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December 20, 2024

London – Day 1: Arrival, Big Ben, The Eye, and More

As I usually do, my timing and destination for this trip were based on price. I chose London, as well as the dates for arrival and departure, as they were the cheapest. It just so happened, this trip took place in the week leading up to the coronation of King Charles III. Being this is such a large, globally recognized event, I am not sure how I got away with this being the cheapest trip.

A photo from inside the Winnipeg airport. In the photo, there is a wall full of windows where you can see the blue sky and white, fluffy clouds. There is an airplane sitting out the window.
The view from inside the Winnipeg airport.
A photo out the window of an airplane. You can see the conditions are rainy. The window is covered in water droplets, obsuring the view of the airplane wing.
A look out the airplane window during the rainy takeoff.
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Planning aside, my trip began in the United States and with a quick drive to Winnipeg. Not only is this the closest (large) international airport, it also consistently has much cheaper tickets. From Winnipeg, I flew to Montreal, and from Montreal to London, England.

My arrival in London felt like it was out of a movie. From the airport, I had my phone figure out how to get to my hostel. It directed me to the subway, and I got off when it told me to. Easy peasy. I walked out of the station and was immediately greeted by Big Ben across the street. It was jaw-dropping. If I had no idea of what Big Ben was I would have been in awe. But, having seen it in so many different things throughout life, that only added to it.

A photo looking sharply up at Big Ben, the clocktower in London. The details on the building are visible. In the background, you can see the blue sky through white, billowy clouds. The photo is taken with a fisheye lens, so you can also see taxi cabs passing on the street.
My first Big Ben sighting—incredible!
Another photo of Big Ben from another angle and from a further distance. There are crowds of people gathered around, and a double-decker bus driving by that is covered with a graphic of the Union Jack flag.
Big Ben, again—I’m obsessed!
A photo of Big Ben from a further distance. More of the building is visible so more of the Palace of Westminster is visible. People can be seen walking through the photo.
Another angle of Big Ben with the Palace of Westminster also visible
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Funny enough, as I got more acquainted with the city throughout the week, I am quite sure I got off the subway at the wrong spot. Or the directions malfunctioned and told me to get off at the wrong point. I’m not sure which is the case, and it hardly matters because I was able to have an incredible first experience with London. But, this did result in a VERY long walk to my hostel.

A photo of a street in London. Both sides of the street are lined with old-looking brick buildings.
A picturesque street in London.

As you might imagine, day one was focused primarily on getting settled. But, there were a few other highlights from the day. I was able to see The London Eye, The Shard, and The River Thames. Being it is connected to Big Ben, I also saw The Palace of Westminster.

A photo of the London eye sitting along the River Thames.
The London Eye sitting along the River Thames.
Photo showing The Shard in the distance wit other buildings framing the photo.
The Shard visible in the distance.
A close-up photo of The Shard, looking sharply up at the building.
Looking up at The Shard.
A photo of a old, stone church that has greenery growing on it.
A church I found in London.
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London did not disappoint. This was the first international trip I took on my own. And as it would happen, I did not really plan my trip before—I just had my tickets, hostel, and a list of things I wanted to do.