuring out the maze of public transport.
Staying Outside vs. Central London
We stayed 3 nights in the outskirts of London, and 3 nights in central London —and the price difference was jaw-dropping. About $400-ish a night (The Lensbury) compare that to $800 in central London (we stayed in Premier Inn Waterloo Lambeth). They're both wonderful in my opinion.
London Impressions
The things that stood out the most?
- Red double-decker buses everywhere
- Those iconic black “hackney carriage” taxis
- And the endless, old old old homes, mansions, places, castles and buildings that make you feel like you’re walking through a history book.
London has a different vibe than Paris—grittier in some ways, but equally full of charm and character.
