My London Bucket List

I started traveling to England in 1984 when, as a college student, I spent a summer studying literature in Oxford. Our trip began with several days in London, and from the moment I set foot in Heathrow Airport I was hooked.

That trip began a life-long obsession with all things British, and since then, I’ve been back to London countless times.

And yet, I haven’t seen it all or done it all. London is such a wonderfully diverse city that it’s impossible to do or see everything.

But one can try!

Each time I go to London I like to do at least one thing—usually more—that I haven’t done before. And since I will, Lord willing, be going to London in September, I’ve started thinking about what I’d like to do that I haven’t done in London before.

So here, in no particular order, is my London bucket list—things I haven’t done that I want to do on my next trip. (Thankfully, if you’re on my Walkabout London Trip, some of these things are already scheduled in.)

1. Wander Hampstead

I follow several London accounts on Instagram, and I’m always struck by the photos of Hampstead. A good wander down the cobblestone streets and the gorgeous heath seems like a good way to spend an afternoon.

2. Tea at Fortnum and Mason

My daughter and I visited the famous Fortnum and Mason store in September 2019, but since we had not made reservations for tea we just wandered through the store. We ended up in the champagne bar on the lower level, which was fun and memorable, but next time I’m going to indulge in their famous afternoon tea. Maybe with a glass of champagne.

3. John Soane’s Museum

I’ve heard about this museum for years and have never had time to visit it, but I’m determined to get a peek inside next time I’m in London. Sir John Soane was one of London’s premier architects almost 200 years ago, and this museum was his home, left exactly as it was when he died. Apparently, Soane was a collector, and his house is filled with artifacts and antiquities that he had collected. Plus, I’m fascinated to see what his house would have looked like on the day he died. I hope they cleaned up the dirty dishes in the sink!

4. Churchill War Rooms

I know, I can’t believe I haven’t been here either. My husband and brother-in-law visited one time and said it was amazing, but my sister and I were across the street visiting Westminster Abbey that day. Ever since seeing the movie Churchill, I’ve been especially interested in seeing the bunker from where Churchill ran the British war effort during WWII.

5. Peggy Porschen

I’m a bakery fanatic, and wherever I go I love to try the baked goods. This bakery is new to me—I found it by perusing Instagram—but, with its all-pink décor and delicious-looking cupcakes, it seems like my kind of place.

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