London Winter 2024
27 November 2024 - 7 December 2024
Accomodation:Keystone House, King’s Cross London
Flight: MH 002, MH 001
Day 1
Arrival at London Heathrow Terminal 4 around 0630 hrs , after around 14 hrs flight. Pleasant flight journey on Malaysia airlines with meals ; late supper,snacks, breakfast before landing at London Heathrow.Temperature in London was -1’C when we arrived. Immigration check at UK Border, no extra documents required, just a valid travel documents. Quite fast and efficient, after luggage collection, we refreshed ourselves.
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| Arrival Terminal 4 |
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| Departure KLIA MH 002 |
Topped up the osyster card (travel card) in London at the machine at Level underground, before embarking on LONDON Underground Piccadilly Line. London Heathrow T4( zone 6) to King’s Cross, passing through around 20 over stops to reach the Legendary King’s Cross station(zone 1). The journey took around one hour, costs around GBP5, the cheapest and convinient way to travel to London City centre.
Other options; Heathrow express - to Paddington Station( faster and more expensive) and taxi or uber.
Arrived at King’s Cross, still early for room check in, we left our luggage at the hotel, Keystone House- just opposite King’s Cross.We had full English breakfast at Cafe Plaka; toast, egg,bacon,mushroom, baked beans.and flat white coffee. This should enough to fuel our day in London.
Started our exploration and adventures in London… London here we come!!!
Bus ride to Trafalgar Square from King’s Cross,
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| King’s Cross Station |
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| Cafe Plaka breakfast |
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| Trafalgar Square, without Christmas tree |
Trafalgar Square with Christmas market, not yet with Christmas tree.
Big Ben/ Parliament Square -photo taking and selfies.
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| Parliament Square |
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| Big Ben |
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| Horse Guard |
Westminsters Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. We attendad Day Mass at Westminster Cathdedral at 1230 hrs.
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| Westminster Abbey |
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| Westminster Cathedral |
After the mass, we walked around nearby Victoria coach station, to locate the place for early morning trip to Stonehenge, which depart from that place.
It’s almost 1500 hrs, we went back to the hotel for room check in, refreshed and had hot shower and ended our day 1.
Day 2(Black Friday)
Good morning from London, today we had a prebooked River Thames Cruise, departing from Westminster Pier.Boarded on a river cruise, with running commentary by the guide. Along the river Thames, we can see most of the London landmarks,
Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminsters, London Eye, Shakepeares Globe, Tate Museum, Art Theatre, Shard, Canary wharf, Fishmonger market the oldest fish market and still in used, OXO building.
It was great wheather and clear sky.
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| River Cruise Thames |
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| Sky Garden at the background |
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| St Paul Cathedral |
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| Bridges London Bridges |
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| London Eye |
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| Westminster Pier |
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| London Eye |
At the other end of the cruise,it terminate at Geeenwich Pier. We stopped at Greenwich Pier, explored the Greenwich Market for snacks, we didnt make it to the observatory Meridien Greenwich Line.
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| Greenwich Market |
Upon returning to Greenwich Pier, we went for lunch at Covent Garden, Blacklock Restaurant for All-in Steaks.The Restaurant was quite full and was served lambs, pork,beef steaks.
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| Blacklock Covent Garden |
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| All In Steak |
After lunch, it was already 1500 hrs, it was almost sunset in London, The Christmas light was already on around Covent Garden. Here is one of the best Christmas decorations spot in London. It was marvelous and a moment to be remembered.
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| Covent Garden |
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| Covent Garden |
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| Northbank |
Covent Garden TICK.
Ended Day 2.
Day 3
Today we had a long day trip To Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath.The trip was pre booked at KLOOK website.The early morning trip departed from Victoria Coach Station around 0730hrs. we arrived early at the station and had simple breakfast at Pret n Manger Cafe. First destination was Windsor.
Windsor is where Windsor Castle located, the famous School of Eton, where the royals and elites go to school.London to Windsor took around 2 hours, we reached Windsor Castle around 0930hrs. We waited in queue for about 1 hour to enter the castle safety check. The castle divided into 2 sections,
The main Castles, with the rooms and Doll house.
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| Windsor Castle |
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| Changing of Guards at Windsor Castle |
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| Windsor Market |
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| Christmas Market near Windsor |
St George Chappel, which is still used for community in windsor to pray, the same cahpel where Prince Harry and Megan had their wedding.
There was changing of guards daily at 1100hrs at the exiting gate of the castle.It was quite rush for us to explore and look around the exhibits in the castle. limited time at Windsor, we was enough to walk quickly in the Castle to the exit and didnt have to visit St George Chapel
Next destination was Stonehenge, which was around 2 hours bus ride from. Stonehenge, Salisbury , one of the mysterious World Heritage.Dated around 5000 years ago, believed to be sacred place of whirship. Some archeological believed it was also an ancient meeting time, and also correlation with time ans seasons eg Winter solstice and Summer Solstice.until now Stonehenge or the hanging stone, which weighing more than 50 tons each was still a mysterious World Heritage.
