There were cheap flights to London and Donovan wanted to catch a Tottenham match so PoLit decided to meet at London for the first time! Because we had no lessons, Don and I reached two days earlier than the rest. I was actually supposed to be alone for the first 1.5 days because Don headed to Birmingham to find his friend.
Thankfully, my bestie Susana linked me up with Amanda and SHE WAS WILLING TO HOST ME FOR A NIGHT. Thank god, because later on you will find out more kekeke.
So I began my very first "solo" experience, loitering around an entirely foreign place and I swear to god when Don alighted from the bus, my heart was thumping because then I was all alone. Finally it was my turn to alight and I stood for a while to use the free street wifi. The bus driver came down and asked if I know my way around because I seemed lost; I was so relieved to have met nice people keke.
Then I began walking and FELL HARD ON THE FLOOR. Holy moly. Such a good start to my "solo" trip.
Thankfully, I was on my way to meet Amanda before heading to her house. So I camped at the Natural History Museum near her place to use the free wifi and hide from the cold at the same time. It was super freezing cold in London and IT WAS SNOWING, like wottttttttttttttt I thought I could escape from the winter in Vilnius.
Cleaned up my down jacket and everything else that was stained with mud, threw my jeans in the washing machine and Amanda was soooo nice to help me with it and she even invited me for steamboat dinner with her friends. They were all really nice people and I FINALLY HAD PINEAPPLE TARTSSSS.
It was like 1 degree at night, her garage was a little cold, and caring Amanda lent me her super cute dino onesie. I slept a little early and I woke up in the middle of the night to see Amanda bringing down her only heater for me. I was honestly really touched and I am so glad that my bestie has such lovely and nice friends around her :')
Despite the bad weather, Amanda and I decided to head out for lunch at the pancakes place called Granger & Co. Along the way, I saw some really nice streets (I love red-bricked buildings) and of course, a mandatory picture with the typical London telephone booth hahaha.
Granger & Co.
175 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB, UK
We spent about 25 pounds for their signature pancakes and kimchi cheese toast. It was honestly really tasty. And here's a sneaky shot of Amanda (unfortunately we were too busy walking and chatting and we forgot to take a picture together T_T). Look how beautiful she is.
After parting ways with Amanda, I met up with Desmond and we headed to Hyde Park for the snow. It was completely white and filled with snow, and people were just jumping around building snowman and throwing snowballs. Even the lake was frozen.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London, UK
Unable to build a standard-sized snowman, we built a fun-sized one. There was also a guy who built a mini snowman on his car while waiting for someone (I suppose) and he decorated it with wires, bottle caps, and a scarf! Amazing!
I also realised that squirrels in London are really friendly? Like they don't always run away from you, but they try to get close to you sometimes hahaha.
And surprise surprise, when I visited Hyde Park again about two days later, LOOK HOW DIFFERENT IT IS holy moly. It looks just like spring - blue skies, green grass, trees, birds chirping. Wowza. It's like increasing the saturation of the park overtime LOL.
I was walking around on day two alone and I chanced upon this super nice half-frozen fountain - it was literally like the Disney Movie "Frozen". And I got a Taiwanese girl to take a picture for me HAHAHA I was so happy it felt like an achievement unlocked - getting strangers to take a picture for me. This fountain was right beside Marble Arch Theatre by the way.
Marble Arch Theatre
Marble Arch, London W1C 1CX, UK
Thanks to Desmond, I got to check out this amazing Chinese eatery and I had dinner there for two consecutive nights. My orders were both under 8 pounds and the portion was humongous.
Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar
33 Cranbourne Street, London WC2H 7AD, UK
Beef Stew Dried Lamian, Wanton Dried Lamian, Beef Soup Lamian, Yangzhou Fried Rice
After a series of unfortunate events (Adrian and Cheryl's flight actually got cancelled due to bad weather, but after all we managed to still meet in London YAY). Our hostel is actually at YHA Central London and we got a private room for four (with our own toilet) for around 300 pounds for 3 nights!
