travel essentials – Travels with Melinda

Now, we travel ALOT and I’m currently deep into preparing my packing list for our month in London that starts in just a few days, so I thought I would share some of my trip prep tips on what NOT to forget to pack.

Honestly, even with all my experience, I still manage to forget things that I later find that I need when I’m in a new country. So, for me AND for you, here is a list of 10 items you may not think you need until it is 1 a.m. in Lisbon or you’re roaming the British countryside by train:

First aid kit including ice packs and wraps. After the hand getting crushed by the ferry bathroom door incident in New Zealand, the falling off the curb and rolling an ankle in Vietnam and slipping down rain-covered stairs in Lisbon, we learned the hard way that you may get hurt while travelling so you need a robust number of supplies to self-treat yourself just in case. Countries in Europe have pharmacies (identified by a big green cross on the outside) but in other countries like India and Vietnam, you are SOL if you do not plan ahead. Even the ferry in New Zealand had NO FIRST AID KIT! That has to be against some law, right? So, depending on where you are going, pack accordingly. Note: ice is not a thing in many countries, thus pack an ice pack, the kind you smash and it gets cold quickly. Otherwise, you’ll be holding a can of Coke on your ankle like Thom did in Vietnam on vacation.
OTC meds (especially sleeping aids like Advil PM) because when the party on the street outside your Airbnb just gets going at midnight, you are going to need help getting asleep. Pack those ear plugs too. Or you can just go out and join in the revelry.
Day pack to carry the first aid kit, umbrella, raincoat, suntan lotion, snacks, when you take that train ride to Sintra for the day.
Water bottle to refill as needed (remember to go through TSA with it empty!). You can fill up in the many European fountains on the streets. Just check to see if public water is clean and not going to get you sick before partaking.
Bluetooth music speaker is a “nice to have” to enjoy music while gazing at the water from your balcony. You can buy really small portable ones so you can stream your music at the cottage in Ireland or the beach. On Waiheke Island, our Airbnb had a great Bluetooth Bose speaker that we used daily. When we arrived in Portugal on our next trip and there was no such thing provided, we really missed the music at night while we wrote out our stories of the day.
Ziplock baggies of all sizes for that lotion that leaks, the seashells you collect, the wet bathing suit you need to pack, etc. Not to mention in Europe, you need a quart size one for your liquids to get through security.
Kleenex-it isn’t the same in other countries and your nose will be hurt by the roughness of local tissues. Pack a few travel packs with you.
Downy wrinkle releaser plus does it all and we used it every day on a recent trip. One travel size bottle lasted us for a two-week trip. Love this stuff! You can dewrinkle your clothes, freshen up your room and even works with ironing clothes if you do that, which I don’t.
Travel blanket/pillow is something I never knew I needed until I bought one and now it is my all-time favorite essential. I can use it was a pillow if needed or unzip the cover and pull out the blanket if I get cold on the plane/train and use it in the hotel room to get cozy. Slips over the handle of your carry-on. Trust me, you want this item!
Portable power charger bank you can take everywhere with you to charge your phone when it dies at 10 pm while you are trying to get an Uber to take you home in a rainstorm in London.

For a packing list template, go to https://travelswithmelinda.com/packing-checklist/ and for more travel essentials, see my list of recommended items here: https://travelswithmelinda.com/travels-essentials/

Enjoy the journey!

I love London! We’ve been several times for both business and pleasure and plan to go back in 2024 for a 40-night pet sit. It’s a city filled with history, great food and shopping and everything else you could want in a European city. When a friend told me that they had recently gotten a trip to London for their birthday (lucky La Shanda!), I thought I would put together a comprehensive A to Z list for her and anyone else visiting London soon including us. Enjoy the journey!

GETTING TO/FROM AIRPORT

London’s major airport is Heathrow (LHR) but close by is also Gatwick (LGW). Both airports have public transportation options to get from the airport to the city. Get all the info here: Trains To & From London Heathrow Airport – Maps, Tickets | Rail Europe

I’ve used a car service as well, which is the nice and more expensive option vs. public transportation but necessary if you have lots of luggage or have accessibility issues. We’ve used this service-book online: https://www.blacklane.com/en/car-service-london/

GETTING AROUND WITHIN LONDON CITY TRANSPORTATION

London, like any big city, has terrible traffic almost all the time. If you have booked tickets and need to be somewhere at a specific time, plan ahead and leave LOTS of extra time to get there. Using the travel apps like Rome2Rio or Citymapper, compare your options and add one hour to your travel time.

