The Adventures of Debbie Dimples - The UK - England - London

London

London is the capital city if England, and is famous for its iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Nicknamed the 'Big Smoke' in the past, London has now become a fashionable, cosmopolitan city to rival Paris and New York. I have visited the home of Paddington Bear (London) for several day trips and overnight stays over the years, however, due to the sheer size of the city, I've barely scratched the surface. My most recent visit to the city was in June 2025 to see Guns N'Roses at Wembley, and to catch up with a good friend. In no particular date order, here are a few of the places I've managed to visit on my trips (so far):

https://www.visitlondon.com

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a royal residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. The palace is located in the borough of Westminster. It is one of the most important buildings, and one of the main tourist attractions of London.

Westminster

Westminster is a borough of London which is home to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, all attracting millions of visitors each year.

Belgravia

Belgravia, is an afluent neighbourhood in the London borough of Westminster. It lies east of Chelsea, south of Hyde Park, and southwest of the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Belgravia is home to many expensive cars, high-end boutiques, and photogenic eateries.

Peggy Porchen

Known as the original Instagram cafe, Peggy Porchen is an iconic, pink London landmark, located in Belgravia. I had a lovely toastie, followed by a delicious strawberry cream cake and pot of tea during my visit to Peggy Porchen.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is a royal residence situated within Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The palace is one of the main attractions in London. I visited the palace in June 2025.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is often referred to as 'the most Instagrammable district in London' due to the abundance of photogenic shops, restaurants and pastel-coloured houses. I took a stroll around Portobello Road in Notting Hill during a perfect, sunny day on my trip to London in June 2025. I managed to spot the infamous 'Alice's Antiques', some Paddington Bear memorabilia, the multi-coloured houses and some street art on my walk.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is an outstanding visitor attraction and science research centre. The museum's dinosaurs are world-famous, and were my personal favourite exhibit to look around.

South Bank

Lining a pretty stretch of the river Thames in central London, the South Bank is one of the key tourist areas of the city. The neighbourhood is home to an array of arts and cultural venues, stylish restaurants, and well-known tourist attractions, such as the London Eye.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is home to the United Kingdom's national collection of international modern and contemporary art. London’s Bankside Power Station stood disused from 1981 until 2000, when it opened to the public as The Tate Modern. The Swiss architects Herzog de Meuron were commisioned to undertake the conversion project. The impressive cultural icon has since become the most visited museum of modern art in the world, not just for it's art, but also the building itself.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The Tower of London was officially built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, and it is famous for being the home of the Crown Jewels. I visited the Tower of London in December 2024 on a Christmas day trip to London.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most famous landmarks, and a key feature of the city's skyline. The view of the Tower Bridge from along the River Thames is particularly beautiful at night.

Christmas Lights of London

During my trip to London in December 2024, I took a visit to Oxford Street and New Bond Street to see the Christmas Lights. The London Christmas Lights are a dazzling spectacle which brighten up the city during the cold, festive period.

Camden Town

Camden is a colourful, vibrant town in London, which is famous for its enticing markets, quirky shops and vibrant nightlife. The town has been famous for being the birthplace of punk. Bands including The Clash, The Sex Pistols and The Ramones took centre stage in Camden during the 70s. It's place in musical history did not stop at punk, Camden was also mentioned in the song 'Sorted Out for E's and Whizz' by Pulp -one of the biggest Brit Pop bands of the 90's.

I visited Camden Town with my sisters as a teen, and took another visit more recently to photograph the creative shop fronts and pavement art.

Shoreditch

Shoreditch is known as the coolest area of London. With its quirky street art, and swanky rooftop bars, it's easy to see why Shoreditch has become popular. On my trip to London in June 2025, I took a walk around Shoreditch to photograph the wall murals.

Marlins on the Roof

With so many wonderful rooftop bars in Shoreditch to choose from, it wasn't easy deciding which one to go to. As anyone who knows me well, they will know I like a nice rooftop bar! One of the many rooftop bars in Shoreditch which appealed to me was Marlins on the Roof. I decided to book a table for some food and drinks on their rooftop terrace during my visit in June 2025. Marlins on the Roof is located at the Virgin Hotel in Shoreditch.

Guns'n'Roses Concert at Wembley Stadium

I took a trip to London in June 2025 to see Guns'n'Roses at Wembley Stadium. Guns'n'Roses were one of the biggest bands in the world during the late 80's/early 90's, with their epic album 'Appetite for Destruction'. I was introduced to Guns'n'Roses by my eldest sister, who was a very a big fan at the time. The introduction of MTV propelled the band into the stratosphere. Back in the 90's, MTV took Guns'n'Roses from Los Angeles onto a TV in every home in the world. The worldwide smash-hit movie 'Terminator 2' featured the Guns'n'Roses song 'You Could Be Mine' on it's soundtrack, a move which cemented their dominance musically during the 90's. I decided to make the most of the opportunity to see them play at Wembley Stadium.

What I missed out on........

If I were to take another trip to London, I would like to stay at the Berkeley Hotel or the Sanderson Hotel. I would love to have afternoon tea at The Ritz. London is also home to a number of famous tourist attractions which I missed out on, such as Windsor Castle and the Harry Potter Warner Bros Tour. A good time of year to visit London would be in May during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to see Chelsea in Bloom, June to attend Royal Ascot for the horse racing, or July to watch the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament.

The Berkeley Hotel

Located between Belgravia and Knightsbridge, The Berkeley is the epitome of British luxury. With its rooftop pool and views over the city, on a hot day, this would be the perfect location in London.

The Sanderson Hotel

The Sanderson Hotel is situated in the heart of London's West End and offers a retreat from the bustle of the city into a world of fantasy and well-being. The Sanderson Hotel is part of the Morgans Hotel Group, and was designed by Phillippe Starck.

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz

The Ritz London is renowned for its exquisite Afternoon Tea experience.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, about 25 miles west of central London.

Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is a walk-through exhibition and studio tour in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England. Harry Potter is a popular series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling.

Chelsea in Bloom

Chelsea in Bloom is London's largest and most prestigious free-to-attend flower festival, and it takes place every spring, which coincides with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Royal Ascot

One of Britain's most well-known racecourses, Ascot holds a special week of races in June each year called Royal Ascot, attended by The King and Queen. Ascot is located around 25 miles away from London, in the neighbouring county of Berkshire. Royal Ascot is not just a famous race meeting, it is also a showcase for fashion, attracting many celebrities from around the globe.

Wimbledon Tennis Tournament

The Wimbledon Championships, commonly called Wimbledon, is a tennis tournament organised by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in collaboration with the Lawn Tennis Association annually in Wimbledon, London. One of the traditions of Wimbledon is to watch the game of tennis whilst enjoying strawberries and cream.

Until next time London!