London | England 2013

Our first stop on our 2013 vacation was London, England, and it couldn’t have been a better introduction to Europe. The flight was smooth, and 13-month-old Cole surprised us by being the perfect little traveler. We stayed at The Crown in Cricklewood, a dark, old-world hotel in a charming residential neighborhood. With its creaky floors and timeworn walls, the place seemed steeped in stories from generations past—a fitting start to a city as historic as London.

Whenever we arrive in a big city, we like to begin with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to get our bearings, and in London it felt absolutely essential. The city is sprawling and full of landmarks, each with centuries of history, and this gave us the perfect overview.

We made our way into the heart of the city to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben, the nickname for the massive Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, has been chiming over London since 1859. The Gothic Revival-style Parliament building itself is one of the most recognizable in the world, a symbol of democracy standing proudly on the banks of the River Thames. Nearby, we admired the exterior of Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned since 1066, though the line was too long for us to venture inside.

A highlight of the trip was visiting the Tower of London, originally built in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, it has been a fortress, a royal palace, and even a prison for some of England’s most notorious figures. Today it houses the dazzling Crown Jewels, and walking its ancient walls felt like stepping back into medieval times. Just beyond it, the iconic Tower Bridge, completed in 1894, stood proudly with its twin towers and bascule drawbridge design—a marvel of Victorian engineering.

Of course, no trip to London is complete without a bit of shopping and spectacle. We made the obligatory stop at Harrods, the world-famous department store known for its luxury goods and elaborate food halls, and we strolled through the lively buzz of Piccadilly Circus, often called London’s Times Square for its neon lights and bustling crowds.

My personal favorite stop, however, was actually outside the city: Stonehenge. I had dreamed of visiting ever since I saw it in National Geographic as a child, and thanks to a last-minute booking on Viator, we managed to snag the last seats on a tour. Located on Salisbury Plain, this prehistoric monument is believed to date back to around 2500 BC. Its exact purpose remains a mystery—whether it was an astronomical observatory, a religious site, or something else entirely—but standing in front of those massive stones felt like stepping into a time before history was written. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

Back in London, we made sure to embrace the city’s culinary traditions, ducking into cozy pubs for classic fish and chips with a pint, soaking up the lively atmosphere as much as the hearty food. Wandering the streets, we felt both the weight of London’s long history and the vibrant energy of a modern metropolis.

When it was time to move on, we boarded a train bound for Wales, where another adventure awaited. From there, we crossed the sea by ferry to Dublin, Ireland, eager to continue our journey.