It’s always best to walk, which will be faster than almost any ground transportation due to the traffic. Next best options are buses (double-decker ones are fun!) and the Underground aka the Tube (subway). For both, you should have Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone/smart watch to tap at the turnstiles to pay. Otherwise, you are fumbling for a credit card to tap, and you probably don’t want to have that out and about with other people nearby who could snatch it (yes, it happens so be smart). You don’t buy paper tickets anymore-it’s all tap to pay here.

Consider staying in Zone 1 or 2 if you will be using the Tube daily. Remember, “mind the gap” to get on/off the subway and “look left” when crossing the street. Review this before you go: How to use the London Underground: Tips & tricks – Tripadvisor

If you really have to get a car ride, then go with Uber first and, as a last resort, a taxi. Why? Well, with Uber you have a fixed price when you input the pickup and drop off locations. It is in the best interest of the driver to get you there quickly with Uber. With the taxi, you are on a meter and the driver may or may not take a direct route. We tried both and always the Uber would have been cheaper by 20% or so. When using Uber, find a landmark like a hotel or restaurant and get the address to enter into the Uber app and make it easy for the driver to find you. Our average wait time for an Uber in London was 5-10 minutes.

Uber boats go up and down the Thames-in good weather, a fun way to get around London and avoid the terrible street traffic. Just tap on and off. Thames River Cruises & London Boat Trips – Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

TRAVEL APPS

Google maps works well in London.

Citymapper App-best transport app of London. Makes public transportation easy. Shows you prices too.

Use the GETT app to get taxi’s. Especially for short distances, they are convenient. Taxi’s can use the bus lanes and Uber can’t so taxi’s can get you there quicker.

TfL Go app for Tube travel. Shows map of various lines and tells about cancellations. Tap on a Tube station on the map to see facilities like lifts and bathrooms.

WhatsApp to call and do video chats with those back home. Free! Also some restaurants use to make reservations.

WHERE TO STAY:

Hotels:

St. Ermin’s is elegant, historic and has the best service I’ve experienced at a hotel. Great location with easy walk to Big Ben and other landmarks. Historic Luxury 4-star Hotel in Central London | St. Ermin’s Hotel (marriott.com)

The Tower Hotel (get a room with a view of the Tower Bridge) https://thetowerhotellondon.com/

Sarova-Rembrandt Hotel: https://www.sarova-rembrandthotel.com/

Serviced luxury apartments https://theharrington.com/stay

GREAT VIEWS:

Book tickets to the Sky Garden. It’s free and we have great memories there. You need to book in advance but it’s worth the effort. https://skygarden.london

The Shard-London’s tallest building The Shard: Inspiring change (the-shard.com)

London Eye The lastminute.com London Eye: The Official Tickets Website

Parliament Hill for best view of city Parliament Hill, London – Wikipedia

SITES/TOURS:

Parliament Tour Tours – UK Parliament

Tower of London Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)

Westminster Abbey A royal church | Westminster Abbey (westminster-abbey.org)

Happy Potter Tour Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter (wbstudiotour.co.uk)

Buckingham Palace https://www.rct.uk/visit

St. Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral | St Paul’s Cathedral (stpauls.co.uk)

Hampton Court Palace https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/#gs.msyc38

Alexandra Palace Amazing Things To Do at Alexandra Palace

London Walks Contact Us – London Walks Harry Potter walk; ghost tour; historical walk

MUSEUMS:

All national museums in the UK are free but check online in case you need to reserve tickets because they restrict the # of people at any given time. Special exhibits may cost. Donations encouraged. Use Smartify App to scan paintings and learn more about the art.

Natural History Museum Home | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk) near Exhibition Street; Molly Rose Bakery
Tate Modern Museum Tate Modern | Tate Go to rooftop viewing area
Tate Britain Tate Britain | Tate open 10-6 every day
Science Museum Home | Science Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum V&A · The World’s Leading Museum Of Art And Design (vam.ac.uk) Next to National History Museum; open until 10 pm on Fridays
Churchchill War Rooms Visit Churchill War Rooms – Plan Your Visit | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)
British Library The British Library – The British Library (bl.uk)
Saatchi Gallery https://www.saatchigallery.com/
The National Gallery The National Gallery, London (Fridays until 9 pm) In Trafalgar Square
The British Museum Visit | British Museum (Fridays until 8:30 pm) First national public museum in the world. 8 million items. Rosetta Stone most popular item here. Walk 7 minutes to Seven Dials area-seven streets to explore including Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials Market for food.
National Transport Museum $18.50 for annual pass London Transport Museum (ltmuseum.co.uk)
Somerset House has free exhibitions Somerset House | Also has terrace and courtyard for food and drink. Ice rink here in the winter in the courtyard.
British Library to see the Magna Carta, see Beatles lyrics and Jane Austen’s notebooks https://www.bl.uk/visit
Courtauld Gallery https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/ smaller gallery, less crowded
The Wallace Collection https://www.wallacecollection.org/

PARKS: (locals hang out in the parks on nice day-rent bikes and ride around to see more!)

