London Bucket List Update 2.0
I’ve done a few of these London bucket list posts. And each time I’m always ashamed at how little I achieved. But this time I feel I did much better and I got to tick some big items off which I had been meaning to do for years. Considering the fact that I am a 15-minute train ride from Euston I really don’t optimize my time out in London as much as I should. So this is definitely something I want to do more in 2018.
In my mind I do always think about how much more I’d achieve if I lived in London. I know it would be much higher as I’d never had that initial travel but sometimes the costs of properties in London itself puts me off. I had a look on Featherstone Leigh and while the costs are high there’s always scope if you opt to be a bit further out of Central. But then I might be in the same situation as I am in now.
My favourite part of London used to be Camden but other than for gigs and drinks with certain friends I don’t tend to venture here as much. I find the crowds can be a bit too much, but places like Covent Garden and Liverpool Street seem to be my new favourites. Here’s how I faired on my latest London bucket list:
Visit Greenwich Observatory
I finally managed to head here on Saturday 9th December so it was a late addition. But it was a really fun day out. I didn’t realize how much there is to see there including the awesome Planetarium which was probably the highlight for me. It’s rare that tend to venture around to Greenwich or that part of London much so it was nice to see a different area. The views from the hill where the observatory is located are just stunning.
Go to Chin Chin Labs
I had planned to go head on a particular December morning but sadly I remembered the opening times wrong. It hadn’t opened which meant that this is going to have to be put off until 2018 now. There’s one in Camden so it shouldn’t be too difficult to head here.
Visit the Tower of London
I finally headed here on Sunday 1st October and managed to see the crown jewels and take part in one of the Yeoman Warder Tours at the Tower which was really interesting and pretty funny. It’s amazing how much history surrounds the old Palace and Prison. And it was so interesting to explore the area and see one of the typical tourist hotspots. I did a post on my top tips for visiting so if you’re heading (or thinking of) you might want to give it a read.
Have afternoon tea at Sketch
This never happened and to be honest I can’t see it happening any time soon. I’ve had afternoon tea a few times this year with both my best friend and my boyfriend. And every time I look at the Sketch details I just can’t justify the price whenthere ares always good deals floating about. I’m sure I’ll get here one day, maybe for a special occassion like my 30th for example?!
Eat at The Cheese Bar in Camden
The Cheese Bar opened up in Camden during the early summer. But due to a mix up with the opening times, we ended up going over the opening weekend to find it shut. Finally, on 1st August I managed to grab my cheese loving best friend and grab a table at the marble countertops. We indulged in two courses of cheesy goodness which included mozzarella dippers to start which were huge. And a four cheese pasta which you can see above. I thought the restaurant might be a bit of a fad but the food was genuinely super tasty. Plus not extortionately overpriced, so I’ll definitely be heading back for a Grilled Cheese one day.
See School of Rock
I had planned to try and go in December but this year has flown away so quickly that it’s going to have to wait until the New Year now. It’s something both me and my boyfriend are keen to see (me for the second time). So it might be a good thing to book for the Winter months when we don’t really want to be outside too much.
Visit The Globe theatre for a tour
Again something else I totally failed at going to visit. I haven’t even seen the outside of the building, although how I missed that I don’t know!
Do the Breaking Bad Cocktail experience
On Thursday 17th August I booked for me and Luke to do this cocktail experience. It was so much fun and totally on it with all the little details. We were shown into the large RV for our two-hour experience and we donned the infamous yellow rubber hazard suits. We were presented with a welcome drink which included some blue liquid in a test tube which turned out to be super tasty. Then we could each pick two cocktails which we mixed together ourselves. They included loads of dry ice and some sherbert which you had to make into lines and suck up before your drink. It was such a fun night and the cocktails were really tasty, something a bit different to do for a night out.
Do an open bus tour
On Saturday 12th August I arranged a touristy day out in London with my best friend. We started off with an open bus tour with Big Bus Tours. We decided to head in early to get on the 9 am bus as I know how busy they can get later in the day. With so many routes I decided upon the Red route which was 2.5 hours. Despite not taking in the whole of London it did include live commentary which I always find is so much better than the pre-recorded options. I do open bus tours in a lot of countries I visit and it’s so nice to have done one in my own city.
Have a river cruise along the Thames
On the same day that we did the open bus tour, we had a river cruise along the Thames. It went from Waterloo down to Westminister. And it was so nice to see the city from another angle especially as we had some lovely views of London Bridge. The live commentary was really good and I’m so glad I’ve now ticked this off my list.
2018 London Bucket List
- Visit Kew Gardens
- See School of Rock
- Visit the Globe Theatre for a tour
- Have ice-cream from Milk Train
- Go to Chin Chin labs
What recommendations do you have that I should add to my list?
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31 responses to “London Bucket List Update 2.0”
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All About Me
Rhian Westbury
Travels and Destinations
Nothing currently planned
OMG I really want to try Chin Chin labs too, their marshmellow hot chocolates look AMAZING!
I am off to London very soon. I will be adding some of these places on my list to visit.
Thanks for Sharing
John M
I love London – it’s crazy and everyone seems to constantly be in a rush, but it’s a wonderful City!
Erm….
THERES A CHEESE BAR IN CAMDEN!!???
Who knew!
Cheese is my thing!
I am close by too and need to make the most of living close by. Sketch is on my to-do list too – it looks so fab!
Ooh I definitely want to do the Breaking Bad cocktail experience as I was a big fan of the show. Oh and I love the look of the Cheese bar I am checking it out as we speak!
I would love to see School of Rock, definitely on my bucket list for some time, I’ve never actually been to the tower of London, something I feel like is a must to do!
Out of all of those that you have listed above I totally recommend that you do the Breaking Bad experience (ABQ) it is so fun and so different from any other cocktail masterclass.
Oh this is very helpful. I’ve listed some of your list. So I can take note to visit them as well next year.
What a great bucket list! I’d love to visit the Tower of London one day. So much history, and that cocktail class sounds fab!
I haven’t been to London since I was a little girl. I want to take my son to the museum there x
The Tower of London is an amazing place to visit I had so much fun learning about the history when I went a few years ago. I would love to do a Wimbledon tour and visit Buckingham Palace
This is a great bucket list! There is so much to do and see in London – it takes a couple of trips to see it all haha!
I definitely recommend doing all these items when in London. It’s amazing how every corner thee is something to do. A must stop is hyde park and abbey road, the latter if you’re a die hard beatles fan.
I love the Globe – you should definitely try to book for a performance too! Top of my London days has always been a morning wandering around the V&A followed by cake and L’Eto. I do this about once a year and it never fails to delight!
C x
I always wanted to go for London. But not what you have mentioned above. Mostly for Big Ben and One Eye and Harry Potter Park. But if I get time, I will definitely see any of the pointers you mentioned above.
Fab bucket list! We have done the open top bus ride (a seagull pooed on my husbands head – my personal highlight!), and the river thames cruise but not the others yet!
I would love a tour and to see a play at The Globe theatre, hopefully we can go as a family when my two are a little older.
Sounds like you managed to get round a lot of London this year! The Cheese Bar in Camden sounds like my idea of heaven.
My husband and I just finished binge-watching Breaking Bad (I know, we’re late to the party) and would love to go to do the cocktail experience. It seems they thought of everything from the hazard suits, to an RV, to something blue in a test tube. I’d love to spend the night getting everybody’s take on the show. x
These are fab ideas, I would love to take my son for the weekend when he’s older and I love afternoon tea so will try Sketch x
Well you got me with the Breaking Bad Cocktail Experience. I’m a big fan and I bet I would enjoy it. Cheers!
I’ve never been to London but it’s on my travel bucket list! I’de love to visit The Globe theatre for a tour!
I haven’t done any of these things – adding to things to do next year x
I have no recommendations for you but very much excited about your 2018 London Bucket List…I also have some plans to visit London very soon. I will be adding some of these places on my list to visit.
I’ve been to London very often, but can always use some new ideas and inspiration like e. g. the Cheese Bar that sounds great. There is also another, but much shorter way of ‘cruising’ the Thames: you can take a boat from the Tate to the Tate modern – I thinks it’s five pounds and really nice. Happy holidays!
We love London and go there several times a year, and we always find new and fun things to see and do.
I love London but haven’t done half these things so they are things I would like to try especially the Thames cruise
Looks like there are many things to do in London! I need to go to the tower of London one day
You should definitely visit the Globe for a tour in the future. It really is such an experience to imagine it in use so many years ago!
What a list. How cool does the breaking bad cocktail experience look. Also the school of rock is a fab show x