Tag Archives: London

Lines of London

by Wendy

Part of a trip is often deciding where you want to wait in line.

I think my Disney-loving family would agree, and I’ve marveled at their strategic planning of activities and rides, considering newness, popularity, and Fast Pass options. But this applies to any destination with beloved tourist attractions, as well as any big city.

You can avoid some lines by going off the beaten track, visiting during an off-peak season, or booking in advance. A few years ago, Jack, my parents and I strolled right past a long line for the London Eye because we bought tickets in advance. This method is effective but since it holds you accountable to a schedule, requires careful consideration. You don’t want to lose your timed spot because of travel delays, or feel like you’re rushing through your vacation. Continue reading →

Logistics of a Summer Trip to Spain, London

by Wendy

Planning a trip can be as daunting as it is exciting. Especially with budget and time-restrictions. Jack and I have had our share of successes and failures in booking the perfect getaway but we never give up, even when things get complicated. Here’s how we planned a recent holiday to San Sebastian, Bilbao and London. Continue reading →

More Love for London

by Wendy
I’ve written a lot about London. It’s like the blog is called Looks and Leaps and London. I can’t help it! I love this city and would happily travel there more often if I could. Here are a few more reasons why for those of you who aren’t sick of hearing about it. Continue reading →

A Walk thru the Fire Garden

by Joe
What ‘da heck is a Fire Garden?  Doesn’t really sound refreshing or serene but it is quite a one of a kind experience.  While my wife Cindy and I were on a trip to London with our daughter Wendy and her husband Jack, we unexpectedly ran into a most unusual event.  Much like the surprise we all bumped into in Cordoba, Spain two years ago.  In the latter instance it was a huge religious procession that contained many enormous man powered floats, large numbers of clergy, altar boys, and lay people moving through the downtown streets of the city until dawn.  We had no idea we were going to be experiencing such a treat on our visit there.  The one in London was the 350th anniversary commemoration of the great fire of London!  We had no idea we would be seeing this one either. Continue reading →

An Afternoon at Parliament

by Wendy
Next time you’re in London, consider booking a guided tour of Parliament followed by afternoon tea. That’s right, you can actually drink tea in a House of Commons dining room! This is a cool activity for anyone interested in England, history, politics, the Queen, or a fine afternoon tea. Continue reading →

Hanging out in Heathrow and Gatwick

by Wendy
Spending quality time in an airport like Heathrow isn’t difficult. There is so much to notice. It’s enormous, one of the busiest in the world, with plans to expand. Prepare to navigate crowds, queues, escalators, elevators and moving sidewalks to get where you need to go.  Continue reading →

A Salute to English Breakfasts

by Wendy
There are so many things I love about London. One thing I don’t think I’ve mentioned before is the full English breakfast.

As far as I can tell, there are variations of the full English, but a plate often consists of fried or poached eggs, beans, toast or fried bread, sausage or bacon (or vegetarian option), mushrooms, and tomatoes. Sometimes kippers, or maybe bubble and squeak. Continue reading →

I Heart Stairs. And Heights

by Wendy
There were a lot of stairs on the Iceland and England trip. Not like running up and down my basement stairs to deal with laundry. Not like walking up and down a few flights to my office floor instead of waiting for what must be the city’s slowest elevator. This was more in the line of trudging up hundreds of steps in a narrow corridor or next to a steep drop-off. The work was usually rewarded with an impressive view, but that didn’t stop me from complaining. Continue reading →

Post-trip Packing Post: Iceland/England

by Wendy
Packing for this recent trip was a challenge, as we traveled to two very different destinations.

Iceland: mostly outdoor activities. Even though we were going in summer, nearly everything we read cautioned us to be prepared for any type of weather. Basic hiking gear was a necessity.

England: we would be in London most of the time, with a day trip to Dover that included quite a bit of walking. Always good to be prepared for rain in England. Though London is a style capital, anything other than comfortable shoes would be pointless. We weren’t planning any formal activities but wanted to dress appropriately for tour and tea in Parliament.

Right. Here is my list and a few notes on how I organized everything. Continue reading →

Back from Incredible Iceland

by Wendy
I am just back from visiting Iceland with Jack and my parents. It was amazing and we look forward to sharing many stories on the blog. Right now, I think we’re all still in the midst of jet lag, unpacking, organizing, and getting back into the work routine – but I keep stopping to look at photos, jot down a few notes and feel grateful for such an epic vacation.
Continue reading →