London and Canterbury Winter 2022

 London & Canterbury UK vacation December 2022

Regent Street

St Pancras Station 

Flight : Malaysia Airlines

Accomodation : YHA St Pancras, Euston Road, London

Transport pass: Osyters Card

Hi peeps!!

While it’s still fresh in my mind and I am fully recovered from my jetlag, I will jot down in my travel blogs.

This is one of the most waited trip, after closure of country borders due to Covid 19 Pandemic.

My last trip to United Kingdom was in December 2019, which was few months before the health pandemic was declared in March 2022.

Exactly, 3 years later, I came back and visited my favourite city, LONDON.

This trip was quite a ‘meticulously” planned for 3- 4 months before the trip.

Flight ticket and accommodation  was booked and purchased in August. This saved a lot of cost and travel expenses. While other packages was ordered later to suit the travel plan.

 

Normally, I make London is the base and I’ll travel to other parts of UK. Initial plan was to visit the Northern part ie Scotland. Considering it’s a winter season, the weather might be too extreme for me to take. Changing the plan to the southern part of UK, which is Canterbury.

Pre departure preparations:

Some which are not compulsory for the trip to UK.

l Renew passport

l Flight tix

l Accommodation

l Travel insurance

l Vaccine cert printed

 These are the least thing that need to be prepared, I think. Eventho vaccine cert and travel insurance are not compulsory.

Passes purchased earlier:

l Winter wonderland pass

l Broadway Ticket (Mamma Mia) £24

l Christmas at Kew £24

l London Eye (KLOOK) RM153

l Return ticket Train London- Canterbury £40

l Return ticket to Bicester Village (KLOOK) R 149

UK Sim card

D 0	26 Nov 2022	1800 Kch - KL 2355 KL- LHR (MH 2)
D1	27 Nov 2022	0600 Landed at LHR           Underground to King’s Cross            Checked In Accommodation 0900  Westminster Cathedral, Victoria      Lunch @ Bill’s Victoria      Trafalgar Square Parliament Sq Big Ben St Pancras & King’s Cross touring Oxford Street Regent Street
D2	28 Nov 2022	0900 Buckingham Palace 1100 London Eye Westminter Cathedral Lunch at Wagamama, Victoria 1400 Winter Wonderland Hyde Park      Dinner In WWL
D3	29 Nov 2022	1000  Natural History Museum       Harrod 1300 Lunch @ Pizzaria Euston Road 1500 Kew Garden
D4	30 Nov 2022	0800 Trip to Canterbury 1200 Lunch at Old Weaver House, Canterbury
D5	1 Dec 2022	0900 Covent Garden, Seven Dials Oxford Street Lunch at John Lewis 1500 Theatre Mamma Mia (Novello Theatre, West End)     Oxford Street
D6	2 Dec 2022	0800 Bicester Village Lunch at Itsu King Cross’s Platform 9 3/4 1800 Light up Official Trafalgar Christmas Tree
D7	3 Dec 2022	0900 St Paul Cathedral      Leadenhall Market      Borough Market 1900 London Secret Run (yule jog)
D8	4 Dec 2022	0900 Westminster Cathedral      Westminster Tower      Piccadilly       Lunch @ Angus Steak Piccadilly      Christmas Market Leicester Sq 1600 Evening walk King cross, Granary Sq, Regent Canal
D9	5 Dec 2022	0900 Breakfast Cappadocia, Grays Inn      Walk around UCL      Oxford Street      Wine @willows Roof Top (John Lewis) 1400 King’s cross - LHR Check-In ( Level 2) Wait for Departure @ Premium Lounge 1930 LHR- KL
D10	6 Dec 2022	1800 Landed in KLIA 2030 KL-Kch 2230 Kch (Home Sweet Home)

Day 1 ( Sunday)

Arrival at London Heathrow Airport 

Arrival on Sunday morning on MH 002 around 0600 hrs. It was quite a smooth immigration check before proceeding to the luggage area. Exiting the arrival hall, then to level minus 1 to the Underground station.

Using my precious oyster card, took a ride to the city centre ( King Cross station) on the underground. The trip took around 1 hour ( passing by around 20 stations). Arrived at King Cross Station, checked in to the accommodation YHA St Pancras, Euston Road.

