London | Your Next Great Getaway


London | Your Next Great Getaway


839.

What’s that you might ask?

That’s not the number of shoes I took on my last trip or the weight of my suitcase coming home (even though it’s pretty damn close).

That’s the number of days since my last international adventure. When I arrived home in January 2020 from my African safari, I had no idea that international travel would be so far out of reach.

I’ll be the first to admit that travel is not as smooth as it used to be. Flight cancellations, mandatory quarantine periods, and COVID testing requirements are just a few things plaguing the current travel industry. Throw a person in the mix who’s out of travel practice, as most of us are, and you’ve got a situation on your hands. Despite inept travelers and multiple travel hurdles, it is more important than ever to pack our bags and explore the unexpected.

Why London?

If you are anything like me, you’ve been closely watching travel restrictions abroad. In fact, I’ve got a list of places I want to visit, but some are a little further out of reach based on requirements. Initially, I planned a trip to Oregon for a little wine tasting because it’s a relatively easy flight from Nashville. While perusing the internet one evening, I came across a flight to London for the same price as my Southwest flight to Oregon. Who would have thought, right? Immediately, I phoned my friend to share my findings, and within 24 hours, our flights were booked, and we were researching restaurants in London.

How much time do you need to explore?

While there’s no right or wrong answer to this question, most people will recommend between four and five days if it’s your first trip. However, I tend to disagree. Depending on your interests and itinerary, you may likely need more time. I spent seven days in London and didn’t visit one museum or tour one world-renowned attraction. <insert audible gasp here> I much prefer exploring a city by wandering through the streets and trying out the restaurants, of course. After all, they say wandering can allow you to see the wonder of a city.

Let’s talk about the basics.

Currency: The currency of London is the British Pound. In 2021, the average exchange rate was 1.37 USD per pound.

Language: English is the most widely spoken language in the United Kingdom.

Climate: Generally, the climate is very mild in London. While we were visiting, the sun made an appearance every single day, which I hear is a rare thing. London has a tendency to be rainy and overcast, so I’d recommend packing a trenchcoat and an umbrella.

Transportation: Like any booming metropolis, transportation options are abundant. We took the Underground or the “Tube” as much as possible. There were two different stations less than a half-mile from our hotel, and it so easy to pop around the city. If it’s your first time in London, I’d highly recommend taking one of London’s Black Cabs simply to have the experience. Those who become drivers study for years to memorize the thousands of streets and landmarks within a 25-mile radius of Charing Cross. Ubers are available, but it can be sometimes challenging to get a driver based on your location. We stayed in the Westminster area, and it was nothing for us to wait between seven and ten minutes for a driver. Lastly, the famous double-decker buses are available for those who prefer to see the city in that manner.

Undoubtedly there are countless travel blogs out there that give guidance on where to stay and what to do based on the length of your stay. My upcoming blog posts are a bit different. If you are looking for the best place for afternoon champagne and the best brunches in the city, I’ve got you covered. Perhaps you are a wine enthusiast, I’ve got a great day trip option to Kent where you can try three different wineries and learn why English wine is becoming quite popular on the scene. And the recommendations don’t end there. I can’t wait to share my experience, and I hope that you fall in love with the city as much as I did.

Until Next Time!

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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