This Is How To Get The Most Out Of A 4-Day Trip To London
My mood now and forever is to maximize my time and stop talking myself out of living my life. I've been blessed with opportunities to go out and see the world around me and that's exactly what I set out to do. I promised myself that I would make traveling more of a priority because it truly has its benefits on an emotional, creative, and wellness level. One of my travel goals is to explore every country in Europe. Yes, that's right, every single one. I traveled to London when I was much younger and I thought revisiting the country as an adult would be a great way to kick-off my mission to explore Europe.
Last month, when I turned 27, I decided this was going to be the start of it all. I only had four days off from work and I was not going to let that interfere with celebrating my day like a Queen and knocking a few things off my bucket list. I made a list of a few things I knew I wanted to do and did some research on how to do it. I'm not going to lie, four days didn't initially sound like a lot of time but when I put together my itinerary, I was able to do much more than what I expected.
I think I have nailed down how to make the most of these mini-vacations, so it's only right that I share it with you. Here's how you can make the most out a four-day trip in London.
See What’s Going On In The City
I think one key is trying to see what's going on in the city. Search Eventbrite, local event pages for that city, Facebook, Meetup, anything that posts events. You'd be surprised at what you can find there. Prior to getting to London, I looked at what events were going on and that's how I stumbled across the Carribean Carnival, also known as the Notting Hill Carnival. It's filled with Carribean pride, and let's just say Londoners really know how to turn things up. There was music, costumes, food, activities, and floats. I knew London had a Carribean community but I was also impressed by how large it was and how they showed out. Of course, with the Carnival, you can expect nightlife events to continue the celebration. Learning what's happening in the city ahead of time is an easy and fun way to get the most out of a short stay.
Find Deals On Tours In The City
If it's your first time in a city or country, there is nothing wrong with being a tourist. I personally think you should visit a place more than once so you can fully enjoy everything a place has to offer. However, tours are a quick and easy way to knock out all of your tourism interests in one go.
When I went to London, I signed up for a tour with River Thames Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise. When I booked my sightseeing tour, we visited important and historical monuments and places to see in London. I even stopped at the London Eye and enjoyed the entire view the city had to offer from the Ferris wheel-inspired setup to take in the view of the city. Plus, you can have a drink or two if that's your thing.
You can choose from a variety of tour options, depending on what you want to see. The tour prices range from as little as $10-$68. And you get to see the city without breaking your pockets, which sounds like a deal to me.
Visit Cities (Or Countries) Close By
If you are visiting a place like London that has a train system that takes you to nearby cities, please go! From London, I took the train to Paris and went on another tour through Golden Tours. We toured the Eiffel Tower, took another boat cruise in Paris, and visited the Louvre Museum. In my opinion, it's the most inexpensive way to get the most out of your trip and the most bang for your buck. Each activity would have been way more if I booked each event individually. All together, everything came up to $260 including our roundtrip train tickets. You can check out how to get the most of your trip to London and Paris through another article on our site here.
Go Out And Explore
Some of the cutest gems tend to be right in front of us and in places we overlook. Take the train and explore places in the city or around your hotel. Whether you're shopping, going for a bite, visiting bars and lounges, just go out and enjoy the local scene as well. London has a very diverse selection of food, for every type of diet. If you're vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian, you still have a lot of options. Most restaurants are very friendly with dietary restriction and they offer a little bit of everything.
While London isn't known for a particular food, you can definitely find great places to eat. One of my favorite restaurants was an Indian cuisine name Mogul. This one isn't super vegan-friendly, but if you like Indian food, it's a great choice. If you're stuck on where to go, ask the employees at the hotel you're staying or ask any locals you may run into. You can also check pages like Airbnb that offer experiences and recommendations on things to do and see.
Get the most out of your mini-vacations, you can enjoy more than you think.
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Vivica A. Fox Gets Candid About Her Dating Life As Her 60th Birthday Approaches: ‘I’m Taking Applications’
Vivica A. Fox says she’s on the market!
During a recent appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna, the Set It Off actress spoke candidly about her dating preferences amidst modern dating culture.
"I’m wanting to date, it’s just limited resources out there, right? Because I’m not getting on an app. I’m old-fashioned," Fox said. "I need to meet you and sparks happen because I just believe people make up stories, saying who and what they are."
The actress, 59, expressed her desire for a partner and isn’t shy about the traits she hopes her future soulmate will embody.
"When I say a partner, I want someone who’s going to be fun, who’s not intimidated by who and what I am, that likes to travel, and is gonna let me go shopping," she illustrates.
Fox continued, "I’m taking applications, so if you got a friend, I’m good. And I don’t discriminate. I’m not against different nationalities, so you can know that too. You gotta leave your options open."
With the Not Another Church Movie star’s 60-year-old birthday approaching this summer, Fox humorously reflects on how it feels to reach this milestone age. "Well, I'm not going to lie, my knees someday are like, ‘Let’s go get a little help there.’ Some shorts, or something. But I’m so comfortable in the skin I’m in."
Vivica A. Fox has had a notable dating history with high-profile relationships with rapper 50 Cent in the early 2000s and has been romantically linked to Dennis Rodman and was previously engaged to Omar "Slim" White.
Fox adds that she’s living her best “booked, busy, and blessed” life and is grateful for the fulfilling opportunities that have come to her in this chapter of her life.
"I never expected this chapter of my life to be so booked, busy, and blessed — literally in that order. I’m finally getting quality, I’m getting projects that I love doing," she says.
"I’m all about girl power and lately women have been giving me the most wonderful opportunities. ... The blessings have just kept growing, and finally, everyone’s giving me my flowers. It’s about time, and I’m taking them."
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Featured image by Carol Lee Rose/Getty Images