Hyde Park
St. James Park
Hampstead Heath/Parliament Hill-view of skyline
Holland Park-Kyoto garden
Diana Memorial
Kew Botanical Garden there is entrance fee https://www.kew.org/

RESTAURANTS/BARS:

Pret-A-Manger is fast food and delicious. For coffee and pastries, takeaway (this is how they ask for “to-go”) cold sandwiches which are fresh and tasty or hot soups and sandwiches. Very affordable $5 euros for wrap that is plenty big. Great veggie options.

Ivy Market Grill in Covent Garden (sticky toffee pudding!) Covent Garden Restaurants | Places to Eat Covent Garden | The Ivy (theivymarketgrill.com) “It’s the IVY, darling!”
Café in the Crypt across the street from the National Gallery (Fish and chips/huge portions/apple crumble and custard for dessert) https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/visit/cafe-in-the-crypt/
Bertie Blossoms owned by Ed Sheeran Bertie Blossoms – Neighbourhood Dining on Portobello Road
Gordon’s Wine Bar-the oldest wine bar in the city Gordon’s | London’s Oldest Wine Bar | Embankment, London (gordonswinebar.com) (in summer snag an outside table along the Thames River) near Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden
Cahoots Cocktail bar in Kingly Court | Cahoots London (cahoots-london.com) Post-war speakeasy. Live music Friday-Sunday. Very popular-make reservations
Garden at the Lane in Covent Garden The Garden at The Lane | Theatre Royal Drury Lane (lwtheatres.co.uk)
Claridge’s Bar in Mayfair Claridge’s Bar: Champagne Bar, London – Claridge’s (claridges.co.uk)

PUBS:

Mr. Fogg’s bar in Covent Garden. Mr Fogg’s Tavern | Covent Garden (mr-foggs.com) Thursday night cockney singalong was a highlight of our trip. So fun.
The George by the Shard The George Pub in London | Pub & Restaurant (greatukpubs.co.uk) traditional British food and great service. Classy.
The Swan near Hyde Park The Swan – Fuller’s Pub and Restaurant near Hyde Park (swanhydepark.co.uk)
Punch and Judy in Covent Market. Punch & Judy pub in Covent Garden | Greene King Pubs (greeneking-pubs.co.uk) Cozy inside seating and outside dining too. Fish and chips of course but try the Sticky Toffee pudding with clotted cream. To. Die. For.
Lamb & Flag is historic pub in Covent Garden and was a favorite of Charles Dickens. Lamb & Flag – Fuller’s Pub and Restaurant in Covent Garden (lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk)
The Jack Horner https://www.jackhornerpub.co.uk/
Trafalgar tavern on the Thames River Trafalgar Tavern – The Trafalgar Tavern
The Dickens Inn by Tower Bridge History – The Dickens Inn | Central London Pub & Restaurant

MARKETS:

Covent Garden Market Covent Garden Market | Serving London with a smile since 1845! (coventmarket.com) food and shopping; umbrella street for photos
Camden Market https://www.camdenmarket.com/visit-usarl and nearby Horse Tunnel Vintage Market
Borough Market https://boroughmarket.org.uk/ oldest food market dating back 1,000 years near Tower Bridge near Globe Tavern (Bridge Jones Diary shooting location)
Portobello Market https://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/the-market/
Spitalfields Market in East London for shopping and eating Market | Spitalfields Market E1
Matlby Street Market Maltby St Market
Vinegar Yard in the summer for food only near Boroughs Market Vinegar Yard
Mercato Mayfair inside an old church; by Tower Bridge; gelato stand and just food https://mercatometropolitano.com/mmarketplace/mercato-mayfair/
Seven Dials Market Seven Dials Market | Homepage | London | Covent Garden
Portobello Market in Notting Hill Portobello Market, Notting Hill, London – Everything you need to know!
Brick Lane Market UPMARKET The Brick Lane Food Hall (sundayupmarket.co.uk)

AFTERNOON TEA: (a “must do” while in London!)

