Our third day in London was dedicated to exploring Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and wandering through the city center.
For Westminster Abbey, I had read that booking the earliest time slot and arriving 15 minutes early was the best way to beat the crowds. When we arrived at 9 a.m., we saw about 100 other people who got the memo. Thankfully, the line moved quickly, and we didn’t have to wait long.
Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in England, it dates back to 1245. The Abbey has also been the site of every English and British coronation. Upon entry, we were handed audio guides, which proved very helpful.
The interior is nothing short of breathtaking. Every corner is a masterpiece, filled with stunning sculptures and historical treasures. Tombs and memorials of kings, queens, and royal relatives are everywhere. While the guide pointed out key details and the significance of different areas, I quickly lost track of who married whom and which king did what. Even so, it was fascinating.
The Abbey also houses tombs of famous scientists like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, as well as memorials for famous writes such as Lewis Carroll and the Brontë sisters in Poets corner.
For an extra £5, we added access to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries. I was quite excited, imagining displays of dazzling diamonds or jewelry. However, it turned out that there were no diamonds at all! Instead, the galleries showcase exhibits about the Abbey’s history and house various artifacts.
One item was a huge (almost 3 x4 meters) portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The painting, created while she was still alive, shows her walking away with her head slightly lowered. Its deeply poignant and incredibly sad artwork.
After finishing with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, we stepped out of Westminster Abbey and made our way to check out some of London’s most iconic landmarks—Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye.
After snapping a few pictures and navigating through the crowd, we headed to Covent Garden, a vibrant shopping and entertainment hub in London’s West End.
At the Apple Market, we grabbed a few bites to eat and sipped on mulled wine. I wandered through the flea market, hoping to find some hidden treasures, but unfortunately, nothing truly special caught my eye.
Next on our list was Trafalgar Square, a historic space that has hosted countless community gatherings and political demonstrations over the years. Events like Bloody Sunday in 1887, anti-war protests, and climate change campaigns have all left their mark here. It’s also the center of festive celebrations, with a Christmas tree donated by Norway every year since 1947—a gesture of gratitude for Britain’s support during World War II.
When I saw the tree, its modest, understated appearance, puzzled me at first. Compared to the flashy decorations seen elsewhere, it seemed surprisingly simple. But after learning about the history and significance of this tradition, it got my respect. Not everything has to be Instagram-worthy—sometimes, the meaning behind a gesture is far more important than its appearance.
From Trafalgar Square, we originally planned to visit the National Gallery. But we realized our energy levels were dipping fast, and we wouldn’t be able to appreciate art. So we decided to skip the gallery for now and head towards Buckingham Palace instead.
Buckingham Palace is the most famous palace in the UK, serving as the primary London residence of the British monarch. Queen Victoria was the first to officially reside there. While the State Rooms are open for tours in the summer, visiting in winter meant we could only view the palace from the outside and catch a glimpse of the iconic guards.
The palace doesn’t have the fairy-tale charm of a Cinderella castle, so after a quick look, we turned back and made our way through St. James’s Park. This park was a nice place with fewer crowds, plenty of ducks, and other birds. What surprised me most were the blooming trees right in the middle of winter.
From the park, we continued to Piccadilly Circus.
Piccadilly Circus has nothing to do with clowns or acrobats. The “Circus” refers to the roundabout where traffic circulates nonstop. It’s a bustling, loud, and energetic spot, with bright neon signs and advertisements. The constant motion of cars, buses, and pedestrians adds to its vibrant chaos.
We couldn’t leave London without visiting two places tied to some of the most famous British books: Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. By this time, we were already exhausted, but fortunately, both spots were conveniently located at metro stations along the way to our hotel.
First stop: King’s Cross Station and its famous Platform 9¾.
Hmmm… honestly, it felt like a bit of a scam. The setup is just a cart attached to a random wall in the middle of the station. There was a huge line of people waiting to take a picture with it, but the whole thing lacked any magical vibe. I get that they couldn’t put it on an actual platform for safety reasons, but this just didn’t make sense to me. It felt disconnected from the Harry Potter world. Definitely disappointing.
The second stop was 221B Baker Street, the famous home of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Fun fact: when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the books, this address didn’t actually exist. But today, it does—and it houses the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
The museum is a collection of portraits of actors who have portrayed the iconic characters, editions of the books from different eras, and various memorabilia tied to the stories. It was heartwarming surprise to see familiar faces from the adaptations I grew up with.
And just like that, our Christmas trip to England came to an end. There were so many things we didn’t get to do—mostly because of limited time and late planning. The Christmas experience at Kew Gardens and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour were fully booked months ahead of Christmas, so we missed out.
Other spots, like Stratford-upon-Avon and Stonehenge, were just too far for the time we had. Its a good reason to come back one day. There’s still so much to see and do!