Perfection.
The red eye from JFK to LHR did me no favors. Virgin Atlantic is a superb airline and the plane was one of the sweetest I’ve ever taken from the cool LED lights to duvets and pillows to decent leg room. Food wasn’t terrible but that chicken pie wasn’t Carrie Patterson’s I’m telling you that. Did I sleep. Nope. Not a wink. Also, terrible instant coffee.
Heathrow wasn’t as intimidating as I’d built up in my mind. Sometimes I think I over plan, watch too many travel tutorials on YouTube and follow too many “experts” – all of that, so far, has proven both beneficial but also kind of psyched me out. Immigration and customs were a breeze and not a long wait. Heck, passport check was all automated.
My new friend, Billy, was ready to pick me up in his iconic black cab. Did you know that in order to be black cab driver, you must go through not only intense driving training but also, basically, be tested on all your London and English history? Mastering all of this can take up to four years. In addition to this, Billy is also finishing his degree in history. His enthusiasm to show me all the best bits of the city was contagious. I thought I was decent Anglophile, but I just listened and absorbed all of the information like the nerd that I am.
We compared notes on a public education (his wife is a sped teacher here) and talked American television. Yes, of course, Ted Lasso and Richmond were discussed.
So, why a black cab instead of an Uber or taking the Heathrow Express? Duh, I’m in London. How many times do I travel to London? I can get an Uber anywhere, but this is where you get a proper taxi.
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect on this tour transfer from Heathrow to my hotel. WOW. Did he pack it all in! Let’s see if I can remember everywhere we went:
- Freddie Mercury’s house
- Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park
- Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
- Prince Albert Memorial
- Royal Albert Hall
- Buckingham Palace (if the flag is flying, the monarch is in)
- The Mall
- Queen Victoria monument
- St. James Palace
- Downing Street
- Big Ben
- Winston Churchill statue
- Admiral Horacio Nelson memorial (I learned so much more about Admiral Nelson yesterday)
- Charles I statue and execution site
- Oliver Cromwell statue (and the legend of his head!)
- Westminster Palace and Abbey (I’ll be visiting here in depth later in my trip)
- Royal Horse Guard
- West End (don’t worry – I’ll be covering this in depth later)
- St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and Church – memorials to the victims of Queen (Bloody) Mary’s pyres, William Wallace execution site, reminders of WWI zeppelin attacks
- St. Paul’s Cathedral – Visiting later in my trip (no, feeding the birds is not allowed…yes, I asked)
- City of London (which is a separate city altogether) – Did you know the monarch is not allowed to visit without express permission of the Lord Mayor? Amazing tradition that dates back hundreds of years.
- Roman Wall – I learned so much about the Roman occupation of Londonium. Did you know there are so many remnants of Rome that lies under many of the buildings in Central London? Amazing history.
- Tower of London – Visiting there later!
- Tower Bridge (often miscalled London Bridge but that is another bridge entirely)
- Tower Hotel – my home for 2 days! Perfect location to begin my adventure!
Alyventures 
You do know that Norfolk is Nelsons county don’t you? (It says so on the signs when uou enter!) I will take you through where he supposedly grew up on our north Norfolk trip!