London, England 2019 | Day Two

Waking in up London, to red buses and espresso… a happy happy reality! How grateful we were. To be in such a dear place. But mostly, just to be together.

We took a charming red bus to Notting Hill and hopped off, ready for one of our favorite brunch places we’ve found, in all our travels.

We started the day at Farm Girl in Notting Hill. Last year, we found this delicious gem and just had to make a stop there again!

The Rose Latte is my favorite (look at the real flowers on top!) and Daniel adores the Lavender Latte.

Their Avocado Toast is yummy!

We wandered through Portobello Road and I admired all the antiques. Oh how I wish I had my own private plane so I could haul them all back to America with me! ;)

China in these prints is just happy!

I love strolling through Portobello Road, the antiques are wonderful!

I became mesmerized by this little table we stumbled upon — pages from antique books. I searched for a Jane Austen one but didn’t find it. The owner of the shop told me that’s a highly-requested one

Next stop, we headed over to The Victoria and Albert Museum (it’s free!) — it’s been on my London Bucket List for a long time (so many of you girls have recommended it to me on Instagram when I’ve asked for London recommendations, so thank you!)

There was a Christian Dior display and I swooned at the thought — but, sadly, they were full for the day so I missed it. But, we enjoyed the rest of the museum!

We then walked through Hyde Park to Kensington Palace!

The London parks are enchanting. I’m not a city-dweller, but I decided I could live in London because I adore the parks so much. More than any other city’s parks. We fell in love with them, and their trees.

We made a reservation for Kensington Palace Tea Room at four, so we waited on the lawn and let Weston play to his heart’s content. I love just “being” and spending time together as a family, in such a normal-life way, on the grounds of historic sites like this. The depth of history… all the important and world-altering things that happened there… and all the “small” things in the lives of those who lived there, too. I couldn’t help but think of and imagine all the little ones who played on the grass in front of this palace, just as my little one did. The day young Victoria walked up this path when she took residence here. Queen Anne, who spent time designing these gardens through the years as she silently suffered seventeen miscarriages and no living children. The stunning picture I cannot erase from my mind of thousands of flowers on this very lawn, in tribute to Diana by the people, the day after she died. I love places like this, rich and thick in stories. It all “means so much.” And what a gift to my heart as a mama to take my boy to these spots to watch and learn and be.

Just a two year old boy and his dinos and firetrucks.

Our second tea at Kensington Palace! Last year we adored it so much, we came back. The china is beautiful.

The Sunken Garden is peaceful and a favorite spot of mine in London. I’ve heard that Princess Diana loved and spent time in solace here, which is happy to think of.

And then, “as the Lord would have it” ;) we spotted a Royal Helicopter approaching…. (felt like Deja Vu from the year before, when Prince William arrived home to Kensington Palace as we were playing at Princess Diana Memorial Park!) We ran over to the helicopter landing area (not stalkerish at all) along with a small crowd of fellow royal watchers, and the Duke of Gloucester exited the plane! He’s a cousin of the Queen, and gave us a friendly wave! I hoped it would be Meghan and Archie, of course.. but, not this time haha!

By early evening, we headed back to our hotel and crashed. We ordered in Wagamamas — which came highly recommended by my friend Lisa who is English-born, and it did not disappoint. Delicious!

One of the sweetest days we’ve shared yet. I love adventuring with my guys.

Stay tuned for Day Three!