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London Survival Tips

A Jane-Style Field Guide to Thriving – Not Just Visiting 

London is magnificent. Historic. Grand. Cinematic. Having spent four weeks wandering this fine city with the Silver Fox, I have come to learn this. So too my feet, Google Maps overload and the bank balance.  

Yes, it’s…
• Expensive
• Enormous and…
• Occasionally damp
• And wildly committed to making you walk far more than you think is reasonable

So here it is – my personal, lovingly road-tested guide to surviving (and thriving) in this glorious city.

1. The Shoe Situation Is Not a Suggestion

You will walk.
You will walk more.
You will look at your step counter and briefly question your life choices.

Pack shoes you have already worn in.
This is not the city for “they’ll soften eventually” optimism.

Blisters are not cultural immersion.

If you’re tubing to a glam gig, do what the savvy London woman does – carry those heels in little drawstring calico bags in your tote for a quick swap and bag check before deftly accepting that first glass of champers!

2. The Tube Is Your Friend (But She’s a Bit Moody)

The Underground is brilliant. Fast. Efficient. Iconic.

But:
• Stand on the right of the escalator (or risk public shaming by eye contact).
• Avoid peak hour unless you enjoy full-contact commuting.
• Download Citymapper. It will save your sanity.
• “Mind the gap” is both practical advice and philosophical wisdom.

She’s also a bit frenetic when trying to find your particular line, the direction you need to head on the loop and the best stop to jump off. That map just inside the door will keep your sanity in check. AND…the tube is sooo much cheaper than a cab! (I can already hear my travel buddy Jenny muttering, ‘yeah nah,’ I’ll wear the expense! 😄)

Bonus tip: Sometimes walking one stop above ground is faster and far prettier.

3. Book the Big Stuff Early

London does not reward spontaneity when it comes to:
• West End shows
• Afternoon tea
• The London Eye
• Popular exhibitions

If it’s iconic, assume it books out.
Future You will thank Organised You.

4. Afternoon Tea Is a Strategy, Not Just a Treat

This is not simply cake.

This is:
• A rest stop
• A morale booster
• A blood sugar stabiliser
• A cultural institution

If you’re doing 20,000 steps, schedule tea like it’s mission-critical.

5. Weather: Dress in Layers, Always

London can:
• Drizzle
• Shine

• Gust
• And pivot emotionally within 40 minutes

Layers are your armour.
A light waterproof is your best friend.
Sunglasses and umbrella in the same day? Entirely plausible.

6. Museums Are Free (Pace Yourself)

The British Museum.
The V&A.
The Natural History Museum

They are enormous.

Choose your highlights. You do not need to absorb 4,000 years of civilisation before lunch.

I made it my mission to view Britain’s big family photo album – The National Portrait Gallery -in one swoop, a heroic effort simply demanding that high tea reward!

National Portrait Gallery – London

7. Don’t Try to “Do” London – Let It Happen

Yes, see:
• Buckingham Palace
• Big Ben
• The Tower

But also:
• Wander a quiet mews
• Duck into a pub
• Sit in a park
• Watch the world go by

London reveals herself slowly. She rewards curiosity over checklists.

8. Markets = Lunch Solved

Borough Market.
Portobello Road.
Camden.
Spitalfields.

If you’re stuck for lunch, find a market.
Street food in London is elite-level.

Spitafields Market – London

9. Plan Big Days + Soft Days

Alternate:
• Landmark-heavy days
with
• Neighbourhood wandering days

Your energy (and your feet) will last much longer.

10. End at the River Whenever Possible

There is something about the Thames at sunset.

Walk the South Bank.
Take a riverboat.
Sit outside a pub and watch the light shift over the water.

It’s one of London’s quietest magic tricks.

After a visit to Ted Lasso territory (Richmond) our darling host held up the ferry while we raced to the dock with heartfelt apologies to the patient punters aboard, settled in with G&T in hand to enjoy a lazy Friday sunset cruise back to the city…ahhhh!

Peggy Jeans – Richmond – London

Final Word from the Field

London is not a city you conquer.
It’s one you experience.

It will exhaust you.
Delight you.
Surprise you.
And almost certainly make you want to come back.

And when your step count reads 23,487, and the Silver Fox says, “Perhaps tomorrow we rest?” That’s when you know you’ve done it properly.

What are your favourite tips for big city vacays? Drop them in the comments!

Scroll away for more tips, a super blog and a few snaps and chats from our time in London…

Epilogue: One Wild and Precious Life: The UK Chronicles

Our wild & wonderful UK wanderings…

Hello, lovely readers!

The big G (he’s the tall one), travel buddy Ian (he’s the short one) and me

And just like that, our grand romp across the UK comes to a close – a tapestry of misty mornings, midnight ceremonies, pastel streets, castles perched on volcanoes, and more belly laughs than we ever expected.

From Westminster’s sunlit grandeur to Windsor’s royal sparkle…

From punting mishaps on the Cam to ghost tales in York…

From scarlet-coated storytellers to Ted Lasso pep talks in Richmond…

From Viking digs to volcanic heights…

From art that stirred the soul to history that tugged the heart…

Every chapter gave us something: a moment, a memory, a quote, a giggle, a pint, a surprise, a story to retell later with dramatic embellishment (as is our right).

And woven through it all was the simple truth we keep circling back to – that this is what we choose to do with our one wild and precious life. To explore. To wonder. To laugh. To feel history beneath our feet and possibility in our pockets. To spend time with people we adore, in places that ignite something inside us.

So here’s to the UK – for its charm, its chaos, its courage, its characters…and for reminding us that adventure doesn’t need to be perfect to be extraordinary.

It’s not a ‘selfie’ if there’s more than one in it, ok?

Until the next journey, lovely readers.