We had breakfast at Bar Bruno AND THE PORTION WAS HUMONGOUS. We ordered two breakfast platter (10 pounds each and it comes with drinks) to share. I had my eggs scrambled instead of the normal sunny side-up.
Bar Bruno
101 Wardour St, Soho, London W1F 0UG, UK
Headed to the British museum while Don went to catch his match. I like how museums in London are free keke.
So we caught a walking tour for the Ancient Greece exhibition by this super cute granny, and there was this french family with three children. One of them is dosing off and I laughed to Cheryl "he must be so uninterested". Turns out that the boy was so bored because he already knew EVERY SINGLE THING the granny guide was saying. Holy Moly. Like how Poseidon or Athena or whatever is linked to Nike (or not IDK I can't remember like do schools teach them these in Europe) and like how there is this God Nike like the only Nike I know is the tick.
British Museum
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, UK
Headed to Covent Garden and Jubilee Market for a walk and lunch at Shake Shack (less than 10 pounds for burgers and fries)!
Covent Garden
Covent Garden, London WC2E 8BE, UK
Passed by the Royal Courts of Justice and saw this black dragon in the middle of the road.
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand, London WC2A 2LL, UK
Finally reached the St Paul's Cathedral - it was so grand and beautiful; we caught the live choir at 5pm as well!
St Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK
So for the past 21 years, I always thought the London Bridge was the one on the right... nope nope nope it was called the Tower Bridge, and the real London bridge is the one on the left. Underwhelming due to bad weather T_T.
London Bridge and Tower Bridge
London SE1 9DD, UK
Took the tube.
We always walked past this but was never able to go in (because we have a budget and we have time constraints hahahah)
Palace Theatre
Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London W1D 5AY, UK
Headed to the Wellington Arch the next morning! Got a Japanese lady to take this photo for us - "Cheese-sus"
Wellington Arch
Apsley Way, London W1J 7JZ, UK
It was around 11am and we ran over to Buckingham Palace for the change of guards... to see that it is too crowded to view anything. Adrian tried giraffe-carrying me but I almost strangled him to death.
Buckingham Palace
Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, UK
Changing the Guard on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays at 11am.
Check the schedules here: https://changing-guard.com/dates-buckingham-palace.html#/
We were right on time when Flat Iron opened at 12pm and the steak was soooooooooooooo good! It was at 10 pounds (with free popcorns, sauces, and salad).
Flat Iron
17 Beak St, Carnaby, London W1F 9RW, UK
Wanted to have a good view of Trafalgar Square but it was crowded with the Women's March,
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK
Caught the Lion King musical!
Adrian and Cheryl dozed off at some point in time but Jasmine stayed awake because every second costs.
Lyceum Theatre
21 Wellington St, London WC2E 7RQ, UK
Had dinner at this super value-for-money Fish and Chips place! The entire set meal with drinks only cost 9.95 pounds!
Ben's Traditional Fish & Chips
200 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8JL, UK
Walked around in Chinatown and strolled past BBC London's office near our hostel!
Chinatown
10 Wardour St, London W1D, UK
BBC London Office
Portland Place London W1A 1AA
On our last morning, we headed to the legendary Sherlock Holmes museum, but because the prices were a little too expensive, we didn't go in.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
221b Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE, UK
Checked out Little Venice and it was so beautiful! Cheryl almost fell into the water HAHAHAHA.
Little Venice
Regent's park, London W2 1TH, England
We hopped onto people's boat illegally HAHAHA.
Strolled along the stretch and arrived at Paddington, where there were free table tennis tables.
Paddington
Praed St, Paddington, London W2 1HQ, UK
Walked past Imperial College London and headed to our last destination - Natural History Museum.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK
Decided to end this post with a day and night view of the beautiful streets of London! Of course not forgetting to mention that PRIMARK is a super dangerous place because it sucked all my moneh.
And do check our my vlog too!
