Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Our First Day in London
Duck Chases at St. James Park 🦆
We slept in until around 11, which meant we missed breakfast. Our first mission was to acquire a stroller; a local we chatted with on the London Express the previous night had recommended David Lewis, so we decided to walk there to soak in as much of the city as possible. Our route took us through St. James Park, a hit with Abby who delighted in walking by herself and chasing the ducks. Eventually, she grew tired, and I breastfed her discreetly as we walked. However, fatigue set in for me as well, prompting us to stop for breakfast at St. James Park Cafe. Though slightly pricey, the meal was delicious. I opted for a juice, which didn't quite hit the mark for me, but the sight of hot chocolates being served to others left me with a bit of order envy. Despite its bustling atmosphere, the cafe was remarkably kid-friendly.
Keep updated on our adventures!
Piccadilly Circus Adventures: Acrobatics and Unexpected Stops 🎪
After realizing we had another 30-minute walk to reach David Lewis, and with Abby sound asleep, David took on the task of carrying her. Fifteen minutes later, fatigue set in for him.So, Abby and I settled by the statue at Piccadilly Circus while he went off to fetch the stroller. Abby took her nap, while I got to enjoy the sights. Then after she awoke, we caught an impressive acrobatic performance nearby. Hunger struck Abby not long after the show ended, leading us into Pizza Hut. That's when David arrived with the stroller, allowing us to promptly seat Abby and make our way to Tesco for snacks on the go instead. There, Abby consumed an entire box of grapes!
Trafalgar Square to National Gallery 🎨
Then we walked to Trafalgar Square and walked around and took pictures, and then walked inside the National Gallery. They had a separate entrance for strollers, no line, and completely free. First we went to the cafe because Abby was still hungry, and we got sandwiches, which were sooooo good. We came to learn that sandwiches in London are literally the best. Then we could tell Abby was tired so we started to walk around the museum, and let Abby watch some mickey mouse, but then she couldn’t settle down so we went back to the cafe and found a little corner for me to breastfeed her until she fell asleep. Then we walked around the National Gallery some more. It was absolutely huge! We definitely didn’t get to see everything, but we enjoyed it alot and spent around an hour or two walking around, and picked and chose our favorite art.
London Landmarks Expedition: Big Ben, Flags, and Family Fun 🕰️
We meandered back around Trafalgar Square, strolled through Whitehall, and then made our way to Big Ben, where we captured a video of the end of hour chimes. Continuing a bit further up the bridge, we snapped photos with the London Eye in the backdrop. Our walk took us through Parliament Square, adorned with flags representing all UK territories, though we were unsure of the occasion. Noteworthy statues of Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela also caught our eye. When Abby awoke, we returned to Big Ben for some lively pictures with her, and then we ambled past Westminster Abbey. It was closed, but we seized the opportunity to take photos with Abby on the outside of Westminster Abbey.
Cozy Dinners at Blue Boar Pub 🍺
We ended up having dinner at the Blue Boar Pub, located conveniently next to our hotel. Initially, our plan was to grab sandwiches to take back to our room, but the sight of two families with babies dining inside encouraged us to try it out. The pub welcomed us warmly, providing a high chair for Abby and seating us near the restroom. This arrangement allowed Abby the freedom to wander a bit without us feeling like the stroller was an imposition. A minor challenge was navigating a few stairs with the stroller to enter the restaurant, but the staff were always eager to assist, making it a minor inconvenience.
Our dining strategy was to economize on breakfast and lunch, allowing us to indulge a bit more at dinner. We opted for scotch egg, fish pie, and duck for our meal, all of which were delectably satisfying — even Abigail approved. Alongside the meal, we enjoyed some drinks; a pint for dad and a peach cocktail for mom, which turned out to be quite strong but delicious.
Post-dinner, when Abby began to show signs of fussiness, I returned to the hotel with her while David settled the bill. There was a slight delay in paying as our white credit card blended into the background of the white payment slip, initially overlooked by the waiter. However, once the mistake was realized, the waiter was quick to apologize, especially after seeing me leave with Abby. We weren't too bothered by the wait; it had been a pleasant evening up until Abby's mood shifted. After returning to the hotel, Abby and I relaxed in our room and eventually fell asleep, while David made use of the lounge to complete an assignment.