Summer vacation 3-10 July.

Easyjet from Kastrup to Gatwick. Hold luggage only, no check in. One hold luggage really means ONE, no camera or “man purse” on the side. I had booked the tickets with Ingo Johansson and that what it said on the boarding pass. It says Ingvar Johansson in the passport, not smart. It cost normally DKK 720 to change it but the assistant was very nice and changed free of charge, thanks a lot for that!

Took the regular train, Southern, from Gatwick to Victoria Station (when we finally found the right platform and train). Takes little longer than the Express but is half price. Buy a train ticket that include day pass on the tube. Approx £15/pers. Continued with the underground from Victoria to Oxford Circus and then it was only a few minutes walk to the flat at Dufours Place (had problems finding that too, tip: get a proper map from the start ;-).

Booked the flat via airbnb.com. It had two bedroom, two toilets, a large living room area incl. kitchen and a balcony. Prime location:

• 1 min. walk to Carnaby Street
• 2 min. walk to Oxford Street
• 5 min. walk to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and China Town
• 10 min. walk to Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery
• 15 min. walk to Buckingham Palace
• 20 min. walk to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye

The sightseeing:
3 July [Map over the route] China Town Piccadilly Circus M & M’s world at Leicester Square, 4 floors with M&M’s accessories and the scent of the candy!!! Trafalgar Square. Watching young and old climbing the lion statues etc. The Mall
4 July [Map over the route] Window shopping along Oxford Street Hyde park with speakers corner and chipmunks Walked along Piccadilly (the street) to find a Burger King. Finally, found one at Leicester Square Covent Garden with shops, restaurants and street artists
5 July [Map over the route] Tottenham Court Road where we visited CEX, a second hand gaming and mobile phone shop Homemade chicken sandwich lunch at the lake in Regents Park Baker Street, look at that line to Sherlock Holmes Museum!!! In the evening we took tube Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo Station to meet Roma Dinner at OXO Tower restaurant. Fantastic place, service, food and view. Walked back on Southbank and Huntingdon Bridge, heading home
6 July [Map over the route] Camden Market (Close encounter with black man, he thought I took many photos of his daughters and should publish them on the internet!!. He called the police etc. Puha…I was innocent, he was weird…) Walked along the river to Primrose Hill where we had homemade chicken sandwich lunch (again) with beautiful view over the London skyline Walk through Regent Park with beautiful gardens and large play fields Portland Street and finally Carnaby Street
7 July [Map over the route] The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Watched the changing of guards, good timing 🙂 Westminister with RINGING BELLS!! kept on and on and on… Big Ben Took a River Thames cruise to Tower Bridge and Tower of London Walked the Murder Mystery Trail. Great fun and came around some interesting places Met Sandra and walked back along north bank to Westminister Finished with dinner at an Italian restaurant of Regent Street. Served by nice Swedish waitress called Linn
8 July [Map over the route] Took the buss from Piccadilly Circus to South Kensington Visited V&A museum to see a David Bowie exhibition but far tooo long line… Went to Harrods and looked at all the glitter and fancy electronics Lunch at Serpentine, Hyde Park, (yes, chicken sandwich 😉 and looked at the BST set up Buss to Tottenham Court to pick up the tickets at Dominion Theater Visited a Carphone shop where Mickey found the Nexus 7 for £179 After refreshing at the flat we went back to Dominion Theater for We will rock you, AWESOME!! 😀 (good idea to have picked up the tickets before, another line…)
9 July [Map over the route] Started by visiting the mega toy store Hemley’s Walked along Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus and then to Leicester square for lunch, Pret a Manger Saw Despicable Me 2, 3D, Empire 1, 1000 seats. Great experience Went for dinner at Five guys, Burgers and fries. Good timing, looong line when we came out Watched Hangover in the flat
10 July Mickey bought the Nexus 7 at the Carphone Shop, Oxford Street. Tried to bargain, 2 for £320, but no 🙁 Packed and waited… Tube Oxford Circus – Victoria Station. Got the refund from Oyster cards at Victoria tube station Train, Southern, to Gatwick Plenty of time and the flight delayed approx. 30 min, dep. 17.55 The End

Tips:

• Get an Oyster card. Deposit £5. Fill up the card. You get the deposit and the amount not used on the card refunded when you return the card at a tube station.
• lastminute.com, discount tickets or buy them at Piccadilly Circus