Some notes on my upcoming London itinerary.
Interior of 2 Temple Place, London
sigh I’m still a little disappointed that I had to cancel my Amsterdam and London trip this September. I was very stressed earlier this year and my immune system turned against me. I got sick toward the end of the summer and, when I realized my symptoms weren’t going away, I knew a trip abroad was out of the question. But, I’m better for it now and I’m looking forward to returning to London in the spring of 2026. I’ve learned how to keep my stress level down and I’m back to planning another UK adventure.
There were some sights I didn’t visit in London the first trip so I am carrying those places over to my 2026 itinerary and building on that list as well. Here are a few places I’m looking forward to seeing on my second visit…
1. Two Temple Place
Like Westminster Palace, this is another government building with beautiful architecture. I don’t actually know what the building is used for. I’m terrible about those things. They could be manufacturing warheads in the basement - I wouldn’t know. But if there is old, masterful, gorgeous antique wood and musty moroccan upholstery, I want to come in and take a look. In fact, that’s what a good portion of my May itinerary was: snooping inside old and lovely buildings. Unfortunately, 2 Temple Place isn’t always open to the public. I’ll have to wait for a special event.
2. Sir John Soane’s Museum
I’m not really into museums. Unless I’m seeing something very unusual (like a Ron Mueck or Louise Bourgeois sculpture), I try to avoid them because I don’t like wandering around large spaces. But Sir John Soane’s museum is more like a small and very intimate collection inside someone’s home. I didn’t actually intend to add any museums to my itinerary but this one came up when I researched old London homes to tour. I saw the photos and marveled at how much planning went into installing and arranging all these pieces inside this small space. I can’t wait to see it in person.
3. Hyde Park
I’m eager to see the London equivalent of everything I enjoyed in New York City. In fact, I’m finding that London is so nostalgic for me even though I barely know the place. When I had the opportunities, I didn’t take in everything that NYC had to offer. That’s why exploring the grand landmarks like Hyde Park is so important to me. It’s just a city park but it helps me relive some of the best times of my life. I’m definitely planning to picnic in Hyde Park on my next trip (Lord, please keep away the London rain).