Day 10 – London

Gee Gee and Noah are ready to board our bus.

A new day in London meant new experiences, starting with riding a crowded bus full of local commuters on our way to teh Churchill War Rooms. We stood for most of the ride from our Southwark flat to Westminster, followed by more time on our feet walking to and around the museum.

The experience was compelling, with many of the war rooms left exactly as they were during World War II, when Winston Churchill was serving as Britain’s Prime Minister. In addition to the rooms, a well-designed museum focused on Churchill’s life, from birth to his post-war political career, where he served until three months before his death. Like other places on this trip, an informative audio guide was provided. A child-free visit would have brought more takeaways to our visit, but the museum still made for a worthy stop.

Noah and Emmie were very interested in the War Rooms.

We then found the nearby Westminster Subway station, where we took a lengthy ride to the west in search of our lunch spot, Kerbisher & Malt, a well-reviewed fish and chips shop. Amanda and I went with the classic battered haddock, which yielded a tasty result, especially when paired with the homemade lemon mayonnaise and sweet chili sauces. However, the fish sandwich, fish fingers, and fish bites ordered by Grandma Mac, Gee Gee, and Noah, respectively, were fairly disappointing, especially given the length of the trip to seek out the restaurant.

Ready to eat at Kerbisher & Malt.

A few positives did come from our trek to Kerbisher & Malt. Before lunch, we found a Paperchase store which sold cards from Cinnamon Aitch, my all-time-favorite greeting card manufacturer. I stocked up. Additionally, on this trip, I’ve been searching for custom Coke bottles with names of friends and family members. I found a “Brian” bottle yesterday, and today found the perfect bottle for Amanda. (The search continues for several other names.)

Presenting Amanda with her customized Coke bottle.

After a bit of shopping (at a London Whole Foods Market and T.K. Maxx store), we were off to Kensington Palace. Rick Steves accurately highlighted the exhibits as engaging for both adults and kids alike. While ready for a nap, Noah in particular enjoyed being able to sit on various chairs and benches and see some of the royal artifacts in the exhibits. We also snapped several photos outside:

Inside Kensington Palace with various Royal Family pillows.

We then walked to the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, and in the process, Noah was very helpful in pushing Emmie in the stroller. While the playground itself was relatively disappointing, the kids still enjoyed it along with the popup carousel nearby.

Being a great big brother.

It was then back on the subway to seek out our dinner, where we made a return visit to Pret A Manager. Food was once again solid, and the self-serve setup has made it a go-to place for a quick meal since we’ve been in London.

Amanda and Noah weren’t interested in another food photo.

The kids went home with Grandma Mac, while Gee Gee and Amanda took their turn at the musical scene, seeing Phantom of the Opera, another London mainstay. Both had positive reviews of the show, and I convinced them to swing by my newfound favorite gelato place, Gelupo. I’ve now tried eight of their flavors, while Gee Gee and Amanda got their first experience at the dessert hotspot.

Ready for Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Gelato, and smiles, at Gelupo.

We have a more flexible day tomorrow, with a later start and scheduled downtime in the afternoon. On the agenda are tours of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Old Operating Theatre & Museum, Borough Market, and Herrod’s Department Store. Plus, hopefully return visits to Shake Shack and Gelupo.

The flavor board at Gelupo.