mom and dad in london // part 2

We got back from Edinburgh LATE Sunday night…I'm talking it was practically Monday morning when we strolled back into my flat. We were all completely exhausted and went straight to bed. Well, mom woke up in the middle of the night and she was really unwell. There is nothing worse than getting sick on a vacation! So, she spent the entire day in bed trying to feel better for the rest of the week. Dad and I relaxed, watched TV, and went out to lunch together. We kept hoping that she would feel well enough to get out in the evening, but it just didn't happen.

On Tuesday morning she was ready and raring to go! (That's my girl!) We had tickets booked for the Tower of London and we made our way there first thing. We were there by 11 and let me tell you…it felt like every person in London was there, too. That's right - all 8.3 million people in London were at the Tower on Tuesday. No but seriously, it was mega-crowded and kinda put a damper on it. We powered through and saw everything we could though! I'm glad I got to experience the Tower of London for the first time with mom and dad.  We were out of there by 4 and feeling good about everything we were able to see whilst at the Tower.

mom and dad posing while on our walk to the tower

the shard                                                

no pictures allowed inside

tower bridge

tower of london

the white tower

After we left the Tower of London, we made our way to St Paul's Cathedral for the 5:00 Evensong service. This is actually the second time we've tried going and once again, we couldn't get in. So instead we went to the top of One New Change to see the beautiful London skyline. After a few pictures, we went to Bread Street Kitchen for a drink before going to Byron for dinner. 

inside the city

sunshine

st paul's

On Wednesday, we (mom, dad, myself, and Allie) went to Brighton on the coast of England. This was my first time there and I've been wanting to go for a very long time! I've always heard great things about it but nothing could've prepared me for how lovely the town truly is. We took the train for an hour and a half from West Hampstead to Brighton Station. As soon as we got there, we made our way to the Royal Pavilion. This is the palace built by King George IV in the 1700's. The history and story behind it is so fascinating; he loved to entertain and loved Asian/Indian cultures so the palace is made to reflect all of his fantasies. You weren't supposed to take pictures inside but I snuck a cheeky few. 

the palace

one of my sneaky pics

king george - what a legend

After a couple hours at the palace, we walked through the Lanes and stopped for lunch at Pizza Express. Once we had our fill of pizzas and salads, we made our way down to the beach. The weather was really nice; a little bit chilly but not a cloud in the sky! Brighton is famous for it's extra long pier which houses several bars, restaurants, and a fun fair. You can look straight down and see the ocean through the cracks in the pier - it's a bit scary. We walked down the pier and took loads of pictures. No one had the stomach to ride any roller coasters though! 

We grabbed some doughnuts (with Nutella) and a Banoffee Pie milkshake and started walking down the boardwalk and beach. Along the way we stopped at some of the artist's shops to check out what they had and sat at a lovely beach side table and enjoyed some Pimm's (mom's new favorite). After our Pimm's, we walked back through the Lanes in Brighton (a series of tiny streets which wind around and interlock…they are covered in street art). Eventually we ended up back in the park which faces the Royal Pavilion. 

After our long walk and a few more pictures of the Royal Pavilion, we were ready to head back to the station and call it a day. I would recommend Brighton to anyone who comes to visit, and to anyone who lives in London but has never been before! It's a gorgeous little city. 

Only 2 more days left with mom and dad in London! The weather has been absolutely incredible…I actually have a tan on my face. (This is a massive deal for people who live in London haha)

xx

K