London 5-Day Trip Recap ✨

Day 1 Arrived by train and headed straight to Chinatown for lunch 🥢. Since the British Museum was on strike, we visited the National Gallery instead and saw Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Monet’s Water Lilies 🎨. Then we strolled along the Thames, admiring the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben 🏛️⏰. Day 2 The weather was perfect! 🌞 Watched the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (pro tip: check the schedule if you go, especially on Wednesdays!). Afterward, we walked through Hyde Park, fed some squirrels 🐿️, visited Westminster Abbey, and explored the Natural History Museum 🦖. Day 3 Used an Uber Boat day pass 🚢 and took a scenic one-hour ride to Greenwich Royal Observatory, where we snapped pics at the Prime Meridian Line (free entry!). On the way back, we visited the Tower of London and stayed until closing—just in time to catch stunning night views of Tower Bridge and The Shard 🌉✨. Day 4 Spent the morning at the Victoria & Albert Museum—it’s massive, and you could easily spend a whole day there! By noon, we headed to Covent Garden, where street performers (magicians and acrobats 🤹) kept the kids entertained. Tried Cookie’s cinnamon cake and pistachio ice cream, but the little ones weren’t fans 😅. In the afternoon, we took a train to Cambridge 🚆. Day 5 Started at King’s College (book tickets online in advance!)—the chapel’s stained glass and ceiling were breathtaking 🏰💎. Saw the memorial stone for Xu Zhimo and admired the picturesque views of the "Bridge of Sighs" and the Cam River. Then, we went punting 🚣‍♂️ along the river, passing the Mathematical Bridge, Trinity College, Queen’s College, and more (about 50 mins). Luckily, we went while it was sunny—clouds rolled in later! Afterward, we grabbed famous stir-fried kuay teow and braised pork rice (£10 each, delicious!) at Cambridge Market. Finally, we hunted down the descendant of Newton’s apple tree near Trinity College and spotted tiny artist-designed doors around town. A perfect ending! 🍏🚪 Accommodation Tip 🏨: Stayed near Paddington Station (lots of fast food options). For budget-friendly stays, consider university dorms during holidays—affordable, safe, and clean! This was just our first London trip—there’ll be a second and third! 💫 Finally found time to share this travel diary. #MyTravelMemories #UK 🇬🇧