London Recap
Yes, I walked around all day with a $200 melon
It’s been a week since I was in London, and it’s time for a recap. This was a big birthday trip for my mom and my sister in law, and we had been looking forward to it for so long. We’ve never taken a girls’ trip like this before, and it was truly incredible.
We flew to London on Wednesday evening. You know my long distance drill. Wide leg pants, a comfy sneaker, lots of layers, and a cute jacket. It's a formula and I am sticking to it. I like feeling put-together on a plane, but of course it has to be comfortable, especially for a long flight. Jewels off, champagne first, then red wine, a good book, and a movie. I love flying to London because it’s so quick.
We landed at 7:30 a.m. and met up with my sister within 45 minutes. We stayed at Claridge’s in Mayfair—and oh my goodness, I loved this hotel. The rooms were beautiful—just the right size, with all the thoughtful details I appreciate. We kicked things off with breakfast in their main dining room since our rooms weren’t ready, and then decided to explore a bit before our next meal.
This was definitely an eating trip—we basically went from meal to meal, which is very much my speed. We walked Bond Street (so chic and fab) and then dined at the Mayfair Chippy. Fish and chips, obviously. It was delicious, though not my favorite meal of the trip. Still, I love a dish that’s classic to a city, and nothing is more classic than fish and chips in London. The chips were definitely my favorite part. We walked around a bit more and then stopped at L’eto for their honey cake—holy shit it was unique and so delicious.
We squeezed in a quick nap, then had drinks at the chic Claridge’s bar before dinner at Le Petit Maison—just a 30-second walk from the hotel. I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food was incredible, and the people-watching was next level. It’s one of those “go back every trip” kind of places for me.
Back in 2019, Jen and I visited London for a retailer and toured the Churchill War Rooms—loved them. I enjoy museums, but I have a short attention span, and that one really held my interest. My mom and sister in law Nikki wanted to go, but since Jen and I had already been, we decided to check out the Cartier exhibit at the V&A instead.
We walked to the museum to get our steps in (and enjoy some sister time), and the exhibit was fantastic. Tickets had been sold out for months, but the concierge tipped us off to buy a membership, which gave us immediate access. The archive of jewelry was unreal—drawings, live pieces, so many tiaras, and the watches really stood out. You could see a whole timeline of styles. Highly recommend, and it was super doable in under an hour.
While in Knightsbridge, we stopped by Pandora for a little vintage shopping. Jen and I aren’t typically vintage shoppers, so we didn’t expect much—but we LOVED it. Clean, organized, easy to shop. Jen scored a few amazing pieces (check out my TikTok). I actually found two of the three she bought and was so jealous they didn’t come in my size. But I genuinely had a blast shopping for her. Honestly, I think my passion might be styling other people—it’s so fun.
We met up with my mom and Nikki for lunch at Alto at Selfridges. The menu was very me—lots of small plates, perfect for sharing. We didn’t want to fill up too much because our next stop was Borough Market to try all the TikTok-famous spots.
First stop: strawberries in chocolate from Turnips. I wasn’t expecting to love them, but they were honestly perfect. Not too sweet, just right. Legit 10/10. Even my sister, who doesn’t like chocolate, was a fan. The line moved super fast too.
We walked the entire market to scope things out but had our eyes on two things: the strawberries and the crème brûlée donut from Bread Ahead. We got both a crème brûlée and a pistachio one. The crème brûlée was incredible—especially when you got the crispy topping in your bite. We taste tested a ton of things and loved it all. It was crowded, but not overwhelming.
Believe it or not, after all that… we had afternoon tea. Yes: breakfast, lunch, snacks, tea, and dinner—all in one day. We went to Browns Hotel for tea since it’s one of the oldest hotels in London. We’d already been to Sketch and wanted something less touristy. It was beautiful and felt really special.
That night, we had dinner at Clap—and we actually ate. The restaurant was super chic, the vibe was cool, and the food was delicious but not too heavy (which helped after a day of nonstop eating).
I need to write a whole separate Substack about this, but we posted about a long-lost friend of my mom’s from Essex, someone she had lost touch with, and a follower/friend on IG knew the family. To say our trip became more special is an understatement. I’ll share more later, but that night after dinner, we got connected—and my mom has been smiling ever since.
Saturday morning, we skipped a meal (shocking, I know!) and did a scone-making class at Claridge’s. We walked into the kitchen to find custom aprons—it was so fun. We made both plain and raisin scones. The process was amazing, and the team behind the scenes was incredibly impressive. The sheer amount of food they produce daily for afternoon tea, breakfast, etc. is wild. We got to take our scones home—and they actually made it back to P, L, and J. I only wish I could’ve brought the clotted cream and jam too.
Next up: the Food Hall at Harrods. I was dying to go. I needed the crown melon—and I can’t believe I actually bought it. It was $200. I thought there’d be places to sit and eat, but unless you're at one of the restaurants, there aren’t. So... I carried a $200 melon around with me all day. No knife, no plan. Just me and my melon.
We grabbed food from the market and stood outside the store to eat it. Later, we saw a matinee of The Devil Wears Prada. It was great, though sadly Vanessa Williams (who plays Miranda Priestly) wasn’t in the Saturday show. Still, it was so fun. Every time I see a play, I remind myself how much I love it. It truly makes me happy.
We did more walking that afternoon—with the melon in tow—and eventually made it back to the hotel to try the melon and some delicious stuffed dates before a quick rest.
Our last dinner was at Gold in Notting Hill. I loved this restaurant and would definitely recommend it. The menu was diverse, the staff was lovely, and it was the perfect way to end the trip.
I truly can’t say enough about how fabulous this trip was—quick, fun, full of laughs, and, of course, full bellies. I cherish time with my family and hope we take another trip like this soon. London is such an easy city to navigate, and we walked so much.
Now I’m back at home to enjoy some quality time with the girls.
Till next week!
xx Dana