As my plane lands at London Heathrow airport, a total rush of wanderlust comes over me. I am here… I am finally here! After a year of preparation and planning, the study abroad trip of my dreams finally begins. First stop on this multi-destination, fashion marketing and merchandising tour: LONDON!

1^st Thought: Walking is the best way to travel!

On every street, London blooms with beautiful, vibrant flowers. They flow from hanging pots or spill out of restaurant windows…seriously, the city even smells good! Our group made it a point to walk everywhere we could. We were so impressed with how eco-friendly the city was and we always felt safe. Take it all in! If your destination is too far to walk, no worries! The Tube is a wonderful service and very easy to navigate – just grab yourself an Oyster card at any station. Just make sure you “Mind the Gap!” We used the Citymapper app. that provided directions for each stop! Definitely recommend.

2^nd Thought: I feel like Marry Poppins walking these streets!

Most of the cobbled streets of London are just as they were generations ago. They transport you to the storybook days of Mary Poppins and make you want to dance and sing to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”! Many of the buildings and homes are painted in adorable pastels with unique outdoor décor – they provide a perfect backdrop for all your awesome pics.

3^rd Thought: There’s a café and pub on every street… you’ll never go hungry!

I absolutely love a good coffee shop and I can say with certainty there is no shortage in London. You will come upon a café or pub on every block! So, when in London make sure you order some of the classics such as fish and chips, yummy pie and mash, and of course… a London fog!

4^th Thought: Can I pull off the British accent?

The great part about being in London is that they speak English so no language barrier here! My group loved listening to the locals and their amazing accents – we started picking up the lingo fairly quickly and soon we were using words and phrases such as “that’s so posh,” “totally swanky,” and “thank you, mate”! It will be tempting to want to try out your best attempt at the British accent but maybe save that for home 🙂 You may find that Londoners are as intrigued with your accent as you are with theirs!

5^th Thought: London makes me want to be Royal!

While on the trip I became intrigued by the Royal family, especially after our visits to Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and Westminster Abbey. I would stay up and watch various documentaries to learn more about the Royal family so I could follow along with our tour guides! It’s so easy to fall in love with the royal culture in London. You may find yourself hosting your own tea party when you get back home!

My time in London was one for the ages! I filled my days with the most scrumptious pub foods, lots of yummy tea, historical sights, royalty, fashion museums, long strolls, musicals such as Wicked and Les Mis, lots of trips on the Tube, and wonderful new friendships! London was so friendly and welcoming, not to mention the BEST weather– I never wanted to leave!

 

ciao!

claire