Bags at the ready. Hearts wide open.

More stories await.

Dive into our chapters with a lazy scroll through…
  • London’s Blinged-up Beating Heart – Westminster – where the Houses of Parliament compete with Big Ben’s brand new bling
  • Cannons, Captains & Clever Engineering – Portsmouth – three warships that rewrote history in wood, sail and steel
  • Scarlet Coats & Sparkling Stories – meeting the Chelsea Pensioners over a well-earned G&T
  • Lions, Lamp Posts and London Legends – Trafalgar Square – where Nelson keeps watch, lions have cat paws and lamp posts moonlight as police stations.
  • Brains, Bridges & a Bed to Die For – Cambridge – from King’s College Chapel to a punt gone wrong
  • When Monuments Speak – what London’s memorials whisper if you pause long enough to listen
  • Britain’s Family Album – The Portrait Gallery – from Shakespeare to Bowie
  • Dreams, Breaths & Blue Light – Somerset House’s luminous lady invites us to pause and imagine.
  • Keys, Lanterns & Late Night Rituals – The Tower of London’s nightly Ceremony of the Keys.
  • Pints, Punts and Plenty of Ghosts – York – a weekend in the UK’s most haunted (and most pub-filled) city.
  • Pints, Pubs and Pub Runs – From Ted Lasso’s ‘Believe’ to a mad dash along the Thames
  • A city of Stories, a Castle of Secrets – Edinburgh – witches, wars, and a sneaky spy hole in Britain’s most besieged fortress.
  • Crowns, Clocks and Cozy Cafes – Windsor – from bling and butter pats to one poor chap lighting 300 fires – Windsor Castle at its royal best.
  • Pastel Homes and Aussie Hospitality – Notting Hill – where the pubs are bright, the Aussie service fantastic and every street’s ready for a close-up.

And a barrel of thanks…

And! A barrel of thanks and gratitude to our fabulous hosts, Adrian and Christine. There to greet us as we popped out from the tube at Westminster, there for that very last pint at Notting Hill, you were our guides, chauffeurs, planners, and partners in mischief.

You gave us the best of London – from surprise French cannon bollards (the last ones standing!) to VIP Tower of London key handovers, from drinks on Thames-anchored ships to Richmond river cruises, a peek inside the Australian Embassy, and even the secret tip for Horizon 22 – the city’s best complimentary view.

Add in perfect pub roasts, route-planning apps and endless laughter over a Charcuterie board at the end of a long day, and you made our trip extraordinary.

Thank you, dream team! Our door is always open when you next land in Oz.

So lovely, readers… grab your bevvy of choice, kick back, indulge in a spot of escapism, and feel free to share your own fun stories and recommendations in the comments!

Pints, Pubs & Pub Runs

From Ted Lasso’s “Believe” to a mad dash along the Thames, Richmond delivers heart, humour and a happy ending.

When the whole team pressed a hand to that poster in the locker room — you know, the one above the door with the simple word “Believe” — I swear my heartstrings received a little tug.

Hi there, lovely readers,

So here we are in Richmond – Ted Lasso territory. And yes, I’m unabashedly into that poignant, hopeful message  – ‘Do you believe in miracles?’ For those who haven’t watched the series, Ted’s personality was a brilliant cocktail of optimism, empathy, humour and quiet wisdom (in a folksy kind of way), the type that sneaks up on you. Gives you the feels. As did this quaint little spot.

We wandered into the forecourt (the one that’s strung with fairy lights by evening), passed the bench where Ted and Coach Beard mused over takeaway coffees, and walked the lane to “Ted’s home away from home.” I just loved the wee barrel offering up water for the pups.

We also dropped by The Crown & Anchor – real-life The Prince’s Head – where we collapsed, ordered our usual, and let our boots take a rest. Richmond’s charm doesn’t depend on the show, but Ted gave every corner a little extra warmth.

After lunch, pints, and lots of laughter, we made a beeline to the White Cross Pub to rendezvous with our host Adrian (who’s basically family now). He’d just told us we are running late for the Thames cruise back to Westminster – cue the classic dilemma: drain your pints in one gulp, carry them with you like juggling grenades, or leave them behind as sacrificial offerings. We opted for speed (sans beer), sprinted the 800 metres to the dock, hopped aboard mid-boarding, and collapsed into deck seats. Evidence of gasps + apologies? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Because, dear readers, we made it. Believe!

Richmond Park, London

And of course, a post will not be complete without a fact or two, yes? Here’s my Richmond top 5:

1. Locations used in Richmond for filming Ted Lasso include:

  • The Prince’s Head Pub: Used for exterior shots of the “Crown & Anchor” pub. The interior scenes were filmed on a studio set.
  • Richmond Green: A large public park that frequently appears for outdoor scenes, including Ted’s walks, public events, and Roy coaching his niece’s team.
  • Paved Court: The charming alley where Ted’s front door is located in the show.
  • Richmond Theatre: Appears in the show and can be visited in the area.
  • Gaucho Richmond: A restaurant on the riverfront where some scenes were filmed.

2. Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and home to anthills that go back 150 years, an ancient oak that’s an estimated 750 years old and the 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer that have roamed the park since 1637.

3. The Thames in Richmond is tidal, meaning even this far upstream, the river’s level changes with the tide, often leaving the White Cross punters wading to their seats, beers aloft.

4. Richmond Bridge, completed in 1777, is the oldest surviving bridge across the Thames in London.

5. Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest borough in London for several consecutive years.

The cruise back down the river was delightful, a warm breeze on our faces as we sipped G&Ts and marvelled at what a fabulously vibrant city London is, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. A toast to the weather, our hosts, and the city, now bathed in glorious shades of dusk. Now, where to for dinner?

 

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