I made kwento a bit more in the audio ☝🏻️ so hit play there if you aren’t annoyed with my voice and don’t mind hearing me talk about the trip instead. Links and photos available throughout the post!
Two personal revelations from my London escapade:
* I’m a geeky, tireless, kuripot traveler. Geeky because I gotta know the history and trivia of the spot. Tireless because I can walk endlessly and hold in my pee forever, which I shouldn’t because UTI hurts. Lastly, I just don’t like spending on unnecessary shiz!
* I’m grateful to have a life partner that goes along with my travel vibe.♥️
Discovering My Traveler Persona
In the wild world of Filipino lingo, "kuripot" means frugal.
While I absolutely adore exploring new places, I’m averse to spending.😆 When out with friends, I don’t mind footing extra expenses or treating. But when flying solo, penny-pinching takes the lead. So much so that one of the pieces of advice I’d give to my younger self is: “Spend a little more, you’ll be ok!”
Reminiscing about my first trip to Europe, I recall stashing airplane cheese, crackers, and fruits in my bag for a makeshift dinner in Venice’s Piazza San Marco, only to later indulge in a hot chocolate.😜 Save now, spend later. Haha! Even with more years under my belt and with a healthier savings account, I don’t mind a few nights of discomfort if that means a bigger budget for later.
Enter Mikel, my kindred spirit in financial restraint. I guess that’s one of the reasons why the relationship works; we can let comfort take a backseat and we love searching for the balance of quality and a great price. Dapat sulit!
So in a city of opulence, Mikel and I danced to a different tune. Our hotel was central but questionable. Yet another experience that bonds us and yet another fun story to tell! But I’d never stay there ever again.😅
My Three Constant Big-City Travel Themes
Much like our jaunt to Seoul earlier this year, London's narrative unfolded through three main themes: Culture, Food, and Thrift Store Shopping.
London Culture and History
Sandeman Tours made our cultural exploration unforgettable. I’ve done their tours—both free and paid tours—in Berlin and Hamburg and I highly recommend you check their website everytime you go to a European city!
London City Walking Tour provided historical context while the Darkside of London Tour transported me back to the late 1800s, offering vivid tales of Jack the Ripper's reign. Life was tough post-industrial revolution, and the tour connected seamlessly with my learnings from Sydney. I loved it!
There are a bunch of free museums in London but we visited the Tate Modern Museum, which showcased an extensive collection featuring iconic artists like Warhol, Dali, and Picasso. Tip: Dive in with a plan to see your favorite artists and ask the staff if you get lost; the place is colossal!
Food Tripping in London
No fish and chips for us! Coming from a city with no great Asian options, oriental cuisine took the spotlight.
* Authentic mutton curry, roti, and laksa in a queue-worthy spot. It’s a 15-minute walk from King’s Cross Station where you can catch the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 3/4!
* Impeccable fried noodles, dim sum, and clean flavors in Chinatown. (Mikel dared me to conquer my fear of smalltalk with the next table so I did—with a British Pinoy. And I did!)
* Bao London has loads of spots; it’s a franchise. Pretty good baos and the salted egg custard dessert bao held its own. Buttt… This bao spot I tried in Madrid still takes the cake.
* We were gonna go to another place but since they didn't accept credit cards, we opted for Kanada-Ya Ramen and it did not disappoint. Tasty and you can choose the firmness of the noodles. Solid, pare! We’d be a regular if we lived in London.
* Dishoom
* We didn’t get to try Dishoomfor Indian Cuisine but this chain comes highly recommended by the amazing Pinay designer in London, Drea Lopa. (Thanks, Drey! So happy I got to see you and Nikko!!!) Pressed for time, Mikel and I grabbed Indian food in one of the many food markets instead.
In a city not traditionally acclaimed for its culinary prowess, we ditched the meat pie but still made room for a wee bit of their local gems.
* For a traditional English breakfast experience, Regency Cafe is the most popular joint. Even the friendly pub manager was surprised we knew the local spot! It’s pretty good and budget-friendly. BUT be ready for a queue and the occasional travel vlogger.😅To be honest… It wasn’t that great (especially compared to the beans in Spain). But people have been lining up to have breakfast here for years so you may want to see what all the fuss is about!
* Bagel Bake Brick Lane Bakery
* On Brick Lane (the mecca for thrift shopping!), Bagel Bake Bakery beats its many rivals in its borough. Skip the rest and order here. Trust me. We made the rookie mistake of trying the bagel next door since it was the first one we passed! We enjoyed it, kept walking, then found the legit Bagel Bake Brick Lane Bakery with a line. So we ate another bagel! What else could we do? Gotta try the best one!
* The must-try is the salted beef bagel with gherkin (Smaller, crunchier pickles) and mustard. Gooey, flavorful, and worth the wait! Are you a sweet tooth like me? Order a donut stuffed with jam while you’re at it.😉
Thrift Store Shopping
How do you feel about second-hand shopping? I’ve always enjoyed it, from Baguio to Tokyo and Seoul. When you find something that looks great, fits perfectly, and with a smile-inducing price tag—what a feeling! It’s like going on an Easter Egg Hunt or looking for mushrooms in the forest.🤩
Camden Town
A much hipper Greenhills Shopping Center?!😂 Seriously, though. Camden Market is a vibe on its own, with a canal running alongside it and a whole bunch of food stalls. Duck in and out of funky shops—not all are second-hand!—and escape to Primrose Hill for a free view of the city.
Soho and Covent Garden
Here you’ll find any brand and store you’re looking for. Even the second-hand stores here were a bit pricier! But an interesting concept that exists in the UK is paying by weight instead of by piece. Outside the city, they say there are warehouses full of clothes that you can sift through and pay per kilo. In Covent Garden, we found a Vintage Kilo Store that had some classy pieces. Right next to it is another vintage shop chain called Rokit.
* PICKNWEIGHT Vintage Kilo Store Covent Garden
Brick Lane
Saving the best for last! This is where we bought most of our treasures right before heading to the airport.😅 In our experience, it’s the best bang for your buck. The street is lined with vintage shops! The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch, bar with live music, is also nearby. Too bad we didn’t have time to grab a drink there. Next time!
Wait. How do you usually plan a trip?
I have special Google maps for: “Food” and “Want to go”. I save spots to each so they’re marked differently on my map. (I think I’ll make another one for shops hehe!) I head to a “Want to go” and when I get hungry check out dots for places to eat. Do you do the same?
Iconic Sights and Double-Decker Delights
While the Parliament Building, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The British Museum’s stolen artifacts, the Tower Bridge, etc. etc. etc. beckon, time constraints led us to prioritize. After 4 full days, we’re back home tired but full of stories! Too many to fit in a post. So I’ll end with random tips instead.😆
* Save spots on your map. But prioritize!
* Know your travel persona and be honest about it to help you narrow down your destinations and choose the right restos.
* Ask tips from people you know or friends of friends that have lived in London! I got so many great tips from people.
* Kickstart your adventure with a walking tour for insider tips from the guide.
* Make the most of the metro but experience that red double-decker bus too.
* Travel with a buddy that just gets you.♥️
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