Filling Up Our Cups In London!

When I think of one time that really felt like a wellness break, it was a fun-packed, weekend in London.  

We all need to fill up our cups sometimes, recharge our batteries and do something for ourselves, even more so, I think, when you're a parent. I am of the belief that to be the best parent I can be, I also need to look after myself - you can't pour from an empty cup after all! 

We've been fortunate over the years in that my in-laws are brilliant, wanting to spend time with their grandchildren, and this has enabled my husband and I to have time together and recharge our batteries. When I think of a particular time that really felt like a wellness break for us, it was a weekend in London. I'd planned the itinerary as a surprise for our anniversary, and it turned out to be one of the loveliest weekends together we've ever had.

Mirablis Apartments, Hampstead 

For our anniversary we stayed in an apartment in Hampstead, a London first for us - I'd recommend it. We loved how spacious it was and where we were, it was a lot less busy compared to staying in central London, yet we could hop on a tube straight away and be there in around 15-20 minutes!

Westminster Abbey 

Visiting Westminster Abbey had been on our bucket list for a long time, and it really didn't disappoint! Even as we approached from the outside, we couldn't help but feel wowed by its architecture and rich history! Westminster Abbey has been the setting for every monarch's coronation since 1066, and 17 monarchs are buried there. It is, of course, where our late Queen's funeral has just taken place and where she was crowned and married. It is also where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married too now known of course as Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.  

Stepping into Westminster Abbey was like going back in time - there is so much history there, it is a complete must-visit for anyone interested in past British life! We took advantage of the free audio guide, and it was very worthwhile as otherwise, I would imagine it could feel a bit overwhelming with so much to look at and take in. 

Dirty Martini Cocktail Bar 

After Westminster Abbey, for a bit of light relief we headed over to one of our favourite cocktail bars in the heart of Covent Garden; Dirty Martini. We find it's the perfect spot to take a breather from the busyness of London. We love that they have great happy hour deals during the day where you’ll find half price cocktails and tasty light bites too. Top tip: Book online beforehand to ensure you get a table.

Dinner on the Thames 

Later that evening, I surprised Adam with dinner on the Thames – yes literally on a boat! It was such an incredible experience being able to sit and have a 5-course meal whilst spotting famous London landmarks as the boat sailed the river. At one point we went to the top of the deck and looked out whilst enjoying a glass of prosecco. The dinner courses were on the small side, but it didn't matter as we enjoyed the overall experience, plus the bottle of wine we had went down very well! 

Watching ‘Wicked’ in the theatre 

The next day we decided to catch a show. To get a good deal, we headed to Leicester Square where there are lots of booths and shops selling last-minute theatre tickets at a reduced rate. We saw Wicked and we loved it! The production was of such high quality and the cast put 110% into the entire performance! 

The Sky Garden 

To round off what had already been an incredible weekend in London, I had booked us into the Sky Garden. The Sky Garden is free, but you do need to book in advance. I booked around three weeks in advance via their website, so it's best to do this, as otherwise there can be a big queue, or you can be sent away and asked to come back when it's less busy. 

The views from the top are just amazing! We stood there staring over the London landmarks in awe for ages. Then we sat and enjoyed a drink soaking the atmosphere in and chatting about what an incredible weekend we’d had and how much better mentally we felt for it.  

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