Headed to Heathrow & Landed in London!
- Kaitlen Elaine
- Sep 1, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 12, 2022
Anyone who has ever flown into England probably knows that the Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the United Kingdom. Rightfully so, considering Heathrow is one of the busiest airports for international travelers!
It never fails to amaze me that so many people can be in the same place at the same time doing exactly the same thing that I am also doing. In this case, it's traveling to the Heathrow Airport on a crisp, clear Tuesday morning at 5:30 A.M.
There's roughly 200-300 seats on an international flight— so you're telling me that 300 people are also traveling to London, England at the same time, on the same day, from the same airport that I am?
It's insanity and that's not even accounting for the almost 1,300 flights that land at Heathrow Airport every. single. day. In this day and age, all I can think about are the amount of germs being transmitted all too quickly.
My journey from New York's JFK International Airport to London's Heathrow Airport was smooth and relaxing— unless we're talking about those outrageous air conditioner vents they have on those planes. Those thin, little blankets they give you for the flight are close to impractical. I had to choose between if I wanted my lower or my upper body sacrificed to frostbite. Nonetheless, I made it to London, safe and sound, ready for this adventure to begin.
After getting off my plane, I hopped on the Heathrow Express to take me to the first hotel I had booked for my trip. I will be staying at the Grand Royale hotel in London at Hyde Park while I am exploring the city. One of my favorite things about this hotel is the fact that it has preserved it's 'Edwardian architecture,' or, in other words, it's Neo-Baroque architectural style that was popular in the British Empire during the Edwardian era.
So, why near Hyde Park, you may ask? Simple— it's near almost everything you'd need to enjoy yourself. It's located near the Bayswater tube, or London's underground system, and bus stops, right across from Kensington Gardens, close to a lot of appetizing restaurants, and within reach of grocery stores and gift shops on a parallel street!
Now you might be asking yourself, "Kaity, the tube?" Yes, the tube. It took me a hot minute to grasp my head around how exactly London's underground system operated. There are more than 270 stations and 11 lines that connect them within London (this must sound like confusion for a lot of people).
Below I have linked the 2020 London Tube Map:
If you've looked at the map, it basically looks like a colorful, tangled mess. I'd recommend downloading a map for yourself for your next visit to help you figure out how the city fits together like the puzzle that it is. London also has something known as an Oyster card that will get you almost anywhere— literally. You can use an Oyster card to travel on London’s bus, tube, tram, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), London Overground, TfL (Transport for London) Rail and National Rail systems throughout the city.
I would also recommend, for the people who haven't been to London before and are intimidated by the idea of exploring the city, downloading the CityMapper app! The app offers a lot of helpful information like a 'smart route planner' which compares different routes by which is quickest, cheapest, etc. I am terrible with directions so this app has been a lifesaver for me (plus, it can be used in literally any city)!
Before settling into my hotel room at the Grand Royale, I walked over to the Waitrose near my hotel. It was approximately a seven minute walk one way and most definitely worth it because Waitrose is the motherland of snacks in the U.K. I remember one time I had went into a Waitrose on a previous trip and found a packaged snack of quail eggs and black truffle mayonnaise— yeah, I don't know about that either. I am just truly convinced that I'll never know what I will find in a Waitrose grocery store and that's the fun of it! I ended up with a package of British pork buns and a Cadbury chocolate bar (because let's be honest, the chocolate in the U.K., or in Europe in general, is indefinitely better than in the United States). I then walked back to my hotel for the rest of the evening into the night.
While I am in London, I plan to visit tons of places like Sugar Loaf Walk, the Hill Gardens and Regent's Canal amongst others!
Have you spent time in London? What were your favorite things to do?
Comment below!
I enjoyed buying a fancy sandwich at Harrods and then eating it on a bench in Hyde Park while people-watching. 😇