Later headed to Westminster Cathedral, Victoria on red bus #390. Westminster Cathedral Sunday Mass began around 10am.

Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral

                         

Later, went for lunch at Bill’s at Victoria at Cathedral Plaza.

Bill

                                     

After lunch, browsed along Big Ben, Parliament Square, and Trafalgar Square. Before back to King Cross for hotel check-in around 1500 hrs.

Trafalgar Square 

St Pancras 

King Cross Station 

                                                                                                                                 KIn

Oxford Street

Regent Street

 After Check-in, refreshed with a lite meal, before heading to Oxford Street and Regent Street to watch Christmas lights. What a great and super long day, before we called it a day!! Good nite.

Day 2 (Monday)

Bright shining Monday, after continental breakfast at YHA ( 5.99), went for a quick trip to Buckingham Palace. Catch a great shot at Buckingham, then rushed to London Eye. Thanks to the pre-purchased ticket, which save me a lot of queuing time. Around 30 minutes London Eye ride to see London from above was a great experience. Thanks to the great weather.

Buckingham Palace

After the London eye ride, managed to go to Westminster Cathedral for daily mass and had lunch at Wagemama at Cathedral Plaza.

Wagemama

The afternoon started to drizzle. Went to Hyde Park for a Winter Wonderland, It was around 1430 hrs, a rainy and wet day and it was almost sunset. I was straight to attend a special Winter Circus ( Zippo Circus). This was a great show. Reminiscing my childhood memories. After 1 hour of an incredible Zippo show, I had a winter wonderland dinner.

Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

Bavaria Village

Zippo Circus

 Mulled wine and bratwurst (German sausage). We were entertained by a few stages of live bands. I spend the whole evening at Winter wonderland. Winter wonderland never fails us.. and it’s always the reason to come to London in winter!!
 

Day 3 ( Tue)

This morning, I was quite free and easy. An impromptu trip to the Natural and History Museum. Here explored some precious creations around us. Some of the creatures have gone forever. Huge dinosaur in the main hall of the Museum. Free entry to the museum, but donations are welcomed. From the museum, just a few bus stops, I stopped by Harrod to get a few Harrod items.

Natural History Museum

                                                                Harrods

Catching a trip to Kew Royal Botanical Garden for Christmas at Kew. Quick lunch at Pizza Ria( Pizza Express )at Euston Road before taking the underground to Kew Garden.

 The train ride took almost 1 hour.  It was still quite early for the entrance to the Christmas at Kew. Christmas at Kew started around 1630 hrs. It was a calming and so relaxing walk at night at kew garden. 

Kew Royal Botanical Garden

Beautiful Christmas lighting together with Christmas music and carols.. This is one of the best trips I have in this year. It was quite cold walking at night with English.

Tropical House at Kew Garden

Most come with family and kids. After a few hours of walking in cold, beautiful Christmas light, I made my way back to King's cross. Reached King Cross around 7pm, and managed to go to Tottenham Court Road to get a sim card for my DJI camera. It was around 2100 hrs and I called it a day.
 

Day 4 (Wed)

Today I started my day early, Prepared with sandwiches for a trip to Canterbury. The initial ticket that I purchased was a direct train St Pancras to Canterbury West, but the train was as per schedule. I had to use multiple transits via London Bridge and finally reached Canterbury Station. The journey was longer than the direct train. Arrived at Canterbury around 1000 hrs.

 Managed to walk around the morning market and bought 2 packets of raspberries for £1 each. AFter that, I visited Canterbury Cathedral, entry ticket £15 which is valid for entry 1 year.

Canterbury Cathedral

Few important landmarks that I visited at Canterbury eg Westgate, Pilgrim Hospital, St Augustine Abbey, Beanney House, Old Buttermarket and last but not least the Old Weaver House for lunch.

Pilgrim Hospital

Crypts at Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury played an important historical event, in bringing Christianity to England. It started around 500AD when princess bertha of France married a Pagan King of Kent. Fr Augustine came for evangelization in England. Many pilgrims came all over England to Canterbury. 1500 AD King Henry wanted to be the head of the Church and not under the Roman Pope and later the birth of the Church of England ( Anglican ). What an educational trip to Canterbury !!
Time to return to London.
 

Day 5 ( Thur)

Quite a relaxing morning, after breakfast at the hostel. I went to Covent Garden, Seven dials before going to Oxford street to shop for a few things. Lunch at John Lewis Place to Eat.