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| Stonehenge |
After phototaking around Stonehenge and snacks at Stonehenge, next destination was Bath, which was about 2 hours bus ride. City of Bath was famous for the Roman Bath, which was place for Sacred cleansing.It was built around 60-70AD, a public bath during that time. We didnt enter the Roman Bath, I visited the Roman Bath in year 2014. It was already around 1800 hrs, when we arrived at Bath, we strolled along Christmas market and had our dinner in Bath.
It was a busy weekend at Bath for Christmas market and a soccer match in town.
After few hours in Bath, we rode back to London for about 2 and half hours. The coach terminated at Victoria Station and we went back to our hotel and King’s Cross. It was a long day for us. Arrived at King Cross around 2200hrsd.
We called it a day..Day 3!
Day 4 (Sunday)
Today is Sunday, It was The First Sunday of Advent. Today we planned just light and easy walk around London.
Started with English Breakfast at Cafe Plaka,before heading to Westminster Cathedral for mass. The church was already Christmas decorated.
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| Egg Benedicts |
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| Christmas Tree Westminster Cathedral |
After the mass, we visited Oxford street for window shopping. Started with Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch. began at Primark until John Lewis and Partners the halfway of Oxford street. We had lunch at John Lewis for British Beef with potatoes and the famous London pride fish n chips.
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| John Lewis lunch |
After shopping tour at Oxford Street,we headed back to hotel to rest and came to Oxford Street again when the light was on.
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| Oxford Street |
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| Regent Street |
It was very congested evening around Oxfrod street and Regent Street for the Christmas light excitement. Unfortunately, it was a wet and rainy evening.
Day 5
Today, quite free in the morning, morning walk nearby King’s cross to St Pancras International, King’s Cross station to see the Christmas decorations.
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King’s Cross
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| St Pancras International |
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| St Pancras Christmas Tree |
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| St Pancras |
Walking distance as well, around Francis Crick Institute and University College London UCL,near Gower Street. One of my favourite spot in London.Walked to Brunswick Mall and shopped at Waitrose supermarket.
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| UCL |
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| Lunch at Flat Iron |
After lunch at Flat Iron, King’s Cross, we have purchased ticket to Winter Wonderland Hyde Park. This is one of the most exciting and wonderful time in a year. Rides, games,musics.
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| Winter Wonderland Hyde Park |
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| Giant Ferris wheel |
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| Gold Gate Winter Wonderland |
We enjoyed the rides and shows very much, and wish to come again next Christmas.
Day 6
Today we had no pre booked tour, but plan to visit Tower of Londonand Tower Bridge, which is located toward the south of London.
After lunch at Flat iron again plus vanilla ice cream post meal, we made a trip in bus to Tower Bridge. It was still around 1400hrs, the weather was fine and still bright.
Pit stop at St Paul Cathedral on the way to Tower Bridge.
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| St Paul Cathedral |
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| Tower Of London |
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| Tower Bridge |
It was still quite bright, some lights already on around the bridge. It was very cold evening.
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| Trafalgar Square with the tree |
Stopped for a while at Trafalgars Square, now the Christmas tree was already up, but hasnt lit up.
Day 7
Lite and easy day, second round at Oxford Street, stopped Selfridges for window shopping ,before had lunch at Chinatown.
Walking distance around China town is Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, where we bought some London souvenirs.
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| Selfridges |
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| Piccadilly Circus |
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| Leceister Square |
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| Chinatown |
After lunch at Chinatown, we back to our room to rest, before next adventure to Sky Garden pre booked ticket.
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| monument of Great Fire, near Sky Garden |
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| Tower Bridge seen from Sky Garden |
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| St Paul from Sky Garden |
Sky Garden at level 44, is a public garden, in the sky. It is a great location to see London in. 360’.St Paul Cathedral, Tower Bridge,Westminster, Buckingham Palace are few builddings can be seen from Sky Garden.
Day 8
Today will be our last full day in London. After Breakfast at Cappadocia Cafe at Grays Inn Road, we had a quick visit to Harrods, the London high end mall at Knightbridge.
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| St Pancras International |
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| Harrods |
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| Harrods |
After a trip to Harrods for window shopping,we came back to King’s Cross and had our lunch at Nandos King Cross.
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| Nandos |
After lunch, rest for a while, I made it extra mile, to attend The Christmas Tree lights on launching at Trafalgar Square. It was heavy rain, but the show continued and carried on.
Attended by Mayor of London, delegates from Oslo, Norway. A symbolic of ties between England and Norway since 1947.A tree from Norway was transported to London to be set up at Trafalgar Square every year.symbolic of thanks feom Norway, after England helped them in WW2.
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| Trafalgar Square at Christmas Tree launching |
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| National Art Gallery/ Trafalgar Sq |
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| Trafalgar Sq |
Day 9
Today our last day in London, our flight was 2130 hrs. Checked out from our room at 1100hrs. Walked around Granary Square, Regent Canal and Lunch at Nandos Kings Cross before we bid farewell to London.
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| Granary square |
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| Regent Canal |
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| Granary sq |
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| King’s Cross |
Piccadilly Line from Kings Cross to London Heathrow. London always making memories for us.
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| Underground to airport |
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| Cafe Nero |
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| Farewell to London |
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| MH 001 |
8 Nights and 2 Days of travelling days. Indeed a memory to be remembered. Christmas Time in London, United Kingdom. Thank you Lord for keeping us safe during the trip. We pray that will be back again !!!!
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