London City Escape: Royal Landmarks, Thames Views and Notting Hill Charm

From Stuttgart, we flew into London Heathrow – leaving behind gray drizzle and landing in a city that keeps you busy from the moment you arrive.

We took the Tube straight to our accommodation, not far from Kensington Gardens. And then something happened that you never count on when visiting London: the sun came out. Properly. Blue sky over London. You can’t ask for a better start than that.

From Kensington, half the city is at your doorstep on foot. Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, on to Buckingham Palace, then down to Westminster Bridge with Big Ben right in front of you – and from there it’s just a stroll to Piccadilly Circus. London is one of those cities where you start walking in the morning and realize by evening that you’ve clocked 25,000 steps without even noticing.

The Tower Bridge sits a bit further out – too far to walk from the hotel, but perfectly reachable by boat along the Thames. And that’s exactly what we did: approaching the bridge from the water, watching it slowly rise before you, is far more impressive than any photo promises. On the way, we passed the Millennium Dome – from the Thames, you almost pick it up in passing.

We dedicated one afternoon to Portobello Road Market – a familiar setting for anyone who’s seen the film “Notting Hill.” But even without the movie reference, the detour is worth it: antiques, street food, colorful house fronts, and a pace that feels noticeably different from the rest of the city.