London Archives - Two California Sisters

Immersing ourselves in The Burnt City in London…

Update from August 2022: Sad to hear that The Burnt City in London is closing in September. So here’s a look back at our experience last summer. And while it is sad to say goodbye to the production, I’m excited to hear what Punchdrunk has in store for us next!

We’re just back from the UK, and I’ll be sharing a few highlights over the coming weeks. First up- a follow up to my post on exciting immersive theater experiences. The Burnt City in London has gotten a lot of press, and it was one of the things I anticipated the most on our trip.

Planning your travel for the next 5-10 years

Life, money and time being what they are-limited!- means that it behooves us to do some longer term travel planning. Once you have a list of activities and locations (and assuming you can get on the same page as your partner!), you can start to think more strategically about planning your travel for the next 5-10-20 years. And while this might seem daunting, I think there’s a ton of benefits in doing so.

SO glad we planned time with Sophie earlier this summer, before she jetted off for other fun times without us

Exploring ASMR at the Design Museum in London

One of the to-do items on my list was a visit to the Design Museum in London. It’s been open since 1989 (!) but somehow I’ve never visited it. So I dragged Dear Husband along, and to my delight, there was a special exhibit on ASMR taking place. So cool! The hands-on (ears-on) exhibit is open until October 16th, so make plans for a visit now.

Helpful packing tips for 3 weeks in Europe- what worked, what didn’t

We recently returned from an extended trip, and I’ve got some hard-learned packing tips for 3 weeks in Europe. Learn from my mistakes and make your trip just a bit better.

man getting luggage — Dear Husband was thrilled that our bags arrived at Heathrow from Dublin!

Planning a wonderful day at Hampstead Heath in London

I love London. I love the bustle, the museums, the beauty of city life. But this California girl loves the great outdoors as well. So I was thrilled to plan a day at Hampstead Heath right in the middle of our visit to London. It was a magical day filled with being outside and a couple of surprises too.

A big thumbs up for Hilton in Terminal 2/3 at London’s Heathrow airport

The Hilton in Terminal 2/3 of Heathrow airport may not be the most glamorous spot in London, I’m not going to lie. There are certainly more authentically British places to rest your head. But hear me out- sometimes a gal needs to be practical. And when that time comes, the Hilton in Terminal 2/3 is perfect.

Here’s why you should consider staying at the Hilton in Terminal 2/3 the next time you’re flying out of Heathrow.

Combining old with new: Futuristic exhibit on portals in London

I love it when a classic, older museum injects a little something new into its space- which is just what Sir John Soane’s museum in London has done. There’s a small but cool exhibit on portals taking place in the museum. And Dear Husband and I had a chance to kill two birds with one stone during our recent visit. Old + new on a warm London morning- what could be better??

Three cool new things in London this summer

Update for July 2022: I’m republishing a couple of my favorite London focused posts because, well, I’m in London right now! 🙂 I must say, the thing I’m looking most forward to on this list is riding the new Elizabeth line! I know, I’m a total nerd. Luckily, we will have a good excuse, as the Woolwich station is the stop for The Burnt City immersive experience… Photos to come in a future post…. Cheers!

We are getting ready for a fun trip to London this summer, and I have a long list of things to see and do. Of course, there will be trips to Liberty. And Smythson. And I’ve shared some of the great immersive theater experiences we’ve scheduled. But I’ve got three cool new things in London that you may not have considered. And they look really super!

Longing for London: Special exhibits at the V&A museum

Update for July 2022: I’m republishing a couple of my favorite London focused posts because, well, I’m in London right now! 🙂 I’ve got a whole day planned for the V&A, plus a stop into the Design Museum nearby. I’m not a huge Beatrix Potter fan, so I might skip that exhibit. But the permanent collection is always a draw…Photos to come in a future post…. Cheers!

Y’all, I am getting really antsy on the travel front. And I know that many of you are also getting a little stir-crazy. There have been numerous articles about the pent-up demand for travel; the end of 2021 and into 2022 are going to be nuts. And the first place on my list is London, my favorite city in the world. I’m going to share some of my London favorites over the next few posts, and I’m starting with the best museum- the V&A museum.

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.
Samuel Johnson

Interesting immersive theater in London this summer

Update for July 2022: I’m republishing a couple of my favorite London focused posts because, well, I’m in London right now! 🙂 I am completely psyched to see The Burnt City immersive experience while I am in London. There are a few spoilers online, but I’m avoiding those, focusing on posts about the Greek mythology that the show is based on. Check out one such video below. And photos to come in a future post…. Cheers!