Who doesn’t love a good bank holiday weekend!? It’s not common to get two whole days off for Easter in the U.S., so I was determined to enjoy the long weekend.
I arrived in London on Friday morning, jet-lagged and hazy from the Red Eye. Luckily, I made up for my daytime snoozing with plenty of exploring, good food and even a dash of pampering.
So, how did I fare? I’ll let you see for yourself.
Saturday: Strolling In Regent’s Park
What better way to burn the jet lag off than by strolling in my favorite park in London? One of London’s Royal Parks, Regents Park is 395 acres of charming gardens, hedges, lakes and even a few athletic fields for good measure. Although I didn’t venture far, I did spend a little time in the Inner Circle, which is home to the Queen’s Rose Garden. Sadly, no roses yet!
The Regent’s Park gates
Many paths and hedges
Regent’s Park
Beauty is all around
Easter Sunday: Pedicures and Long Walks
Easter Sunday was full of leisure and long walks. With just about everything that was not a restaurant closed in London, I was delighted to discover that the Cowshed Carnaby in Soho was open. I treated myself to a pedicure, which was delightful (highly recommend!).
Cowshed Carnaby
Following some pampering, I treated myself to some Lebanese comfort food at Comptoir Libanais. A delicious Halloumi Cheese & Zaatar Man’ousha flatbread, side salad and a cappuccino. Simple, cheesy pleasures!
Salad
Flatbread
Then, I proceeded to walk and walk and walk. Here’s a highlight from my trek!
The London Eye, Big Ben and the Thames River – photo taken from Embankment Bridge
Monday: Exploring A Secret Garden
I adore parks and gardens, so when I found a TimeOut London article about London’s hidden gardens, I was smitten. Much to my delight, one of the gardens – The Conservatory at The Barbican – was only open on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Ironically, The Barbican is one of London’s uglier buildings. Yet when visiting The Conservatory, one can’t help but be astounded by its beauty. Completely free to visitors, it’s like a little tropical jungle in the middle of London.
While you can explore The Conservatory in under and hour, another draw to The Barbican is the building’s Food Hall. With plenty of coffee, cakes and other food items, plus a large, sun-drenched patio, it’s hard to beat on a warm Spring day. For more information on The Conservatory, including visiting hours, click here.
All in all, not bad for a long weekend!