London - UK

LONDON! What fun we had here. We arrived in London at around 5am on Monday and as tired as we were, we were glad to have arrived in a country where the people could finally speak English! 

After a bit of a wait to get into our airbnb apartment and a nice little nap, we caught our first underground ride to Westminster! As soon as you stepped outside of the station, the Big Ben was standing right in front of us! It was awesome! We then walked to the super busy Westminster Abbey, then walked back towards the Big Ben and over the bridge to see the London Eye and the Tate Modern art museum (and saw a few red telephone boxes on the way). 

Westminster

We then had a late lunch at a pub near our apartment - it was here I tried my first Pimms and Lemonade! 
That night we were pretty wrecked so we played some cards and monopoly millionaire and then hit the sack for an exciting day ahead. 

On Tuesday, all the girls went to Madame Tussauds (Josh had already been before) on Baker Street (the Sherlock Holmes street). It was awesome! I met so many celebrities :) But seriously, it was cool! Just so busy!

After Madame's we went and had lunch in Leicester Square and then caught a train to the HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR!! OH MY GOODNESS IT WAS AWESOME! A double decker Harry Potter bus even picks you up from the station and takes you to the studios! If you do go - get the audio tour - worth it! 

After that amazing experience, we went and met one of Josh's friends who lived in London named Andy. He took us to this small restaurant where Ness and I had the most amazing burrito of my life!! (I would say). I don't remember what was in it other than that it had pulled pork but god it was good. After dinner, we had a few drinks at a pub and then called it a day. It had been an exciting day. 

Wednesday was (finally) shopping day. We hadn't really had time to do any shopping on this whole trip so we were super keen to hit up Oxford street. My goodness it is amazing. You need more than one day on this street and even the surrounding streets. 

After a long day of shopping, we went home to get ready to see the musical 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'!! It was at the Theatre Royal, Drury lane, which is on of the oldest theatres in London - it was so cool inside! Just like the movies, one of those olden day theatres! I tried taking a few pictures but then I got in trouble. The musical was AWESOME! You must see it, especially if you love the story. The kids were so talented!! 

As we were walking back to the tube, we stopped by a Greek restaurant for dinner. Just another great day in London... 

On Thursday morning the girls hit up Oxford Street (again) while Josh went to the Arsenal stadium. At lunch time we met with Lotte, went to M&M World, had lunch at in London's China Town and then went to the National Portrait Gallery for some delicious tea and scones in their cafe which overlooked the city (you could see the Big Ben from there!). After tea and scones we caught a tube to Buckingham Palace! So surreal being right there... 

That night we Lotte took us for dinner at Jamie Oliver's pop-up diner just next to Piccadilly Circus which is only inLondon for I think 2 years (opened up this year). It was a half an hour wait but the waitress told us Jamie was coming in that night - obviously we knew the wait was worth it. 

The food was sooooo good. I tried Josh's burger and we both agreed it was better than Brodburger (big call). I went all out and had a 3 course meal (thinking I would only be here once - little did I know..) which included some sweet potato tortillas, chicken in a basket which was pretty much chicken and chips in a basket with some awesome salad and then Ness and I shared a huge Lemon Meringue Pie and Chocolate Cake for dessert. We were pretty full. 

In between our feast, Jamie and his wife were having dinner not that far away from us with a group of friends!!!!! WE WERE SO EXCITED!!!!! Jas was literally crying. 

After a drink at the pub next door, we walked back past Jamie's diner and tried waving at Jamie who was sitting at the window upstairs - AND he waved back!!! First celebrity spotting and it was so awesome! 

On Friday and Saturday we all went to the Wireless Festival. On Friday we saw Kesha, Bingo Players, Snoop Dog, Trey Songz, Flume, Frank Ocean anddddd the AMAZING Justin Timberlake! Man he was good. WORTH paying for that's for sure. The best was when Jay-Z came out and performed 'Suit and Tie' with him! 

Saturday we saw Macklemore, Rita Ora, Calvin Harris and Jay-Z! The festival was SO much fun :) 

On Sunday morning, Ness, Jas and Christine left for Greece. So Josh, Laura and myself went to see the tower ofLondon! That's where they keep the crown jewels - they were absolutely incredible! 

We then met up with Lotte and her sister to hit up some London markets. Firstly we went to Old Spitalfields Market which was so cool! There were heaps of boutique shops around the sides and so many stalls full of clothes, food and random other things. Josh and I had the best cupcake we ever had. I don't even remember what flavour I got - could have been some apple cinnamon one but MAN it was good. They also had heaps of cheap summer dresses and I bought one for 5 pounds! 

We then went for some lunch and food at the (allegedly hipster) Brick Lane markets with Andy and one of his friends. It's crazy, there were people sitting down everywhere on the street eating food - I had never seen anything like it! Cider and Chinese was the shiz. 

That afternoon we went with Lotte and her sister to the Borough Markets - but by the time we got there, most of the food had sold out. Of course there was a pub nearby and we had a few drinks instead. That night, the three of us went and had a Sunday Roast at the wallflower pub right on the river and then went home for another awesome day ahead! 

The next morning (Monday) I went to Harrods and Oxford Street (again - 3rd time lucky) and then met Josh for lunch at Jamie's Italian while Laura went to meet Nicole who had just arrived. We then went and saw the Hangover at the movies and after that met with Laura and Nicole for a second Jamie's diner dinner, awaiting the arrival of Josh's mum. No Jamie this time. 

Tuesday was pretty much my last day in London..so to start it off we went to the biggest bookstore in Europe - Waterstones on Piccadilly Circus (where I bought The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the Rafael Nadal book). We then caught a tube to see the beautiful St Paul's Cathedral. After that, I decided to go shopping on Oxford St again (4th time - but it was my last day!). We then all went to Jamie's diner for lunch (3rd time haha). 

That late afternoon we went to Leicester square for the Wolverine Premier and saw another major celebrity spot - Hugh Jackman! Pretty awesome... 

On my last night in London we went and saw a comedy play called 'One Man, Two Guvnors' which was so FUNNY! 

I spent the rest of the night packing all my shopping into my suitcase...getting excited for Greece but sad that my holiday with my love was about to end... 

London was so great.