Dalloway Terrace (has nice outside terrace) Al Fresco Dining London & Outdoor Restaurant | Dalloway Terrace
Grosvenors House https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/details/longh-jw-marriott-grosvenor-house-london/79390/
Sheraton Grand Hotel Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court | Sheraton Grand London Park Lane (palmcourtlondon.co.uk)
Fortnum and Mason (department store you must shop at!) Afternoon Tea (fortnumandmason.com)

SHOPPING:

We aren’t big shoppers but I had always wanted to see the inside of Harrod’s so off we went after a look at the Microsoft Experience Center on Regent Street (my former employer). All I can say is that the retail sector looks strong in London. The streets were packed with shoppers going here and there like back before the pandemic. Harrod’s is fancy and the shoppers there were dropping thousands of dollars on designer bags, jewelry and perfume. Taking the main center escalators, you will see beautiful displays throughout the store. The food market has great takeaway food (no tables to eat there!) including yummy jams, candies and crackers to take back home. In the basement is the Herrod Gift Shop where the affordable items area including a Christmas area, lots of Harrod’s branded items and such. If you have room in your luggage, go for it and buy, buy, buy!

Harrod’s https://www.harrods.com
Selfridge’s London | Stores | Selfridges
Fenwick’s
Fortnum and Mason for tea, biscuits, preserves https://www.fortnumandmason.com/
Marks & Spencer
Primark
Covent Garden – Whittard for hot choco mixes. Neal’s Yard is a small alley in Covent Garden with cool shops. https://www.coventgarden.com/
House of Fraser Victoria Street for Orly Kiely prints House of Fraser – Fashion, Beauty, Gifts, Home, Electricals & More
We Built This City-cool local artist souvenirs in on Carnaby StreetWe Built This City – Art, gifts and souvenirs from London’s creatives (webuilt-thiscity.com)
Ragyard in Notting Hill-repurposed vintage clothing. Peacock designs. RAGYARD | British Vintage for men and women | Ragyard
Atika thrift shop in Shoreditch
King’s Road with many shops and cafes

Typical London Shopping Hours but check with each store before you go:

Mon – Wed: 9:30am – 7pm, Thu: 9:30am – 8pm, Fri: 9:30am – 7pm, Sat: 10am – 7pm, Sun: 12pm – 6pm

ACTIVITIES/DAY TRIP:

Narrowboat cruise https://www.londonwaterbus.com/ Camden Town to Little Venice (and then goes back) 45 minute narrowboat ride; $15 euros each
The Leake Street Tunnel aka the Banksy Tunnel beneath Waterloo Station showcases London graffitti art scene Leake Street – Wikipedia; Leake Street Arches; Leake St – Google Maps
Crossing Abbey Road https://www.abbeyroad.com/crossing%EF%BB%BF
Abbey Road studios https://maps.app.goo.gl/PDHATc1yrEDMfdRJ7
Trafalgar Square https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/our-building-and-squares/trafalgar-square
Picadilly Circus aka Picadilly Square https://www.london-tourist-guide.com/en/areas/piccadilly-circus-in-london.html
Chinatown https://chinatown.co.uk/en/
Greenwich (just outside London) includes great view of London; National Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark sailing ship and Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time. Large park. Welcome to Greenwich (visitgreenwich.org.uk) Also has central market with food/shopping in town and vintage market.
Oxford Oxford – Wikipedia
Cambridge Cambridge – Wikipedia
Hampstead’s Heath is the 800 acre park that inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Chronicles of Narnia Hampstead Heath

SPORTS EVENTS:

Soccer aka football: Men’s Tickets | Tickets | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com)

THEATER:

When we lived in NYC, we tried to go to a Broadway show almost every week. London has a lively theater scene so we booked tickets to see Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theater. This theater was compact with maybe 25 rows on the main floor and then several balconies over it. So small but tall and probably no bad seats in the house. Upon entering, you can grab a drink and relax in the lobby where they had tables/seats which you would not find at a Broadway theater. I love to collect bar cups branded for each Broadway show we attend but here just regular plastic cups for my wine but way cheaper than Broadway ($6 vs. $20 I’m used to in NYC).

You can take drinks into the theater to enjoy while you watch the show. Book of Mormon was hilarious with talented singers/dancers/actors. In NYC we are used to going to the TKTS booth in Times Square the day of the show and getting good deals but here I’ve been using the TodayTix app for good pricing you can get in advance of the day you go-usually 20-40% off depending on the seats you want.

Get your tickets online at and never pay full price: