London is one of those big cities that always makes me excited to visit. There is always something going on. Gosh, every time I am there I have the best time, whether it is food, friends, exploring, or simply getting lost in the city. London never disappoints.
Once upon a time, I actually wanted to move to London. I have shared so many moments in this city, it is a place that matches my energy in so many ways. I have been to London many times, even spent a Christmas there once with my mom and aunt, so this city carries a long trail of moments for me. Every visit feels familiar yet brand new. But I digress… back to this chapter of London.
This was my second visit to London that year (2016), and the city still felt as exciting as ever. A good friend of mine lived there at the time, and she’s also a foodie and a traveller, so whenever I visit her, I know I’m in for a good time.
I decided to take the train from Liverpool to London, partly because I love trains, I used to take them so often when I lived in the UK, and partly because I never know when I will get the chance to do it again.
By the time I got to London and made my way to my friend’s place, it was late afternoon. I remember it was a Friday, which made it feel even better, because as soon as I arrived, the weekend officially began. In true London fashion, that weekend was packed. There was so much to do, see, and of course…eat.
That first evening, we kept things simple. We hung out at her place, ordered takeout, and just chilled. It was the perfect, easy start to the weekend.
The next day, the three of us headed out to explore. Our first stop was the National Maritime Museum. We spent some time outside on the beautiful lawns, taking in the space and just enjoying the morning. From there, we walked down to the River Thames and decided to take a boat ride. It was such a lovely way to see the city from a different angle.
We strolled along the river and stumbled upon an event. At first, we weren’t sure what it was, but soon discovered it was a celebration for Colombian Independence Day. London truly is such a diverse city. For a moment, I felt a little Colombian myself — the music, the dance, the colours, and the energy just drew us right in.
We grabbed some beer and food from the stalls. I remember having beef empanadas and a few other street-food bites. The cold beer hit just right after all that walking.
We explored a bit more and then headed back to my friend’s place to rest for a while.
Later that evening, the three of us walked through a really cool part of East Hackney. We passed the Hackney River. The evening air felt soft and lively in that typical London way. We eventually made our way to a wing spot called Randy’s Wing Bar in East Hackney.
We ordered some beer, a bunch of wings, and chilli cheese fries. Honestly, everything was so good. The kind of meal that hits perfectly after a full day of exploring.
The following day, my friend had planned a little adventure for us. The three of us first made our way to Little Venice, a spot I had always heard about but never visited before. We wandered along the canal and then hopped onto one of those long, narrow canal boats, almost like a floating home, and took it all the way down to Camden.
Camden is always buzzing. You could people-watch there all day, every day, and you are guaranteed to see some characters for sure lol. We made our way through Camden Market, taking in the smells, the colours, the stalls, and the endless variety of food on offer.
We did not stay too long though, because my friend had a surprise planned for just the two of us. She took me to a gluten-free high tea spot. At the time, yes, I was fully devoted to my gluten-free era lol. I honestly cannot remember the name of the place, but what I do remember is how good everything tasted. The selection of cakes, savoury bites, sweet treats and teas was amazing.
I had such a great time at that high tea. I absolutely love a good high-tea moment, and back then it was almost impossible to find gluten-free options, especially in Cape Town. So to experience a fully gluten-free high tea in London felt like such a treat. Everything was thoughtful, delicious, and honestly a little mind-blowing for my gluten-free era. It really was the sweetest surprise.
The days that followed, well, I only had a couple of days left in London before heading back home to Cape Town, so I knew I had to make the most of it. One morning, I headed out to Chinatown. I walked around a bit, taking in the colours, the sounds, and that busy but charming energy Chinatown always has. And in true UK summer fashion, the sky was grey and gloomy, but at this point, the weather never surprises me anymore.
Along the way, I stopped at a really cool coffee spot. Drip coffee was their speciality, but I decided to stick with my old favourite, a lovely flat white. I chilled there for a bit, got my caffeine fix in, and continued my slow wander through Chinatown.
Another day, I took it slow. I relaxed, rested, and did some last-minute shopping at the mall close to my friend’s apartment. It was the perfect way to wind down before heading home.
London always reminds me how much of a melting pot the world can be. So many cultures, foods and stories all blending together in the most effortless way. Ending my trip here felt fitting. After time in Liverpool and Ireland, London wrapped it all up so beautifully. I am grateful for the friends I spent time with, and for every small moment that made this journey one I will always remember.
This Series of One reminded me how far I have come, one bite, one place, one memory at a time. From Taiwan to Ireland, Liverpool to London… what a journey it has been.
If you missed the first chapters of my Series of One, here they are:
📍 🇹🇼 Taiwan, One Bite at a Time
CocoaGirlinToronto 