London Summer Bucket List
It’s our last summer living in London.
While we’ve hinted at this on the site over the past few months, we haven’t been completely transparent about our plans. But it’s not because we’re hiding anything – we just have no idea what’s happening next and how and when our time in London will wrap up. As we wade through this period of uncertainty, I’m trying my damnedest to be zen about the whole thing.
I’m channeling my inner Bob Marley…everything’s gonna be alright.
In the meantime, our UK friends, who know us so well, are already asking about how we plan on spending our LAST SUMMER IN LONDON. What’s left on the bucket list? What restaurants are we visiting or re-visiting? How will we, the overly enthusiastic city explorers, spend our final few months in the city?
Truth be told, we’ve avoided putting our list to paper.
It feels final, scary, and a little sad. I can feel the nostalgia creeping in even though we have months in front of us. As in, we definitely have to go to an outdoor movie – oh, remember how much we’ve loved outdoor summer movies in London? They’re so much fun, I already miss them!
Without further ado, here is our London Summer Bucket List 2016!
- Movie at the Prince Charles Theatre
- Dance all night at Fabric
- Visit important cocktail bars (Oriole, Happiness Forgets, Nightjar, Opium)
- Summer outdoor movie (at least one, planning to visit the venue One New Change, for its stunning view of St. Paul’s Cathedral)
- Free comedy show
- West End show (planning Kinky Boots)
- Ronnie’s Jazz Club
- Bullshit London walking tour
- London Walks walking tour
- See Shakespeare at the Globe
- Go up in the Shard
- See live music at Union Chapel (a famous venue in our neighborhood)
- Eat at all of the great restaurants we’ve been meeting to visit but haven’t. This list is a long one:
- Typing Room
- Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
- Berber & Q
- Bocca di Lupe
- Kitty Fisher’s
- Honey & Co
- Ottolenghi
- Rochelle Canteen
- Padera
- Moro OR Morito
- Palomar
- Pidgin
- Jose
- Tayyabs
- Harwood Arms
- Camberwell Arms
- One of Jason Atherton’s restaurants (there are a million, we’ve only been to one)
What are we missing on our London summer bucket list? What is your absolute favorite attraction or event? If we haven’t already done it, we’ll add it to the list!
I can’t offer you any advice on what to do in London, I’ve never been… but I can say I will very much enjoy watching you guys fullfill this bucket list on the blog!
Will you be staying in the country? Or is it on to new places entirely?
A lot of things on this list are totally new to us, but a few are do-overs. We’re also spending MOST of the summer in the UK, which is a departure…usually we travel once or twice a month!
I can’t believe you’re embarking on your final summer in London! I know all too well the nostalgia that begins to creep in when you know your time in a city is dwindling and an era is coming to a close, but I also know you guys will definitely make the most of your remaining time and enjoy these final hurrahs. I also wanted to say that I really loved the photos in this post—so very London & the first one is really striking!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently posted…A Return to Form… in Colombia
Thanks Steph – yeah, the idea of moving is exciting but also nerve wracking. Just the other day, we had friends just haggling us – why are you leaving? you don’t NEED to leave, etc. It’s true – we could stay, but we’re excited to see what happens when we force the change. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself 🙂
I love London! I’ll be reading along about your summer of fun!
Lauren Bishop recently posted…A Journey on a Slow Boat: Mekong River, Laos
Thanks Lauren – a few days in and we’ve already done three things! Long weekends help 🙂
I’d be heartsick to leave London. But you have definitely made the most of your time there, it seems. Do you have plans to visit Cornwall before you leave? Maybe you already have and I just missed it? As a Doc Martin fan I would love to see the beautiful seaside village where its filmed.
Ugh, no we haven’t been to Cornwall!!! I know, it’s a major missing link in our UK travels. We tentatively have a weekend blocked off in early August to ‘go somewhere’ but no plans yet. I was just looking at train tickets to Penzance (to pick up a car there) but maybe we’ll drive? Who knows yet, but you’ll certainly see soon!
This is super smart! I should’ve done this when I left my previous two temporary work locations.. I hope you’ll achieve your goals this summer!
Dominique recently posted…Zuid-Kennemerland NP – 30 van Zandvoort 18km
Thanks Dominique! We did three this weekend (long weekends help a lot!) but it is already proving tough to try and schedule in everything 🙂
Good luck on completing your bucket list, we have also just moved from London after 3 years in the city to head back home so know all about the London final bucket list. If you have time – Taste of London has always been a favourite summer food festival for us and from their line up they have the Typing Room as one of their feature restaurants.
All the best in the move!
Kara & Kendra
I’m a bit late to comment on your bucket list, but I would suggest a day of civilised english sport by either going to a cricket match at the oval or Lord’s or a day at Wimbledon for the tennis. I’m not sport lover and think they are both great days out, especially when the weather is fine (always a risk).
Thanks Rachel – Side note, we actually have gone to Wimbledon for the past two years (Drew played tennis in college so this was on his immediate must-do list when we moved over). I also randomly got to go to the Henley Regatta a couple years back. BUT, we’ve never been to a cricket match, or the Ascot (which is this weekend), so there are still more opportunities to dress up and wear a hat!