Covent Garden

Seven Dials

Neal Yards

Today I had a ticket to a show at Novello Theatre. I am going for mamma mia broadway. The show started around 1515 hours and took around 2 and a half hours. I love the show. It was terrific. The show stuck in my mind and my heart.

Novella Theatre

 After the show, again I went back to Oxford street for window shopping before back to YHA St Pancras.
 

Day 6 ( Fri)

Today I have another early trip outside of London, early bus to Marylebone Station. Today I am going to Bicester Village with pre purchased return ticket. Retail therapy.. sadly no VAT return during this trip. The amount you pay, that’s the real price you pay. Thanks to the wise card, which has a reasonable currency exchange rate. I spend half a day, lunch at ITsu and a coffee break at Polo coffee stall.

Train Bicester - Maryleborne

Back from Bicester around 1600 hours, and still quite early to attend the official lighting up Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square. Something so special about Christmas Tree at Trafalgar sq. It is an annual gift from Norway. The tree was brought from Oslo, and this has been a tradition since 1947 as a gesture of thanks to British Government in helping Norway in a war back then.

Trafalgar Square

Dinner at Christmas Market. I missed my mulled wine while writing this blog. Mulled wine and a german sausage are my perfect combo at Christmas / winter market.

I could spend the whole night at Trafalgar Sq. Enjoying nice weather, the moon on your head, and having mulled wine. It’s winter.

 Day 7 ( Saturday)

It’s the weekend, this morning after breakfast I revisited a few London landmarks. Started with St Paul Cathedral, then proceed to Leidenhall Market. A beautiful intagrammable spot in London.

KIng's Cross Station

Platform 9 3/4

St Paul Cathedral

St Paul Cathedral

Leadenhall Market

 Before heading to the super crowded Borough Market. Where I had food tasting. Fresh Osyster- nice. A great Fish n chips.

Osyters

 Didn’t manage to queue up for paella. After enjoying food at Borough Market, I went back to the hostel to rest, before going for a Christmas run / Yule jog around London city. The night was very chilly. The run started around 1900 hrs, began at Trafalgar Square, and ended around Green park, with a distance of 5km. 

London Secret Run 

The jog/ fun run was organized by London secret run. It was a tiring day for me. And Reached back hostel around 2100 hrs.

 

Day 8 ( Sunday)

When it is my 2^nd Sunday in the trip, then I knew my trip is going to the end of it. Had my Sunday Mass at Westminster Cathedral and bought few things from Westminster Cathedral Book store. Also exploring Westminster Viewing Tower at Level 7.The morning was quite fogging, not much thing I could view. Anyway It was always a great experience.

Chapel in Westminster Cathedral

Viewing Tower Westminster Cathedral

 After viewing tower, I went to Piccadily area , bought some London Souvenirs. Lunch at Angus Steak HOuse Piccadily ( around hard Rock PIcadilly). After lunch, walked around Leicester Sq and Leciester Christmas Market.

Angus Steak PIcadilly

Leicester Square

 After lunch, packed my luggage. Then spend the whole evening at St Pancras, Granary Square, regent Canal, King’s cross. Quite a low mood as soon will  be bid farewell to London.

Granary Square

Regent Canal

 

Day 9 (Mon)

Good morning, ready to check out, keep my luggage at the hostel concierge, Breakfast at Cappadocia, Grays’s inn Road - Full English Breakfast. Walked around UCL, before another goodbye trip to Oxford Street. Having Wine at the Willows at John Lewis Roof Top. Before back to King cross, and took the underground to London Heathrow. 

UCL

Willows

It was still quite early for check-in. Check-in to Kuala Lumpur opens at 1700hr, etd 2130 hrs.
After settling with check-in, I spend most of the time at the Departure area and did last-minute shopping for duty-free, Floris Perfume and Harrod items. Dinner at Plaza Premium lounge, my first rice with Chicken curry after 10 days. Free flow of wine and beer. Thanks to CIMB Preferred Card for the privileges.!!

Smooth and relaxing 13 hours trip home transit in KL for 2 hours and headed back to Kuching and reached home sweat home at around 2300hr (Tuesday).
 
London is always the destination! Can't believe this is my 9^th trip to London!! Thanks to God.